Crystal Gail Welcome - Utilizing her intersecting identities: Black, disabled, lesbian, backpacker. On a mission to get historically excluded folks outdoors in Nature.

<div>After a lengthy battle with a rare brain disease, Crystal Gail Welcome came to recognize the healing power of nature. </div> <div> </div> <div>She now uses her intersecting identities; Black, disabled, lesbian to break down barriers so more people can access the outdoors. </div> <div> </div> <div>Crystal is an experiential educator, author, storyteller, activist, backpacker, and Black outdoor leader. She chooses to speak out against racial injustice in the United States by hiking and giving voice to her experiences.</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. </div> <div> </div> <div>You can support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visit <a href= "http://www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast&source=gmail&ust=1665747639709000&usg=AOvVaw0cQz1oWN6wFVW_l2lY7REF">www.patreon.com/<wbr />toughgirlpodcast</a>.  Thank you.</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Show notes</strong></div> <ul> <li>Who is Crystal Gail</li> <li>Living in Minnesota </li> <li>Turtle racing!</li> <li>Growing up in Florida </li> <li>Where Minnesota is located in the States</li> <li>Not being exposed to the outdoors </li> <li>Not thinking the outdoors was for her</li> <li>Her first visit to a National Park</li> <li>Visiting the birth home of <a href= "https://www.nps.gov/malu/planyourvisit/birth-home.htm" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Martin Luther King Junior in Atlanta, Georgia</a> </li> <li>Learning about the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Parks</a> </li> <li>Feeling connected to Nature</li> <li>Feeling a sense of belonging and wanting to spend more time in nature</li> <li>Continuing her journey and connecting with nature </li> <li>Going out to live life and getting b