We’re suspending events.
After more than a decade of inviting others to join us outside, we’re not doing it anymore.
Since 2012, Dust and Tribe has hosted adventures with the express intent of recentering wilderness in the lives of Muslims. Camping, backpacking, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, surfing, fly fishing, and road tripping were our staple events. And we had so many more ideas, all just waiting for the right time and resources to align before putting out the invitation.
That invitation won’t be coming anytime soon.
We’re tired.
Dust and Tribe has always been a passion project, operating at a financial loss year over year which we were able to justify as community investment. We were bringing people together and benefiting from one another. Most costs were covered, and the dividends we enjoyed came in the form of lasting friendships and ongoing support from the people we came to know and love.
As such, community growth and engagement became our key metrics in gauging the value of our model. With an eye on quality over quantity, we made decisions meant to inhibit frivolous expansion. We deleted our social media accounts. We refused to sell branded merchandise.
We weren’t looking for “likes.” We wanted to have real experiences with real people. And after meeting many of you outside, we tried what we could to maintain that connection through our virtual reading groups, weight loss challenges, and forum discussions.
We feel good about acting our conscience. And we feel great about the people who have come along for the ride. This is not work that pays our bills, and that financial independence is a blessing that allows us to make decisions without having to consider the impact on profit and loss.
We do still, however, need to consider the impact of our decisions on ourselves.
We purchased some acreage in Placerville last year, calling our homestead Camp One. By the Grace of God, many of you have come to visit us. Some of you have lightened our daily work with your smiles and your company. Others have put their backs into the place, helping to dig trenches, chop wood, or put up fences.
Camp One is a blessing that demands to be honored through ever more work and attention. Energy is a finite thing, and we are approaching our limits. May God give us all health and strength.
The energy costs of planning, marketing, coordinating, and facilitating outdoor activities is increasingly apparent as we consider all that we need to build and maintain right here at home. A weekend out in the field must be weighed against the needs of our livestock and the oversight of the land in our absence.
We’re a small team. It’s only me and my wife, Aisha, with very occasional logistical support from others. I consider it a personal failure that I have not been more successful in building a cohesive team to provide some logistical redundancy. A couple of adventure coordinators, a few Discord moderators, a creative marketing person- that would have been a lot of fun.
But we never made enough money to approach others with confidence. Appeals to volunteerism and the possibility of profit-sharing were the best we could do, and this was not enough. For all of our celebration of Dust and Tribe as a passion project, I will admit to quiet aspirations of institution-building, the creation of a legacy that endured beyond my personal interest in sustaining it. Our dismissal of revenue-generation as a primary consideration undermines the reality that, for Dust and Tribe to persist even as an idea, at least one or two people must be materially sustained by the work.
Speaking plainly, staging events at this time just costs more money, time, and energy than we can afford to spend.
We will not squander what we have built, however.
What’s Next?
God has blessed us with a wonderful little community of adventure enthusiasts, quirky social outliers who love a bit of banter and enjoy the exchanging of ideas and the sharing of experience. We’re not sure exactly how we will nurture this and continue to benefit from the privilege of such company, but we have some ideas.
We have been duly shocked into a realization of the need to generate consistent revenue. If we want others to help us build, we simply need more resources than we have. We know that hosting outdoor adventures at a price point that feels fair won’t get us there, but we have other ideas that we’re keeping under wraps for now.
Education and advocacy are things that we can fold into our day with little extra cost, insha Allah. We’ve been experimenting with vlogging our work and life at Camp One and the surrounding environs. Folks in the Chautauqua Discord are reviewing these early videos and giving us feedback so that we can eventually post something publicly that adequately captures our core ethic of progress through whatever comes.
Progressio quolibet veniet.
We will continue to host group readings, the occasional group watch, and bi-annual weight loss competitions. We will continue offering online support for men and women affected by divorce. We will continue to write and to record, document and archive. We may have failed in our hopes of establishing a material legacy, but there is still time to influence others hoping to do so, insha Allah.
