Educator and entrepreneur Nick Brooks is the iFishiBelong Be What You Don’t See Campaign featured leader for August. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Nick established Outdoor Gear and Beer, a company dedicated to combining outdoor adventure with craft beer. He presents outdoor education workshops at breweries and activities such as hiking, camping, paddling, and fly fishing that offer safe, responsible ways for everyone, especially Black and BIPOC communities, to learn about and enjoy nature.
IFishiBelong board member Mollie Boaz, interviewed Nick, a self-described “gearhead” who partners with a long list of brands to test and review outdoor equipment. He is also a licensed Wilderness First Responder. He does all of this, in addition to being a saxophonist, music teacher, boy scout leader, and importantly a husband and the father of two boys who are realizing Nick’s intention to “make sure that more people who look like me, and other folks of color, are welcomed into this space to enjoy it with their friends and families.”
I am what we don't see, like my boys are what we don't see. Fly fishing is what we don't see. Urban fishing people in the city, going out and fishing, finding places and recreating on water responsibly. That’s what we don't see. And that's what we're passionate about, being a part of that narrative.
Nick’s passion for nature began with his father, who took Nick and his brothers (he is a triplet) hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and fishing near their home in Decatur, Georgia. Their father, an outdoorsman, was a role model despite the limited representation of Black men in outdoor spaces and media, inspiring both his sons and the community.
Nick first picked up a fly rod while working for Patagonia, made curious by his co-workers who frequently talked about their fly-fishing experiences. They told him about the Introduction to Fly Fishing classes at the Orvis store, but the 101 class was full. Learning Nick was in the outdoor industry, colleagues at Orvis got him into the 201 class, which features time on the water. They also loaned him a 4-weight Clearwater rod, reel, and line.
He went out a couple of times with the setup that first year and shared the rod with his two sons. Then they bought some Tenkara rods, and their time on the water together increased.
But it was after joining four other Black, male leaders and changemakers on the water at the Outdoors For All summit in North Carolina that not only inspired Nick to deepen his interest in fly fishing, but led to a groundbreaking film, Blackwaters: Brotherhood in the Wild. The film shares the power of five Black men whose paths have been challenged with loss, defeat, fear, and pain. Each man has found grace and success in the outdoors while embracing the art of fly fishing. Along with Nick, the film features Chad Brown (Director; Founder, Soul River Inc. and Love is King) , James Edward Mills (Producer; Founder, Joy Trip Project), Jahmicah Dawes (Owner/CEO Slim Pickins Outfitters), and Alex Bailey (Founder/Executive Director, Black Outside, Inc.). As a bonus, Orvis provided the fly fishing gear for the film, which Nick was able to keep for his family.
Outdoor Gear and Beer started as an Instagram account at the suggestion of Nick’s brother. The name was coined by Nick’s wife, Amanda. The plan was to create a narrative showing Nicks’s outdoor adventures and favorite brews, and to score sponsorship from brands to help defray the cost of outdoor gear. The account drew an audience, and Nick was asked to speak at an REI event, where he realized the other speakers were getting paid. He immediately formed an LLC, and began his company.
They were asked to organize campouts for one of their sponsors, and realized they were adding educational elements to the experience. Today, Outdoor Gear and Beer organizes outdoor education workshops held at local breweries and immersive outdoor experiences like hiking, camping, paddle trips, and fly fishing. To increase accessibility and affordability, all of the sporting and camping equipment is provided along with the cooking. Nick: “all you really need is your sleeping bag … ”
- Spread the word about upcoming Outdoor Gear and Beer events including Unplugged Fall 2025 – A campout planned for November
- Follow @Outdoorgearandbeer on Instagram and Facebook
- Patronize the businesses that sponsor Nick’s organization including Orvis, Patagonia, REI, and Reformation Brewery,
When interviewer Mollie Boaz asked “What does responsible representation look like to you as a Black African American leader in the outdoor industry?”, Nick replied “it’s really cool to partner or labor alongside these other organizations in the Atlanta area and across the country of people from women to Black BIPOC, everyone just making this outdoor space accessible and making it a space where anyone can go out and feel safe in the outdoors and not feel like it just belongs to a certain people or a certain person or, demographic.”
As an ally, it is important to follow, support, and share with others the following individuals and organizations:
- Black Outside – reconnecting Black/African-American youth to the outdoors through expanding outdoor programming to more Black/African-American youth in central Texas.
- Community Fly Fishing – an organization that creates access for people who are looking to experience the outdoors through FREE community-based fly fishing events, taught by those who reflect our country’s demographics.
- Dudley Edmondson – Author, filmmaker, speaker, and avid birder known for his books and nature films; brings deep expertise and passion for birding.
- Joy Trip Project – a media organization and community platform that focuses on reporting and storytelling at the intersection of the outdoor recreation industry, environmental issues, and cultural perspectives, particularly within a diverse and inclusive framework.
- Love Is King – focuses on promoting access, safety, and leadership within BIPOC communities in outdoor and conservation spaces, including providing training opportunities
- Outdoors For All Old Fort – a nonprofit organization in North Carolina that convenes a diversity of thought leaders, industry partners, community members, and outdoor enthusiasts to explore ways to create a shared equitable outdoor community for all people
- Slim Pickens Outfitters – Located in Southwest Texas, the first known Black-owned outdoor retailer in the nation founded to increase diversity not only in the outdoors but also in the giant conglomerate of the outdoor industry.
- Soul River – brings together urban youth and veterans to heal through outdoor experiences and develop into leaders for public land and freshwater protection
The educational component, gear provided, and the brews distinguish Outdoor Gear and Beer from other outdoor outfitters, but the impact of increasing visibility of Black and BIPOC people finding joy and mastery in the wild is the business’s greatest contribution.
“I am what we don’t see, like my boys are what we don’t see…Fly fishing is what we don’t see. Urban fishing people in the city, going out and fishing, finding places and recreating on water responsibly. That’s what we don’t see. And that’s what we’re passionate about, being a part of that narrative.”
The 2025 iFishiBelong “Be What You Don’t See” campaign highlights leaders breaking barriers in the fishing industry. Each month, we will feature individuals who challenge conventions and inspire change with passion and resilience, motivating the next generation of anglers to create their paths and “be what they don’t see.” By highlighting these trailblazers, we aim to inspire broader participation and show that leadership roles in the fishing industry are accessible to everyone, creating a more inclusive vision of success.
