New Mexico Regional Coordinator

Laura Flores (she/her)

Laura Flores (she/her) has loved the outdoors from a young age. Growing up you would find her riding her bike or climbing the Ash tree in her front yard. She spent many hours outside using her imagination to keep herself entertained. Her love for the outdoors has continued to grow as did her desire to share these outdoor opportunities with her community. She became an educator in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she taught for 14 years. During this time she was able to introduce her students to local outdoors resources and the importance of protecting them. Now as a Latino Outdoors Regional Coordinator for New Mexico, Laura will continue to work with the community to ensure access to local resources, lift up local voices and history, and make sure these spaces are clean and safe for our next generation.

Programs & Operations Manager

Luis Rincón (he/him/él)

Luis was born and raised in Fresno and is excited to be immersed into an organization where his passion for the outdoors, organization, community, and events are combined into one. Luis recalls that his initial passion for the great outdoors was inspired on the fateful day it snowed in Fresno in 1998, an extremely rare occurrence in Fresno. He was amazed seeing snow for the first time and discovered how fascinating nature can be and how it can change over time. Years later, Luis took a trip with his sister to Yosemite and it reignited that same passionate feeling and reverence for the beauty of the outdoors. Although it took him a little while to figure it out, that memory inspired him to pursue a Bachelors of Science degree in Recreation and Community Events at Fresno State University. On weekends, Luis and his friends enjoy exploring and hiking new trails.

Luis has over eleven years of administrative support experience at Fresno State University and is excited to bring his experience to Latino Outdoors to assist in any way possible. As the Programs and Operations Associate, he is committed to supporting others, ensuring everything is organized and running smoothly. Luis looks forward to learning and growing both personally and professionally with Latino Outdoors.

Communications Associate

Luisa Vargas (she/her/ella)

Luisa was born in Colombia and immigrated to Florida when she was 6 months old. Her circumstances and parents encouraged a life connected with the outdoors. Before joining Latino Outdoors, she worked with the Texas Conservation Corps.

She will be sharing our comunidad’s stories in hopes of empowering others to experience nature in a way that feels right to them—whether that’s mountaineering or enjoying a book on a park bench—we’re all a part of Latinos Outdoors. 

New York & Northeast Regional Coordinator

Melodie Mendez (she/her/ella)

Mel Mendez was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Anthropology from Davidson College, Mel began a decade-long career in public relations where she represented outdoor clients like REI Co-Op, Arc’teryx, NAU, and BLACKYAK. Most recently, she served as a Strategic Communications Manager for the Natural Resources Defense Council, supporting portfolios in food, toxics, extreme weather, and international climate treaties.

Mel joined the Latino Outdoors family back in 2018 as a general member in the New York City chapter and has since volunteered as an Outings Leader and Program Coordinator. As the New York & Northeast Regional Coordinator, Mel is committed to building equitable access for Latine communities in the outdoors, and elevating the metropolitan/urban perspective into the outdoor narrative.

Outside of Latino Outdoors, Mel can be found guiding corporate and small group hikes for Destination Backcountry Adventures or frolicking in nature–whether that’s surfing, white water rafting, kayaking, hiking, or throwing a carne asada.

Communications Intern

Rica Thomas Antoniotti

A native of San Francisco, CA, Rica’s love of the outdoors was born in the fog and burgeoned in the sun. She and her family spent many weekends of her childhood traveling to Bay Area parks, lakes, and beaches on a quest to “find some sun” (one of her grandmama’s favorite mantras). Rica developed her love of baseball by enduring windy Giants games at Candlestick Park.

Rica lived brief stints in Long Beach, CA and in Tuscany, Italy working in a pastry kitchen and hiking the forest in her free time.

Rica loves traveling, taking road trips, and camping. She is on a lifelong search for warmth: be it a sunny day or a crackling campfire. She enjoys watching animals in the wild, the sounds of chirping birds and crashing waves, and the smell of fresh air and redwoods.

She hopes to visit as many national parks as possible particularly all nine of California’s. Her highlights to date include the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, and Zion.

As a Latino Outdoors intern, Rica looks forward to using her Professional Writing and Rhetoric degree from San Francisco State University to help conduct research and interviews and to write profiles with the Yo Cuento team.

Director of Programs & Operations

Ruby Rodríguez (she/her/hers)

Ruby was born and raised in Fresno, California, where she was exposed to various forms of the outdoors. Countryside, she ventured into a eucalyptus-lined dirt ditch during the summer months of her childhood. The ditch offered a concrete bridge at one end and pond at the other—perfect for splashing around with tadpoles and water striders. The adjacent open field lent itself to Ruby’s introversion and fondness of plant life, ladybugs, and daydreaming.

Though her conscious connection to nature fell dormant after a move to the city’s Tower District, remnants of it presented itself in her admiration of the front yards she passed during walks to school. In her early adult years, Ruby found her way to the orchards in nearby Sanger, which inspired a trip to Yosemite National Park. There, she became overwhelmed by the reawakening of her biophilia and has since advocated for outdoor recreation, in its varied forms, as an antithesis to oppression.

Ruby’s desire to learn more about where outdoor recreation and self-determination intersect led her to Humboldt State University, where she studied as an undergraduate. During this time in her life and as a Latino Outdoors community member, Ruby enjoyed adding her voice to the conversation about diversifying the outdoor identity. She eventually took the next step from a community member to volunteer and has since grown her role within the organization.

As the Director of Programs & Operations, Ruby is fiercely passionate about elevating and advocating for LO volunteers as leaders worthy of investing in. She provides vision and leadership to staff and a national network of over 200 volunteers, oversees the day to day operations, and continuously seeks out creative and meaningful ways to advance the LO mission, all while maintaining her appetite for learning and personal growth.

Development Manager

Vanessa Herrera (she/her)

Vanessa Herrera is originally from the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles. She grew up playing outside with her primos in her family’s backyard and neighborhood parks. In middle school, she was introduced to the wilderness through her school’s Outdoor Education Program. Outdoor Education gave her access to wild places and adventure sports that she never knew existed. From then on, camping, hiking, and multi-day rafting trips have been a large part of her life. Her passion for rivers led her to work as a river guide on the Kern River in California, the Arkansas River in Colorado, the Río Pescados in Mexico, as well as various rivers in Costa Rica. She is happiest when floating downstream and is always excited to introduce new people to the joy of rivers.

Vanessa received her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz in Latin American Studies and her MEd from UCLA. She has spent the last 20 years in education and the nonprofit sector. When she is not working, you can find her playing outside in and along the Kern River or swimming in the Pacific Ocean with her sons and her dog. She is excited to combine her love of the outdoors with her passion for social justice and inclusion in her role as development manager for Latino Outdoors.

vanessaherrera@latinooutdoors.org

SF Bay Area Regional Coordinator

Aurora Cortés (she/her/hers)

Aurora Cortes was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA. Growing up, she worked with her dad, un jardinero, and helped weed plants, rake debris, and mow the lawn. Aurora went on family camping trips to the Angeles National Forest. She celebrated many birthdays with her family amongst the trees, in the snow, and under the stars. As she grew older, she loved listening to stories that her mom and dad shared from their own experiences back home in Mexico from el ahijadero and la florenia. All the family stories and childhood experiences planted the seed of adventure and love for the outdoors for Aurora.

As the SF Bay Area Regional Coordinator, Aurora will engage and empower people to connect to beautiful natural lands and create a comfortable space for people to share their stories and create new memories. Aurora will continue to organize community-based programs and seek partnerships and collaboration opportunities for the community to come together and celebrate language, traditions, and culture in the outdoors.

Development Associate

Cassandra Castillo (she/ella)

Cassandra Castillo (she/her) is a Chicana with deep connections to the California borderlands of Calexico and San Diego. In 2018, Cassie co-founded the Latino Outdoors chapter in the San Diego Region. As the Program Coordinator, she spearheaded outdoor experiences through a social and environmental justice perspective to reconnect Latinx communities to land and nature. Cassie graduated from the Teton Science Schools Place-based Education graduate program in June of 2021. In August of 2022 she received a Master of Science in concurrent majors of Natural Science Education and Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming. Prior to that she dedicated close to 15 years working for San Diego’s public media station. 

Cassie has been an active organizer within Latinx and queer communities since 2005, amplifying actions and voices through various modes of art, dance, theatre, outdoor experiences, and storytelling. For Cassie family, community, y la naturaleza are motivations for finding joy in life, creating healing spaces, inspiring curiosity in nature, and influencing a better future for the land and the next generations.

As the Development Associate, Cassie maintains and develops LO’s donor stewardship and appreciation program. She provides creativity, vision, and commitment to the mission to support fund development efforts as LO continues to grow.

Program Manager - Communications

Christian La Mont (his/him)

Born in Mexico City, was raised in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, and lives in Los Angeles. He was introduced to camping and hiking as a child and his passion for the outdoors only grew as he got older. During college, he squeezed in courses on backpacking, kayaking, and scuba diving before he earned his B.A. in Film and Digital Production where he learned both narrative and documentary filmmaking. His travels around the world from Kenya to Nepal have always left an impact and have given him a sense of excitement and enthusiasm about cultures and learning about the shared experiences of people throughout the world. Being involved and giving back to the community through volunteering has always been a passion for Christian and it is through Latino Outdoors that he was able to combine his love of the outdoors and his desire to create an impact. In addition to being outside, he enjoys supporting social justice causes, being involved in the community and collecting experiences. His background in production led him to a career as a digital and social media specialist which allows him to craft stories, create images, connect to new people, and communicate with underrepresented voices through the digital medium. Christian will focus his teamwork and storytelling skills to further uplift and focus the narrative of the Latinx community in the outdoors, to raise awareness, to ensure representation, access & inclusion for all and to continue the important mission of breaking trail for the next generation of Latinx leaders and to work with volunteers and national team staff to make the great outdoors a little greater.

Colorado Regional Coordinator

Crystal Salvador-Zapote (she/they)

Crystal (she/they) was born and raised in Clearwater, FL and spent most of her summers in Mexico where she fell in love with the mountains and the high desert. After graduating from college she found herself spending more and more time outdoors, meditating and trail running. Unhappy with her corporate job, she decided to volunteer for a crisis line and the National Suicide Hotline. This prompted her to think of the connection between mental wellness and the natural world.

Having only been camping twice before, Crystal decided to move to Utah to pursue a job in wilderness therapy as a backpacking guide and counselor. This work sparked her interest in diversifying the outdoors and engaging Latino communities in the outdoors. Crystal is passionate about breaking down barriers for marginalized communities and continues to be an advocate for mental health.

As the Colorado Regional Coordinator for Latino Outdoors, Crystal is excited to engage with the Colorado community, continue developing strong relationships with community partners, and support the vision of Latino Outdoors’ incredible volunteers. Crystal currently resides in Denver with her two sweet kitties. She enjoys volunteering with queer and Latinx youth and families, and as a Restorative Justice practitioner. In her free time you’ll find her dancing, reading, attending a concert, or spending time with her community.

Email: crystal@latinooutdoors.org

Program & Operations Associate

Denise Castro (she/her/ella)

Denise Castro was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and split her childhood between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert. Thanks to her dad’s relentless determination to make an asado every other day, Denise got to spend most of her time as a kid exploring the city parks while her dad grilled away. It’s always been a dream of Denise’s to explore more of the natural world outside of the cities she lived in, but the natural world was far, inaccessible, and daunting to her and her family. Denise’s fascination for plants and nature led her to study Environmental Horticulture at UC Davis. It was there that Denise got to go on her first hike. This was a life changing experience for her and she now spends most of her spare time hiking around her home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As a Latino Outdoors Programs & Operations Associate, Denise will help provide Latinx communities opportunities to explore the outdoors by ensuring that programs run smoothly. Denise looks forward to helping grow the Latino Outdoors community and is excited to help bring more people out into the kinds of spaces that have been so pivotal to her own life.

Policy Advocate

Jazzari Taylor (she/her(s)/ella)

Jazzari Taylor (Jazz-err-ee) was born in Los Angeles County and raised there and in the San Gabriel Valley. Jazz’s multicultural and racial background helps her bring a unique perspective to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has been a community participant and volunteer with Latino Outdoors since 2016 and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside in Liberal Studies and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Having started volunteering in her community at 12 years old, Jazzari has had a lifelong passion to advocate for her gente. Her advocacy accomplishments include advocacy at the California State Capital on behalf of higher education funding, securing and implementing a Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program for the City of Baldwin Park, and supporting Latino Outdoors’ ongoing Monumentos public lands protection campaign.

In addition to involvement and participation as an elected California Democratic Party Assembly District Delegate as a representative for assembly district 48, Jazz lends her support towards a solution and action-based efforts for comunidades, Tribal Nations, and various different demographic groups; no matter a person’s economic status or background. As the Advocate For Equity and the Outdoors, Jazzari understands that advocacy starts with community and relationship building. She looks forward to continuing her growing understanding of the landscapes, people, native species, and cultures that utilize green spaces. Jazzari will lead with heart, passion, and the highest moral and ethical principles to support the Latino Community and the public’s needs.

San Antonio Regional Coordinator

Josie Gutierrez (she/her/hers)

Deeply rooted in the Latino community anchored by her father’s highly visible fame as the first Chicano feature-length filmmaking pioneer, Josie has had a lifelong dedication in celebrating the love of her heritage. Making cameo appearances in just about every film produced since the early age of 5. Josie shares her father’s passion as an activist with a story to tell. She founded the FitFunand blog which has established a significant following. Leveraging her message in this way, Josie is able to share her enthusiasm for outdoor fitness globally.

