Great Outdoors Month
Explore Austin hosts a variety of free community programming and events in the month of June in honor of Great Outdoors Month. Check out 2024’s offerings below!
Great Outdoors Month Launch Party
Saturday, June 1 | 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Student Union | Huston-Tillotson University
Join Explore Austin and community partners as we kick off Great Outdoors Month!
This free, kid-friendly event on the Huston-Tillotson University campus will include interactive activities, snacks, showcases, demonstrations, giveaways, a raffle and more fun surprises to celebrate #OutdoorsforAll!
Panel Discussion – Accessibility in the Outdoors: Breaking the Narrative
Thursday, June 13 | 6:30-8:30 pm
Motion Media Arts Center
For both individuals with and without chronic illness or disabilities, there is a pervading narrative that only certain types of bodies can be classified as “outdoorsy.”
This panel will focus on the ways that natural spaces are frequently inaccessible or unwelcome to bodies that don’t fit the “traditional” outdoor enthusiast profile. Examples of such marginalized communities include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals, neurodiverse people, individuals with chronic illness and/or disability, and people in larger bodies, some of which are populations Explore Austin serves via a social-emotional learning-based outdoor adventure curriculum.
Special Video Introduction By
Amy Denton-Luke, Disabled in the Wild
Moderator
Dr. Demekia Biscoe, Director of Education, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Panelists
Ragen Chastain, Sized for Success
Leslie Jordan Garcia, Leslie Jordan Wellness
Syren Nagakyrie, The Disabled Hiker
Pickleball Tournament Benefitting Explore Austin
Hosted by Sam McCathren | Landy Frost Group at Twelve Rivers Realty
Saturday, June 22 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
PickleHub ATX
Save the date — more details and registration information to come!
Panel Discussion – Eco-Justice in Austin & Beyond
Tuesday, June 25 | 6:30-8:30 pm
Motion Media Arts Center
Environmental Justice (also referred to as Eco-Justice) is defined as the equal treatment and involvement of all people in environmental decision making.
Environmental injustice often shows up via environmental racism, a form of institutional racism that results in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals and lower-income communities disproportionately bearing the environmental burdens of toxic waste and pollution. This panel will focus on examples of environmental injustice and the current efforts – both in Austin and throughout the nation – to reclaim space for marginalized communities, highly relevant to the families Explore Austin serves. Over 80% of youth participants in the Explore Austin program identify as BIPOC and 100% qualify for free-or-reduced lunch in school, with many living in communities with active food deserts, lack of green spaces and limited access to sufficient healthcare.
Panelists
Dr. Amanda Masino, Chair for the Department of Natural Sciences, Huston-Tillotson University
Rocío Villalobos, Native Women’s Wilderness & Explore Austin Mentor Alum
Beth Wright, Attorney for Native American Rights Fund
Become a Sponsor
Explore Austin’s free Great Outdoors Month programming is made possible by our generous sponsors.
Explore our sponsorship levels and benefits, and be in touch with us to reserve yours today.