Through Snowboarding (and More), NYC’s Hoods to Woods is Making a Long-Lasting Impact

Founded in 2009 by Brian Paupaw and Omar Diaz, Hoods to Woods is the literal vehicle between New York City and the slopes of New Jersey. Rooted in experience, the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization was launched with the intention to provide access to snowboarding to inner city youth. By sharing their own passion for snowboarding, Brian and Omar not only take kids boarding, but they have created a space for youth growing up in underserved communities to enjoy the outdoors, learn from each other, and find mentorship from the program’s volunteers. With momentum and recognition on the rise, Hoods to Woods is growing its participation and possibly even its programming. We checked in with founder Brian to get the backstory and find out what’s on the horizon over at Hoods to Woods.- Ally Watson

https://blog.arcteryx.com/stories/hoods-to-woods/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhmJqaCMeuo

Can you give a little run down of how Hoods to Woods started and what got it off the ground?
Hoods to Woods started from a simple yet powerful idea: Introducing inner-city kids to the outdoors through snowboarding. It was founded in 2009 by myself, Brian Paupaw, and Omar Diaz. We both grew up in underserved communities in New York City, where access to nature and outdoor activities was extremely limited or just awareness in general. The idea came from a short film I made about my experience snowboarding at Mt. Baker, Washington, which resonated with Omar when he saw it at a small screening in Manhattan. From there, we worked hard to get the program off the ground, initially shuttling just a few kids from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to Mountain Creek in New Jersey. Over time, with a lot of persistence and the support of the winter sports community, OvRride, Share Winter Foundation, 686, Arc’teryx, REI, and Ride Snowboards we’ve been able to expand the program to serve 125 kids annually in the New York Tri-State area.

How did your experience growing up in New York City shape the launch of Hoods to Woods?
Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s and 90s, I was surrounded by a lot of negative influences. The environment was tough at the time, with drugs and violence being a daily reality for many of us in the community. I found an escape in art, Hip Hop, graffiti, and later snowboarding, which opened my eyes to a world beyond what I could see. Snowboarding showed me the transformative power of the outdoors, and it made me realize that more kids from my community needed to experience this as well. Hoods to Woods was born out of a desire to offer these kids an opportunity to break free from their environment and see that there’s more out there for them.

Can you share a bit about how you got started on snow?
I started snowboarding in college. A few classmates introduced me to it, and I was apprehensive at first, haha, but quickly fell in love with the sport once I gave it a shot. It was challenging at first, but I stuck with it and eventually found a community of people who shared my passion. This love for snowboarding is what led me to want to share the experience with kids who might never have had the chance to try it.

What about your first trip to Baker? How influential was that in what snowboarding means to you and how Hoods to Woods operates now?
My first trip to Mt. Baker was a game changer. It was the first time I experienced snowboarding at such high altitudes and in such deep snow, and just entering a National Forest for the first time ever. The experience was so different from what I was used to on the East Coast, and it really expanded my understanding of the sport. It made me realize snowboarding is about having fun in nature, and I realized the world is our playground, because once you link turns and ride down steeper terrain, you look at the map differently. This was the moment I was like, “Wow, I get it now!” This perspective has shaped how we operate Hoods to Woods, always striving to give kids not just the opportunity to snowboard, but to see the broader world and the endless possibilities it offers. It was a slow grind to get this far, but it was worth it.

Who else is involved, and how has that evolved over time?
Over the years, Hoods to Woods has grown with the help of countless volunteers, partners, and supporters. My co-founder, Omar Diaz, has been there from the beginning, using his car driving kids to Mountain Creek, NJ when we didn’t have money to pay for a van or bus, and helping with everything from logistics to mentoring. We’ve also had the support of organizations like Share Winter Foundation, REI, Patagonia, and Burton Philanthropic which have provided funding and other resources to help our mission. Our community has expanded to include former participants who now volunteer and mentor new kids coming into the program, which is what Omar and I envisioned, but fifteen years ago we couldn’t measure this at the time, so it’s surreal and beautiful to see this happen now! People like Zeb Powell, Pat Moore, Peter Line, and Russell Winfield, have also become involved, helping to bring more attention and resources to our cause .

On your Bomb Hole episode you talked about how you didn't have much recognition in the beginning, but now you feel more support from the industry. Can you share a bit about that?
In the beginning, it was really hard to get support. Snowboarding is an expensive sport, and there wasn’t much awareness or interest in bringing it to inner-city kids in the way I experienced at Mt Baker. We were persistent and slowly but surely, people started to notice what we were doing. Now, with the support of the industry and visibility through media coverage and partnerships with people like Zeb Powell, we’re getting a lot more recognition. A lot has changed from fifteen years ago, so this is a great sign to see things move in a positive direction with the industry being aware of how important this is. This support has been crucial in allowing us to grow and serve more kids each year.

