BPDSO

04/12/2026

Join us for our joyful weekly sunrise hikes at Cowles Mountain!

Kick off your day with an invigorating hike up one of San Diego’s most popular peaks, where the morning sun unveils breathtaking views of the ocean, mountains, and cityscape.

Whether you're an experienced hiker craving adventure or a beginner eager to embrace nature, our hikes welcome all fitness levels. Moreover, it’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow hikers and build new friendships within our vibrant community.

So put on your hiking boots, grab that water bottle, and join us for a delightful morning on the trails. We can't wait to see you there!



Frequently Asked Questions
Why hike at sunrise?

Hiking in the morning provides a great workout for your body and has numerous health benefits. It can boost metabolism, improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase overall well-being.

Join us for our joyful weekly sunrise hikes at Cowles Mountain! Kick off your day with an invigorating hike up one of San Diego’s most popular peaks, where

04/12/2026

Outside with Purpose

April Outside: Rooted in Community, Grounded in Care

April reminds us that being outside is more than an activity—it's a relationship.

With Earth Day as a touchpoint, the trails we hike, the parks we gather in, and the beaches we walk become more than places we pass through. They're spaces we connect to, care for, and help sustain. At BPDSO, that's exactly what we're here to do.

Getting Outside Doesn't Have to Be Big to Matter

It can be a walk through your neighborhood park. A visit to the beach. A short hike with a friend.

Outside is not a performance. It's a practice. And how we show up—with intention, with presence, with care—is what makes it meaningful.

Environmental Justice Is Closer Than You Think

It lives in the parks we walk through. The air we breathe on our runs. The neighborhoods where green space is plentiful—or hard to find.

Robert D.

03/18/2026

Join us for a Spring Equinox sunrise hike at Cowles Mountain via the Barker Trail!

Welcome the new season with an intentional start—moving with the sunrise, grounded in community, and taking in sweeping views of the ocean, mountains, and city below.

Whether you're an experienced hiker or just getting started, this hike is open to all fitness levels. Expect a supportive, steady pace and a chance to connect with others who share a love for the outdoors and being in motion together.

Lace up your boots, bring your water, and meet us on the trail as we step into spring—together. We’ll see you at first light.



Frequently Asked Questions
Why hike at sunrise?

Hiking in the morning provides a great workout for your body and has numerous health benefits. It can boost metabolism, improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase overall well-being.

Join us for a Spring Equinox sunrise hike at Cowles Mountain via the Barker Trail! Welcome the new season with an intentional start—moving with the sunrise

03/17/2026

Rooted & Rising

March is an opportunity to honor women—and this month, we’re centering Black women whose leadership continues to shape environmental justice, science, and public lands.

Black women shape environmental advocacy, advance scientific inquiry, and lead stewardship across outdoor spaces. Our relationship to land reflects knowledge, care, and vision—practical, cultural, intellectual, and forward-looking. It is leadership rooted in experience and responsibility.

This month, we highlight four women whose work reflects the breadth and power of that leadership.

Environmental Justice

Hazel M. JohnsonOften called the “Mother of Environmental Justice,” Johnson transformed community advocacy into national impact. Her leadership demonstrated that protecting the environment also means protecting families, neighborhoods, and future generations. Her work helped establish environmental justice as a pillar of public policy.

Global Conservation Leadership

Dr.

03/09/2026

Happy International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.

Today we celebrate women whose leadership continues to shape our communities, our environment, and the world around us.

At BPDSO, we’re highlighting Black women whose work advances environmental justice, science, conservation, and stewardship of public lands. Their leadership reflects the many ways Black women engage with the natural world—through advocacy, research, education, and care for the land.

Today we’re lifting up a few remarkable leaders whose work continues to inspire:
🌍 Hazel M. Johnson – often called the Mother of Environmental Justice, whose advocacy helped transform community health concerns into a national movement.

🌳 Wangari Maathai – founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who mobilized millions of trees to be planted while empowering women and communities.