In her hometown of San Antonio, she keeps busy organizing running groups and outdoor events for her friends and co-workers. She ran her very first marathon at age 40 and she hasn’t stopped running ever since! Her attitude of “anything is possible at any age” is what she hopes to promote.

Josie has spent decades connecting to nature and loves nothing more than to share her love for the outdoors with her family, friends and followers. On any given weekend you will likely find Josie outdoors connecting, learning & exploring. Born and raised In San Antonio, TX Josie has had a wonderful outdoor playground, the Texas Hill Country. Openly sharing each step of her life’s journey, her intention is to awaken the childlike wonderment in all of us.

As the San Antonio Regional Coordinator for Latino Outdoors, Josie will engage, encourage and promote her love for Mother Nature in outdoor adventures and activities.

Executive Director

Luis Villa (he, his, él)

(he/him/él)

Born in Los Angeles, California, Luis is the oldest of five sons to parents from Mexico’s state of Jalisco. The outdoors has always called out to him, including its more subtle expressions, such as his childhood home’s backyard complete with a beautiful, bountiful Persea americana tree that, at approximately 75 years old, gifts several hundred avocados each season to family, friends, and neighbors. Growing up next to the Los Angeles River offered an odd connection to the outdoors. Its concrete riverbed somewhat absurdly serving as a bike path one summer for 10-year-old Luis to pedal from Lynwood all the way to the river’s mouth in Long Beach. In high school, he participated in urban hikes all over southern California, as a member of the marching band. The summer after graduating high school, Luis took up recreational running, first around the perimeter of a city park, and then around the Princeton and Stanford campuses, where he studied as an undergraduate. While at Stanford, Luis enjoyed one of his most memorable outdoor experiences, an exhilarating hike along a portion of the Skyline-to-the-Sea trail organized for incoming transfer students. Beginning inside the magical coast redwood forests of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, it climbed to a breathtaking vista point of the Santa Cruz Mountains and dropped onto Waddell Beach with the Pacific Ocean as an endless backdrop.

After graduating with a BA in psychology, Luis began a career dedicated to the nonprofit work, first as a youth case manager in south central Los Angeles, then a program manager with Opportunity Fund, a San Jose, CA-based community development financial institution, and a project manager with Charities Housing, a Bay Area nonprofit affordable housing developer. During this time, Luis took his running and hiking to the trails of Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, part of the complex of preserves under the stewardship of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and promptly experienced poison oak’s unpleasantness for the first time. Bitten by the travel bug, Luis ventured to Costa Rica to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity for several months and ultimately moved there. While in Central America, Luis worked with Nectandra Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of tropical cloud forests. (Interestingly, Nectandra, a tree genus emblematic of cloud forests, belongs to the same family, Lauraceae, as the avocado tree from Luis’ childhood.) As Chief Operating Officer, he was responsible for Nectandra’s administrative operations while also managing the Institute’s Eco-Loan Fund, a conservation land acquisition financing program. Wearing rubber boots, Luis found himself running up and down sloping muddy pastures, evaluating eco-loan requests from Nectandra Institute’s community partners looking to acquire important watershed lands, restore the forest on these, and thus improve protection for the mountain springs they depend on for clean drinking water. After twelve years abroad, Luis returned to California with a keener appreciation for nature and the outdoors, whether walking around a city or trekking through a forest.

As Executive Director for Latino Outdoors, Luis continues to run, now alongside LO’s extraordinary staff and powerful network of volunteer leaders, working together to shape, share, and celebrate the experiences of comunidades latinas outdoors.

Volunteer & Advisory Board Member

André Sanchez (he/him/él)

André volunteers with Latino Outdoors as both a Program Coordinator and Advisory Board member.

Growing up in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, André was raised in the agriculturally-fueled and Latine-dominated community of Madera, CA. A community where working the land was the norm and recreating in nature seemed foreign to most members. Fortunately, one of André’s immigrant uncles discovered the joys of getting outdoors and shared the discovery with the family. Through several impactful family trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains and iconic Yosemite National Park, André ultimately developed a passion for conservation and restoration work.

This passion led him to earn his B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis. Thereafter, André went on to work for several state and federal agencies, where he worked on habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring projects, including conducting amphibian surveys for Yosemite National Park and monitoring trout populations in southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains. After gaining perspective from his work experiences, André returned to school to pursue an M.S. in Natural Resources with a Watershed Management emphasis at Humboldt State University.

Now residing again in the Madera/Fresno area, André serves as the San Joaquin Valley Organizer for CalWild, where he engages, informs and organizes the area’s communities to advocate for and protect public lands, including some of the outdoor places and ecosystems that inspired him. Outside of this, André coaches youth wrestling and loves to backpack, hike, rock climb, and simply observe nature’s raw beauty.

As the Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Fresno, André works towards inspiring others about the importance of protecting natural resources by sharing his knowledge of rivers, wildlife, and the different environmental services they provide for people, including clean water, clean air, and respite from everyday life. As a member of the Board, he hopes to further this effort and expand his support of LO’s mission.

Outings Leader

Zuzi Gomez-Chang (she/her(s))

Zuzi Gomez-Chang (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating high school, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served two tours to Iraq. While on active duty, Zuzi enjoyed collaborating with other service members from different branches, countries, and diverse backgrounds. Additionally, Zuzi was stationed at different bases that allowed her the opportunity to explore different cultures and naturalistic outdoor settings.

After honorably separating from military service, Zuzi completed her bachelors in biology and her master’s in counseling. Zuzi is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas and enjoys integrating mental health and nature-based holistic interventions as she believes experiential activities can have a significant healing impact outside traditional talk therapy.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader Volunteer for Dallas, Texas, Zuzi will continue to spread awareness of the benefits of being outdoors, advocate for equity in accessing green spaces, and encourage collaboration between self, others, and nature.

Volunteer

Zeo Walters (they/them)

Zeo was born and raised a suburb of Chicago. They came to Missoula, Montana to study Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. Zeo believes in the importance of connection to place especially when advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion. They currently are studying Urban and Regional Planning to help be a part of a more equitable and sustainable future for all people. They commute sustainably year-round by bike, walking, and bus. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador, Zeo will foster community and work towards greater accessibility for BIPOC in the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Zack Magallanez (he/him)

Zack was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas where his love for adventure in the outdoors was first discovered. As a youth, he was always outdoors – from catching fireflies in the summer evenings to helping his grandma maintain her garden year round. While other kids he knew were out on camping trips or visiting state parks, Zack would spend the majority of his time at local municipal parks and pocket parks because they were easily accessible. He is an advocate of the redevelopment and re-beautification of parks in the inner city where he grew up. Zack knows that parks are an outlet for people to build community, create memories, and enjoy nature. Zack has a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M – San Antonio and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Texas at San Antonio’s College of Health, Community, and Policy.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer, he wants to help build power in communities by leading nature trail walks and participating in all-inclusive outdoor activities.

Outings Leader

Yulissa Ochoa (she/her/ella)

Yulissa (she/her/ella) was raised in a migrant family, journeying between the Salinas and Imperial valleys. Spending most of her life in the border city of Mexicali, Yulissa’s connection with nature blossomed through her appreciation for open, unrestricted green spaces, often shared with loved ones.

While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Collaborative Health and Human Services at California State University, Monterey Bay, Yulissa found herself drawn to the Ventana Wildlife Society, sparking a career path focused on creating and sharing green spaces within communities.

Currently residing in Monterey, California, Yulissa works diligently to bridge the gap between people and nature. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Ambassador, she is dedicated to recreating the sense of freedom and connection she experienced while exploring outdoor spaces with her family in Tecate and San Felipe. Through curated outings, Yulissa aims to inspire others to seek the same feeling of liberation and boundlessness in nature, fostering inclusivity and empowerment within outdoor recreation for all.

Outings Leader

Xavier Bravo (he/him/él)

Xavier Bravo (he/him/él) was born in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois and has roots from both Guadalajara y Michoacán. He received a BS in Psychological & Brain Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis and it was there that he also developed his love for la naturaleza through his university’s Outing Club and Cllimbing Team. His work as an Outdoor and Environmental Educator has taken him to the snowy peaks of Alaska, the lush rainforests of Madagascar, and his new home in colorful Colorado. 

As an LO Outing Leader for Colorado, Xavier plans to use his history as an Outward Bound field instructor to connect la comunidad with the outdoors through adventure and education alike. He hopes to eliminate barriers associated with getting outside and facilitate experiences for people of color to look back on for conexión, environmental stewardship, and an appreciation for the beautiful places they call home.

Outings Leader

Wilma Herrera (she/her/ella)

Wilma was born in El Paso, TX and grew up in Las Vegas. She did not grow up around the outdoors other than sporadic family beach trips to California. After Wilma graduated High School she moved on her own to Portland, OR on a mission to self-discovery and to begin her nutrition studies at the community college. Wilma was going door to door looking for a job. This is where she found REI, an outdoor retailer where she worked for 6 years. Wilma fell in love with a life outdoors, and found a sense of community. She moved back to Las Vegas to attend UNLV and graduated with her Bachelors of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences. Wilma is a licensed registered dietitian and has worked for non-profit organizations, designing health programs for the underserved and uninsured latinx community. She empowers the latinx community by helping them understand their health and how to manage their health conditions. Today, Wilma’s favorite outdoor hobbies include kayaking, rock climbing, running, and hiking.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Las Vegas, Wilma will provide support on outdoor outings, and help engage and spread the joy about Latino Outdoors to the underserved community.

Outings Leader

Wendy García (she/her/ella)

Wendy García was born and raised in San Diego, CA where she developed her passion for the outdoors. Being the daughter of hardworking immigrants, she remembers family beach days at Silver Strand State Beach as well as road trips to el rancho in San Quintin, BCS. Some of her fondest memories include digging for clams and playing in the sand dunes on the beaches of Baja California.  

As a first generation college graduate, Wendy received her M.A. in Math Education from San Diego State University. For the last 14 years, she has worked as a dual immersion teacher in the South Bay Union School District. It was when she began her career as a teacher that her interest in hiking grew. As her love for nature flourished so did her desire to motivate others to get outdoors. It is her belief that you must first teach others to love the earth before you can ask them to protect it. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping and being the leader for the San Diego chapter of the 52 Hike Challenge. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for San Diego, Wendy hopes to empower other people of color to get outdoors and reconnect with nature.

Outings Leader

Victoria Rodríguez (she/her)

Victoria was born in Los Angeles, CA and grew up in both up-state New York and Southern California. Yearly camping trips to Yosemite while living in CA and lake cabins in the summer while in NY, ignited her passion for the outdoors. From there she moved to NorCal to attend San Francisco State University and continued to live in the Bay for over 16 years, while familiarizing herself with the local outdoor activities and cultivating a love for backpacking as the Bay Area is home to numerous backcountry recreation areas. After college, Victoria landed her dream marketing role at The North Face in Alameda and can attribute her love of snowsports and snowy nature adventures to the company’s cultural desire to get their employees outdoors. While she was there, she worked hard as a member of the outdoor community as both a woman and Latinx in the outdoor industry; two groups that are considerably underrepresented in the industry. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, Victoria aspires to bring more members of Latinx community into the outdoors to share her passion for backpacking and camping, all while educating on best practices for safety and conservation.

Program Coordinator

Victoria Ramírez (she/her)

Victoria has resided in the San Joaquin Valley for over 20 years. Her love of the nature and the outdoors began at her grandparent’s ranch in Corcoran at a young age. Sunrise to sunset, she would be out with her cousins chasing chickens, swimming in the canal, or riding bikes for miles. She continued to foster a love/ connection with the outdoors throughout the years. As a parent, Victoria became passionate about educating others on the importance of protecting and preserving ecosystems and the spaces we visit.

Victoria had a background in nursing and works with under served communities. She is a certified California Naturalist and Leave No Trace trainer. She has served as an outings program leader/ program coordinator with Latino Outdoors Fresno for 2 years and works to provide safe, inclusive spaces in the outdoors. She also serves as vice-president of Kern River Conservancy/ Southern Sierra Conservancy.

When not working or volunteering, she can be found hiking, camping, paddleboarding, or exploring public lands with her son and dog.

Victoria strives to provide equitable access to the outdoors for all, connect with the community and educate on responsible public land use.

Outings Leader

Victoria Parra (she/her/they/them)

Victoria (she/her/they/them) was born and raised in Chicago where she grew up hearing her grandpa tell stories about his journey as a farmworker on his migration from Mexico to Chicago. She also saw him grow tomatoes, chiles, calabazas, and flowers in the front yard. In her youth, she did not feel connected to the outdoors beyond stories but as she got older began visiting the Chicago river on her walks home from work and feeling connected to the trees on her university’s campus. Her connection to nature began as simple observations of the city around her, she did not feel fully immersed in the outdoors until adulthood when she became intentional about gardening and reconnecting to the earth. She has become a consistent cyclist, enjoys kayaking, and volunteers at community gardens. She was able to spend one month in New Mexico through WWOOF’s Future Farmer Program where she learned the process of milking goats, chicken care, and vegetable farming.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for the Great Lakes region, Victoria will help coordinate events around kayaking, cycling, storytelling, and herbalism/gardening to support the Latino community connect to the outdoors and to each other.

