When Keva Niver started her journey of healing in nature and camping outdoors, the lack of diversity immediately stood out to her.
“I never saw anyone that looked like myself,” she tells Travel Noire. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Where are all of my people at?'”
Niver says she was having incredible experiences outdoors that she would often share on Instagram. One of the most asked questions from her family and friends at that time was how they could rent out her vintage camper. As more people inquired, a lightbulb went off for Niver to get more campers so more people could experience the same joy she felt when spending time outdoors.
Niver created Boheme Retreats in 2022 with her husband, Rudel Felicien, as a gift to making the outdoors accessible and inclusive. Located in New York’s Catskills region, Niver and Felicient were intentional about creating a safe haven for people spending time outdoors, especially communities of color.
“BIPOC travelers have historically been excluded from the outdoors, and these communities often fear for their safety,” she says. “Boheme Retreats allows people to commune with nature without fearing doing simple things.”
A Glamping Experience That Pays Homage To Black Women in History
Boheme Retreats is located at the Covered Bridge Campsite in Livington Manor, New York. Each vintage camper found on site dates back to the 1960s and 1970s.
“We’re giving new life to these campers because many of them end up in a landfill,” says Niver. She finds the vintage campers on various online marketplaces. “We renovate them to create our vintage village.”
The duo’s tagline is “camping without roughing it.”
To help provide a sense of belonging to the outdoors, each glamping camper is named after a Black woman in history. For example, “The Rosa” is named after Rosa Parks, and “The Zora” is named after Zora Neale Hurston.
Travelers will find mini-fridges, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi inside each camper. The bigger campers, such as “The Fannie” and “The Shirley,” have kitchenettes, RV full beds, a day bed, and more.
Once on the property, guests can go fishing on-site, enjoy the waterfalls nearby, or venture off for a hike. For new campers, Niver and Felicien designed the space so travelers don’t feel alone. The campers are situated in a way that facilitates community with camping neighbors while still giving guests who want privacy their space.
“When people come to Boheme Retreats, I want them to feel like they belong in the outdoors,” Niver says. “We also created a space where people can escape the city to be in nature.”
You can book your stay with the glamping company at bohemeretreats.com.
