FULL CIRCLE EXPEDITION & GREENING YOUTH FOUNDATION

First Team Of Black Climbers To Summit Mount Everest

supported and empowered in the outdoors. The Greening Youth Foundation’s mission is to connect underrepresented youth and young adults to the outdoors and careers in conservation. With this adventure, the two groups are inspiring the next generation about how they can reach their personal summits and they are also bringing more stories to the forefront of people from underrepresented communities thriving in the outdoors.

This expedition not only increased the awareness and conversation about the lack of Black representation in mountaineering, it furthered the strength of the connection between the Black climbing community, the Sherpa community and the Nepali culture overall. Climber Evan Green said, “The Full Circle Expedition was a pivotal moment in my life. Climbing Everest was undoubtedly a highlight of the trip; however, this expedition was so much more than that. Traveling to a foreign country and being immersed with new cultures allowed me to grow, learn so much, laugh and struggle with the team. I’m truly blessed.”

* OUTSIDE CIRCLE:

Percent of Outdoor Particpants, 2020

African American/Black

Asian/Pacific Islander

Caucasian/White, non-Hispanic

Hispanic

Other

On May 12, 2022, Team Full Circle made history by becoming the first Black expedition to reach the top of Mount Everest. With funding from The VF Foundation, The North Face® and Smartwool®, this group of 11 Black climbers not only ascended to new heights, they raised awareness of the lack of diverse representation in outdoor sports and shattered stereotypes around the world. “There’s only a handful of people who have ever even been on that mountain,” said climber Eddie Taylor. “And there’s no way we couldn’t talk about the lack of diversity in the climbing community.”

“People say to us, ‘Black people don’t do snow. We don’t ski, we don’t do camping,’” said climber Rosemary Saal. “And that can become a very real, selfimposed limitation. People don’t even know the things they can do unless they’re exposed to it.”

Full Circle Expedition uses education, public speaking and expeditions to create spaces for individuals to feel represented,

Funding from The VF Foundation also provided opportunities for four students from Central Wyoming College, who are members of the Wind River Indian Reservation, to trek to Everest Base Camp.

$250,000