field guide #5 more joy and less rules for the outdoors

I have known Paris for most of my Amsterdam life chapter. She is an independent brand strategist and has been a council member for the Opening up the Outdoors (OUTO) organization for three years, and was a panelist for the first (and only) Field Test Panel two years ago.

When we were recently in Malaysia, sitting on a rock, near the Nipah waterfall, she told me that she had been thinking about transitioning her career into the outdoor industry, hoping to explore creating more outdoor community experiences. Talking with her more about it now, it feels as though she’s been building towards this her whole life.

tastewashing, I’ve been listening to a NYT podcast about AI companies in Silicon Valley obsessing over taste. Because what AI produces is full on slop and anti-taste, leaders are starting to realize that curation is the new core skill for their LLMs. It felt pretty sinister to listen to, taste is fundamentally human, everything that defines our likes and dislikes. I didn’t know this shift was happening and I’m very curious to keep an ear out for how it develops.

erykah badu, I keep going back to Worldwide Underground by her. But also anything by Erykah Badu as I grew up with her music around the house, so thank you mom.

crisp chili oil, I put it on 80% of what I eat, maybe even 90%. If I don’t have it in a meal, it feels kind of incomplete.

clavicular (not what you think), he was recently in Europe. So when I was in France, I was getting content of him getting trolled by girls, which I loved…But then I started getting fed other content about him, which I hated. A little bit of a twofer on that one.

lost magazine, slow dosing some of the articles from this travel magazine that I got at the pop up we went to in Johor. It’s like a collection of stories around the world. It’s about travel but through the lens of self-discovery. The imagery is beautiful as well.

love trails festival, I’ve been interested and had a connection to the outdoors and music festivals since living in Europe, but I didn’t know this type of festival existed, one that blended sport, music and the outdoors together. So I’m curious to find what ever similar festivals there are in Europe.

the studio, I’ve just finished s1 of this series with Seth Rogan. It’s absurd and hilarious. It’s a combination of wtf gasps, and laughs while you watch it. It’s very cringe so be in that mindset when you watch it but in a good way.

what’s something the outdoors has taught you that no classroom or office could?

Presence and patience. Growing up we would go on hikes around Maine with my grandparents (Oma and Opa). When we got antsy they would tell us to enjoy the moment. We heard it so much it became a mantra. When you’re hiking you’re moving really slow, not going anywhere fast, which means you can take in way more and savour it all. That’s really the whole point.

why is the outdoors so important to you?

Spending time in nature, it’s sort of a gut check for me. I get to see how I’m really doing outside of the constant busyness of day to day life. I’ve been doing that my whole life.

As I’ve gotten older, the relationship has evolved to be more about challenging myself. I’ve been diving now for 10 years and I love the balance and challenge of trying to maintain your calm underwater, while all the adrenaline is pumping through you. I’ve recently tried skiing, which has been the hardest thing I’ve tried to learn. It’s a whole new side of mountain culture I hadn’t experienced before, but I’m coming around to it: the mountain lunches and small huts, post ski wine, sauna sessions.

how do you envision the outdoors to be? what are the main barriers against that right now?

I hope it becomes more open!

The outdoor industry projects an incredibly narrow definition of the outdoors. It’s about performance, endurance, conquering-sticking-flags-on-top-of-mountains. Remote, rugged, hard to reach, only for outdoor people who look a certain way, dress a certain way and speak a certain way and act a certain way. It’s wild to me that a space that is meant to be as open and free as the outdoors has so many rules, codes and norms prescribed to it. The biggest barrier has been the outdoor industry itself, which is why that's where most of my energy goes.

communities of colour are redefining outdoor culture from the outside in. what does that actually look like on the ground?

The first thing that came to mind was joyful. There’s a lot of emotional labour that goes into trying to get an industry to recognize their blindspots, working with them to get them to be more anti-racist and inclusive. But on the ground for these communities, there is so much joy and empowerment. When there are new voices it brings new connections, new innovations, new culture. It helps to show the industry all the ways this change is already happening.

tell us about the Add One walk !!

I’m collaborating with Add One on an outside edition on July the 18th. We’re going for a loop walk down the Amstel, around 5km. We’ll end at a restaurant by a river, where we can have snacks and we can go for a swim. It’s the first time I’m collaborating on an experience outside of OUTO, it feels like a grown up moment. In terms of why, aside from Add one being an amazing and perfect partner for this, I came back from the sabbatical with a craving for more outdoor community experiences in Amsterdam, so this is kind of a trial. If you’re keen, let me know, and come join.

what’s a moment that hasn’t left you since working on Opening Up The Outdoors?

Whenever I get a chance to go to events in person, it leaves the biggest impact. When we went to Kendall Mountain festival last November (an outdoor film festival where outdoor enthusiasts and industry come), it felt different. It was clear we were no longer a small NGO, under the radar, but we were this force, and thought leader within the industry. We had an incredible representation on panels and I felt the weight and significance of what we’ve been building. I felt very proud, it was all quite surreal.

what’s the most uncomfortable you’ve ever been outside and was it worth it?

Haha, my gut went to when I went diving in Thailand a few years ago. The current was so strong and visibility was so low, that when our guide wanted to leave the coral to follow a big school of fish in the open water, we got lost (as a group). And we had nothing to fix our sight on. When we looked up, down and either side it all looked the same: cloudy like you were floating in space. It was the first time I got genuinely scared from diving.

Was it worth it? Absolutely. I’ve gone on a lot of dives since then, but it’s taught me boundaries on the types of dives I will and won’t do. It was a lesson in preparation about the currents and visibility before I head out. It’s a must for me now.

What are your must haves when you plan a trip outdoors?

I’m an essential+ outdoor girl. In addition to the essentials, I like to have that plus element, a few extra things that make me feel more comfortable or bring me joy. Eleven years ago, I went on a six week road trip with my friend Becky. We camped in the Grand Canyon, and instead of bringing dehydrated food (which people would choose because it’s lighter), we brought fresh vegetables to cook after our long days, because food was and still is really important to me when I’m spending time outdoors. Was it essential? No. Was it heavier? Yes, quite a bit heavier. Was it delicious and satisfying? Absolutely. There are many of us essential plus girls out there and we don't have to feel shy about it.

If you want to learn more about her, or work with Paris, make sure to contact her on Instagram or LinkedIn.