Volunteer

Victoria Koch (she/ella)

Vicky (she/ella) was born and raised in Chicago as a second-generation (first U.S. born) Mexican American. She has a B.A. in psychology from DePaul University and is the first in her family to attain a college degree. Currently, she works full-time as an IT proposal analyst for a social science research nonprofit, NORC at the University of Chicago. Notable accomplishments in the outdoors include being an ACA certified kayak instructor, guiding on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, WFR certified, hiking 1,400 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, PADI open water diver certified, adventure travel in over 10 countries, solo exploration, and more!

Adventure travel and a passion for outdoor exploration are skills Vicky developed in early adulthood as she was able to navigate and afford on her own. As her experience grew, her interests evolved from city travel, to guided outings, to acquiring the skills to guide/perform activities on her own or within the respective community. Kayaking, biking, SUPing, hiking, climbing, travel, and woodworking are especially important hobbies in her free time… a good nap nature is always a welcome bonus.

As a woman leader in the outdoor industry and a Latino Outdoors volunteer for the Great Lakes chapter, Vicky will share her passion for embracing the rugged outdoors, along with the skills and leadership it takes to safely run adventure outings. She is especially excited about her lead role in seeking meaningful volunteer opportunities to give back to our neighborhoods/outdoor spaces, build connections, and create lasting impact.

Outings Leader

Victor Torres-Espinoza (he/him/his)

Victor was born and raised in a military family. Having the opportunity to travel all around the world, his mother and father had Victor in a little German town called Mannheim. The constant moving every three years fueled his love for the outdoors and being able to experience the many climates each state and countries he lived in. As he grew older he was always outside, exploring and adventuring through nature. An opportunity arose for him in 2019 where he was able to live completely off grid and survive off of the land in Spain. After a year and a half of land development and off grid sustainably, he decided to join the US Army. Settled in Central Texas with his wife Bianca and 3 Golden’s, he works hard in the operating room working as a surgical tech and helping make a difference everyday.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for San Antonio, Texas, Victor will help bring the Latino community together to explore this beautiful land and educate the younger generation the importance of being Latinx and most importantly, being a PROUD one.

Outings Leader

Víctor Campos (he/him/his)

Victor was born in Mexico City, and raised in Los Angeles, California. Victor didn’t get to experience the outdoors until he was 17 years old but quickly grew a passion for nature. Victor loves getting out to backpack, hike, bikepack, and camp in the public lands and national parks. He resides in the Inland Empire, California. The thing he loves the most is getting other Latinx outdoors. He hopes as an outing leader to have a meaningful impact in his community and get more people experiencing the outdoors

Volunteer

Vicencia Abundis (she/her/hers)

Vicencia was born and raised in Fresno, CA, which placed her in the perfect location to access the central coast and the Sierra Nevadas. Throughout her childhood, her family would travel in a little RV to camp throughout California, exposing her to beautiful locations and recreational activities. During her year living in Bolivia, South America, her curiosity for the natural world and cultures birthed a desire to engage community within creation. 

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Seattle, Vicencia hopes to be a liaison between the training and educational opportunities that support access to outdoor recreation and green spaces.

Program Coordinator

Verónica Miranda (her/she)

Veronica is a 1st generation Mexican-American who grew up in San Jose, CA. Growing up the outdoors consisted of neighborhood parks and Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, CA. The deep love for the outdoors grew stronger with her later in life while enjoying bird watching, hiking, randomly wandering open spaces, spending the day at the beach and car camping at California’s State Park’s, National Parks and National Forests.

Veronica holds an Associates of Science Degree in Child Development and Liberal Arts with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences from City College of San Francisco. She is currently a Preschool Teacher at a Non-Profit in San Francisco where she includes outdoor exploration, gardening and learning about the earth in her curriculum. Veronica’s interests are car camping, photography, jewelry making, and advocating for children’s rights. Veronica lives in San Francisco, CA with her husband, son and 2 cats.

As Latino Outdoors San Francisco North Bay Program Coordinator, Veronica will bridge the gap between underrepresented communities and the outdoors, bringing people from all walks of life together to explore and enjoy the outdoors while building community in a safe space.

Program Coordinator

Vanessa Morales (she/ella)

Vanessa E Morales (she/ella) was born in Chicago, IL, and could not be more grateful to have grown up in a city with so much access to nature. From an early age, public city parks and the urban zoo were where her mother would take her and her younger siblings because they were safe, fun and free of charge. She vividly remembers watching the ducks swim in the duck pond, rolling in the grass, and catching lightning bugs as a central part of her upbringing. To this day, Vanessa enjoys experiencing the outdoors in her urban community of southern California, watching the ducks, and hopes to bring others along for the ride. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys birding, hiking, and hanging out with her two dogs, a greyhound and chihuahua.

Outings Leader

Vanessa Bonilla (she/her/ella)

Vané is a proud Honduran American originally from the Bay Area, now rooted in Sacramento, CA. As the first in her family to attend university and having grown up without much exposure to the outdoors, Vané discovered her passion for the environment during her time at UC Santa Cruz, where she attended her first farmers’ market and went on her inaugural hike. All the newfound freedom allowed her to develop a deep connection to nature and the local food movement. She is excited to share her love for Mother Earth and seasonal veggies as an outings leader for Latino Outdoors.

Outside of her professional life – navigating the dynamic world of grantmaking in the nonprofit sector – Vané embraces an active lifestyle that includes yoga, pasta making, mindfulness, gardening, powerlifting, and, of course, hiking.

Outings Leader

Vanessa Barela (she/her)

Vanessa was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM where her love for nature was first ignited by her family. As a child, she spent much of her time in the wilderness fishing, camping, and hiking. Vanessa has worked as a formal educator and informal educator in a variety of positions focused in science and the environment. She has an 15+ year history of working with marginalized youth in the outdoors and honoring Indigenous practices and Wisdom. Over the past 5 years she’s been focused on Environmental Education at Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, bring over 20,000 students/year outdoors at no-cost to schools in Albuquerque, and across the state due to her grant writing. She recently became New Mexico’s first Outdoor Learning Specialist at the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) overseeing outdoor classrooms, outdoor learning, guidance, grant funding, and policy relating to students, teachers, and local education authorities. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Albuquerque, Vanessa will continue to promote people to explore the outdoors and understand legislative initiatives in NM. She is also a certified Wilderness First Responder.

Outings Leader

Valerie Soto

Valerie, originally from Orlando, FL, discovered her love for the outdoors at a young age, thanks to camping and fishing trips with her parents. However, it wasn’t until college that her passion for outdoor exploration truly ignited when she realized the freedom and adventure that hiking and backpacking offered. Since 2012, she’s been immersed in outdoor pursuits, earning a B.S. in Recreation Administration with a focus on Adventure and Tourism from California State University Fresno. Currently residing in Visalia, CA, Valerie works for Adventure Risk Challenge, an outdoor non-profit empowering underserved youth through transformative literacy, leadership, and outdoor experiences. Additionally, she guides in local National Parks for enjoyment.

As a Latino Outdoors (Outings Leader) for Fresno, Valerie is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and empowerment in outdoor spaces. She aims to inspire and uplift all participants, regardless of experience, encouraging them to explore, learn, and connect with nature. Valerie’s passion lies in ensuring every individual feels welcomed, valued, and capable during outings, leaving with cherished memories and a renewed sense of belonging in the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Valerie Pasión (she/they/ella/elle)

she/they/ella/elle

Valerie is the first child in their family to be born in the U.S. Her mother immigrated from México and her father immigrated from the Philippines, to where they met and married in California. Valerie was later born and raised on Piscataway land (Baltimore, Maryland), where she lives, studies, and works today. Her relationship with the outdoors was deeply influenced by connections with people and places during her service in Peace Corps Paraguay, where she served as an environmental education and conservation volunteer from 2018-2020. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, where her research focuses on the relationships between Indigeneity, gender, land rights, and global conservation.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the greater Baltimore area, Valerie works to foster a sense of belonging for all Latinxs in outdoor exploration, and to elevate Latinx knowledges and perspectives in approaches to conservation action.

Volunteer

Valeria Hernández (she/her)

Valeria was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, a small city on, “the border by the sea”. As a child, she had a combination of experiences that inspired her love for nature. She spent many summers and weekends visiting South Padre Island, riding her bike with her family, and visiting her grandparents’ ranch in Mexico. As an undergraduate, she studied Biology and went on to become a zookeeper for several years. Working with animals reignited her passion for the environment and she is now currently working on her Master’s degree focusing on environmental conservation. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Houston, Valeria will work towards increasing nature access, equity and representation for Latinos in her community.

Outings Leader

Thania Bejarano (she/her)

Thania (she/her) was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, where she gained her enthusiasm and admiration for the outdoors. During her childhood, she loved being outside – creating flower crowns, leaping into haystacks, going on bike rides in the mountains, and organizing treasure hunts with her friends in an attempt to turn every moment into a thrilling adventure.

Post-high school, she moved to San Diego for her studies at the University of California, San Diego. Thania majored in Urban Studies & Planning and Environmental Systems, igniting her passion for contributing to community development programs. Her focus lies in educating and assisting low-income communities grappling with issues such as water quality, water scarcity, access to affordable energy appliances, and food insecurity issues.

In her role as a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Los Angeles, Thania aims to empower diverse youth by providing them with access to the great outdoors and fostering a sense of community and belonging by hosting events for the Latinx communities and others to enjoy.

Volunteer

Tatiana Patino Madriaga

Tatiana Patino Madriaga is a passionate advocate for outdoor education and environmental justice, born and raised in Southern California. She pursued her education in environmental studies at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she recognized the importance of connecting underrepresented communities to the outdoors. Her interests include community building, youth education, decolonization, accessibility to outdoor spaces, and food sovereignty.

Currently residing in the Humboldt area, Tatiana is attending graduate school at Cal Poly Humboldt for Environment & Community and serves as the environmental justice educator at the university’s Women’s Resource Center. Her experiences have fueled a commitment to decolonizing environmental education and fostering inclusive spaces for all.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Humboldt County, Tatiana will empower the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts by supporting programs that celebrate Latino culture and connect people to their environment.

Outings Leader

Sylvia Arredondo

Sylvia is from Wilmington, an industrial neighborhood of Los Angeles. She grew up riding her bike, bailando folklórico, and playing sports at the local park and rec center but breathing in dirty air made it difficult to fully enjoy green space in her community. Sylvia’s love for the outdoors was passed down from her family, as they spent their summers at parks and beaches. She took family camping trips to swim in rivers and lakes. In elementary school, she participated in Catalina Island’s Outdoor Education Program and learned about water and land ecosystems, sustainability, biodiversity, and experienced new activities like snorkeling, night hikes, and stargazing.

Sylvia holds a Master in Public Administration from CSU-Long Beach, BA in Political Science and Minor in Women Gender Studies from San Francisco State. She is the Civic Engagement Director at Communities for a Better Environment and focuses on voter empowerment in environmental justice communities. Sylvia enjoys exploring California’s state, regional and local beaches and parks. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Los Angeles/Long Beach, Sylvia will combine her appreciation, responsibility, and curiosity for the outdoors so more children and families, and curvy, full-figured people experience outdoor adventures and spend time in comunidad.

Outings Leader

Susana Renaud (she/they)

Susana (she/they) was born in 1959 and grew up in the panhandle of North Tejas. She would spend hours outdoors playing in the freshly plowed fields filled with water that her father, who was Indigenous to Tejas would work for others. Her best friends were always the animals that the family would raise for food and that her native Mexican mother would cook for dinner. This early experience allowed her to develop her curiosity and adventurous spirit for the outdoors.

Susana was also influenced by how the social racist systems of Tejas affected her Familia, and how they rebelled and became brilliant despite the brutality that they faced constantly. Her eldest siblings were the most impressive, with their defiance being shaped by the Chicanx movement which taught her to be actively proud and strong in the face of hate.

She chose to migrate to Califas in 1989 to experience some autonomy and begin her lifelong journey of healing from multigenerational trauma. She studied and became an instructor of Yoga, Integrative Health, Feminist Theory and Mindfulness Meditation, usually being the ‘only’ Latine in her classes. She has provided community mental health services in the Xicanx/Latine/Indigenous communities of Oakland and SF for 20 years. She continues to offer her wisdom free to her home communities.
She has always taken the time ‘to listen to the land’ and has explored the outdoor bay area extensively. As a ‘Two Spirit’ they can center outings where we can all find safety and care for one another and return home to our sacred belonging.

Outings Leader

Sully Moreno (she/her)

Sully is a proud Panamanian, born and raised in Panama City. She grew up swimming and tidepooling in the Pacific Ocean. She moved to the United States at age 19 to study Communications at Florida State University, where her outdoor activities continued to be water-based. When she moved to Seattle in 2012, she discovered her love for hiking and now appreciates walking up mountains and floating in lakes just the same. As a strong advocate for racial equity, Sully is passionate about creating inclusive outdoor spaces and celebrating our community’s connection to nature. The most beautiful moment of her life was reaching the peak of Panama’s tallest mountain, Volcán Barú, with her parents and sister.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader in Seattle, Sully is committed to providing outdoor recreation opportunities that are both fun and educational.

Program Coordinator

Stephanie Mercado (she/her)

Stephanie was raised in Fresno, CA. As a child she got to visit her first national park, Yosemite, with her family and fell in love with the outdoors ever since. Her love of nature only grew as she got older and now she wants to share her love for the outdoors with the community.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Fresno, Stephanie will spread the word that the Latinx community DOES BELONG outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Stephanie Carvalho (she/her)

Stephanie was born and raised in the Greater Boston area to parents from Brazil and Germany. Her love for the outdoors began on hikes with her grandparents and remembers being amazed at how her grandfather could point to any plant they saw and say its Latin name.

