Making the Outdoors More Accessible with Hikeish

For the 25^th Anniversary of the Salomon Foundation we reached out to Hikeish.

Hikeish is a nonprofit organization on a mission to make the outdoors more accessible to all, especially people of color and minorities. Through guided hiking and running programs, providing transportation and offering educational in-store experiences that touch on social equity, diversity, sustainability, art and how they all relate to the outdoors, they're helping to make the outdoors more inclusive.

SALOMON: What is the mission and focus of the Brooklyn-based organization called Hikeish?

HIKEISH: Our mission is to help people reconnect with nature, specifically by organizing hikes, getting people outdoors, equipping them with gear that they feel great in, and connecting them to a community of like-minded individuals from a range of different backgrounds.

S: What motivated the two founders of Hikeish, Benje and Ken, to establish the organization?

H: We both love the outdoors. Benje grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills, hiking and camping with his family throughout Northern California. But when he moved to New York after college, he didn’t have easy access to nature or to people who wanted to go outside. When he met Ken, they immediately connected over their love for the outdoors. Ken grew up in Brooklyn and discovered hiking on his 18^th birthday. Together they began to brainstorm how they could get outside with more folks who like them and the idea for Outlandish and Hikeish took root.

S: In what ways does Hikeish address the barriers faced by diverse communities in engaging with outdoor activities?

H: We provide shuttles to get people to the trailheads, which is one of the biggest barriers in New York – even though the state has over 60% forest coverage (California only has about 30%), getting to nature is difficult because public transportation only reaches a few of the trailheads. We also have New York State licensed guides who are Wilderness First Aid certified – they design the route and lead us on the hike. We provide a safe and inclusive space where everyone, especially beginners, feel welcome; for example, we make sure there is a bathroom before/after each hike since not everyone is comfortable using nature. Finally and critically, we provide demo shoes from Salomon, which removes the barrier to entry that many people face when trying to get outside.

S: What specific support does the Salomon Foundation provide to Hikeish as part of their partnership and how did it start?

H: Hikeish wouldn’t be possible without the Salomon Foundation’s support and guidance. This comes in the form of financial compensation, which is used to cover the costs of vans, drivers, guides, and the behind-the-scenes operation of each hike. We have also received support for specific in-store events and engagements, such as our Grand Opening Trail Run x Salomon and our One Year Anniversary Trail Run and Hikeish Launch x Salomon. Salomon provides technical support in the form of sending team members (Jen, Richard, Lauren, etc.) to these events and several hikes. Finally the demo shoes that Salomon has provided – the X Ultra 360 Edge – have made a tremendous impact in helping people get outside with the right gear, without having to make an investment in footwear upfront.

S: What unique challenges or opportunities does Hikeish face as a Black-owned outdoor organization in a predominantly white industry, and how does the partnership with Salomon help address these?

H: There are many organizations that have said they want to partner with Outlandish but few of them have been able to put resources behind their words. Salomon has shown that they are truly an industry pioneer—leading by example and showing other organizations what it looks like to partner with Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in meaningful ways. This partnership has helped us build credibility in the industry and has amplified our belief that people of color want to get outside just as much as everyone else—validating that we are a viable and valuable market and the industry needs to convert their promises and commitments to DEI into tangible action (programming, products and people) in order for that potential to be realized.

S: Can you share any specific initiatives or events organized by Hikeish that have had a particularly significant impact on participants or the broader community?

H: Each Hikeish event has been transformational for various people. For our Fall Equinox Hikeish, we partnered with an organization called Tristate Hikers and had several people who were hiking for the first time. Here are some of the comments that people said from this Hikeish and others:

• Carla: My first hike was great because it’s a low pressure environment. Also incredibly grateful to try Salomons! I’ve never had that kind of merchandise experience and it blew me away!
• Christina: Hikeish helped me connect with nature in a way I'd never been able to, making it so much more accessible by basically bringing nature to Brooklyn! The community you foster is so great. Thank you for all you do!

S: What strategies does Hikeish employ to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of its efforts within the community?

H: Our focus in this first phase is to help people reconnect with nature – we believe that people protect the things that they love, and our hope is that our community will rekindle that love as they get back outside. In doing so, we are teaching and promoting Leave No Trace principles, and other ways to sustainably steward the land. We are also grateful that Salomon Foundation has a long term vision for Hikeish, so that it can continue in the future and not just be a short-lived program. We are also partnering with other Black-led nonprofits, such as Tristate Hikers, Outerthere and Hudson River Riders, to learn from them, share the resources we are receiving from Salomon, and strengthen each other in this industry.

S: Looking ahead, what are some potential future collaborations or projects that Hikeish and Salomon are considering to further advance their shared goals?

H: We are really excited to explore new hikes and locations in Year 2. We also hope to increase the scale and scope of the program to include camping or backpacking. We also want to partner with other nonprofits and schools to get more children outdoors.

Those who would like to contribute to the Salomon Foundation can do so by clicking here.