Our Founder

"This is the peace that you cannot buy.. Finding a a way when you cannot see. Man will desist is he cannot pray. I need to find release" - Tems 

August 2020 our founder felt physically and mentally exhausted. Being a wife, a mother, a teacher, employee, cook and cleaner all in one home. She felt overworked and anxious and suffered from severe insomnia. Quite honestly,  this working Mama felt as if she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It was needing a reminder of what peace felt like that brought Stephanie back to the woods. As a child, Stephanie loved to be outside in particular on her Grandparents farm, tending the garden, the animals and occasionally running into the woods. August 2020 Stephanie remembered what brought her the most joy and that was being outside so she set out for a hike. 

After feeling the sunlight, hearing the running waters, listening to the birds, she knew she needed to invite friends to join her hiking and thus this community of black women hiking began. One of Stephanie's objectives with this passion project is to debunk myths that black women are "afraid" of the outdoors or that it isn't a place for "us". This is a message that was told to us because of our history however Stephanie is set out to create a new story. HERSTORY. 

Black Girls Hike Too! is a bold declaration that Stephanie is making to say we can hike, camp, swim, kayak, canoe, hunt, fish and take up space in the great outdoors as well.