As one of the LO Boston Program Coordinators, Stephanie aims to help bud lasting relationships and strengthen a sense of communal belonging outdoors within the Latine community in Greater Boston.

In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys camping, biking, reading, and learning how to DJ and handpoke tattoo. She currently works as a project manager and is working on her B.A. in Labor Studies at UMass Boston.

Outings Leader

Stephanie Caban (she/her)

Stephanie (she/her) is proud to be a Bronx Boricua. Stephanie became a licensed hiking guide with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in March 2023 and leads free hikes almost every month. Stephanie’s career is in social services, specifically focusing on volunteerism, food insecurity, and housing insecurity in The Bronx. She often led conversations relating to human dignity, saviorism, and advocacy. Recently, she joined the team of a NYC conservancy, focusing on community engagement, land back, and horticulture. Stephanie regularly holds discussions on inaccessibility in nature, redlining, and health disparities as a part of her work in West Harlem and Washington Heights, engaging volunteers to both bring more love to public spaces and advocate for environmental justice. In her spare time, Stephanie also volunteers with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, trying to pass the NY Health Act which will guarantee healthcare to ALL New Yorkers, as well as fight for community control of the Kingsbridge Armory, the largest armory in the world, or “The Bronx castle.” As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for NYC, Stephanie will share her passion for hiking, dancing, and advocacy, and is excited to celebrate and be in community.

Outings Leader

Stephania Alexander (she/her/ella)

Stephania was born in Los Angeles, California and lived going back and forth to and from Zacatecas, Mexico, where her family lives. Stephania’s love for nature, connection to Mother Earth, and excitement for the outdoor spaces began very early. Her madrina (or godmother) would take 8-year-old Stephania to the local park in Zacatecas and guide her through a meditation where she was to imagine she was a beautiful tree with long, thick, and healing roots that connected to every living being. Since then, Stephania has gone to follow her passion for nature and her commitment to her Latine community by studying International Relations with a focus on the binational relationship between the US and Mexico, getting an interpretation certification, guiding meditation in Spanish, teaching snowboarding and Standup paddleboarding (SUP), hiking, biking, and camping. Stephania currently lives in Washington, DC, where she works as the People Team Manager for Bat Conservation International, which has a mission to protect bats and their habitats in a way that is just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive to all our communities. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the DMV chapter, Stephania will be part of a team that serves its community by ensuring the outdoor space is a place of belonging for everyone and celebrating everyone’s unique experiences, culture, beliefs, and stories.

Volunteer

Sophia Garcia (she/her(s))

Sophia Garcia (she/her/hers) grew up in Bakersfield California and developed a love of the outdoors when started running for her elementary school track team(Cesar E Chavez Elementary) . Sophia has been active in the social justice community in California Central Valley by volunteering for the UFW and startinh the GIS program at the Dolores Huerta Foundation. Sophia has a B.A in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College and is currently Esri’s (global software mapping company) lead for Equity and Civic Nonprofits.

In her free time, you can find Sophia on the Kern River either as a white water raft guide or kayaking with the Kern River Alliance.  She enjoys spending time in nature with her family, and friends and swimming in the river with her dog Koda. Sophia is excited to be apart of the Bakersfield LO team! 

Outings Leader

Sophia Bolaños

Sophia Bolaños was born in Quito, Ecuador also known as La Mitad Del Mundo, and migrated to the U.S. with her four older sisters in 2003. Over the years she’s had the privilege to travel back to Ecuador and treasures the days spent by the Pacific Ocean with a bowl of ceviche de concha. In middle school she checked out national geographic books from her local library and dreamed of visiting all the national parks. Sophia holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Psychology and works for a nonprofit that serves the migrant community, specifically unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. Sophia is passionate about advocacy and navigating the world through a decolonization and human rights lens.

As a LO Outings Leader for the Boston chapter, Sophia hopes to create community, foster relationships, and encourage Latines to take up space in the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Sofia Sainz (she/her/ella)

Sofia Sainz was raised in Queens, New York, and is of Bolivian and Colombian descent. As a little girl growing up in NYC, she took advantage of any opportunity to explore the outdoors but was especially fascinated by the ocean and marine life. Her interest led her to pursue a degree in understanding natural ecosystems at Binghamton University. In May 2013, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sociology. In 2019 she graduated with a Masters degree focused on Environmental Stewardship through the Advanced Inquiry Program at Miami University, Ohio. Her work focused on engaging Latinx millennials in NYC on marine conservation issues, specifically the reduction of plastic waste.

She currently resides in NYC and works full-time at a marketing agency. Previously, she spent 5 years at the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Bronx, NY supporting grant management and fundraising for local and global conservation initiatives. Outside of work and volunteering with LO, she can be found hiking with her dog Oreo, trying out new recipes, propagating her plant children, and spending time with family/friends

Program Coordinator

Shley Suarez-Burgos (she/her/hers)

Shley Suarez Burgos (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Miami. At a young age, Shley discovered her passion for conservation-focused digital storytelling. Combining her background of professional salmon fishing, filmmaking and yoga instruction, she’s discovered outlets for creative eco-storytelling by creating authentic conversations and events for diverse communities. She is currently a member of the Oceans Advisory Council, an SFI mentee, and a part of TREESOURCES. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Miami, Shley will create safe spaces for Latine to explore the outdoors in meaningful and creative ways.

Outings Leader

Shelby Bazan (she/her)

Shelby Bazan was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and has a great passion for the city, land, and culture. Shelby has a degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology from the University of New Mexico. She is currently an Educator for the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program (BEMP) in Albuquerque, NM and enjoys teaching students about the bosque ecosystem, how to collect data, and what that data means. In her spare time, she loves crafting, hiking, birding, herping (looking for reptiles/amphibians), and listening to music. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Albuquerque, NM, Shelby will bring her environmental education experience to students, adults, and families and allow a space for everyone involved to learn and teach.

Program Coordinator

Sebastian Moreno (he/him/él)

Sebastian was born and raised in New York City. At the age of 12, his family moved to the Poconos in Pennsylvania. Growing up, Sebastian was not really connected with the outdoors, nor did he explore much of his surroundings living in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It was when he was in high school that he started spending time outdoors. Sebastian’s love for nature and the outdoors became a main focus in his life when he switched his undergraduate biology degree at Wilkes University to emphasize ecology. After graduation, he pursued a master’s degree from the University of Missouri where his research focused on urban green spaces and how they impact bird diversity. Currently, Sebastian is a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts looking at the community science experience and identifying ways to lower barriers that may prevent underrepresented individuals from participating in such programs.

As the Latino Outdoors Springfield Volunteer, Sebastian will use his knowledge in urban ecology and environmental justice to create inclusive spaces that will encourage Latinx communities to build a connection with the outdoors and conservation.

Program Coordinator

Sebastián Castillo (he/him/él)

Sebastian Castillo is a Latino/Chicano from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. In the Bay area, Sebastian explored his love for the outdoors as a camp counselor where he saw the excitement it brought to youth when exposed to outdoor open spaces. He started volunteering with local organizations through community engagement. This moment pivoted his life to conservation and advocating for the environment. Serving communities through environmental education and habitat conservation work.

Currently, Sebastian is attending Cal Poly Humboldt as Environmental Science and Management Student. He is representing culture within his major with his involvement in amplifying the science and culture of students in the JEDI committee. Sebastian is focused on bringing back the connections of culture to the outdoors. To eliminate the inequitable access to the outdoors that underrepresented communities face. Establishing the intersectionality of the outdoor spaces through recreation, science, and culture. Sebastian understands the privileges some may have when it comes to access to the outdoors.

As a Latino Outdoors outings leader for Humboldt County, Sebastian will embrace for his surrounding communities to become an outdoor advocate through exposure to the nature around them. Creating an environment where diverse spaces are welcomed to the outdoors.

Volunteer

Sarahi Vargas (she/her/hers)

Sarahi was born and raised in Vallejo, CA and graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Air Quality and Climate Change. Sarahi’s love for the outdoors sprouted when her family took a trip up north to see the redwood trees. The quietness, smell, and pristine air quality was something Sarahi never forgot. She currently works as a laboratory technician working for the IMPROVE network (Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments) where she is able to contribute her talent to protect class 1 areas such as national parks, wilderness areas, and indigenous lands that have the highest level of air quality protection under the law. Sarahi hopes that through her work, everyone will be able to enjoy natural wonders by continuing to monitor air pollution, which blocks visibility and causes health problems for humans. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for the SF Bay Area team, Sarahi will be supporting outings by coordinating volunteers with her friendly aura. She is dedicated to making the community feel safe and supported as they learn more about nature.

Program Coordinator

Sarah Thornbrugh (she/her)

Sarah is proud to have been raised in a multicultural home that reflects the Hispanic and New Mexican heritage of her mother and our ancestors, and a love of science and learning from her father. While the majority of her family remains in New Mexico, she was born in the northeast and raised in the southeast parts of the US. It was in the southeast that nature became a place to explore and imagine. As a teenager Sarah began to spend a lot of time outdoors and take an active role in conservation by picking up trash and marveling at the ecosystem around her. Her desire to always be outside led her to complete a Bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences, followed by a Masters degree in Free-choice Science Education to better equip her her passion for connecting with others outdoors through learning. She now lives as a guest on the homelands of the Wampanoag people with her family and has held a number of jobs in conservation and STEM education here, currently working and volunteering for climate action, outdoor equity and community engagement in environmental freedom. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer in Western Massachusetts, she will use her passion for STEM education and her love of the outdoors to create a welcoming environment for other Hispanic and Latine families and individuals to find their connection to nature and celebrate our shared cultura here in the northeast.

Volunteer

Sandra López

Sandra was born in a small town north of Mexico City. She’s the youngest of 7 siblings. At age 10 she came to the U.S and completed high school and 2 years of college. She’s the mother of 2 children. Sandra is an animal lover and loves the outdoors. She currently lives in Henderson, Nevada and loves to go hiking at Mt. Charleston and other local trails. She hopes that her love for the outdoors, the animals, and the children will help teach the next Latino generation to take care of the environment.

Outings Leader

Samantha Mariscal (she/they)

Samantha grew up in Los Angeles County and enjoys the outdoors. She grew up spending most of her time outdoors and enjoying activities like camping, hiking, and sight seeing. Her passion for the outdoors grew from these memorable moments and led her to study and pursue a career in Environmental Education. She minored in Environmental Education and Interpretation and earned her Bachelors of Science in Wildlife Conservation at Cal Poly Humboldt.

During her time as a college student, she committed most of her time to search for volunteer opportunities and potential careers that involved environmental education. Currently, she works as an Environmental Education Coordinator at Friends of Ballona Wetlands (FBW). FBW is a non-profit organization that aims to protect, restore, and educate the public about the last coastal wetland in the county of Los Angeles. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer, Samantha aims to connect people of all ages and identities to outdoor spaces.

Outings Leader

Ruth López (she/her)

Ruth Lopez was born in Jalisco, Mexico. She was four years old when her family immigrated to the Bay Area. Ruth’s earliest memory of feeling the aww only nature provides, was waking up in the day use parking lot of Yosemite Valley. Second aww that day was having her dad’s freshly fried donuts. As a young adult she spent many weekends exploring hikes around Santa Cruz. Her love for the outdoors has grown from hiking to camping in the beautiful bay area. Ruth plans to share her passion for the outdoors by leading camping, hiking and kayaking adventures with the Latino Outdoor community.

Program Coordinator

Ruth Castillo (she/her)

Ruth was born in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, and later raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In 2021 she moved from Boston to New Hampshire. As a child she spent time going to the ocean in the summers, and on-land outdoor recreation revolved around farm animals and farm work. It was through watching Rocket Power on Nickelodeon en Español that Ruth first learned and became interested in outdoor recreation in the mountains as a means of joy, and the first time she saw Hispanic characters engaging in deportes extremos. It wasn’t until she moved to Maine in 2010 on a university scholarship that she had more access available to experience the outdoors, and started to discover the delight that activities in nature such as rock climbing and hiking brought her. These activities became a means for self-reflection, grounding and growth as she navigated the complexities of new societal norms and culture. After university, Ruth has spent her free time advocating for underrepresented groups to access the outdoors in her local community, through her social media platforms, speaking engagements, and as a board member of New England based organizations Summits in Solidarity and More Women+ Surf. During the day, she works as a Product Operations Engineer for a Data Analysis team. She has continued to explore the mountains and oceans of the area and their communities through rock climbing, hiking, mountain running, skiing and surfing.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for the Boston Chapter, Ruth uses her knowledge of recreating in the great mountains and oceans of NH to create strategic planning & programming for her chapter to access new partnerships and resources, and engage in activities such as hiking, rock climbing, skiing and surfing, all in a community & cultura setting.

Outings Leader

Ruby Corona (she/her)

Ruby was born and raised in San Antonio and is the oldest of 5 children. As a young child, she remembers all the family camping trips to Blanco and Garner Stare park. Her least favorite at the time was camping at the beach. She remembers vividly the sand-hard beach hair and the sand sandwiches. As she raised her own children, she also ensured that her sons experienced camping and spending time outside. Ruby currently works for USAA and celebrated 15 years with the company this year. Ruby has several passions, including volunteering with the community, hiking, and traveling as often as possible. As an adult, she was reintroduced to the outdoors when she took up running. Running eventually led to hiking and exploring many new places. Throughout her travels, she started noticing that there was a lack of representation for the Latinx community. This eventually is what drew her to becoming a volunteer with Latino Outdoors. Ruby is excited to combine her passion for volunteering and the love of the outdoors to build a space that is diverse and welcoming for all who wish to have a special relationship with nature.