We will continue to honor ongoing collaborations (looking at you Kooks and Kahunas) even as we explore opportunities to better serve our new neighbors in the greater Sacramento area. We believe that with a bit more focus, work, and time, Camp One can play host to feral Muslims looking to stay awhile or even those just passing through.
We believe we may have done ourselves a huge disservice by not incorporating the passion and talents of non-Muslims in our work. We’re exploring ways to do this without compromising the demonstrably Islamic character of Dust and Tribe.
Is the picture a little fuzzy?
It always has been. Maybe hang around and together we’ll see what’s around the corner.
And for all of those in possession of the Outlander’s Seal- thank you for the memories.
Dear D&T,
I can feel some of the pain that goes into obviously tough decisions like these. And the frustration of your own efforts. It seems to be the price for going beyond the price tag, aka seeking real quality over quantity. But I still believe that you’ve been making the right decisions in that sense. I would simply like to say that D&T has done more for me and means too much to let this go quietly, despite still being new to the real in-person adventure spirit; and so I will continue to be here and I will work to offer whatever I can. I do not think you’ve failed in establishing a material legacy, at least not yet inshallah. It’s not over and I’m hopeful for what will come quite soon inshallah. And I’m excited for what you have in store inshallah. I’ll hang around.
Al-hamdu lillah wa shukr lillah, you’re correct in recognizing some frustration, an emotion that is almost always related to a mismatch between expectations and reality. The experience of frustration feels hypocritical in the context of progressio quolibet veniet: progress through whatever comes. In that sense, frustration itself becomes frustrating! A bit of a downward spiral, that.
Pulling back has been almost immediately therapeutic, however. Stepping back sure doesn’t sound like progress, but perhaps that’s the lesson here. A moment to recalibrate and examine one’s course, possibly setting a new bearing toward some safe harbor in view of possible harm- it doesn’t feel quite as heroic as simply forging ahead. But the goal at this point is to simply stay afloat!
Thanks for being part of the crew, brother!
I’ve always admired that moto, progress through whatever comes. Anytime I read it, it’s a reminder for me to keep going. And going/progress can mean a lot of different things. We just have to march on and keep trying no matter what hits. I think this pull back will be valuable inshallah, and may iA serve as the perfect bit of progress you could need right now.
Alhamdullilah what a bittersweet moment. Congratulations on the land and I can’t wait to see what comes of it and what all you accomplish on it! May it bring you much joy and security through the geave of Allah swt.
I think about the trip you invited me on often, and I am in constant awe of how commited you were to maintaining these events and keeping the communiry connected despite the out of pocket costs year after year. It has always been an inspiration and a motivation for me to share more of my own passions. I often found myself wishing I wasnt on the other side of the country when I saw your events pop up the past few years, but am forever grateful for the opportunity you have provided for me ans Alhamdullilah at that time I was in a transition period of my own and had no obligations that kept.me from travelling and by the will of Allah I was able to join on a once in a lifetime experience, all thank to you and Aisha’s commitment.
Thank you and praying for you both on this new adventure!
Without doubt, meeting and working with you remains a high-point in our time bringing people outside. Your willingness to set unconventional priorities based on an irresistible awareness that who you are and what you love cannot be ignored inspires us. May God bless and protect you. We need role models, people who understand that stewardship means getting dirty, that not everything is beautiful, but there is beauty in everything.
Stay in touch. There may yet be work for the lot of us!
Bro… This has made me so sad today. As me and Jibreel were on the mountain skiing, all I could think of was, “man Ahmed would have loved to see us throttling down this mountain”. I sat this morning with my son’s friends who joined me on my trip, absolutely gushing about Dust & Tribe, convincing our youth that they must absolutely get outside and love the world that Allāh ﷻ has created for us. It is not enough to sit in our offices or at school and look outside our windows. We must run through our screen doors and smother our physical bodies in the outdoors.
The existence of Dust & Tribe was always a wonderful idea that I can imagine was an immense labor of love, but also a financial one. I wish we lived in a world where it could exist with less logistical work and financial strain, but I know that is ultimately impossible.
I have to thank you Ahmed, my brother, for your consistent efforts in bringing us all together in the spirit of love and allegiance to brother and sisterhood.
