WE ARE THE
AMANAH
OUTSIDERS.
Nurturing curiosity through uninterrupted free play in nature.
We reflect We create We explore
We reflect We create We explore
Everyone belongs outside.
Nature is healing as much as it is communal; it is grounding as much as it is exhilarating; it empowers and sustains. Nature is a gift that inspires us to care for our environment, community, and self.
We curate spaces of belonging for all as we gather, explore, and create in the outdoors.
EVENTS
We don’t have any upcoming events right now, but more outdoor gatherings are on the way — check back soon!
Our Story
MOTHERS OF COLOR, FINDING WONDER IN THE ORDINARY.
As mothers of color we saw the lack of opportunity for our children to engage with nature wholistically encompassing who they are.
We created Amanah Outsiders, to provide families of color the opportunity to find wonder in the ordinary, to slow down, and connect with self and with one another outdoors.
OUR TEAM
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She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from The Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in Education from Western Governors University. She has served her community through teaching and mentoring young children and teens at her local mosque for over a decade. She is a homeschooling mother of four amazing children who have developed a great love for nature and being in the outdoors. With AO, she nourishes children’s innate curiosity while sharing her love for nature with them and their families.
Loves: learning, reading, and spending quality time with family
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Jawahir is driven by a deep commitment to service with a background in community development. Her love for the outdoors has been a constant, from childhood adventures to present-day moments in nature, grounding her values of resilience, connection, and stewardship.
Loves: Nature walks, crafting, painting, and coffee time :)
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Lara runs her design & creative strategy business with her partner in life, Alfredo. She leads a small but mighty team that collaborate with social impact driven companies and organizations offering services like brand positioning, visual identity, and website design. She is a mom of four eccentric children who inspire her to give back every day. She joined Amanah Outsiders after her design studio refreshed the organization's brand and website.
Loves: basketball, cooking, swimming, calligraphy.
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Liz is a college student who loves the outdoors and cultivating change through art. As a creative, she has a unique appreciation for the small details and enjoys taking inspiration from nature. While at school, she spends time furthering her love for children and nature through work with The Amanah Outsiders as well as another non-profit summer camp for children affected by cancer.
Loves: music, crafting, cooking, running.
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She is the founder of Maryanslist, a platform highlighting inclusive children's books. Her work began as a library staff member and evolved into a mission to foster representation and belonging in literature. She collaborates with publishers, educators, and librarians to champion equity so that every reader sees themselves on the shelves. Maryan is currently a graduate student pursuing a dual M.Ed/ MLIS degree to become a Youth Services Librarian. Maryan is an AO Board Member and serves as a Community Outreach Liason.
Loves: ceramics, going on walks, reading
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Dr. Nama is a community educator whose work promotes creativity, healing, justice, and curious compassion in people of all ages. She pulls from her anthropological background, trauma informed breath-work certification, and intergroup dialogue experience, to facilitate a wide variety of learning environments. She is a mother of three wildflowers who introduced her to the nourishing qualities of nature. Her unschooling experience taught her that children need time: to exist, and to play, outside. She confounded AO, with Naadiya and Kaouther, to give children a space to simply be children.
Loves: creating herbal concoctions, art-making, reading, gardening.
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She holds a BA in English and a Master's in Public Health, with a focus on community health. She has worked with nonprofits such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Red Cross, and has experience teaching English overseas. She continues to organize communities by raising awareness, and money, for those most impacted by oppressive governments. She is a mother of three adventurous children who love being outside and share Nesha’s deep appreciation for growing things. She is the owner of a cottage bakery, Baradari LLC, which extends her love for baking, giving, and supporting local community efforts.
Loves: baking, gardening, writing poetry, and reading.
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Qorsho Hassan is an educator, Fulbright Scholar, two-time published author, and advocate known for her dedication to uplifting equity and diversity in education. She was named the 2020-2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Her work centers around culturally responsive teaching practices and advocating for the needs of marginalized students, particularly those from immigrant and refugee backgrounds. She is a strong voice for inclusive education and strives to power students and fellow educators to create more equitable learning environments. Qorsho currently consults for school districts and is a program manager for an education non-profit. Qorsho was drawn to Amanah Camp because of its deep roots in spirituality, environmentalism, and inclusivity. She considers herself a guide at Amanah Campers and loves being knee-deep in outdoor fun and silliness.
Loves: reading fantasy novels, journaling, and lifting heavy weights.
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She is a people leader with experience in performance and project management. In her experience with parent teacher organizations, she learned that many children are not provided with an appropriate amount of outdoor time. A mother of three, she is passionate about providing access to the outdoors and nature to children of color. At AO, she she has helped build summer camps, retreats, and family hikes. Tahiyya serves as an AO board member as secretary and project manager.
Loves: reading, baking, crafting.
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She is a high school student who loves getting lost in books and creating stories of her own. An advocate and a justice warrior, she hopes to become a lawyer one day. She is the eldest of five and deeply cares about history, justice, and human rights. Yusra has been a camp counselor and volunteer with AO since its inception. Being part of the community and supporting kids explore the outdoors is something she really enjoys.
Loves: reading, writing, poetry, history, swimming, archery, photography, and video editing.
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She is a community member who began her journey as a language teacher and now counsels on healthy lifestyles, understanding diseases and preventive care. She believes nature nourishes our souls, encouraging individuals to discover inner peace in the outdoors. A mother of two beautiful hearts, Zebo strives to develop her children’s connection to the natural world. Her time with AO taught her that every individual is part of the earth and its natural cycles. She continues to guide adults and children to be aligned with their values and connected to the earth.
Loves: Traveling, gardening, cooking, and learning new skills
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Zubaidah Ghani is a an African-American Muslim woman, wife, and mother of three who has worked in the field of education for two decades as a teacher, administrator, and liaison for many different school districts in the Columbus area. With a background in psychology and education, Zubaidah has extensive experience working with local and nationally known community outreach and civil rights organizations such as MSA, CAIR, and NAACP. Additionally she has worked as an assistant community health coordinator for Urban and Public Affairs in Dayton, a counselor for the office of Academic Retention and Support at Alabama A&M, and as a research assistant for the Air Force research laboratory in the Wright State University Department of Psychology.
Loves: science within Islam, teaching, cookies and brownies, her family.
Got Questions? Here's a list
Got more questions, let us know below!
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They are free unless otherwise specified.
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Yourselves; leave the toys and devices at home. We want to be fully present and immersed in our nature experience. We also suggest packing water and snack.
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None, we choose trails for beginners and families.
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Reach out if interested, we’ll do a vibe check!
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We welcome all ages, especially for our family hikes. If an event has an age restriction, it's there for a reason.
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It depends on the weather; check the temperature and wind, see if it's raining or snowing. When in doubt, layer up!
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We’ll still be there… doing our rain Sunnahs.
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Yes! We love working with folks who care about young people, believe in collective healing, and enjoy coalition building. Let’s dream together!
SHOP AMANAH GEAR
CONTACT
OUR TEAM
Let us know if you wanna chat, we love to talk about all the things.
Amanah Summer Camp offers an immersive camp experience for children ages 5–13, where they learn, play, and create in the outdoors. Our summer camp is held on the traditional territories of the Miami indigenous peoples, and exhibits mounds from peoples of Adena culture.
Camp will be in June & July 2027, and registration will open in April.