The Power of Invitation: Earl B. Hunter., Jr. Breaking Barriers in the Outdoors 501
Welcome to the Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast. Today, on episode 501, Earl B. Hunter, Jr. from Black Folks Camp To make a second visit to The Show.
is the Founder and President of Black Folks Camp Too — a marketing-driven business whose mission is to increase diversity in the outdoor industry by making it easier, more interesting, and more fun for Folks to go camping.
He's an experienced business leader across multiple industries. He has been widely recognized for his ebullient personality, hard work ethic, and non-traditional approach to building relationships and closing deals.
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What Happened:
It was the summer of 2017. I was clocking miles like a long-haul trucker, repping campers for a living. My 7-year-old son called me out—said I’d promised to take him to Mount Rushmore. He was right. I’d driven past it more times than I could count, but I’d never stopped. So we hit the road.
We camped our way across the country, father and son, a Black duo in a tiny pop-up trailer, parking it beside some seriously decked-out RV setups. We saw the sights, roasted marshmallows, and somewhere near Albuquerque, we spotted something we hadn’t seen in thousands of miles: another Black family camping. My son lit up and said, “Hey Daddy! Black people!”
That moment stuck. We talked to the family—Kimberly and crew—and she said something that flipped a switch in my brain: “Why don’t you change that then?” That “why not you?” hit hard. By the time we were driving up the California coast, the name Black Folks Camp Too was born.
Principle:
Too often, we wait for permission—permission to belong, to show up, to start something meaningful. But sometimes, it takes seeing the gap with your own eyes, feeling the silence in certain spaces, to realize: you’re the one who’s supposed to fill it.
And in business, just like in the outdoors, if you’re only serving the same people the same way… you’re gonna miss the fire. The campfire, that is.
Transition:
Most people think getting more folks into the outdoors is about better gear or cool photos on Instagram. But that’s not it. The real challenge is the invitation—and the welcome. And too many companies still don’t know why the diversity gap exists, so they don’t know how to fix it.
That’s why a lot of businesses are struggling. Not because there’s no market—but because they don’t see who they’re ignoring. And even when they do? They get hung up on the word Black in the name… instead of focusing on the unity behind the mission.
That’s why:
That’s why this episode matters. Earl Hunter isn’t just talking about camping—he’s talking about culture, connection, and cracking open an industry that’s been too exclusive for too long. He’s not asking for handouts or kumbayas. He’s showing up with data, vision, and a real plan to shift the outdoor industry before it goes broke.
Call to Action (PAS style):
If you’ve ever felt like the outdoor world wasn’t built for you—or your brand’s been stuck serving the same crowd—it’s time to tune in. Ignoring the invitation problem won’t fix it. But this episode will give you a fresh lens and a fire to take action.
👉 Hit play now. Let’s change the campfire conversation.
Show Notes:
Appalachian State University
Earl's Trail name: Icebreaker
Mount Rushmore
Favorite piece of outdoor gear: OBOZ Insoles
Favorite book: The Billion Dollar Bet, Bob Johnson
Advice: the first advice I would give folks is, is to go to our unity, go to black folks camp too, and go to our Unity blaze map and find campgrounds that are on our map that are actually there. Those folks are truly invited and welcoming you to camp at their campground.
I would also say to know before you go. Do as much research as you can. You have these devices now, and you have so many YouTube channels and things of that nature to learn about camping.
Follow up with Earl: earl@blackfolkscamptoo.com
#Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast, #Black Folks Camp Too, #Earl Hunter, #diversity in the outdoors, #Appalachian State, #Unity Blaze, #outdoor industry, #inclusion, #Unity Blaze partners, #outdoor community, #backpacking, #state parks, #Oboz Footwear, #Spacious Skies Campgrounds, #outdoor lifestyle, #RV camping, #outdoor participation, #unity in outdoors, #generational transfer, #environmental stewardship.
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