About Hoofer Ambassadors

Hoofer Ambassadors is a Hoofer program dedicated to equity in the outdoors. The initiative started in September 2018, when a few Hoofers created a Diversity and Inclusion committee to begin a conversation about the barriers to the outdoors in Hoofers and the community. From this committee, with the goal of developing a more welcoming Hoofer culture and community, the Hoofer Ambassador program was created. Starting in the Spring of 2019, multiple Hoofers and Union members volunteered to help grow the program to what it is today. Hoofer Ambassadors is now a grassroots program open to the campus community, where anyone can join and help make a difference in the pursuit of our mission.

We vow to continually question constructions of “the outdoors,” while creating a community that is representative and inclusive. We aim to promote allyship to each other and the Earth, while centering marginalized identities in our efforts to establish a more equitable environment. Ambassador meetings are a place to talk about social justice and develop ideas for all of Hoofer clubs. Hoofer Ambassadors (HA) is committed to providing clubs with specific and concrete recommendations in order to promote inclusivity and equity within Hoofers. This resource can be used as a tool to advocate for diversifying our club spaces, conversations, and outreach initiatives (link to recommendation sheet here!). As ambassadors we attend different social justice events on campus as well as take part in our own trainings with the Multicultural Student Center. These trainings will help give us the language and tools to challenge our club members to become more culturally competent and critique the structures we have in place. We are just getting started and are ready to put in the work to increase access to the outdoors! We are a grassroots program that is run and developed by volunteers that are passionate about our cause. To learn more about becoming a Hoofer Ambassador, see the “Get Involved” tab!

Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion: Leaders of Hoofer Ambassadors and reports to Hoofer Council

• Sydney Triplett (ambassadors@hoofers.org)

Club Liaisons: Take recommendations back to their club executive board and represent their club at Hoofer Ambassadors

• Mountaineering: Caitlin McLaughlin (mountaineering@hooferambassadors.org)
• Outing: Lily Jenkins (outing@hooferambassadors.org)
  
• Riding: Finn Eckes (riding@hooferambassadors.org)
  
• Sailing: Stephanie Crowther (sailing@hooferambassadors.org)
  
• Scuba: Zachary Peterson (scuba@hooferambassadors.org)
  
• Ski & Snowboard: Sydney Kushak (sns@hooferambassadors.org)