What value have you found that Hoods to Woods has contributed to the community?
Our mission is to introduce youth from underserved communities to the outdoors through snowboarding, helping them build environmental awareness and life skills. We believe that everyone should have access to nature, regardless of their socio-economic background. The value we bring to the community goes beyond just teaching kids how to snowboard. We’re giving them a positive outlet, exposing them to new experiences, and helping them develop confidence and resilience that will serve them throughout their lives—THIS is the value of Hoods to Woods and we’re more than happy to serve the community.

How was the season last year?
Last season was a success, despite the challenges we faced. We were able to serve over 125 kids, providing them with everything they needed, from gear to transportation. We also expanded our program the last two years to include sessions at Big SNOW, an indoor facility in New Jersey, which allowed us to offer snowboarding opportunities year-round. The outdoor program at Mountain Creek was amazing, too. Pretty awesome to see kids get acclimated indoors and take their skills to a real mountain. The response from the kids and their families has been incredibly positive, and we’re already looking forward to next season and the future.

How has the community grown since the beginning?
Since we started in 2009 with just four kids, our community has grown significantly. We now serve over 125 kids each year, and our network of volunteers, mentors, and supporters has expanded, as well. We’ve seen former participants come back as volunteers, which is incredibly rewarding. Our partnerships with foundations, brands and other organizations like Solid NJ and Laru Beya Surfing have also helped us reach more kids and offer more comprehensive support through community partnerships.

What’s a typical meet-up look like?
A typical meet-up starts with the charter bus picking up the students from Brooklyn and New Jersey. We then head to either Mountain Creek during the winter or indoors at Big SNOW during the summer. Once we arrive, the kids are outfitted with gear and grouped by skill level. They spend the day learning and practicing with the help of our volunteers and certified instructors. We focus on making the experience fun, with lots of high fives and encouragement. We break for lunch and then back on snow. The day ends with everyone exhausted but happy, and hyped on learning, and we head back to the city, often with the kids already excited about the next trip!

Outside of the snow program, what does Hoods to Woods provide to the participants?
Beyond snowboarding, we offer mentorship and community support. We’ve created a space where kids can feel safe and valued, and where they can build relationships with positive role models. We also encourage environmental awareness, teaching the kids about the importance of nature and the outdoors. Our program helps them develop life skills like perseverance, teamwork, and self-confidence, which they can apply in all areas of their lives. Omar and I personally have helped with resumes and answer questions about career paths outside of being a professional snowboarder because there are so many jobs behind the scenes.

Amazing, so what’s happening next for Hoods to Woods?
We’re planning to continue expanding our reach, both in terms of the number of kids we serve and the geographic areas we cover and that means going out west. We already sent two of our students, Briant and Lorezo, to Mt Hood for Halo-Halo and they got to experience what I experienced in 2001 when I went out West. They got to see stars in the Oregon sky and they loved it! Also, we’re trying to see how we could set up a Hoods to Woods chapter out West if we can find the funding. We’re also looking to deepen our partnerships with other organizations and brands to provide more resources and opportunities for our participants, like career opportunities and internships. In addition, we’re exploring ways to offer more year-round programming like camping and hiking, so that the kids can stay engaged and connected to the outdoors throughout the year, which was the original idea for Hoods to Woods but we didn’t have the capacity for other outdoor activities at the time. With snowboarding, Omar and I agreed to focus on this, and I think we have created a strong program, so now we can start to expand.

How do you see Hoods to Woods growing or evolving?
We see Hoods to Woods growing in several ways. We want to increase the number of kids we serve each year, and we’re working on expanding our programs to include more locations and potentially other outdoor activities. We also aim to create more career opportunities within the outdoor industry for our participants as they grow older. Ultimately, we hope to make a lasting impact on the outdoor community by increasing diversity and ensuring that the next generation has access to the same opportunities we’ve been able to provide. Omar and I want to create lifetime snowboarders that can share the sport with the next generation, because if we were just taking kids out and they never get to come back or continue enjoying the outdoors into their adult life we’re not doing our jobs right! But seeing the alumni come back as volunteers and travel to snowboard and build friendships with other snowboarders is proof that we’re heading in the right direction with creating a sustainable loop of sharing that introduces youth to the sport, as they become young adults, they teach others, so the impact goes on for generations to come.

Donate here to contribute to Hoods to Woods mission. Learn more at Hoodstowoodsfoundation.org and @hoodstowoods on Instagram.