Outings Leader

Ruby Aguirre-Gutiérrez (ella/she/her)

Ruby and her family immigrated from Nayarit, Mexico to Merced, CA where she spent the rest of developing years navigating the public school system and adjusting to the experience of being first generation. One of Ruby’s foundational experience in settling into a new country was visiting Yosemite National Park regularly. Living so close to a national park was a privilege and while also facing social and environmental disparities in her community, this did not stop Ruby from accessing nature, because she does not believe it should be a privilege to have access to clean air and the natural environment.

Ruby moved to Northern California where she pursued her bachelor and master’s degree in social work, with a focus in rural and Indigenous communities from Humboldt State University. During Ruby’s time working with Indigenous tribes from the north and through her lived experiences, she witnessed the positive impact that land and culture play into one’s healing journey. As a Chicana with privilege, Ruby finds it important to give back to her community through collective actions for promoting Raza empowerment.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer in the north bay, Ruby will support latinx communities in accessing a stronger connection to themselves through nature in Marin County.

Outings Leader

Rouvaishyana (he/him)

Rouvaishyana was born and raised in Indiana and Michigan, then moved to California as an adult. Hiking at State Parks with his family as a child, he later became a California State Park Interpreter (naturalist), leading hundreds of guided programs, working with volunteers, cataloging natural history specimens, and giving astronomy programs. He has also worked for many years in the private whale and wildlife watching sector in Morro Bay, CA. There he realized how many people in California speak Spanish, so he began learning the language as an adult, in order to be more welcoming to the Latinoamerican community. He plans to help start a chapter of Latino Outdoors in San Luis Obispo county, and lead or co-lead outings. He is an active birder, and is currently learning the names of California birds in Spanish.

Outings Leader

Ronaldo Desiderio (he/him)

Ronaldo was born and raised in New Jersey, where he was exposed to his cultural roots through frequent family trips to South America. His interest in the outdoors began at a young age through camping, which played a major role in his personal development, family bonding, and love for nature. Today, he continues his love for nature through frequent hiking and biking in local county and state parks. Ever since achieving a Bachelor’s in Architecture, Ronaldo has connected his findings and understanding of the natural environment to his architectural work. He believes the body is affected by the environment it occupies, and therefore it’s important to incorporate renewable resources in building applications. Nature is a great influencer of the human mind by providing us with cognitive restoration to keep subsequent stress, anger, and impulsivity at a low level.

As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader for Philadelphia, Ronaldo will help forge a stronger community that recognizes the natural resources and experiences available within city boundaries that go often overlooked.

Outings Leader

Roman Varela (he/him/his)

Roman (he/him/his) was born and raised in Northern New Mexico where his love for the outdoors was first started. As a child, he went on many camping and fishing trips. As an adult, he has continued his love for the outdoors and continues to look for and explore new places to go hiking.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for New Mexico, he will take the many members of Latinx communities on exciting trips to the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Robbin Meneses (él/he/him/his)

Robbin Meneses is a non-profit leader, focusing on racial equity, trust-building, and strengthening community partnerships, particularly with the Metro Denver Partnership for Health.

Previously, Robbin served as a Program Manager at the Latino Leadership Institute, where he launched the Latino Entrepreneur Access Program and led training and outreach initiatives. At The Denver Foundation, he expanded support for communities of color through giving circles and donor engagement. His experience also includes organizing Latinx recruitment for Florida’s Democratic Party.

Robbin holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and an Executive MPA from Florida International University, with certifications in nonprofit management and human resources. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with his dog, Usnavi.

Passionate about dismantling systemic inequities, Robbin believes in rebuilding systems to prioritize racial equity, recognizing the intersecting identities that shape marginalized communities.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Colorado, Robbin will collaborate with organizations, and inform the community about ways to enjoy the outdoors and help creating development opportunities.

Favorite Quote: “A veces la música te dirá a dónde ir...” —Natalia Lafourcade.

Outings Leader

Ricardo Escobar (he/him/él)

Ricardo was born and raised in Los Angeles with roots tracing back to Guatemala and Mexico. Before he could walk, Ricardo was carried on his father’s back through trails of Yosemite National Park. As a result, Ricardo’s love for the outdoors was cultivated early on. Throughout his childhood, Ricardo’s parents took him and his siblings on trips to national parks across the western half of the U.S. From hiking countless trails and participating in multiple junior ranger programs on such excursions, Ricardo began to ponder life and work in the outdoors. In college, Ricardo connected his awe for nature with educational endeavors in an introductory geology course. From there, Ricardo went on to obtain both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology. Post-college, Ricardo interned with the Mosaics in Science diversity internship program and, shortly after, was able to secure a permanent position with the National Park Service. Recently, Ricardo switched agencies and is now working for the Bureau of Land Management in North Bend, OR.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Portland, Ricardo is focused on bringing education and social justice to the Latinx communities via the outdoors, both in the greater Portland area, as well as the southern coast of Oregon. Furthermore, as a Bureau of Land Management employee, Ricardo will utilize this platform to increase opportunities for communities of color in accessing public land spaces.

Outings Leader

Rhiannon Regalado-Valdez Herrington (she/her/ella)

Rhiannon was born and raised amongst the orange tree groves and charros of San Fernando Valley, CA. As the granddaughter of a Mexican immigrant and a migrant farmworker, Rhiannon was raised to be proud of her culture and appreciate the land. Growing up, her family spent summers camping in Sequoia and Yosemite. It was during her undergraduate time at the University of California, Santa Cruz, that Rhiannon grew to further appreciate her culture and began to see the lack of diversity in the outdoor community. After undergraduate, Rhiannon went back home and attended the University of Southern California for her Master’s degree in School Counseling. Life then took Rhiannon to El Paso and San Antonio where she got to explore desert camping and hill country hiking. Rhiannon now lives in Colorado Springs where she is a high school counselor and spends her time hiking, camping, kayaking, and paddle boarding with her husband and 2 niños. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Colorado, Rhiannon is passionate about making the outdoors accessible to all. As a previous Branch ambassador and current hike host for Hike it Baby, a national nonprofit working to inspire families with babies to connect with nature, Rhiannon hopes to use her resources and experiences to encourage Latine/x families with young children to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Rene Melara (he/him/his)

Rene is a queer Latino social worker from Elizabeth, New Jersey and is currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Coming from an area where open green spaces were mostly overshadowed by skyscrapers, he has enjoyed getting to know the natural beauty of the SoCal area. As a social worker, he is passionate about working with youth, families, and communities that are often marginalized and helps to equity, access, and justice. One of his favorite things about living in Los Angeles is being able to see the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains on a clear, smog-free day while he sits in what’s described as the world’s worst traffic. He enjoys gardening and spending time with his partner, Kevin, and their two cats, Tofu and Samosa.

Program Coordinator

Remigio Mateo (he/him/él)

Remi, who was born and raised in the Echo Park/Rampart neighborhood of Los Angeles, knew he was serious about hiking and the outdoors when he started spending much of his paycheck at REI. He’s explored Guatemala and visited the Mayan pyramids and plans on visiting ancient pyramids and monuments all over the world.

In the past, Remi was a casual hiker who would visit local trails a handful of times per year. Things changed for him in 2015, however, when he joined the 52 Hike Challenge, a movement that pushed him to explore his vast city more broadly and consistently for 52 consecutive weeks.

Remi graduated from California State University of Northridge with a degree in Sociology. He went on to Presidio Graduate School where he earned a Masters in Public Administration.

As a Latino Outdoors Co-Coordinator for Los Angeles, Remi will connect Latino families to the beautiful areas of Southern California.

Outings Leader

Raúl Guadarrama Alonso

Raúl was born in Mexico City where he grew up before eventually moving to Argentina and later landing in New Jersey in 2012. He got his Bachelors in Biology in 2019 and decided to move out to Flagstaff, AZ where he worked for a conversation corps first as a member and later a crew leader. He worked on several different conservation projects in the backcountry and eventually moved out to California to study owls in Sequoia National Forest. He later got a masters degree in Natural Resource and Sustainability and now works as an environmental planner for the US Forest Service. Through his work Raul fell in love with the national forest and lands and hopes to keep being a steward to the places he loves so much.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Colorado, Raul looks to help other Latinos grow to love the forest and inspire them to protect and conserve our most valuable resource. He hope that through this organization he can increase Latino recreation and their involvement in the forest decision making process.

Ambassador

Raquel Rangel

Raquel Rangel is a student at California State University, Stanislaus, majoring in Biological Science. She has volunteered with different organizations in the Central Valley, planting native shrubs and trees for different restoration projects and water monitoring, as well as banding geese for data collection. Raquel has discovered that her time spent as a volunteer, her involvement with the Geography Club on campus, and her involvement with the non-profit organization Tuolumne River Trust has helped her develop various life skills and has expanded her interest towards the outdoors.

Through her collaboration with LO, she hopes to get individuals and communities involved and interested in (re)connecting to the environment. By organizing different outings, she would like to demonstrate to participants what a beautiful place we live in and inspire them to play a part in conserving our home.

Outings Leader

Priscila Amador (she/they)

Priscila (she/they) was raised in the “Little Mexico” neighborhood of Chicago called “La Villita”. Her primary outdoor activities in childhood were skateboarding and cycling around the city with friends. They were always drawn to the outdoors but it was never accessible to her except for the very occasional family camping trip. Priscila dreams of living in a way that is harmonious with nature and is a big zero/low waste and plant based enthusiast. They currently live in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago where they are a full time nanny. One day she hopes to move somewhere that is bike accessible to forest preserves and hiking trails, but for now they are excited to be part of Latino Outdoors, enabling access to the outdoors to the Latine communities in Chicago and the Great Lakes area.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Great Lakes, Priscila, being part of the Advocacy Team, plans to incorporate advocacy components to LO events, creating a deeper connection between community needs and global issues and the LO community.

Outings Leader

Pearla Romero (she)

Pearla was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, but spent many childhood summers and holidays in her father’s hometown in Mexico. There, in the Chihuahuan desert, is where her interest and love for the outdoors began. In the desert she would hike the bordering cerro, swim in the acequias and local sulphur spring, and explore every edge of the pueblo she could safely reach. With time, this interest turned into appreciation, which ultimately turned into a career path. She is a first-generation college graduate with a B.A. in Biology and M.S. in Environmental Science. Pearla recently returned from South America after serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the environment sector. Now, she’s excited to serve her community as a Latino Outdoors Ambassador, and she hopes to facilitate experiences and conversations that bring diversity to the outdoors while in this role.

Outings Leader

Paula Pelletier (she/her(s))

Paula (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. As a child, she would spend days biking with friends, climbing trees in her grandmother’s house, and enjoying the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. Now, Paula lives in Chicago, where she works as a consumer researcher. Her 5-9 after her 9-5 involves finding movement by biking around the city and running by the lakefront. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Great Lakes Chapter, Paula will act as a communications volunteer, ensuring effective and inclusive outreach efforts to bridge awareness gaps and encourage our Great Lakes Latinx community to come together to explore their connection to nature.

Outings Leader

Olivia Juarez (they/them)

Olivia Juarez (they/she) is a lifelong Utahn currently based in Salt Lake City, UT as Latinx Community Organizer at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Through community action with Latino Outdoors, Utah Coalition of La Raza, and GreenLatinos, Olivia nurtures Latinx joy, and leadership in conservation of nuestra tierra pública, the mountains and deserts of Utah. Olivia’s education is based at the University of Utah with a 2017 Honors Peace and Conflict Studies degree. Olivia enjoys camping with her family, loud music, playing in the snow, yoga, and gazing at cryptobiotic soils.

Outings Leader

Nohemi Mora (she/her/hers)

Nohemi is a first generation Mexican-American (and proud Tejana!) from Dallas, TX. She received a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Southern Methodist University and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration at the University of Denver. Her earliest recollections of connecting with the outdoors involve childhood summers spent with her tios and primos in ranchos of Guanajuato and Michoacán.

Her favorite ways to spend time outdoors include running, hiking, and camping. As an outings leader for Latino Outdoors, Nohemi wishes to lead college students and families on outings that instill a sense of ownership of public lands. She hopes to accomplish this while respecting the history and cultural value of these sites as well as applying an understanding of issues of access and equity for underserved/under-resourced communities in higher education to the world of outdoor recreation.

Outings Leader

Nikki Hernandez (she/hers/ella)

Nikki grew up in Colorado Springs as the youngest of five in a military family. As a child, she spent her days exploring the creeks and trails on the Air Force Academy and soaking up the sun as much as possible with her friends and family. As an adult, Nikki felt empowered in developing her outdoor skills and took advantage of every opportunity there was to learn. She acquired backcountry leadership skills through her college’s Outdoor Education Program and more recently spent a summer being trained as a whitewater rafting guide on the Arkansas River. Currently, Nikki works in victim services and is passionate about improving support for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking in the state of Colorado.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Colorado, Nikki hopes to create equitable and inclusive spaces for all in the outdoors so that everyone has the opportunity to find joy and healing in nature.

Outings Leader

Nicole Dziubczynski

Meet Nicole Dziubczynski, a Southside Chicago native of Mexican and Polish descent and an accountant at Metra, the commuter rail system serving the Chicagoland area. Growing up, Nicole developed a deep connection with the outdoors through family camping trips, climbing trees in the parks of Chicago, and enjoying sunny days at the beach. An avid rock climber, she now channels her passion into fostering a welcoming space, breaking barriers, and uniting our community through shared outdoor experiences.

