This summer, we’re lucky to have Macey Woodward join us as Blue Sky’s Membership Intern. From building out prospective member research to supporting strategy development and data systems, Macey’s work is already laying the groundwork for Blue Sky’s future growth. Beyond her invaluable contributions, Macey brings a deep sense of reflection, curiosity, and lived experience to the work of outdoor access. We’re thrilled to introduce her here in her own words.
What outdoor environment brings you the most joy (i.e desert, snowy mountains, beaches, etc.)
The mountains and canyons awaken a loud, almost-tangible kind of joy in me. Especially with good company in the backcountry, these environments somehow never fail to bring out all the giggles and shenanigans. On the other hand, I love how urban parks and green spaces spark a different, equally necessary, quiet kind of joy.
How has your relationship to the outdoors changed as you’ve grown up?
If you had asked me a few years ago, I would have said I didn’t have much of a connection to the outdoors. Growing up, I thought being “outdoorsy” meant camping and hiking in the most remote, rugged locations; my childhood spent biking neighborhood streets and planting geraniums on the back porch certainly didn’t qualify under that definition. As a person of color, I believed “the outdoors” wasn’t a space where I could fit.
By college, I was tired of lugging that belief around with me. I was also feeling the most disconnected I’d ever felt, and burnt out by the pressures of a traditional academic environment. On a whim, I took a leave of absence, applied for a NOLS semester course, and suddenly found myself in Wyoming trying to pack my life into an 80-liter backpack.
Turns out, it really was the best decision I’ve ever made. I now see my life split in two parts: before and after that semester. I went from believing, “I have no relationship with the outdoors” to “of course I do! And I always have.”
All of this to say, I’m still unlearning everything I thought I knew about “nature”: what it even is, who it’s for, the ways we’re allowed to show up in it. But when you’re lucky enough to find a community who’ll hold space for you to realize you’ve always belonged, the unlearning starts to feel a little less heavy, and a lot more like a return to yourself.
What drew you to Blue Sky’s work and what are you looking forward to learning more about?
Post-grad, I knew I wanted to work in the nonprofit sector, and this internship felt like the perfect entry point into philanthropy, membership, and programs. Because I’ve experienced firsthand what’s possible when access and support align in the outdoors, I instantly resonated with Blue Sky’s mission to ensure a future where time spent outside is regarded and prioritized as a basic human right.
Now at the halfway point of my internship, I’m excited to dive deeper into Blue Sky’s Rethink Outside initiative and explore how shared narratives, framing, and messaging strategies can add fuel to a movement and get more folks interested, engaged, and involved in this work.