We Outside
We Outside is an exploratory pilot program that offers recreational, educational and wellness activities geared towards racialized women, femmes and non-binary people (ages 16-29). The aim is to provide safer spaces for youth to talk about mental health and wellbeing, explore sports and recreation, and build peer-to-peer relationships to create a strong sense of community.
We Outside is unique as it functions as a sampler for those who would like to explore a variety of sports and recreational activities, with a special emphasis on providing access to those who have never gotten the chance to do so due to systemic barriers. This program goes a step further by incorporating group conversations, fireside chats, and group challenges to build community rapport and combat harmful narratives around the lack of engagement of racialized people in recreational spaces.
Program Breakdown
Our pilot program will be offered once a week for ten weeks to two different cohorts. The first cohort consists of 12 participants and begins in June 2023, and the second cohort consists of 12 participants and begins in January 2024.
Winter Cohort
The second cohort consists of 12 participants and begins in January 2024! Participants will engage in the following:
- Group welcome
- Two community offerings (snowshoeing and tubing)
- Four community challenges (activities and conversations to keep participants engaged, active and aware of their mental health)
- Fireside chat with BIPOC professionals/leaders in the spaces of sports, recreation and community
- Excursion (skiing and snowboarding)
- Group celebration
Summer Cohort
The first cohort consisted of 11 participants and took place from June-August 2023. Our inaugural participants engaged in the following:
- Group welcome
- Two community offerings (hike and yoga)
- Four community challenges (activities and conversations to keep participants engaged, active and aware of their mental health)
- Fireside chat with BIPOC professionals/leaders in the spaces of sports, recreation and community
- Excursion (treetop trekking)
- Group celebration
Check out our cohort celebration video created by the MLSE Foundation Team here!
Our Partners
