Racial Justice Weavings

Antiracism Practice for Outdoor Professionals

What are the Racial Justice Weavings

The Racial Justice Weavings are an online gathering for outdoor education and recreation professionals to learn about and grapple with white supremacy, racism, and racial justice in the outdoors. These weekly gatherings are open to folks in the outdoor industry from any school, company, or organization, in any role. First-timers and old-timers are all welcome.

This space grew out of the Movement for Black Lives in 2020, when Steph and Ella began hosting a weekly conversation for their fellow backpacking and climbing instructors about racism at their organization. Their goal was to foster antiracist culture in their outdoor leadership school through collective learning and relationship-building. The “Weavings” were named to place this gathering within its context: a long history and future of racial justice advocacy in outdoor spaces and education.

Over the last five years this space has continued to grow, deepen, and evolve. This relational, culture-shifting work is slow but it is powerful. At a time of isolation, here was/is a community. At a time of national reckoning and unveiling, here was/is support. And now, at a time of backlash to antiracism and equity work, here is consistency.

This September 2025 we will be embarking on our 6th season of Weavings! Another year of building antiracist relationships and culture with grace and accountability and self-responsibility and connection and joy! If you want to process your summer or fall season with a racial justice lens, support for your racial justice work in your family or workplace, and/or to become a more aware and inclusive leader or instructor, join us. This work can be challenging no matter who you are or where you find yourself in your antiracism journey. But if you are willing to join us, have no doubt that you are wanted.

This year we are offering the Racial Justice Weavings and a new, shorter course called ‘Intro to Antiracism in the Outdoors’ for newcomers and beginners. Check out the details for both gatherings below.

Fall 2025 Season Offerings

Intro to Antiracism in the Outdoors

Tuesday evenings on Zoom
5-6 PST / 6-8pm MST / 8-10 EST
October 14, 2025 – December 9, 2025 (excluding 11/26)

This introduction to antiracism in the outdoors is an 8-week course for outdoor education and recreation professionals to learn about and grapple with white supremacy, racism, and racial justice in the outdoor industry. These weekly gatherings are open to folks in the outdoor industry from any school, company, or organization, in any role, and is a great space for those who have never worked with Green Wood & Duff before.

The only required attendance is the first session on October 14. This is crucial for setting the foundation we’ll be building on for the rest of our time together. There are no assigned work expectations outside of when we meet. You’ll receive an email with all the information you need when you sign up.

Intro Course Pricing

These gatherings were an unpaid labor of love for the first few years. They’re still a labor of love but now, in an attempt to make this work sustainable in our rampantly exploitative late-capitalist hellscape, we are asking organizations and white participants with financial resources to pay. We work with sliding scale pricing. We will not let cost be a barrier to anyone participating.

Intro Course - Fall 2025 Pricing Chart

For organizations: These are high value professional trainings for you and your employees that can support cross-organization, cross-generation communication about some of the most challenging organizational issues to address. We encourage you to support the participation of whoever may be willing and interested at $320 per person for the 8-week course. For organizations that have the budget, we have a solidarity pricing option ($440) that covers the cost of one employee and one individual participant. These are also the pricing tiers for individuals with access to Professional Development Funds.

For individuals: There are multiple options for individuals who are paying for themselves without the support of an institution. Individuals are invited to pay the Individual price at $120 for the season. For those with financial resources, solidarity pricing for the season is $240 and covers their admission and one other. When it comes to deciding what tier to pay, we trust your judgement and are not asking for receipts.

There is no cost for BIPOC individuals paying for themselves or coming from predominantly BIPOC organizations. If you’re a BIPOC participant with access to professional development funds from a predominantly white organization, we would welcome the compensation.

Register for Intro to Antiracism in the Outdoors by October 10

Racial Justice Weavings

Wednesday evenings on Zoom
5-6 PST / 6-8pm MST / 8-10 EST
September 10, 2025 – December 10, 2025 (excluding 10/1 & 11/26)

The classic Racial Justice Weavings are great for those who are new to conversations about racism, racial justice, and white supremacy – particularly as it relates to outdoor education and the broader outdoor industry. It’s also a good gathering for folks looking for a political* home to grapple with these issues outside of work, particularly if their organization has recently turned away from racial justice and equity work and they want support to continue advocating for it. (*When we say political we mean lower-case “p” as in “how power moves in the public sphere” and not red/blue donkeys/elephants.) This is the space for those who have never worked with Green Wood & Duff before.

For those who have been part of the Weavings before and want to continue with the Wednesday group, all are welcome. We will be tailoring the curriculum this year to a newer crowd but it’s always a far-ranging conversation we all grow from.

