Founded by HBCU graduates, Camp Yoshi is redefining the outdoor experience with its elevated trips to nowhere.
“Trips to Nowhere” are a speciality of Camp Yoshi. The Black-owned outdoors group has a mission to not only diversify America’s outdoors movement, but provide elevated eco-adventures that tie community with sustainability.
“I think the evolution of how I see [Camp Yoshi]’s legacy is just how we want to show for our people,” Frazier told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “How do we create something that really is built for our communities at the same level of legacy, experience, and aspiration that a lot of our peers have had, but we haven’t had access to. If you can have the right operator, like us, doing it, you’ll find yourself as a first time camper thriving and not just surviving.”
From there, Camp Yoshi was born, taking the anxiety and hassle away for first-time and diverse campers. Frazier and his team set up homebase before campers arrive at the unique campgrounds. However, they still follow the “Leave No Trace” principles upheld by outdoors advocates.
The itinerary varies from trip to trip, ranging from true camping elements to more luxurious accommodations. However, the heart of each experience remains. These eco-adventures allow “campers” to recharge and immerse themselves in the wanderlust of somewhere new. Some of these off-grid experiences are as thrilling as they are peaceful. One can take treks through the Mars-like atmosphere of Moab, Utah or trail through the vast landscapes of Big Sky, Montana and Bend, Oregon.
This industry, while seeing tremendous growth, has leaned traditionally white in its businesses and patrons. Emphasizing the importance of wellness for all, especially those it has historically excluded, is essential to the Camp Yoshi difference.
“I think in the space that we sit in today and all the things that we’re seeing happening around us, in our country, in our environment, yeah, I just really, really hope that as people come into the camp Yoshi ecosystem, and they adventure with us, and they meet others from different walks of life that don’t look like them, that we can sit down, we can foster conversation, and we can walk away as friends, even if we don’t agree,” shared Shequita.
“Keep in mind, too, we’re not a monolith,” added Frazier. “We’re not locked in on just camping, obviously, our trips can incorporate a hotel if you need to. But the ecological wonder, discovery, fellowship, community that comes with our trips, I think that can show up anywhere, whether in camping or in the Four Seasons.”
“I think since we have a specific focus on new users in the outdoor space, the food can help alleviate [concerns]… Trips are meant to kind of help bring strangers together quickly. For the solo travelers, nothing just disarms a person like a good meal with a group of people,” emphasized Frazier.
Shequita adds, “The culinary perspective of everything is centered around Rashad and his background and experiences. But, we all know that food is the cornerstone of building community. At the onset of Camp Yoshi, the whole premise was to get people outside and understand how healing nature can be.”
Camp Yoshi can take your travels even further, with field day trips and week-long expeditions fitting wide price points. Crossing oceans to destinations like Puerto Rico and Japan are also now on their horizon.
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Source: Black Enterprise