As the Adventure Committee Lead for the Great Lakes Chapter at Latino Outdoors, Nicole envisions a future of growth for our community, where each adventure becomes a stepping stone towards building lasting connections and expanding our collective love for the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Natalia Pulido (she/her/ella)

Natalia Pulido (She/Her/Ella) was born in Iquique, Chile, and raised in North Texas since the age of 14. Now, she resides in the beautiful mountains of Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Natalia’s love for the outdoors began with her first mountain bike ride, which eventually led to mountain biking becoming her lifestyle and advocacy tool for representation and diversity in the outdoors. Natalia has worked with several non-profit organizations including Colorado Mountain Biking Association (COMBA) Women’s Program in the front range and helped to co-found the Latina Program to offer accessible MTB skill clinics in Spanish for Latina women. She is also a certified MTB coach and experienced bike ride guide for the community. She has also volunteered with Kids on Bikes to lead kids’ bike skill clinics in Spanish in Colorado Springs.

She earned her B.S in Biology from TWU and then later pursued a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. Aside from her love for the outdoors, Natalia is also an artist who finds inspiration from nature. She also enjoys spending time in the outdoors hiking, fly fishing, snowboarding, and plein air painting.

As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader in the area of Colorado Springs, Natalia will collaborate with organizations and cultivate opportunities to create equitable spaces in the outdoors for our Latine/Latinx community.

Volunteer

Natalia Ospina (she/her/ella)

Natalia (she/her/ella) was born in Bogota, Colombia and was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She became exposed to the outdoors when she moved to Denver, Colorado in 2016 where she started to climb and was part of the Latino Outdoors Colorado crew until 2020. Currently, she is based in Milwaukee, WI where you can find her running along the Milwaukee River or along Lake Michigan. She is passionate about having other Latinx folks experience the outdoors as well as building community. She currently works for an environmental organization bridging the gap between public health and conservation and is in the process of launching a curly haired business for outdoor adventurers. She is excited to take familias outside in the Midwest!

Outings Leader

Natalia Gonzalez (she/her(s))

Natalia (she/her/hers) was born in Laredo, Texas and raised in San Antonio. Her love for the outdoors started in college after getting a job doing outreach at an outdoor recreation center. Her experience in the outdoors has always been one with urban undertones. She’s since then continued her exploration of outdoor recreation in Austin. Her experience growing up recreating in urban green spaces drives her initiatives to educate her community about the ways they can connect with nature in an urban setting. She is passionate about water-sports, mainly fishing. Natalia will bring her 7 years of experience in environmental education and outdoor recreation program planning to Latino Outdoors Austin as volunteer outings leader.

Outings Leader

Nancy Vielmas (she/her)

Nancy Vielmas (she/her) was born and raised in Pico Rivera, CA. She was raised by Mexican immigrant parents. One of them was from Mexico City and one of them from a rancho in Zacatecas. Nancy grew up playing in the patio and local parks, sometimes her family would pack up and go to the LA mountains to visit el rio in the summer, and in the winter her family would drive up to la nieve in the San Bernardino mountains. Nancy wasn’t particularly fond of nature growing up, she didn’t like being dirty and was terrified of bees.

Fast forward after high school, she decided she wanted to move away for college, the idea of exploring the world on her own excited her. She didn’t have a plan, she was planning on becoming a doctor, so she can make some money and help her parents out. She landed at California State University, Monterey Bay where there is an immense amount of natural beauty. Over the first two years of college, she met friends who would take her out to the woods and she didn’t quite understand why they wanted to be there all the time but she went. Time passed and she noticed the stars, the details in shrubs, the smells, the feeling of wandering in nature, the peace. She has learned so much while immersed in nature, has gone through huge epiphanies and worked through life lessons. When she was sad or heartbroken, she’d go to the woods and come back clear. She changed her major to Environmental Studies and was interested in the relationship between people and nature. Throughout and after college, she worked as a student assistant for Return of the Natives, a non-profit that focused on nature connection and habitat restoration. A lot of the time she was sharing her love of nature with youth. She continued work in outdoor education, fell in love, had a beautiful baby girl and now, she is the Education Programs Coordinator for that same non-profit: Habitat Stewardship Project, Monterey Bay (formerly, Return of the Natives). For some of her time she is planning and leading field trips at local parks and open spaces that immerse youth in nature through hands-on experiences and that involve youth in habitat restoration efforts. Outside of her work life, she spends time with her family, soaking in life with a three year old and working hard to make sure she makes time to reset in nature.

As a Central Coast LO chapter volunteer as an Outings Leader, Nancy wants to facilitate joyful, and positive experiences in nature for families in hopes that they will feel the healing power she feels from nature.

Outings Leader

Nancy Mercado (she/her)

Nancy Mercado was born and raised in Fresno, CA. She is currently working on obtaining her teaching credential at Fresno State University. Her love for outdoor activities and the natural world began when she explored her first national park, Yosemite. She wants to ensure that the youth of the Central Valley are able to develop a love for the outdoors. Most importantly, she wants her future students to feel a sense of belonging in all outdoor spaces without compromising their authentic self.

As a Latino Outdoors Leader for Fresno, CA, Nancy will inspire and engage the Latino community in outdoor activities. She will work to foster a connection between people, culture, and the environment. She will promote diversity and inclusivity in outdoor spaces.

Volunteer

Nadia Garcia (she/her)

Nadia was born in Hidalgo, Mexico but raised in Las Vegas, NV. This is where she started discovering the outdoors. Nadia loved being outside since a young age and taking her personality with her which includes her taking gold hoops wherever she goes. The outdoors introduced itself when Nadia joined an after-school program called Lifetime Adventures when she was 12. She started hiking, fishing, and backpacking. The first area that she ventured was Gold Butte, NV where she felt welcomed and started learning of what is in the outdoors. Her first backpacking trip was in the high Sierras at 13 in a 6-day venture. This ignited her love for the outdoors and started volunteering to go on outings with younger children. Nadia shares her love for the outdoors with her friends and family. Nadia is excited to combine her love of the outdoors with her desire to engage the community in her new role as Ambassador for the Latino Outdoors Las Vegas Chapter.

Volunteer

Morgan Wordes (she/her/ella)

Morgan was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. A bicultural Xicana, Morgan discovered her love of the outdoors exploring the natural wonders of California during her childhood. After high school, Morgan relocated to Brooklyn, NY to pursue a degree in Critical & Visual Studies from Pratt Institute, and during the next 11 years felt the lack of access to outdoor spaces (and outdoorsy people!) deeply. While back on the West Coast in 2016, Morgan was excited to find kindred spirits in Latino Outdoors and joined as an active participant. Morgan is currently working in Long Island City as a Development & Communications Associate at the sports based youth development non-profit Urban Dove.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for New York City, Morgan will work together with the rest of the team to engage families in accessing, enjoying, and advocating for outdoor natural spaces– both outside of the city as well as within. She’s excited to use her extensive experience working with multicultural communities and background in Communications to help spread the word about LO!

Outings Leader

Monserrat Alvarez Matehuala (she/her)

Monserrat Alvarez Matehuala is a Guachichil & Mexica mujer born to Mexican immigrants in Ventura, CA but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina where she fell in love with the outdoors and community organizing. Monserrat is an outdoor educator, instructor, community organizer, climber, and 4th generation danzante. As an instructor, she uses her language skills to collaborate with Spanish speaking communities as a certified Single Pitch Instructor, Apprentice Alpine Guide, JEDI consultant and Master LNT educator. By day she works with local government to assure equitable access to outdoor spaces in her current home of Boulder. You can find her hanging out with her perrihija Zandunga and her flock: Lupita, Conchita, Pepita, Pantera, Jaguar, y Canelita.

Along with being an LO volunteer, she is part of the national leadership team for Brown Girls Climb, a women of color organization that uplifts and celebrates women of color in climbing.

Volunteer

Monica Vega Latona (they/them)

Monica Vega Latona (they/them) is Tejana/Californian/Xicana currently living in Sacramento, California. Some of their earliest and most significant outdoor memories are of their grandmother’s house in El Paso where the Franklin Mountains rise from the desert, monuments to the dreams of their migrant ancestors. They grew up with a very complicated message about the outdoors: “only rich people take vacation”, “we don’t go camping” and “we don’t go outside,” were messages they received from family. However, their family was always outside at a BBQ, driving through the desert, or starting a garden. Later, Monica found a love of exploring tide pools and California redwoods on a trip with their marine biology class in community college. Since then, Monica has chased sunsets at golden hour on hikes along the west coast, finding healing through writing and painting in the outdoors. They currently have a Masters in Library and Information Science from San José State University and a B.A. from Sacramento State University in Art with a minor in Latinx/Chicanx Studies.

They believe in a love of learning: outdoor programs, activities, and services supports cultural (re)connection, community access, and empowerment for families who experience barriers from preventing them from getting outside (or simply wanting to try something new). In addition to working for equity & social justice, Monica is a life long punkera, loves punk music, vegan ice cream, reading books, visiting record stores, and hanging out with their partner Jaron.

As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador, Monica supports access to opportunities and activities to (re)connect families to the outdoors all over California.

Volunteer

Michelle Bernardo

Michelle is a Miami native passionate about urban conservation, increasing access to nature, and all things marine science. Her appreciation for nature and drive to conserve biodiversity is owed to many instances growing up; for example, receiving encouragement from science educators in her early education and visiting family in the Caribbean. Her participation in opportunities for accessible outdoor recreation as an undergraduate opened her up to being more involved outdoors as an adult.

Michelle has supported marsh fieldwork, coral wet lab research, and bilingual (English/Spanish) environmental education in Florida and the Northeast. She has also organized creative community engagements, having led her own “New Wave of Surfistas” and “Make Art, Not Plastic” events. Currently, she facilitates tours and maintenance of the the Voss Marine Invertebrate Collection. As a LO leader, Michelle will continue the community of inclusion and empowerment that the Latino Outdoors Miami chapter fosters via fun, unique, and affordable activities.

Program Coordinator

Miché Lozano (they/he/él)

Miché Lozano (They/he/él) is located in Tucson, Arizona where they serve their community with outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. Miché has a background in Environmental Science and Natural Resource management and has 10 years of experience in conservation where they’ve worn many hats. They’ve served as: a naturalist, scientist, outings leader, instructor, community organizer, program manager, and an advocate. Miché takes an interdisciplinary approach to education and organizing diverse communities. They are passionate about nature conservation and discovering solutions to resolve our society’s problems by working towards strengthening relationships between society, people, and places.

Miché is a first generation Mexican American of transgender experience, with roots in the southwest and northern Mexico. They grew up on the borderlands or Yuma, Arizona where they served as a reptile and fish biologist and volunteered providing humanitarian aid to refugees along the border. They earned their Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, AZ where they gained a passion for hiking, cycling, and where they cut their teeth rock climbing.

Miché lived the #Vanlife for several years and traveled across the west coast as a wildlife biologist and an outdoor science educator. They served the communities of Portland, Oregon as an educator, organizer, and advocate. In 2020, in response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020 – Miché became involved with the collective mutual aid organizing efforts and public protests spearheaded by the the Black Lives Matter movement in the city of Portland, OR. This transformative experience forever changed them into an abolitionist. Their lived experience informs their perspective and as such, Miché sees the world through a unique lens – where everything is a chance to strengthen Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in every possible aspect of their life and career. They see the problems in today’s society as an opportunity to reconnect and inspire others through educational and direct experiences with the benefits of nature.

Miché can usually be found somewhere outside, reading a book, cooking, meditating, dreaming and scheming, but more than likely, probably eating tacos.

Outings Leader

Melissa Mejia (she/her/ella)

Melissa Mejia (she/her/ella) is a first generation Dominican-American born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She received a BS in Natural Sciences from Temple University in 2020. As a first-generation graduate, it was difficult navigating the balance of her studies and work on her own, she turned to walking outdoors as a way to cope with the stress. She would often trek through the city on what she likes to call city hikes.

Eventually, she learned about a local hiking spot, The Wissahickon, and began hiking there. This is where she developed a newfound love for connecting with la naturaleza. Although she has not found community in these spaces, she took it upon herself to hike on a consistent basis and continues to explore new trails in the tri-state area.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader, Melissa hopes to cultivate comunidad, inspire others to get outdoors, make natural spaces more inclusive and accessible to the Latinx community, and foster collective healing through connection with the land.

Outings Leader

Melanie Gárate (she/ella)

Melanie Gárate was born in a valley locked between the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean of Chile.  Mesmerized by the aquatic critters and worried about the ocean’s future due to pollution and climate change, Melanie studied marine biology and ultimately received her master’s degree at the University of Rhode Island. There, she received an NSF graduate research fellowship to study mangrove ecology and climate change in Puerto Rico. She now works on nature based climate solutions at the Stone Living Lab in the Boston area. As the Latino Outdoors Boston Chapter Program Coordinator and Outings Leader, Melanie uses her experience and expertise to create a welcoming space for the Latine community in the Boston area, rooted in environmental justice and decolonization.

Volunteer

Mayreli García Celedon

Mayreli was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and immigrated with her family to the United States at the age of three. While growing up in Fresno, CA, her connection to the outdoors included playing in the lush grape fields of the countryside and going to Roeding Park for the staple family carne asadas on the weekends. Although Fresno is known for being surrounded by many natural wonders like Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, her family did not have many opportunities to partake in those spaces. It wasn’t until her late twenties when she started finding her own path into those awe-inspiring environments.

