Chelsea Murphy

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Encouraging a more inclusive and equitable outdoor community while celebrating and representing Black motherhood in the midst of a dominant culture. Join me here.

Shifting outdoor culture. Inspiring joy + liberation.

she_colorsnature

Here to help you find your way outside 🌿
🏕️ Black motherhood in the outdoors
🍄‍🟫 30 minutes OUTSIDE everyday
📍 PNW 💌: shecolorsnature@gmail

Day 18 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy Affirmations I won’ Day 18 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy 

Affirmations I won’t compromise on my liberation journey in connection to the outdoors ⤵️

Getting outdoors is my birthright.

I do not need to assimilate to the current outdoor culture to feel welcome. 

I belong in the outdoors whether they like it or not.

The outdoors is a white space but that doesn’t change how I feel about it. 

Nature welcomes me. 

✊🏿 Q: Which affirmation resonates with you??

✊🏾 Feel free to steal and share these affirmations when you get outside too! 🌍

This is a series for #BlackHistoryMonth to center and celebrate Black joy in the outdoors. Sharing little moments in nature that brought me peace and joy so others can understand the importance of getting outside too!

See you back tomorrow for more Black JOY in the outdoors 👋🏾

#shecolorsnature #diversifyoutdoors #blackoutdoors
Day 17 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy 👉🏾 Check below for o Day 17 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy

👉🏾 Check below for orgs to follow to try something new!! My husband and I had a few days during our last anniversary celebration trip to explore a new part of Oregon! We ended up in some Ice Caves - and it was so much fun!! I reject the notion that fun adventurous outdoor activities are reserved for one community of people. Especially because it brings me so much JOY! If you’ve ever tried something new or gone out on a limb to experience an activity for the first time - you know the euphoric feeling I’m talking about! I’m actually claustrophobic, so entering this ice cave made my palms sweaty - but I was able to over come it! I couldn’t go all the way to the end, but it was an accomplishment for me! 🤸🏾‍♀️🥶🪨🤘🏾

I didn’t grow up doing outdoor activities like you see today, I grew up in a Black family with limited resources. My parents were amazing people but we weren’t spending our weekends exploring the outdoors! I was actually a volleyball athlete! As an adult I started to try new things in community with organizations creating safe spaces to do so! 

‼️ Black women - Here are few organizations I would recommend looking at their programming and events calendars ⤵️

@edge_pnw - snow activities

@blacktotheoutdoors - outdoor activities

@the_bronze_chapter - nature focused activities

@colourthetrails - Canada based adventure

@browngirloutdoorworld - Canada based adventure

@camp.yoshi - camping & backpacking trips

@blackoutside_inc / @campfoundergirls - youth focused events and camps

@adventuruswomen - (not Black/brown led, but I’ve gone and felt a sense of belonging while learning to mountain bike and explore)

✊🏾 BLACK PEOPLE need to reconnect with nature now more than ever! 🌍

Will you try something new this year with one of these awesome organizations?! Let’s combat the narrative “that’s white people stuff”.

See you back tomorrow for more 👋🏾

#SheColorsNature #DiversifyOutdoors #BlackOutdoors #BlackHistoryMonth
Day 16 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy ‼️ Black kids drown Day 16 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy

‼️ Black kids drown most.

In case you missed yesterday’s Black joy installment, please go and check it out! I’ve been on a liberation journey for the last 10 years reacquainting myself with the water. Paddle boarding has been an instrumental activity in helping me reconnect with water - as a kid I was almost a statistic. 

Historically, institutional racism allowed for private pools for whites and left Black communities with nothing more than a community funded wading area. The ripple effect and exclusion of Black swimmers is still at play today. According to the CDC, Black children are 3 times likelier to die from drowning than white children based on population. There are organizations creating change around that, but go research some of the names below and learn about the people who broke the mold!

11 influential Black Swimmers ⤵️

Simone Manuel 
Cullen Jones
Anthony Nesty
Enith Brigitha
Lia Neal
Anthony Ervin
Eric Moussambani
Maritza Correia McClendon
Charles Chapman
Natalie Hinds 
Reece Whitley

👉🏾 Pick a name, learn about Black History today! Come back to this post and share what you learned! LETS MAKE THIS A RESOURCE.

👉🏾 Black swimmers make some noise in the comments. WE OUT HERE. 

Happy Black History Month y’all - see you tomorrow!

#shecolorsnature #BlackSwimmersMatter #BlackPeopleSwim #BlackOutdoors
Day 15 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy 🏊🏾🤿🌊 ‼️According to Day 15 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy 🏊🏾🤿🌊

‼️According to the CDC, Black children drown at 7 times the rate of other children. 

