Diversity in the outdoors doesn’t happen by accident. Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO) has spent five programme cycles supporting People of Color-led initiatives, and as its Changemaker Programme reaches its fifth iteration, three insights are emerging about community, partnership and what the outdoor industry still gets wrong.

Imagine an outdoor community and industry where diversity thrives, equity is the norm, anti-racism is foundational, and accessibility is universal.

This is the vision driving Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO), a non-profit initiative founded in 2021 to confront systemic racism. We are a collective of outdoor brands and experts, Allies and Changemakers with a shared passion and love of the outdoors who are committed to creating momentum for the progression of continued inclusion within outdoor spaces.

Since OUTO was founded, the Changemaker Programme has been at the heart of our work. Over 12 weeks, we support People of Color-led initiatives to grow from ideas into lasting impact, from personal passion to community leadership, from taking one person outdoors to leading hiking groups of more than 40 people.

Along the way, participants develop practical skills, learn from experts, build meaningful relationships, receive tailored mentorship and celebrate one another’s successes. Now entering its fifth iteration, the Changemaker Programme has revealed three insights that we believe the wider outdoor industry should be paying attention to.

Insight 1: Community-led change is accelerating

It isn’t simply that there are organizations working to bring new people into the outdoors and build lasting relationships between people, nature and outdoor sports. It’s that there are many organizations doing this work.

The growth we’ve witnessed has been remarkable. In our first UK cohort in 2022, we started small and a few initiatives completed the programme. Returning to the UK in 2026, we received applications from more than 30 initiatives.

That increase tells us something important. Across the UK, passionate leaders are already creating spaces where people who have historically felt excluded from the outdoors can belong. These organizations may vary in size, geography and focus, but together they represent a growing ecosystem of community-led change.

Insight 2: Community leaders need each other

One of the most valuable elements of the Changemaker Programme isn’t a workshop or a framework. It’s peer exchange.

Participants tell us that learning alongside others doing similar work is one of the most valuable aspects of the experience. People apply for the programme with one of their main goals being to learn from one another.

This insight has challenged us to think beyond the programme itself. If peer learning is so valuable, how do we create more opportunities for community leaders to connect throughout the year not only for programme participants, but for all organizations across Europe working towards the same goal?

Insight 3: Partnerships need to evolve

Partnerships between brands and community groups have enormous potential. They can unlock resources, introduce new audiences to outdoor activities and create more representative stories about who belongs outside.

Yet many partnerships still fall short.

A tension centers on one question: what does an equitable, long-term and fun partnership between brands and community groups look like?

Too often, both parties enter collaborations with different expectations, different definitions of success and different ways of working. When those expectations aren’t discussed openly, both sides can leave frustrated, thinking, “This is why it’s difficult to work with them.”

If we’re not careful, we risk reinforcing the barriers we’re trying to address.

Strong partnerships are not built through one-off campaigns or transactional relationships. They are built through trust, shared objectives, honest communication and a willingness to learn from one another.

(Photo: Clara Euler)

Call to action: build partnerships that last

As community organizations continue to grow in both number and influence, brands have an opportunity to move beyond traditional sponsorship models and build partnerships that create lasting value for everyone involved.

Before entering your next collaboration, consider asking:

• Are we designing this partnership with the community group, or for them?
• What does their community need?
• What does success look like for both organizations?

If you’d like to continue this conversation or explore how to build stronger partnerships with community organizations, we’d love to hear from you.

Lead image: Annette Monheim