Washington Trails
Association
Trails for everyone, forever
Washington Trails
AssociationTrails for everyone, forever
I grew up in the outdoors — and I started The Bronze Chapter because I want more people of color to have that opportunity. By Denice Rochelle
Back in 2018, something struck me during a solo road and camping trip along the Pacific Coast. In almost 2,500 miles, I didn’t see any people of color recreating.
I enjoy how solo travels allows me the freedom to poke around spontaneously and meet people I normally wouldn’t. On the trip, I camped near the Pacific Ocean, explored marine habitats, flew my kite and marveled at the mind-blowing geology. In Northern California, I camped and hiked among the great redwoods for the first time. Spending time communing with these forest giants that have lived for thousands of years, and imagining how they communicate with each other and other organisms deep in the soil, felt like a transcendent experience. Beneath the canopy of these redwoods, embraced by their wisdom, a seed was planted that would eventually become The Bronze Chapter.
A few years later, in the beginning of 2022, The Bronze Chapter started offering our first programs. Our goal: to lower barriers to outdoor recreation and offer a place where communities of color can learn skills and share knowledge supported by peers.
We support families, kids and adults by teaching basic outdoor skills, including camping skills, mindfulness of impact and environment-climate awareness. Safety is key for us, so we offer wilderness first aid as well as self-defense classes for women and those who identify as nonbinary.
Our approach is all about valuing every outdoor experience equally. We're challenging the idea that some activities are more credible than others and celebrating all ways people connect with nature, whether it’s enjoying birds from your porch or heading off into the wilderness.
Growing up biracial with a White mom and a Black dad, and in the fluid environment of a restaurant, shaped my ability to feel at ease in various spaces. My dad's move from Louisiana to Seattle, a change made for his health, came with stories of limitations due to racism and Jim Crow laws.
Denice Rochelle enjoying time with her mom (left), at Stanley Park on the trolley (top right) and at Hood Canal (bottom right). Photos courtesy of Denice Rochelle
In contrast, my own childhood in Kirkland, a then-rural suburb of Seattle surrounded by dairy farms and woodlands, was a natural playground. Living in this predominantly White community wasn’t without the challenges of racism and harassment, but I was never afraid of the outdoors. My childhood bestie and I were free-range kids with abundant freedom. With that autonomy, we adventured fearlessly on our own terms, even internationally.
My dad and great aunties were amazing inspirations, fueling my love for travel and the outdoors. These lively, music-loving great aunties of mine were into Seattle’s buzzing Black music scene and owned Seattle's first Creole restaurant, a place where travelers and locals found comfort in authentic food and tunes.
Our frequent train trips to Canada were my first international travel experiences. Staying at our favorite hotel, we’d explore restaurants and wander around Stanley Park. They introduced me to traveling and taught me the ropes of navigating trains and cabs, the etiquette of room service and tipping and how to be a gracious tourist.
The Bronze Chapter hosts campouts, including this one in Eastern Washington. Photo courtesy of Denice Rochelle
Working at their restaurant was another adventure. It was a melting pot where people from around the world interacted, and it inspired my interest in diverse cultures.
Then there's my dad, who was into waterskiing, scuba diving, dirt biking, boating, fishing and camping, learned mostly from his White friends. These weren't typical activities for a Black man in the ’70s. His stories about scuba diving and spearfishing in Puget Sound inspired me to learn to dive with the hope of meeting a giant Pacific octopus.
The Bronze Chapter has come a long way as a grassroots organization, achieving some amazing accomplishments in just a couple of years. Since we started, we’ve offered our wilderness first aid certification and “self-defense for the outdoors and beyond.” We’ve hosted campouts, toured a formerly Black-owned island in the San Juans and gone paddling, sailing and snowshoeing. We’ve expanded our offerings to more initiatives and programs, and in more areas. In 2023, we had 24 events and nearly 400 registrations.
Family-focused programs at The Bronze Chapter hold a special place in our approach. These programs thrive on the involvement and support of parents, and create a robust foundation for ongoing engagement with nature. Youth-only programs, while valuable, may not be as effective at getting kids outside after the program. By centering families, we not only engage young people but also empower the entire family, which fosters a lasting culture of outdoor activity and environmental stewardship.
Our classes, campouts and activities are more than just fun — they're chances to learn about nature with mindfulness and respect. Conservation and caring for natural resources are key topics. We also create a place where folks can kick back, learn, share and embrace their adventurous spirit. Most importantly, it's a space to experience joy and community, free from judgment or scrutiny.
Before Denice started The Bronze Chapter, she hosted a first campout on her own. Photo courtesy of Denice Rochelle
Reading accounts of people who've joined our classes and campouts is incredibly moving, a mix of heartwarming moments, laughter, inspiration and motivation. It's deeply satisfying to know we're providing a space where those who once felt uncomfortable or unwelcome in outdoor settings now feel a sense of belonging and empowerment.
What really touches my heart is hearing from parents about the freedom and joy their children experience with us. Knowing they can run, explore and just be kids in our safe and trusting environment means the world to me. Freedom to roam was a cornerstone of my childhood, shaping the way I navigate the world today.
Growing up, I didn’t have a place like The Bronze Chapter to learn outdoor skills among others who looked like me. Apart from what my dad taught me, I learned mostly in predominantly White spaces. While that was OK for me, I get that many people prefer learning in environments where they see themselves reflected. That's exactly what we aim to provide at The Bronze Chapter — a welcoming space to learn and grow.
In 2024, we look forward to nourishing our collaborations and partnerships, continuing to offer quality programs that open doors to the outdoors, and dialing in on our mission of reigniting the timeless bond between communities of color and the embrace of nature and the natural world through skill-sharing, knowledge-sharing and the thrill of outdoor recreation.
Denice Rochelle is the founder of The Bronze Chapter. WTA is proud to have partnered with The Bronze Chapter through our Outdoor Leadership Training program and supported their trips through our gear lending library.
