City Cast DC Best DC Camping Spots This Fall
4 snips
Oct 9, 2025 Leo Murray, founder of Kiwi Boys and leader of Concrete Escapes, shares his passion for reconnecting DC residents—especially people of color—with nature. He recounts his first camping trip at Lake George and discusses surprising perceptions about Black outdoor enthusiasts. Leo reveals favorite local spots like Shenandoah and Greenbelt, and explains car camping versus backpacking. They also cover essential gear, creative camp cooking, and preparing for colder weather, highlighting Concrete Escapes' pop-up events as a gateway for urban campers.
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First Camping Trip Changed Everything
- Leo Murray first went camping in 2022 at Lake George and discovered a deep love for being outdoors.
- That initial trip on a boat and jet skis reshaped how he thought about nature and sparked Kiwi Boys.
Stigma Limits Outdoor Participation
- Leo identifies a cultural stigma that frames outdoor activities as 'what white people do' and discourages people of color.
- Kiwi Boys aims to break that mold and normalize camping for more Black and brown people.
Start Locally At Green Ridge
- Try Green Ridge State Park for a DMV-area camping gateway; it's about 1.5–2 hours from DC and supports dispersed and backpack camping.
- Use car camping first to build comfort, then progress to backpacking when ready.