As a child I was almost a statistic, so the topic of Black swimmers is very near to my heart. I did take lessons as a child but wasn’t confident or frequent enough to be a strong swimmer. My parents both never get in the water, consequences of generational trauma and historical racism working its magic. Each year I take up space in the water and work to get comfortable in every body of water I enter while making sure my mixed race kids get lessons every summer! I want to see more Black people in the water, reclaiming our legacy and connection to it. My journey in connection to the water sews seeds of liberation and freedom. ✊🏾

Organizations making change ⤵️

@blackkidsswim 
@afroswimmers
@outdoorafro
@swimuphilldotorg
@blackswimmingassociation 

👉🏾 Tag swim and lesson opportunities that are in your area below!! LET’S MAKE THIS A RESOURCE.

👉🏾 Black swimmers make some noise in the comments. WE OUT HERE.

#SheColorsNature #BlackSwimmers #BlackPeopleSwim #BlackSwimmersMatter
#teambronco_ambassador x The Reset Loved this opp #teambronco_ambassador x The Reset

Loved this opportunity to be able to support a cause near and dear to my heart! More kids outside - less screen usage! Amen? 

3 books I would recommend reading on the topic from @outwardboundusa:

📚 How to Break Up With Your Phone and The Power of Fun, both by Catherine Price

📚 The Amazing Generation by Jonathon Haidt 

#BroncoWildFund a @fordbronco program, collaborated with The Reset on their joint mission of connecting people to the outdoors responsibly.

To learn more, visit the-reset.org and stay connected for next years activation!

I hope you find your way outside 🚙✨👋🏾

Disclaimer✨ 2025 Ford Bronco® Big Bend® model with optional equipment, available Ford Accessories, and extra-cost color option shown.
Day 14 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy To the 14 people who Day 14 // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy

To the 14 people who are seeing this series celebrating Black Joy in connection to nature come across your feed - take a moment and listen to this song. It is wild how relevant it is as if it was written yesterday. Circle back here and let me know what you think, what stands out to you?

🎶 Keep Ya Head Up by 2Pac

Half way through the month already! I highly recommend a good forest frolic! 🌳🍄🧚🏽‍♀️

All month long I will be celebrating by circulating “My Black Outdoor Joy”. 28 days, and 28 little moments of representation, of freedom in nature and taking up space in the most unlikely of places.

Happy Black History Month! See you tomorrow ✊🏾

#SheColorsNature #BlackOutdoors #DiversifyOutdoors
#TeamBronco_Ambassador // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy Man #TeamBronco_Ambassador // #MyBlackOutdoorJoy 

Managing the heaviness in the world by getting outside, prioritizing child-free moments, and doing what I love 🫶🏾 Drinking tea, observing nature, leaving spaces better than I found them and taking big deep breathes outside. Thanks for coming along, now it’s your turn!

I hope you find your way outside 🚙✨👋🏾

Q: would you spend time outside like this with me?

🤎 Longer video, be sure to watch to the end! 

Disclaimer✨ 2025 Ford Bronco® Big Bend® model with optional equipment, available Ford Accessories, and extra-cost color option shown. Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and weight distribution.
From Seattle to Bozeman and back again with @alask From Seattle to Bozeman and back again with @alaskaair ❄️🤍🫎🦬🐺🥾

Full itinerary below ⤵️

DAY ONE 🦬🐺🏔️❄️

SNOWCAT TO DINNER IN A YURT
@bigsky_backcountry_yurts 

-Coffee and breakfast preflight @atmosrewards N-Lounge in Seattle
-Arrive at BZN Yellowstone International Airport
-Lunch @revelry_mt in downtown Bozeman 
-Check in @armoryhotel by Kimpton
-Dinner and sled fun between courses, so fun!!

DAY TWO 🛷🦬🫎🐾

SNOWMOBILE & SNOW CAT TOURS
@Yellowstonenps

-Adventuring around with @yellowstonevacations 

DAY THREE 🏂🎿🌬️🏔️

RIDING AT BIG SKY RESORT
@BigSkyResort 

-Hot cocoa break and Apres Ski/Board party by @atmosrewards
-Farewell delicious date night dinner @est1864bzn

DAY FOUR ✈️💚💙✨

Flight back to Seattle with enough memories of adventure to last a lifetime!

Are you a winter-loving human?

#AlaskaAir 
#AtmosRewards 
#AlaskaAirPartner
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