Black Women Who
Camping, kayaking and sharing experiences set the stage for sisterhood.
By Kenyetta McGowens
Photos by Jessica Alexander
“I want the camping experience to be a personal one”.
- Tanya Walker, founder of Black Women Who
I sat listening to the crackling of the fire, the wind through the trees, and the conversations and laughter of the 30 or so other women on this camping trip at Lake Livingston State Park. With my belly full of spaghetti and s'mores, I closed my eyes feeling a sense of peace.
This was my third time attending a Black Women Who (BWW) camping trip. Although I had attended before, the feeling and meaningfulness of the trips remained the same. We arrived on Friday evening and departed Sunday morning — a day and a half. That's the amount of time it took to fill my yearning for adventure, form bonds with women I had never met and experience a relaxation so deep that it penetrated to my very soul.
What is BWW?
“My mother actually called me the day before I was getting ready to leave. And she was like, ‘Honey, can I please ask you if you could just not go?’ I was like, ‘Why?’ Because she knew I had a friend I was supposed to be going with who had backed out. And she's like, ‘I don't want you out in the woods by yourself.’ I'm like, ‘Mother, there's going to be like 30 other women out there. I don't think I'll be by myself.’”
- Lavena, age 56
Black Women Who was founded by Tanya Walker in 2018. She had the idea to do something like BWW because she was having a hard time finding friends and other Black people to go kayaking with her. She put a post on social media and initially thought no one would be interested. After several successful events, she found that many women felt the same way she did and wanted a safe space to do outdoor activities. Thus, BWW was founded.
In the summer of 2022, BWW hosted its first camping trip at Garner State Park. BWW partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Texas Outdoor Family, which provided the group with tents, outdoor equipment and all the instructions on how to use them. BWW has continued to partner with Texas Outdoor Family and the nonprofit group Families in Nature to ensure that camping trips are accessible to beginners who do not have their own gear.
Relaxation
“…and most of all, [I loved] having planned activities that I don't have to plan or put together”.
- Lavena, age 56
BWW camping trips feel like a retreat. In the woods with the other women, I found moments to relax and get away from the stresses of everyday life. I pretended I did not have a phone signal. No calls, no social media. Just me, present in the moment, enjoying the peace of nature and the feeling of being obligation-free for a weekend.
BWW camping trips are a space where women can truly be themselves, relax and reset. This is in part because BWW leadership takes care of everything, from packing and cooking food for the weekend to planning activities and assembling most of the equipment needed. With BWW handling the details, the women can relax and receive care. BWW is conscious of the stresses that women carry with them every day and builds in time to address mental health.
On this particular camping trip, we could not go kayaking on the day we planned because of choppy water and low water levels. It left a big gap in the middle of our Saturday. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. Tanya took that time to lead the group in yoga and meditation. We listened to the wind through the trees, the gentle sounds of the lake, and the birds chirping in the trees as we cleared our minds and centered ourselves. Following yoga and meditation, we had time to get to know one another.
I overheard conversations about Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and rock music. Women laughed as they shared funny memories. Some people were wrapped in deep conversations, seeking and sharing wisdom. One woman brought out her coloring book, and others took some time to journal. The afternoon provided a few moments in time when we were all able to just exist. No expectations, no duties, just a group of women finding enjoyment in one another. These moments of stillness are crucial in a society where we are constantly on the move.
Adventure
“My thoughts and feelings coming into this was anxiety. I was very anxious — not terrified — but very nervous because of the unexpected. I wasn't sure what to expect … (Now) I'm very comfortable, more comfortable than I anticipated. I feel more connected to nature and the surroundings and the sounds and the textures.”.
- Kim, age 45
A few days before our camping trip, Tanya and the BWW team held an informational session to ease the minds of everyone attending. Many of the women in this group were first-time campers, and they were afraid. Dealing with the unknown is scary for most people. Sleeping outside can make one feel especially vulnerable. Over the course of the weekend, it was amazing to see the women who were so afraid transform into bold, excited campers.
BWW camping trips provide a safe space for people to become comfortable with their sense of adventure. Tanya and her team are very knowledgeable, and they never push anyone to do anything they do not wish to do. Typical activities during BWW camping trips include hiking, nature scavenger hunts, kayaking, yoga, fishing and more. With so many opportunities, women get to feel the excitement of having new experiences.
One of the women who was the most afraid of creatures getting in her tent brought back a picture of a snake she spotted while completing the nature scavenger hunt. The group of women who came back from an unsuccessful fishing trip Saturday morning were eager and excited to try again Sunday before we packed up camp. Another woman who expressed fear of not having walls to protect her said she slept better than she had in weeks. The chance to be brave and try new things stamped out any fear the women had at the start.
Belonging
“I've gained more of a sense of sisterhood, and so that has been wonderful. I sleep more peacefully at night, especially when you're in the woods, knowing that you're around those who are like you and have the same purpose and meaning”.
- Celest, age 26
As I spoke with the other women about their BWW camping experience, one word repeatedly came up: sisterhood. To someone who has never experienced a BWW event, it may sound strange that so many people felt a sense of sisterhood after spending a day and a half with a bunch of strangers. However, I can attest that I feel that bond of sisterhood during each BWW camping trip I attend.
My first BWW camping trip was in 2022 at Garner State Park, which is quite a drive from my home in Houston, and I ended up spending the weekend with a lot of women from the Dallas chapter. We had a great time, hiking, getting rained on, experiencing an animal encounter and laughing through it all. On that Sunday when it was time to leave, the leaders asked us to share what we thought about the experience. To my surprise, when it was my turn, I became choked up. I cried as I explained how I felt like I belonged — I had an acceptance and closeness I had not felt with others in several years. Those women made me feel so safe and understood over the course of the weekend that I found it hard to part ways with them.
I find that I get that feeling on every BWW camping trip. On the most recent one, I was so confident in the experience that I invited a friend to join me. There is a magic to BWW camping trips that allows you to be vulnerable and feel close to those you do not know.
Tanya and her team are part of the reason for the magic. They approach all BWW events with care, love and fun. And part of the magic comes from the women who attend these events. We have all experienced what it feels like to not belong. Especially when it comes to outdoor spaces.
“BWW is a great opportunity for women to be able to embrace their fears, who are very reluctant to do things by themselves,” says Christine M., the administrator of BBW's Austin chapter. “There is safety in numbers. You feel a little bit more secure with who you're with versus being kind of the pepper in a pile of salt.”
No one wants to feel like they are the odd person out when they are already outside of their comfort zone. That is why BWW is so special. They make sure Black women know they belong in nature and make a safe space for them to explore and take part in what is meant for all of us to enjoy.
