Unity is Strength
In the spirit of our EXPLORE Global. Unite Local. campaign, we reflect on our unforgettable partnership with Black Folks Camp Too, whose mission echoes our core belief that unity is essential, regardless of where we come from. While celebrating our 50th Anniversary in 2022, we shared a meaningful campfire conversation with Black Folks Camp Too, and though time has passed, the message remains as powerful as ever: unity is our greatest strength.
From the beginning, our campaign was designed to inspire connection across boundaries, emphasizing a shared love for exploration and discovery, both locally and globally. This message of unity is embodied by Black Folks Camp Too mission to change the world, one campfire at a time. “Once we get around that campfire, we’re going to realize we have more sames than differences.” – Earl B. Hunter, Jr. This simple yet profound insight captures our mission—bridging divides, celebrating diversity, and fostering a sense of togetherness that transcends our differences. As we gather around the metaphorical and literal campfires of life, we learn that the campfire itself has no borders, no judgments, and no preference for who sits around it. It simply invites warmth, light, and sharing.
We’ve been living in a time of heightened tensions and showcased divisions. Now more than ever, EXPLORE Global. Unite Local. holds a particularly powerful message. Just as in paddling, where balance and cooperation are essential, navigating our journey as a community means stepping into the same boat, recognizing our shared goals, and working together to move forward. Earl said it best, we need to “get in the boat together.”
Looking Forward
This is more than an invitation to experience the outdoors. It is a call to action to acknowledge our common humanity. In our communities and country, as we embrace our differences, we must remember that once we are all in the same boat, with paddles in hand, it’s our unity and shared purpose that will ultimately propel us forward.
As we look to the future, let us carry forward the campfire’s light, inviting more people to sit down, share their stories, and connect. Whether it’s around a fire or in a boat, there’s room for everyone. After all, when we move together, we discover not only the world but also the profound bond that links us all: The Great Outdoors.