James Edward Mills facts for kids

James Edwards Mills, born in 1966, is an African American writer, outdoor guide, and media producer. He loves sharing stories about exploring nature, protecting the environment, and living in a way that helps the planet.

He wrote a book called The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors. James has also written for famous magazines like National Geographic. He helped create An American Ascent, a movie about the first all-African American team to climb Denali. Denali is the tallest mountain in North America!

About James Edwards Mills

James Mills grew up in Los Angeles, California. He became interested in the outdoors by joining a local Boy Scout group. He studied anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. After college, James started working in the outdoor world in 1989. He worked as a guide, helped people get ready for trips, and was a writer and photographer.

In 2009, James started "The Joy Trip Project." This is a news group that shares stories about the outdoor recreation industry. Through his blog and podcast, James talks about people and culture in the outdoor world. He especially likes to find stories about adventurers of color.

In 2013, James helped organize "Expedition Denali." This was the first all-African American team to successfully climb Denali. He worked with Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin and Jeanne O’Brian from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). A movie about this climb, called An American Ascent, was later made. James helped write and produce this film.

In 2014, James wrote his book, The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors. This book tells the story of Expedition Denali. It also talks about the challenges minority groups face when trying to enjoy outdoor places. The book also shares stories of inspiring people who found ways to enjoy nature despite these challenges.

James is a teacher at the University of Wisconsin. He teaches a summer class for college students. The class is called "Outdoors for All." It focuses on making outdoor recreation fair and open to everyone.

Awards and Special Recognitions

James Mills has received several awards and honors for his work:

• National Geographic Explorer (2023)
• Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education (2016)
• Yosemite National Park Centennial Ambassador (2016)
• Banff Centre Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program Fellow (2014)

Books and Articles

Books by James Mills

• The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors, published in Seattle in 2014.

Articles by James Mills

James has written many articles, including:

• "Here's how national parks are working to fight racism" (2020)
• "These people of color transformed U.S. national parks" (2020)
• "Opinion: Built on smoke" (2020)
• "No Pain, No Change" (2019)

Movies and Films

James has been involved in several films:

• An American Ascent (2014)
  • James was a cowriter and coproducer for this film.
• Breaking Trail (2021)
  • He was a coproducer for this film.
• Blackwaters (2023)
  • He was a costar and executive producer for this film.

Film Awards

The film An American Ascent won Best Feature Film at the Mountain & Adventure Film Festival. It also won Best Documentary and Best Director at the San Diego Black Film Festival. This movie was even shown at the White House in June 2015.

Breaking Trail was chosen for the 2021 Banff Mountain Film Festival. In 2022, it won several awards, including Best Mountain Culture Film at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Fest and Best Short Film at the Frozen River Film Festival.

James Mills' Impact

In 2020, Outside Magazine named The Adventure Gap as one of the top 10 "Outdoor Books that Shaped the Last Decade." This shows how important his book has been in the world of outdoor recreation.