Season 2, Episode 6: Camping in sleeping bonnets with Camp Founder Girls

Full episode transcript available in our attempt to make this an accessible experience for all.

This is the sixth episode of our #AmplifyBlackStories season, which exclusively features Black voices. This particular episode was hosted and co-produced by CJ Goulding, as part of our partnership with The Avarna Group.

In 1924, Mattie Landry started a camp and summer outdoor experience that would transform the lives of young Black girls in the San Antonio Eastside community: Camp Founder Girls. It's America’s first historically Black summer camp for girls. Angelica Holmes and the team from Black Outside, Inc. recently restarted the camp with the intention of building strong, brave, creative, and confident young campers. Listen to the story of that revitalization and hear from a family of two young girls and their mother, who share how Camp Founder Girls has positively impacted their lives.

Follow Camp Founder Girls on Instagram @campfoundergirls

This episode was co-edited and mixed by our Sound Editor, Jeff Alvarez.

Episode partners:

The Avarna Group is dedicated to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and believe storytelling plays an integral role in changing the narrative about the outdoors and the environmental sector. We’re honored to link arms with them as we host meaningful conversations about the intersections of these important topics. The Avarna Group also generously donated their podcast ad space to community groups like Fort Negrita and Gangstas to Growers. Be sure to learn more about the work they’re doing to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, People of Color to land and nature.

Youth Outside works to promote racial justice within the outdoor and environmental movement. Their systems change approach includes grantmaking, anti-racism training, career pathway development, and capacity-building. They center the voices and leadership of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and work to ensure a future where the healing benefits of nature are equally accessible to all.

PHOTOS:

Photo descriptions from top left to top right:
Photo of three Black people sitting outside on a park bench and wearing face masks. Naphtalie is in the middle holding something, as the other two younger folks look on. Taken by Angelica Holmes

Candid photo of Black youth gathered outside under an awning, playing a game with their hands. A sign behind them reads “Welcome.” Taken by Terrionna Brockman.

Photo of a camper holding up a painting that looks like a self-portrait of themselves wearing a crown. The text in the painting says, “I AM” and “kind, passionate, smart, honest, goofy, intelligent.” Taken by Angelica Holmes

Photo descriptions from bottom left to bottom right:
Photo of camp participants walking outside in the woods, with their backs to the camera. They are wearing swimsuits and towels and one camper has their arm over the other. Taken by Terrionna Brockman.

Photo of Kayla standing on a log over a body of water in the woods. She is looking off into the distance and wearing a helmet, down jacket, and pants.

Photo of Camp Founder Girls campers wearing tie-dye CFG shirts, holding water bottles and joyfully walking outside together. All are smiling, some have their hands in the air as if they are chanting. Taken by Stephanie Marquez.