How one camping trip changed a Hamtramck high schooler’s life

This story is part of a series exploring how parks serve as engines of exploration, education, play, and equity. It is made possible with support from Huron-Clinton Metroparks and the City of Detroit.

Immigrating from Bangladesh to Hamtramck at age 13 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nazma Begum had no friends, no English language skills, and no experience with outdoor activities. But all of that changed when she learned about Detroit Outdoors. The nonprofit collaboration between the Sierra Club, Detroit Parks and Recreation, and YMCA Bold & Gold seeks to expand access to outdoor activities, primarily by offering free outdoor adventures to Detroit-area young people. Begum went on her first camping trip with Detroit Outdoors shortly after moving to Michigan and she was immediately hooked.

Since then, she’s gone on hiking, kayaking, and snowboarding trips through Detroit Outdoors and the YMCA. And she’s found numerous ways to share her passion for the outdoors with others. She helped to found, and then served as the president of, the Outdoor Adventure Club at Hamtramck High School. She’s also volunteered with Detroit Outdoors and SOS Outreach. And now, as a freshman at Michigan State University (MSU), she’s joined her school’s Outdoors Club and is planning to pursue a minor in environmental studies.

We chatted with Begum about how discovering a passion for the outdoors has changed her life.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did you first find out about Detroit Outdoors?

A: I first got involved through my school in my freshman year. One of my teachers, Ms. Madden, introduced me to Detroit Outdoors and how they go on camping trips mainly. The first Detroit Outdoors trip I went on was to Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula. That was my first ever outdoor trip.

I was 13 and I knew no English. I had been here in America for six months or something. I just wanted to get out of my house, but I didn’t know that it would change my whole life and perspective about nature. When I went on the trip, I didn’t even know what camping was, and I went without knowing it was a camping trip. So me and my brother packed everything in a luggage like we were heading to a fancy hotel. When you hear about a school trip in the United States, you think of tall buildings, city view, and everything.

It was a nine-hour drive, and me and my brother were looking at each other like, “What’s happening? Why are we in the forest?” And then my teacher said, “We’re sleeping here.” I was like, “Who drives nine hours to sleep in the forest? That’s so crazy. And the bathroom is so far.” And then that night I even mistook my sleeping bag for a pillow. It was a chilly September night and I was thinking the whole night, “Why did they give me a pillow, but not a blanket?” I asked my teacher and she explained it in the morning.

I grew up in a city life. Bangladesh is overpopulated, crowded, too many buildings. I never saw a sunrise before. And when I saw the sunrise [at Pictured Rocks], I was like, “This is so amazing.” I was speechless. And I was like, “It’s worth it, the nine-hour drive, to see the view.”

Q: What did you find that you liked about nature once you started doing outdoor activities?

A: When I started, I didn’t really like anything about it. I felt like, “Oh, this is unhygienic. It’s not my cup of tea.” And then I started enjoying it. I started talking to people, making friends. Since I came here, I didn’t really have any friends or know any people in school.

And then I also like how nature feels. After the pandemic, I used to be stressed about school work, depression, and some other things. But when I went to nature – the fresh air and the nature sounds and everything ­– it was so relaxing and I liked it. When I’m observing all the things around me, it’s just so good and relaxing. And I like how that made me feel.

Q: You’ve spoken about your unique experience as the only girl on your first camping trip who wore a hijab. Do you feel like you were a role model for other hijabi girls in your school, or like you were helping to change the perception of what hijabi girls can do?

A: Yeah. After I came back from my first trip, even my family was like, “You shouldn’t go anymore. It’s against the culture and your religion. It’s really something bad.” But I wanted to continue. I was like, “If my brother can go, why can’t I go?” I explained to my mom how much I wanted to go and how I found a new passion. And then she was like, “Okay, you can go.” When I went on my second trip, she told my family and my uncle and everyone that I’m studying at my friend’s house. And then when I came back, I was like, “I cannot make excuses every single time I go on trips.” And then I explained to my family about how nature is open to everyone. It’s not like, “Oh, hijabis cannot do this. It’s against the culture.” It’s nature. How it can be against your culture to go there?

I also wanted my friends to go. And then I started to talk to my teachers and they said, “You can open a club.” When we opened [the Outdoor Adventure Club at Hamtramck High School], we had only three girls. I was the only hijabi. I took my cousin on a trip, and then we all started talking to other families, other students, convincing them that you can go [camping]. It’s nothing against the culture. Now we have three schools in Hamtramck involved with skiing and snowboarding and the outdoors. Before it was only Hamtramck High School, three girls, one hijab. And then we got 50 people. Those people never went to any camping trip or any outdoor trip. They are immigrants. But now they know Detroit Outdoors. They know Bold and Gold. Whenever they want to go on a trip, they can just contact them.

Q: How did the Detroit Outdoors staff help you to feel comfortable outdoors and get you excited about the outdoors?

A: Detroit Outdoors plays a big role in my life. All the people are so friendly. Whenever you need help with anything, they’re ready to help you. All my outdoor experiences were either through Detroit Outdoors, or because they connected me or recommended me to something.

Even recently, I went to the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference. I won third place in the Norm Strung Student Writing Contest. And Detroit Outdoors paid for me to go to the OWA conference. I met with so many people who are passionate about the outdoors. I had so much fun there. I will always remember that.

Q: What do you feel are some of the most important things you’ve learned from Detroit Outdoors?

A: I learned leadership from them. I was an introverted person in the beginning. And then when I joined the Outdoor Adventure Club, I started talking to people, guiding people when there’s a trip. I started talking loud. I learned how to deal with kids and tell them about nature.

Q: You just started studying criminal justice at MSU. Do you hope that nature or the outdoors will continue to be part of your life?

A: When I came [to MSU], I was having some rollercoaster feelings. I had moved away from my family for the first time. But I wanted to come to MSU because they have the biggest adventure club, with the biggest skiing and snowboarding. And I saw how many trips they do out of country and out of state. Wherever you want to go, they have so much opportunity. So I had to come here. And when I joined the outdoor adventure club, it was perfect for me.

Q: Do you feel like the outdoors will continue to be part of your life for the long run?

A: It will be. I’m planning to do a minor in anything related to the outdoors. Right now I’m taking a forestry class. So I’m planning to do a minor, maybe on environmental science or something, and still stay connected with the outdoors.

I also got connected to Sierra Club from Detroit Outdoors. I kind of want to work for them at the same time, because they work for youth and immigrants. I also did one project for them about public transportation and how it’s not available to all the people who want to go to nature. Hamtramck people, if they want to go to Belle Isle, they don’t have a ride to go there. So many people want to explore, but they don’t have a ride. So I did a presentation about how public transportation should be more available and more accessible for the people. I like working with the Sierra Club, so I have a plan to maybe also work with the Sierra Club as a professional.