Recently we snagged a few minutes with travel vlogger, adventurist, environmental scientist, and Oboz friend Diamon Clark. Read on to learn more about her, see where she is currently, and what she's been up to these last couple of months.
Oboz: When did you first become interested in community science and the outdoors?
Diamon: I'm an environmental educator, scientist, and adventure traveler. My interests in the outdoors didn't solidify until college when I had I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience of living in a tropical rainforest as a research student. As a Black girl from Baltimore City, I’d never experienced anything like it, and it deeply enriched my appreciation for and understanding of nature. It also planted a wild seed of adventure that’s become integral to my lifestyle. When I'm not facilitating environmental education programs, interpretive hikes, or giving talks, I like traveling to see unique ecosystems and finding people to teach me about them.
Oboz: What about environmental science / community science captivated you?
Diamon: I find environmental science so captivating because the more I learn about ecology, the more I realize how interconnected life is. I love that nature is so purposefully organized. Engaging in nature has also been a conduit to learning more about myself. There are so many lessons of cooperation, timing, and balance that you can interpret from being observant of your surroundings.
Oboz: Was there an 'ah-ha' moment?
Diamon: I've had several 'ah-ha' moments during my career, but three significant moments come to mind. The first was learning that careers in the outdoors existed at all. Growing up, being a scientist meant working in a lab with pipettes not going on hikes to collect data. The second time was on a backpacking trip, summiting a mountain. It was an experience that forced me to tap into a mental fortitude I didn't know I had. I got really good at reframing my experience from something that felt painful to seeing the moment as an opportunity to be strong. This skill has transformed how I navigate through uncomfortable situations. The last 'ah-ha' moment came as a blessing from the pandemic. After a year of being home, I turned to social media as a tool for environmental education and discovered my interest in storytelling. These experiences have helped me create the adventurous life I have.
Oboz: Can you tell us a bit more about Wild Gift?
Diamon: Wild Gift is a fantastic non-profit organization based in Idaho. Every year, they offer a fellowship program for environmental entrepreneurs that includes a 21-day Wilderness backpacking trip. In 2018, I was selected as a fellow and it changed my life. I fell in love with Wilderness and, with the help of the program, I successfully launched my own community engagement program. I've remained engaged with the organization as a board member, committee member, and trek facilitator. I highly recommend environmental leaders with start-ups (for or non-profit) to look up this organization.
Oboz: What is the best place that you have ever discovered?
Diamon: I can confidently say my own neighborhood in Baltimore. Despite everywhere I've been, it will always have my heart. I have a dog, a cat, two chickens, and a small goldfish pond that makes my backyard so lively. Between my pets and the abundant wildlife in my neighborhood, there's always something to see. On top of that, my favorite local park and an urban farm are only a few blocks away. Although I love to travel and find adventure in other places, I feel my best right at home.
Oboz: How do you invite people to the trail with you?
Diamon: Surprisingly, I don't because people usually ask to join me. Though I'd like to believe I inspire people to get out on their own by the content I share on social media.
Oboz: What are a few small ways that people could become more invested in outdoor spaces or learn more about the ecosystems around them?
Diamon: All you have to do is step outside of your house. You don't have to go anywhere to experience nature and it doesn't have to look any particular way- as long as it's intentional. Beyond that, my favorite naturalist practice is to keep a nature journal. When I feel like I want to connect to nature without going anywhere, I pull out my journal and go to the backyard. I find something (a leaf, critter, bird, etc.) that interests me, observe it, draw a sketch, and then jot a few questions or thoughts about it. It's a great mindfulness practice that doubles as an opportunity to get curious about where you and what's around.
Oboz: Where are you exploring currently?
Diamon: Currently, I'm in Chiapas, Mexico! It's been a dream of mine to travel through Mexico, so I made it happen and it's been incredible. I've gone birding in a Yucatan jungle, encountered howler monkeys at the top of a Mayan ruin, witness 3 million bats emerge from a cave, took a boat ride through a stunning canyon and looking forward to even more adventure.
Oboz: What is something that you learned recently?
Diamon: I've been learning a lot about Mexican culture through food, fashion, and politics. I took a cooking class and learned how to make tamales. Tamales are delicious, but require a lot of work so families do it together. Regionally, indigenous women wear different styles. So you can tell where a woman is from by the way she dresses. Recently, I crossed paths with the Zapatistas, an autonomous indigenous army, and have been learning about their methods of community organizing.