🌲 Betty Reid Soskin – National Park Service ranger and historian who helped ensure the full story of America’s wartime home front was preserved and told on public lands.

🔬 Dr. Carolyn Finney – cultural geographer and scholar whose work expands how we understand race, belonging, and representation in environmental spaces.

These leaders remind us that across environmental justice, science, and outdoor leadership, Black women are driving innovation, shaping policy, and redefining stewardship.
Today we honor their stories and reflect on the lessons their leadership offers.
Tag a Black woman whose work in the outdoors, science, or environmental advocacy inspires you and help us celebrate their impact.

BPDSO

02/19/2026

🌿 This week we honor York — a pivotal figure in the exploration of the American West following the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the land acquisition that doubled the size of the United States and accelerated westward expansion.

As a member of the Corps of Discovery, York wasn’t a sidekick or footnote. He traveled thousands of miles across unfamiliar and often unforgiving terrain on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, enduring the same harsh conditions and uncertainty as its leaders.

York was a skilled outdoorsman whose strength, endurance, and field competence contributed directly to the mission’s success. His judgment and decision-making mattered on terrain where survival depended on it.

He also carried diplomatic influence. In encounters with Native nations, his presence sparked curiosity and engagement, shaping moments of cultural exchange that influenced how the expedition was received. His humanity became part of the negotiation space.

When the expedition ended, York returned not to recognition — but to enslavement. He helped chart the West, influenced critical encounters, and contributed to a mission that reshaped a nation — yet was denied control over his own life.

That contradiction is part of this nation's HIStory.

His resilience extended beyond the wilderness. It became a continued demand for freedom, dignity, and humanity.

York’s story isn’t background noise — it’s history. OURstory. 🌿✨

From York’s life, we learn that skill builds authority. Presence shapes outcomes. Contribution defines legacy — even when credit is withheld. And resilience is not just survival; it is the insistence on being fully human.

— B.P.D.S.O.

ExplorationHistory WeAreOutside

02/18/2026

02/17/2026

🚨SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT🚨
We’re heading to Colorado this May for 🥾

We’ll be hosting a speaking session on the power of Affinity Spaces and why they are vital to the outdoor community. We’re also heading out to lead a group hike and we want you there with us!

Event Details
📆 Date: May 15-16, 2026
📍 Location: Ga***rd Rockies Resort
🎟️ Ticket Cost: Free (Until March 31st)

What You Can Expect:
👉🏽 100+ brands and exhibitors
👉🏽 Discover new gear
👉🏽 Educational sessions
👉🏽 Network with industry leaders

If you’re interested in attending visit hikeexpocolorado.com for more details. Let’s show up and represent in the Rockies!

02/16/2026

Took our love to the trail today. ❤️🥾




📸:

02/16/2026

02/12/2026

Before the National Park Service came to be, a trailblazing Black Army officer was already paving the way for one of America's most cherished landscapes.

Brigadier General Charles Young, born into slavery in 1864, became the third Black graduate of West Point and a high-ranking officer of his time. In 1903, he led a team of Buffalo Soldiers in Sequoia National Park, managing and safeguarding its natural wonders.

During his tenure, Young and his troops made significant strides in improving the park's infrastructure, protecting giant sequoias, and enforcing conservation policies, setting a high standard for future national park stewards.

He went on to serve as a U.S. military attaché, representing the nation abroad with distinction.

Young lived by these words:
“Look up, look out, but never look down on anybody.”

This guiding principle reflected his leadership style: visionary, disciplined, and humble, overcoming obstacles along the way.

BG Young passed away in 1922 while serving in Nigeria and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. His eulogy, delivered by Theodore Roosevelt Jr., acknowledged both his character and the challenges he overcame.

His life reminds us:
• Stewardship is leadership
• Excellence expands access
• Representation reshapes possibility

Today, we honor his legacy, leadership, and commitment to service — carrying his torch forward.

BPDSO