On 29 November, Opening Up The Outdoors (OUTO) celebrated a new cohort of changemakers who are driving inclusion and representation across the outdoor industry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After 12 weeks of mentoring, coaching and more, OUTO’s  second DACH cohort Changemaker class of 2025 presented their initiatives at a special event in the Patagonia Munich Store, showcasing projects that improve access, representation and belonging in outdoor spaces. To date, 59 OUTO Changemakers have completed the OUTO Changemaker Programme.

At the Patagonia Munich Store, 13 DACH Changemakers delivered their final five-minute pitches to an audience of industry leaders and consumers, marking a significant milestone for the programme.

“This was an inspirational event, and we are extremely grateful to Patagonia for hosting the graduation. It was hugely rewarding to hear directly from OUTO’s latest cohort of DACH Changemakers and learn how each of them is taking a leadership role in delivering systemic change in the outdoor sector and in society more widely. The timing couldn’t have been better, coming so soon after the publication of Belonging Without Barriers, which clearly highlights the urgent need to do more to dismantle barriers, promote inclusion and create outdoor spaces where everyone feels they truly belong. I cannot wait to see how each DACH Changemaker will now go on to drive change in their own distinct way.”

OUTO co- founder, Keme Nzerem & OUTO Secretary General, Margo De Lange

The graduation of OUTO’s DACH Changemakers follows the publication of Belonging Without Barriers, the first study to document the lived experiences of People of Colour (POC) in Germany’s outdoor spaces. The research revealed that 65% of POC have faced discrimination or prejudice when spending time in nature. The projects presented by the DACH Changemakers directly address the challenges highlighted in the report by creating safe, welcoming and inclusive outdoor spaces for everyone, and by mobilising the entire outdoor industry behind this mission.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YJuZ4DJDeeyjHJzT-LVo26H-pz2nJo52/view?usp=sharing Photo credit: Ray Demski