Transformation through Outdoor Spaces: Aleshea Carriere
Our outdoor community is built on seeking adventure. Sometimes this means spending time in harsh weather conditions and challenging ourselves physically, while other times it means having difficult conversations and changing our perspective. In this three-part series, we'll be sharing the stories of individuals redefining what it means to be outside.
Written by Luisa Vargas.
At the beginning of February, we witnessed the power of community. Slim Pickings Outfitters is the first Black-owned outdoor shop in the nation. Theyâre a fellow Texan business whose home is not too far from ours in Stephenville, TX. Their mission is bringing diversity to the outdoors and building a space where everyone feels welcome and supported.
Like most small businesses, the pandemic hit them hard. When The Outbound Collective caught hold of Slim Pickingâs struggles, they quickly set up a Go Fund Me, and with the help of social media, in just three days they raised over $100,000 and hit record sales.
People saved Slim Pickings Outfitters and everything they stand for.
This brings me hope. Itâs proof that collective power is real and we each have a part to play in it. If youâre reading this, you likely want to do something to help, and Iâm here to remind you that you can. You can start by supporting organizations and businesses led by Blacks, LatinX, Asians, Muslims, Immigrants, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. Itâs in the intersectionality of these groups that we will bring about transformational change.
Today, weâll be learning about Aleshea Carriereâs life. Listening is one small thing we can all do, but actions still speak louder than words. At the end of this post, youâll find a list of resources and things you can do to help others like Slim Pickings Outfitters.
For now, letâs dive into the story behind Glitz n Grits.
Aleshea at Guadalupe Peak: 8,749 feet
Aleshea Carriere was 5 years old when she came home from school with a Girl Scouts flyer asking her mom if she could join a troop. This didnât mean she would automatically be participating in outdoor activities, but her mind was set on being outside.
Aleshaâs mom volunteered to lead the new group of 20 girls who wanted to take part in this adventure. While Alesheaâs sisterâs troop focused on more scientific learning, Aleshea was adamant about getting to do the adventurous stuff.Â
Girl Scouts became Alesheaâs way of exploring the outdoors.
Aleshea and her Girl Scout troop on her first campout at Eisenhower state park
Aleshea studied history and political science in college with ambitions to go to law school, but after interning with a law office, she realized it wasnât for her. Aleshea says she accidentally stumbled into a teaching job but continued to spend her free time in nature and taking pictures.
After working seven years in education she decided that it wasnât a job that fueled her. She decided to quit her job, and that summer Glitz n Grits was born.
What started as a food blog quickly developed into a travel and outdoor adventure blog as well.
âI heard the song âMy Texasâ by Josh Abbott after college and realized I had lived here my whole life and hadnât done half the stuff in Texas,â Aleshea says.
She started sharing the outdoor activities she was doing and recognized that she was an anomaly. People were asking her why she was spending so much time outdoors, and thatâs when she connected the dots.
âThe Civil Rights Act wasnât passed until 1964. So when people ask why Black children are nine times more likely to die from drowning, I explain that my mother was born before 1964, so there was a time she wasnât allowed in public swimming pools or public places,â Aleshea says.
As she began sharing more, more people wanted to learn more.
Aleshea enjoying a day of exploring Texas
Eventually, Aleshea was asked to come back to Girl Scouts and help plan trips to places such as Arches National Park.
Before the pandemic, she led a backpacking troop in Plano. When Aleshea sat down with the girls and asked them what outdoor activities they wanted to do, there were many responses.
Aleshea said a little Black girl told her, âI want to climb a mountain.â To which Aleshea responded, âOkay we can do that.â
Aleshea recalls that the girlâs eyes lit up as she asked, âReally? You can take me to climb a mountain?â Aleshea replied, âGirl, weâre going to climb a mountain.â
Partly, itâs businesses that fail to show a wide range of humans on their platforms. Another part is that people donât see different kinds of people out on the trails. Not only different races but ages, abilities, and genders.Â
 Aleshea volunteering at Day Camp
Aleshea shared several instances where people have stopped her on the trail asking her if she knows where sheâs going or what sheâs doing.
âThe number of people that stop us to make sure we know what weâre doing. I think, do you not see the backpacks, poles, and water bottles?â Aleshea says.
She also shared that on a trip to Caprock Canyons State Park, she was with a friend who is white and LGBTQ+, and people were shocked when he said he was an Eagle Scout.
âWhen I say yeah people who identify as LGBTQ+ can be in Eagle Scouts, theyâll just look at me,â Aleshea says.
At Girl Scouts they have a saying, âyou canât be what you canât see,â and Aleshea says that can be applied to diversity in outdoor spaces. If we donât see others who look like us climbing mountains, we begin to believe thatâs not a possibility for us.
While there is still so much work to do, Aleshea shares the progress between generations.
âI was joking with someone that this is my ancestorâs wildest dreams. Iâm getting to do things they probably never got to do or wouldâve thought of doing,â Aleshea says.
Organizations to support:
