BCM’s Inaugural Summer in Birmingham
In Alabama, early summer bugs are much different than late summer bugs. This is just one of several lessons learned during Birmingham’s inaugural summer with Big City Mountaineers (BCM), as noted by Amber Somma, Director of YouthServe in Birmingham, a BCM Youth Agency Partner. In fact, the bugs and rain may prompt BCM Birmingham to start its hiking season earlier next year.
Despite these minor challenges, everyone agrees that BCM’s first season in Alabama was a success. An impressive 56 students participated. “I am super proud of the work we’ve done and thrilled that BCM let us run with this program. It has a Birmingham focus and a Birmingham twist,” says Margaret Cartner, Regional Program Manager for Birmingham. The program hosted four hikes, four overnight camping trips, and two expeditions. “For a first season, it’s great to launch at this level,” Margaret adds.
The Birmingham crew hiked Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, Oak Mountain State Park, and Bankhead National Forest, with overnight trips at Tannehill Ironworks State Park and Cheaha State Park. Their expeditions took place in the Cheaha Wilderness within Talladega National Forest.
“Birmingham has proximity to beautiful natural areas,” Margaret says. “And the environmental and outdoor community made us feel supported and held. They made the BCM engagement possible.”
Building Community
That engagement didn’t come without some hesitance. Margaret explains that parents and community members often associate the outdoors with danger, fearing potential harm from weather or wildlife. To address these concerns, Margaret and the BCM team are hosting an introductory hike for parents this November to familiarize them with the gear, the program, and Margaret herself. Additionally, BCM Birmingham organizes periodic cookouts for potential youth participants and their families.
Another challenge, according to Margaret, is the lack of a robust outdoor professional community in Alabama, which makes it difficult to find qualified instructors. To bridge this gap, BCM’s Birmingham program plans to launch a BCM Leaders program in the coming years to keep alumni involved. “We want to keep them engaged in the outdoor industry. We’re also looking to set up two apprenticeships and, in the spirit of educating volunteers from our region’s Youth Agency Partners, BCM Alabama will provide a Wilderness First Responder course locally.”
Agency Partnership
Among the Youth Agency Partners, YouthServe, led by Amber, was very active this summer. Founded in 2004, YouthServe focuses on empowering diverse groups of youth through civic engagement and community leadership. “Part of the program is youth empowerment,” Amber says. “And that is in alignment with BCM.”
Although Amber is not a seasoned camper, she participated as a leader in all YouthServe summer events and found it rewarding. Nearly 25 YouthServe members took part in BCM outings, many experiencing the outdoors for the first time. While some participants expressed concerns about the lack of showers and restrooms in the wilderness, most who participated in overnight camping and expeditions adjusted and became comfortable. Leaders discovered that encouraging youth to express their feelings and discomfort and lean into their experiences helped them move through difficult moments and thrive.
Thriving in the Alabama Wilderness
Ameirah Hernandez is one of the youth participants who thrived in the Alabama wilderness this summer. She attended an overnight camp at Tannehill Ironworks State Park in May and participated in a Cheaha expedition in June, marking her first camping experience. Ameirah found carrying the gear and sleeping in complete darkness to be the most challenging aspects of the expedition. “It was my first time in pitch darkness,” she recalls. “I always have some kind of light, even if just my charger.”
As the only female-identifying participant on her trip, Ameirah, a member of the Huffman Outdoor Adventure Club, has encouraged others to participate in activities with BCM. “I loved the adults we were with and learned so much. I saw how beautiful Alabama is and realized how mentally strong I am. I didn’t know I could take on such significant challenges.”
Next up for BCM Birmingham, Margaret plans to continue hosting activities to help build the outdoor community and has set a goal to work with outdoor clubs, environmental organizations, and indigenous groups to weave historic and indigenous culture into the outdoor program. “We need to make sure we include land history and practices before colonization to reinforce our students’ connections to the land.”