Her airline career has given her the opportunity to travel to ten beautiful countries. Taking in the vast environments and cultures during her travels gave her a glimpse of what the world had to offer. She started seeking out other opportunities and groups that would help educate and nurture a sense of belonging. She was able go find that connection with Latino Outdoors.

Thanks to Latino Outdoors she was able to experience her first camping trip at the age of 35 and was introduced to rock climbing, her new favorite sport. Latino Outdoors gave her the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals that shared her story and a sense of belonging to all outdoor spaces.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Fresno, May hopes to help others feel a sense of connection and belonging to outdoor spaces, by supporting and making LO events memorable. She also wants to encourage others to share their own stories and advocate, it’s never too late to start your own journey.

Outings Leader

Mary Galindo (she/her/ella)

Mary (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Santa Barbara where her love for nature began. She loved playing in parks as a kid and later discovered her passion for hiking through the Santa Barbara mountains in high school. She deepened her connection with the outdoors during her travels in India, Brazil, and Mexico and during her professional career in Los Angeles. She enjoys camping with friends, hiking, going to the beach and park. One of her favorite things is laying on the grass, in the sun, listening to the trees blowing in the wind. She is a Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist that is passionate about sharing how eating more plants and getting outside can prevent illness and support mental and physical health.

As a Latino Outdoor outings leader for Ventura County, Mary will act as a bridge between the Latine community and the existing outdoor spaces to build community, experience joy and enhance overall wellness.

Volunteer

Martín Ceja Mejía (he/him/they/them)

Martín, born in Michoacán, México (historically Purepecha land), was raised in Southern California on what was Chumash land. He first encountered nature in México as a kid, where he would play in a forest across his house. In Southern California he learned to appreciate the built environment as well as the mountains and ocean nearby. He completed his B.A.S. at UC Davis where he focused on Chemistry and Spanish. Through chemistry, he discovered his passion for environmental toxicology and environmental health. Spanish brought a unique cultural aspect tying him deeper to his roots, allowed him to venture deeper into literature and philosophy, and ultimately guided his lifestyle and desire to help in the fight for racial and gender equality, among other issues, faced by the society he now finds himself in. Martín focuses on traditional ecological knowledge, environmental sustainability, as well as philosophy pertaining to colonialism, sovereignty, community, and nature and western society. As a LO volunteer he hopes to help bridge distinct world views to better understand the land and help decolonize the mind from the colonial narrative pushed onto “wilderness.”

Volunteer

Maritza Kritz

Born and raised on the Central coast of California, Maritza was raised in the small town of Grover Beach. Maritza is 3rd generation Mexican American. Growing up, Maritza didn’t have the opportunity to experience hiking until she was in her 20s due to the lack of outdoor advocacy geared toward minorities.

After returning home from college in Oregon, Maritza met a few friends from back home who invited her on a backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park. She climbed Half Dome for her first summit experience. Her love for the outdoors grew from there. Maritza has backpacked 23 national parks and counting. While traveling to these parks Maritza has seen the potential of how humans can ruin these environments unknowingly which led to her becoming a firm advocate for the Leave No Trace Act.

Today she lives in Portland, Oregon and is an advocate and supporter of the progressive movement for people of color. Maritza assisted the Oregon District 3 campaign with ideas for affordable housing and homeless crisis. Her main focus as a Latino Outdoors volunteer is to provide underprivileged youth and BIPOC access to the freedom that the outdoors brings. She hopes to accomplish this while advocating for the conservation of the natural world.

Outings Leader

Maria Llorens (she/her)

Maria Llorens was born and raised in Miami, FL. She has had a deep love of animals and nature since she was a child, and as an adult discovered an intense passion for hiking, kayaking, and nature photography, particularly in the Florida Everglades. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. Her professional background is in non-profit legal work focused on the rights of immigrants in the workplace. She is currently attempting to thru-hike the 1,100-mile Florida National Scenic Trail.

As part of the Latino Outdoors team in Miami, Maria hopes to serve as a guide and ambassador to other Latinx folks like her who did not grow up exploring the outdoors, but want to connect with and discover their own relationship to nature.

Outings Leader

María Leonor Rodríguez (she/her)

María Leonor was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Growing up, she was first exposed to outdoor activities through summer camps where she learned how shared outdoor experiences could help build positive and powerful communities. She attended college in NC where she pursued this love working as a trip leader through the outdoor program. María earned a BA in Environmental Studies and grew passionate about creating meaningful and culturally relevant outdoor experiences that can spark interest in long-lasting environmental change. Through her work and experiences in outdoor education, María found her love for backpacking and building communities outdoors that support the personal growth of individuals. María now works at a small environmental nonprofit coordinating ecological education programs and volunteer events in Santa Fe, NM. María is excited to facilitate opportunities for the Latine community to build positive connections to the New Mexican landscape that can support their recharge and solidify their place in the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Maria Gallegos (she/her)

Maria was born in Degollado, Jalisco. Moved to California at the age of 7, and currently lives in Richmond, Virginia. A full time mom of four kids ranging in ages from 2 to 19. In California she lived in a dairy farm and loved getting together with the other kids and going on excursions to explore the lands. Going to a local park and enjoying a carne asada was a weekly tradition. Nothing better than being outdoors and enjoying good food and family. As a mom Maria enjoys taking her kids on walks and hikes to the local parks and letting them explore nature and what it has to offer. Watching them explore and feel curious about nature makes her heart happy.

As an Outings Leader for the DMV area, Maria will engage with the Latinos in her community to encourage the exploration of what nature has to offer around them. She will work to provide information and help to make the outdoors a place where everyone feels safe and included.

Outings Leader

María Belén Luzuriaga Abad

María Belén Luzuriaga Abad was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She moved to the US at age 12. When María Belén first moved to the US she didn’t have a chance to connect with other individuals that had her path; most immigration topics were very taboo. Going outdoors was not encouraged because her parents did not know this country or knew anyone to guide them through the outdoors. This is why she believes in the mission of Latino Outdoors and being able to share what she has learned with others to enhance their outdoor experience.

Her passions for performing and composing music helps her mind expand and create inwardly, while traveling guides her to explore the outside world and connect with people from different cultures. Sometimes she travels for work as an audio-visual technician, and that has taught her to absorb information about how technology is connecting us in the world.

She’s also an Ayurvedic counselor and LMP, those practices have led María Belén to connect with nature and others in mind & body. Her love for nature grows rapidly with outdoor adventures like hiking, foraging, kayaking, exploring different continents, and more.

Lastly, María Belén enjoys teaching music & art workshops to kids. She says “it has been a beautiful journey across the color palette of how uniquely our minds are shaped by personal experiences in this life.”

Outings Leader

María Ayala Herrera (she/her/ella)

Maria was born in Michoacán, Mexico and immigrated to California with her family when she was five years old. Her curiosity for exploring the outdoors comes from growing up in Reedley, CA where the Sierra Nevada mountain range creates a picture-perfect backdrop to the stone fruit fields where her dad has spent most of his life working. Her earliest memories of outdoor recreation are family trips to Kings Canyon National Park to play in the snow and swimming at the nearby Aguacate (Avocado Lake). More recently, Maria has been fortunate to travel more frequently and has visited State and National Parks throughout California, Nevada, and Utah. These experiences have only brought her closer to home, and she has grown to appreciate the outdoors in her own backyard. As one of the older cousins in her family, she enjoys sharing this appreciation for being outdoors with her younger family members by planning hiking trips and exploring nearby trails.

As an Outings Leader for Latino Outdoors Fresno, Maria looks forward to creating opportunities for the Latine/x community to discover and experience the outdoors in safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces. She is passionate about encouraging everyone to be curious and find a personal connection with nature and advocating for equitable access to the outdoors.

Maria is the proud daughter of agriculture workers and credits their work ethic for her success in being the first person in her family to graduate from college. She attended Fresno State and has a BA in Mass Communication and Journalism with a minor in Chicano and Latin American Studies. She has over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector focused on hunger-relief and equitable food access. She currently works as the Food Recovery Specialist for a local waste hauler, where she collaborates with public and private sectors on food waste solutions and advocating for the donation of food to local hunger-relief organizations.

Outings Leader

Marcus Caceres (he/him/his)

Marcus Caceres (he/him/his) is an amateur naturalist with a background in ecology, outdoor education, and conservation. As a Bronx native and naturally curious, he spent many hours exploring parks all over The Bronx and beyond. He was inspired at a young age to help preserve the natural world and began to work alongside environmental based nonprofits at the age of 14.

Over the past 10 years, he has committed to help preserve wildlife habitat, sensitive ecosystems both land and aquatic based in various NYC Parks. Marcus has constantly shared his knowledge via his employment as a volunteer organizer, various speaking engagements and as a guest speaker. During his free time, he often goes on hikes with his family, camping in the wilderness, and enjoys foraging. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for New York City, Marcus will help expose and connect members of the Lantinx Community to different aspects of nature through his passions of birding, plants, and exploring new landscapes.

Outings Leader

Marcos Mejia (he/him)

Marcos was born in Long Beach, California, but raised in Bryan, Texas. His dad introduced him into the outdoors by taking him out to go fishing, mountain biking, hiking, and camping at nearby areas in Texas. Later on, he followed his passion for Space, and moved to Boulder Colorado in 2019 to get his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado. He still resides there and works with a local aerospace company as a Systems Engineer. Being in Boulder allows him to continue his love with the outdoors where he’s learned to rock and ice climb. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Boulder County, Marcos will build support and grow the community of Latinx people that want to explore the outdoors, connect with each other, and help facilitate outdoor experiences.

Outings Leader

Manuel Belmonte (he/him/his)

Manuel Belmonte is a first generation Chicano and Operations Manager for Outdoor Outreach, a nonprofit organization that supports outdoor engagement by youth of color from low-income communities. His parents are from Sinaloa and Jalisco. He was born and raised in Orange County, then lived in the Inland Empire and now resides in San Diego – southern Cali all his life. Manuel developed a love for the outdoors as a kid on a skateboard — the urban outdoors. Then, at about 18 he went on his first hike and it completely changed his life. The special bond and camaraderie developed from struggling up Mt. Wilson in LA with his older cousin in a wilderness space completely revolutionized his desire to be outdoors: and his love for el monte sprouted. Now, he is eager to share his love and passion for the outdoors. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for San Diego, Manuel will encourage and empower other Latin@s to discover and share a similar passion for the outdoors, whether it be a wilderness or urban space. He understands the environment is everywhere one breathes, sleeps, learns, works and grows, and environmental justice is the framework he brings to the San Diego region.

Volunteer

Makenzie Sanchez (she/they)

Makenzie was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM where her passion for conservation, community engagement, and science began early on, but especially as an intern at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in the South Valley of Albuquerque at the age of fifteen. For years to come after, her passion for conservation and connecting people to nature continued through internships and studying Biology at Northern Arizona University. Upon returning to Albuquerque post graduation, Makenzie now works for The Wilderness Society as a contractor, focusing on access and resolving barriers to the outdoors with creating sustaining policy around outdoor classrooms, gardens, and green spaces for students across the district. Makenzie is a current Masters of Public Policy student at the University of New Mexico focusing on Environmental Policy and analyzation. In her free time, she loves to cook, bird, camp, and spend time with her family. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Albuquerque, Makenzie will use her experience in community engagement, partnership building, and love for the outdoors to help the people of her community have equitable access to nature to foster a connection to their home and surrounding landscapes.

Program Coordinator

Lynna Caraballo (she/ella)

Lynna was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Surrounded by the beautiful and diverse floral of a tropical island, she would spend countless hours on her father’s coffee farm in the mountains while also exploring the beautiful beaches of the island’s coast. After moving to New England, she continued her connection with nature by visiting some of the National Parks, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the Berkshires Hill in Western MA, The Appalachian Mountains, the Andes of Peru, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Carolinas. While always making the most of these amazing experiences, she noticed the many challenges associated with a lack of inclusivity and accessibility of the outdoors to people of color. Motivated by this, Lynna is becoming more active in advocacy projects seeking more accessibility for everyone in the great outdoors.

Lynna has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She served as a clinician in non-profit entities, some of them focused on helping Latino Communities in Massachusetts. She currently provides bilingual services at a private practice. As a Latina Outdoors Program Coordinator, Lynna will create a community to explore nature in an environmentally responsible, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

En español:

Lynna nació y creció en Puerto Rico. Rodeada por la hermosa y diversa flora de una isla tropical, pasaba incontables horas entre la finca cafetalera de su padre en las montañas y las hermosas playas de la isla. Después de mudarse a Nueva Inglaterra, continuó su conexión con la naturaleza al visitando algunos de los Parques Nacionales, las Montañas Blancas en New Hampshire, las Colinas de los Berkshires en el Oeste de MA, Las Montañas Apalaches, los Andes de Perú y la Montaña Blue Ridge en las Carolinas. Mientras aprovechaba al máximo estas increíbles experiencias, notó los muchos desafíos asociados con la falta de inclusión y accesibilidad al aire libre para las personas de color. Motivada por esto, Lynna se está volviendo más activa en proyectos que buscan una mayor accesibilidad para todos en naturaleza.

Lynna tiene un doctorado en Psicología Clínica. Se desempeñó como terapeuta en entidades sin fines de lucro, algunas de ellas enfocadas en ayudar a las comunidades latinas en Massachusetts. Actualmente brinda servicios bilingües en una práctica privada. Como voluntaria latina , Lynna creará comunidad para explorar la naturaleza en un entorno ambientalmente responsable, acogedor e inclusivo.