May Allāh ﷻ bless all your future endeavors. I will always be here. جزاكم اللهُ خيرًا
Asim Khan
Kooks & Kahunas
A Muslim Surf Club
I hope that our happiness in reading your note somehow balances your sadness, Asim. What you have shared is the absolute end-goal of Dust and Tribe: elders mentoring youth in the ways of the wild. We give the next generation permission to explore and play through our presence. Bombing a hillside is no longer idle recreation, but deep communion with creation as we reflect in conversation with our young ones. That is exactly what you were doing up there and this is the ripple-effect we have spent years praying for, masha Allah! You have gifted us with what we hope to be God’s acceptance of our prayer!
This bums me out. 🙏🏽 Thanks for the adventures, my man. Some unforgettable trips.
We’ve missed you, Sam! We pray that wherever we find ourselves next, you’ll be there with us, insha Allah.
As someone who was invited on a whim to join the 27 mile Santa Cruz hike back in 2018, this brings me so much sadness! Ahmed, things evolve, especially people and by default initiatives like Dust & Tribe — this shouldn’t be viewed as a personal failure. I hope you look at this, as something that was wayyy ahead of its time for the Muslim community. I wont forget our Santa Cruz trip nor Joshua Tree rock-climbing trek! Hope to visit you and Aisha soon and may Allah reward you ten fold for all the work you put into building community, inshAllah.
We’re ahead of our time! Yes! Going with this : )
Al-hamdu lillah, so nice to hear from you, Salaam. All the best to you and your family!
It’s not a step back but more of a pivot. Pivots are part of material legacy! I can totally seeing Camp One as a cute Bed and Breakfast to the wonderer & the seeker. I can see it as a cute little home schooling co-op of future grand babies and their buddies. I can see it as a short little summer camp all under the guidance of Amu Ahmad & Khala Aisha. Just like life, we have seasons of change and D&T is heralding in a new decade on the homestead and “progressing through what may come,” at Camp One. I feel like as a couple, you two and your family has grown so much and LEARNED so much just from homesteading and each other and in turn shared, encouraged, and taught us too.
Secretly, I’m not sad the excursions have stopped. I selfishly admit that I can finally catch you two in the same location now that you have planted roots. Happy for you guys and excited to see what new adventures in homesteading has to offer you. Alhamdulilah and Jazakhallah Khair for all you have done and will continue to do to serve your community in your new way. I can’t wait to come visit. Miss you all. Change can be a good thing, and Allah SWAT knows we all good use some extras rest.
I think this is all true, about pivoting and planting roots. With God’s help and permission, we can only hope that something wonderful will grow!
I’m so sad to hear the end of this chapter of D&T. It must have been such a tough decision to make. May Allah (swt) reward you, Aisha, and all the trip leaders. Had some amazing, life changing memories with you all. May Allah (swt) grant barakah in the next steps and open the best doors. I agree with Nina, it’s definitely a pivot and not a step back! That’s the nature of things, they have to change. If there is no change, there is no growth. Maybe this is a step is an opportunity to draw the existing D&T community closer together. InshaAllah the next chapter in D&T’s journey will be even better!
Very bittersweet, for sure, and not a day goes by without a bit of second-guessing.
But they say the only constant is change. Amin to your prayers for the next chapter!
Salaams I am only now reading this and I feel the pain here in your words. You have been able to bring so many individuals together over the years and one thing that I have always noticed when such individuals get together for an event with D&T is the fun memories and moments that are talked about from previous encounters. Personal D&T has been a huge blessing in my life and by extension you and your family. We have shared many moments together and you have seen me through many difficult times. Personal I would like to thank you for this brother. The responsibility of your homestead and family is definitely priority now as I know all to well how time consuming it is having livestock that depends on your presence. I am looking forward to the day that I make it out to camp one and inshallah be able to add to that book of memories that you guys have been able to create for so many. I see this as a new adventure for not just you and your family but for all he has come to love D&T and can now be part of camp one. And it’s many adventures. Love to D&T. Salaams
Much love to you, Hamid.