The only required attendance is the first session on September 10. This is crucial for setting the foundation we’ll be building on for the rest of our time together. There are no assigned work expectations outside of when we meet. You’ll receive an email with all the information you need when you sign up.

Weavings Pricing

These gatherings were an unpaid labor of love for the first few years. They’re still a labor of love but now, in an attempt to make this work sustainable in our rampantly exploitative late-capitalist hellscape, we are asking organizations and white participants with financial resources to pay. We work with sliding scale pricing. We will not let cost be a barrier to anyone participating.

Weavings Fall 2025 Pricing Chart - 1

For organizations: These are high value professional trainings for you and your employees that can support cross-organization, cross-generation communication about some of the most challenging organizational issues to address. We encourage you to support the participation of whoever may be willing and interested at $480 per person for the 15-week season. For organizations that have the budget, we have a solidarity pricing option ($660) that covers the cost of one employee and one individual participant. These are also the pricing tiers for individuals with access to Professional Development Funds.

For individuals: There are multiple options for individuals who are paying for themselves without the support of an institution. Individuals are invited to pay the Individual price at $180 for the season or $15 each week. We incentivize paying seasonally because it supports our wellbeing with predictable income and adds a little extra drive to maintain a commitment to showing up, but recognize it’s not always an option. For those with financial resources, solidarity pricing for the season is $360 and covers their admission and one other. When it comes to deciding what tier to pay, we trust your judgement and are not asking for receipts.

There is no cost for BIPOC individuals paying for themselves or coming from predominantly BIPOC organizations. If you’re a BIPOC participant with access to professional development funds from a predominantly white organization, we would welcome the compensation.

Registration for the Weavings is closed for Fall 2025

What are the weavings like?

I'm a white, cisgender man who checks all the boxes of privilege. I recently had the opportunity to lead a leadership retreat with a BIPOC group of ROTC cadets from HBCUs and I've got to say, Green Wood and Duff made all the difference for me. I was aware of my privilege, held it lightly, and was able to get out of my own way, avoiding the stumbles and doubts that used to surface and center me when I would go into cross-cultural settings... Hey, dominant culture peeps! If you’re baffled but open to getting help in understanding why your DEI game still isn't really on, GW&D is the deeper dive you're looking for.

Paul Duba (Outdoor Educator, Staff Trainer, Executive Coaching)

Racial Justice Weavings Participant

If you’re looking to collaborate in making real change and growth in yourself, your program, and the greater outdoor community and culture, this is a place for you. Steph and Ella are incredibly knowledgeable, compassionate, and tactful leaders. Deeper education and specific application of anti racist theory and example is needed in the outdoor world, and is especially needed for the people who have a hand in facilitating it for others. Steph and Ella lead this process exceptionally well. Participating in guided discussion and activity in Racial Justice Weaving was deeply inspiring and empowering for myself as an individual and outdoor educator, and left me with hope and passion for how for how anti-racism and DEI work can and will continue to progress within and across communities. The vision is real, building community and changing culture starts small, and it can start here.

Kinley Hartigan (Recreation Leader, University of California - Santa Cruz)

Racial Justice Weavings Participant

Steph and Ella have been creating a space for several years now for folks of all identities to learn, reflect, and examine their ideas and knowledge around DEIJ.  Their commitment and drive for these conversations was evidenced by the countless hours of volunteer time and effort they gave to this work.  They create a space in which people can be brave and vulnerable and challenge themselves to learn and grow.  I could not be more grateful for their leadership and guidance.

Megan Macomber (Southwest APD of Training and Staff Development, Colorado Outward Bound School)

Racial Justice Weavings Participant

Steph and Ella are fantastic facilitators. They built an environment where I was very comfortable being uncomfortable. They developed a learning community of outdoor educators with various levels of experience and roles from seasonal field staff all the way up to executive leadership. I learned a lot about racial justice. I also picked up some communication tools that I use with my leadership team on a regular basis.

Ben Fickett (Executive Director, Outward Bound Services Group)

Racial Justice Weavings participant

Thanks to this cohort led by Ella and Steph, I am growing in ways that profoundly impact my career, how I show up for my community and personal relationships, and my role as a parent.

AJ Wojtalik (Marketing Director, Outward Bound Services Group)

Racial Justice Weavings Participant

Steph and Ella are intentional and expert facilitators with expertise in coaching and consulting. In their anti-racism practice, they hold space for curiosity and growth while firmly interrupting bias and harm. Their coaching is guided by compassion for everyone involved.

Bri Golden Copeland (APD Groups Programming, Colorado Outward Bound School)

Racial Justice Weavings Participant

Contact Us

info@greenwoodandduff.com