Outings Leader

Luz González

Luz has been a lover of the outdoors since when she was a little girl. Her dad used to take the whole family on outdoor outings, swimming in rivers and lakes, hiking, fishing… you name it! Since then, Luz has explored the outdoors all over the world, from the Swiss Alps to canyoning in the crystal-clear waters of her hometown of Monterrey, Mexico- King of Mountains. Luz loves everything outdoors and adventure related- she is a trail runner, hiker, backpacker, camper, climber, dancer, social drummer, world-traveler, and foodie. Luz’s goal is to create more spaces in Colorado Springs where people of color can feel represented when outdoors.

Professionally, Luz has been a marketer/brand strategist for the last decade. She started as an international human rights lawyer but pivoted into marketing when she realized the power of the right branding/marketing in the right hands. She hosts a branding podcast, is on the board for the American Advertising Federation (AAF) as well as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Her vision is to elevate the advertising work done in Colorado Springs to compete with the best around the nation. She is married, has two kitties, and jumps at every opportunity to explore and adventure locally or internationally.

Outings Leader

Luis Díaz-Zayas (he/him)

Luis was born in Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean with amazing outdoor activities including some world class water sports and hiking. Puerto Rico is also home to the only tropical rain forest in the United States which helped him develop a love and respect for not only the outdoors but the preservation and conservation of such areas. Having developed a love for the outdoors at an early age, he has embarked on some epic outdoor adventures, both domestically and internationally, throughout his life. After moving to the Las Vegas area in 2004, Luis has continued that interest in the outdoors and spends most of his free time enjoying hiking/backpacking, kayaking and paddle boarding. Understanding that the hispanic/latin community is underrepresented in the outdoors, Luis has developed a strong desire to become part of something that would help educate and inform others in the Latinx community about how to safely enjoy, respect and conserve the outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Lucy Delgado (she/her/hers)

Lucy (she/her/hers/ella) was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City. As an immigrant kid, summers were spent in the Dominican Republic relishing any chance to be at the beach with family to eat fried fish and tostones. These are often not the immediate memories that come up when thinking about the journey to the outdoors and working to reclaim that there is no one version of the outdoors but many ways it shows up. When in NYC, there was not the same ready access to nature but that didn’t mean there was not an adventurous Sagittarius spirit in Lucy that enjoyed concrete playgrounds and Central Park. Throughout college, Lucy studied International Studies and Anthropology which allowed her passion for people and the world around her to grow. It wasn’t until graduate school in Colorado that Lucy was first introduced to one of her outdoors loves-hiking. Living in Colorado and being surrounded by the Rocky Mountains sparked a passion for hiking that is now integral to Lucy’s life. During that time, Lucy and her partner adopted their favorite hiking buddy-their dog, Mateo. Other outdoor loves are camping (especially a colorful and smoky campfire!) and kayaking, even though we won’t talk about how Lucy doesn’t know how to swim but loves all things water.

As a Program Coordinator for the LO Baltimore team, Lucy aspires to continue learning more about environmental justice causes that inherently impact marginalized communities. The joy and return to self brought on by hiking have made Lucy want to invite others to join her and reimagine the narrative of who is outdoorsy.

Volunteer

Lucila Fernández (she/hers/ella)

Lucila was born and raised in northern Virginia (NOVA), where she was fortunate enough to be within walking distance of a park with a stream, wetlands, and forest. As a kid, she would go here with her brothers and friends to look for frogs in pools and wetlands next to the stream, and climb trees. Yet, she never considered herself an outdoorsy person nor knowledgeable about what it means to be outside. It wasn’t until three years into a Bachelor’s in Political Science that she went on a walk with a friend, Luis, that she pondered what it means to be connected to nature. Luis was a lot like her; he grew up in NOVA in a Spanish-speaking home to immigrant parents. Unlike her, Luis was not feeling pressure to be a lawyer, engineer, or a doctor. Instead, he was doing wildlife rehabilitation and taking semesters off to study sharks in Australia and rehabilitate jaguars in Bolivia, all of which enabled him to pick up a lizard and share all about its lifestyle. Fascinated, Lucila switched gears in her last year at George Mason U to take as many ecology, biology, and environmental science classes as she could. After that, began a 10-year pursuit of internships, jobs, volunteer opportunities, and contracts that has taken her all over the country, and abroad, to study animals in their wild homes and share her passion for nature with others. Recognizing that representation was what opened her mind to nature and natural resources careers, she centers her work on opening space for Latinx and BIPOC people to feel safe in nature recreation and conservation work and allowing room for how one interacts with the outdoor world to be defined in a personal way. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer in Salt Lake City, Lucila helped to bring folx together to found a new chapter. At the end of the summer, she will be transitioning back to NOVA to take on a new role with the U.S. Forest Service’s Conservation Education team. She hopes to keep supporting LO professionally through national initiatives, and personally as a returning member of the LO DMV Chapter.

Outings Leader

Lucas McDiarmid (he/him)

Lucas was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, but grew up in Western Massachusetts. His family spent a lot of time exploring the natural heritage across Massachusetts and New England, as well as across the U.S.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and a master’s degree in Public Administration, from Norwich University, Lucas is the district director for the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex District of the Massachusetts Senate. Through his work, Lucas has been able to engage with outdoors constituencies. He works closely with many lake associations, land trusts, sportsmans’ associations, and local conservation partners. He previously sat as a member of the Town of Palmer’s Conservation Commission. In the past, he has partnered with the East Quabbin Land Trust to lead a kayak excursion along the Swift River.

By joining the LO team, as an Outing Leader, Lucas hopes to bring his passion for social justice and the outdoors, together. A member of the legislative People of Color Affinity Group, Lucas works to ensure that there is equity and inclusion at the State House. By working as a member of the LO team, he hopes to bring that same equity and sense of inclusion to the outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Liz López (she/her)

Liz was born and raised north of Sacramento. Her love for the outdoors was ignited as a child, taking nature walks with her dad in their suburban neighborhood. As a former landscaper, he knew and would point out all the ornamental trees and plant names. Identification of plants and animals became a fascination for this budding biologist. In high school, Liz took her first real weekend hike. The concept of driving somewhere else just to be outside was strange and new to her, but it completely changed how she looked at the possibilities for outdoor recreation. Since then, Liz has discovered many more ways to enjoy the outdoors – her favorites include gardening, hiking, running, and kayaking – and has merged her passion and career, earning a Masters in Marine Science. She currently lives in Sacramento and works her dream job as a wildlife biologist.

As a Latinx Outdoors Outings Leader for Sacramento, Liz will encourage others to see the beauty and miracle of nature all around us, whether it be in an urban or natural setting. She hopes to foster a safe space for our Latinx community, where people can come as they are and build their own unique connection with nature. Fun fact about Liz: she’s also a dancer!

Outings Leader

Liz Delgado (she/her/ella)

Liz Delgado (she/her/ella) born and raised in Chicago. She loves the outdoors because of the peace and joy it brings her. Some of her first outdoor experiences were in Mexico in her family’s hometown. She is passionate about all outdoor recreation sports such as biking, climbing, and hiking. She loves bringing her family outside and exposing them to the wonders of the outdoor world. Liz continues to live the city life in Chicago. Liz is a licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Masters of Social Work from the Dominican University. During her studies, Liz was able to study abroad in Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Uganda. Being able to participate in study abroad programs has helped her develop a deeper appreciation for the environment while exploring new landscapes and culture.

As a Latino Outdoors outings leader for the Great Lakes region, Liz hopes to create more opportunities and a safe space for others that are also passionate about the outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Liz Cruz (she/her)

Liz has fond memories of summers spent in the country at her abuela’s house with her cousins. Many hours were spent hunting for Daddy Long Leg spiders, picking fallen pecans, and daring each other to lick the salt blocks that were meant for the cows. Each day ended with a hose off before being let back inside. The highlight of the days were the “picnics” that her abuela would prepare for them where bean and cheese tacos were always on the menu.

Liz has worked in the medical field since she was 18 years old and is driven by her passion to help others. She spent many years working in the pediatric sector and has had the opportunity to work in multiple specialties and subspecialty service lines. In each role, Liz naturally fell into the role of advocating for her patients and families she met. Liz currently is the Director of Administrative Operations for Central Texas Cancer Centers.

Liz is a native Austinite, and she discovered her love for the outdoors later in life. On the weekends she enjoys discovering new hiking trails and visiting Texas State Parks. She enjoys introducing others to the outdoors as well. Liz enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, their significant others, and her multiple fur babies.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, Liz wants to help encourage Latinos of all ages to discover the outdoors and help them to cultivate their love for nature. Leading by her own experience, she strives to inspire adults that it is never too late to connect with the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Liz Argueta (she/her(s))

Liz is the proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrant parents. She was born in Los Angeles and raised in the Inland Empire where she still lives today. Her love for the outdoors started when her parents would take her and her brothers on day trips to Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead. Always the foodie, she still believes the food tastes better outdoors. Liz has a BA in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations from UC San Diego and a J.D. from Whittier Law School. After spending years prioritizing her work and career, Liz decided to prioritize herself and well-being, which naturally brought her back to the outdoors. Liz is an avid hiker and spends most of her weekends hiking local trails. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the Inland Empire, Liz wants to share the beauty of the Inland Empire’s outdoor spaces with her community.

Outings Leader

Lily Calderón (she/her/ella)

Hija de inmigrantes, Lily’s parents set their roots in the city of Chicago where she was born and raised. While her parents and siblings still live in the Windy City, Lily finds herself far from her childhood home, currently living in the Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Chicago, natural areas were challenging to access. The times Lily’s family did spend outdoors, she fondly remembers her dad’s wonderful ability to connect his Native Mexico to the wildlife around him. His enthusiasm for nature sparked her own admiration for the environment. It wasn’t until Lily was an undergrad, though, that she formally learned about outdoor recreation and public lands. Her passion for the outdoors has since exploded. Lily earned her master’s in 2020 with a degree in Wildlife Ecology studying bird migration at the University of Delaware. She is an avid bird watcher and an ardent advocate for diversifying the outdoors. In her current position as a Wildlife Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service and as a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Portland, OR, Lily strives to create and support opportunities for Latinx and other BIPOC communities to enjoy nature and find healing in these wonderful places.

Outings Leader

Lilliana Mendoza (she/her)

Lilliana (she/her) was born and raised in The Bronx to Mexican parents from Puebla, Mexico. Taking long walks and observing nature was something she learned to do with her mother. She also enjoyed many picnics and outdoor games with her family.

Lilliana graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in Education. There, she continued to explore the outdoors through hiking, running and kayaking. After graduation, she spent the next few years as a Spanish teacher at the local school district. As an educator, Lilliana’s goal is to share her passion for bilingual education, literacy, history and nature to facilitate conversations on ways to expand our curiosities and knowledge about how we connect with nature. Currently, Lilliana enjoys running, hiking and bird watching as a way to learn more about local green spaces.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer in NYC, Lilliana will participate in the ongoing efforts to facilitate relationship building and connection among people from bilingual and multilingual communities in outdoor spaces. She is hopeful to become more involved in outdoors education and work to foster more involvement across multi-generational spaces.

Outings Leader

Lili Muñoz (she/her(s))

Lili Muñoz is a University of California, Santa Cruz, Banana Slug alumni! Although she grew up in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, she loves being in the outdoors. Nature has always been a place for her to escape the chaos of city life. She loves learning about the flora and fauna surrounding urban areas. Lili joins Latino Outdoors to encourage more Latinos to explore the outdoors, teach them about biodiversity, and bridge a connection towards nature. She feels that being in the outdoors teaches people to appreciate and protect nature, while also providing better physical and mental health.

As an Outings Leader for Fresno, Lili looks forward to working with the community as a representative of Latino Outdoors.

Outings Leader

Leslie Wendy García (she/her/ella)

Leslie Wendy (goes by both first and middle name) was born and raised in San Diego, California with Mexican roots that have shaped her upbringing. Her childhood memories outdoors are full of enjoying family time playing music, games and enjoying amazing food in her childhood house. She attended the University of California, Chico and received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Latin American Studies with a minor in Global Development. It was during this time she became a founding member and president of Latinas in Action, an organization that aims to connect Latinas to each other through the outdoors. Her love for the outdoors/nature itself grew into a passion for sharing those opportunities with others. It sparked an interest in the intersection of health, specifically mental well being and the outdoors. Her work experience and community involvement developed working for the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Regional Office in Portland, Oregon. As a Latino Outdoors Portland member, Leslie Wendy hopes to continue expanding her relationship with the Latinx youth and families, connecting them to opportunities in education, careers and positive outdoor experiences

Outings Leader

Lebny Pargas (she/her)

Lebny is a first-generation Mexican American originally from Texas but now resides in the Pacific Northwest. She first got a taste of the outdoors as a kid with a youth group and explored it a bit more during college hikes. But her real love for nature sparked when she moved to the PNW. You can find Lebny enjoying activities such as camping, hiking, paddleboarding, and volunteering outdoors.

For Lebny, the outdoors provides a peaceful escape from everyday life. It’s a space where she can connect with her emotions, find solitude, and truly be in the moment. During her time in Washington, she has been fortunate to explore beautiful places and connect with inspiring individuals who are making a difference in the outdoors. Through these experiences, Lebny has recognized the importance of representation in the community and creating accessible outdoor opportunities for all.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Seattle, Lebny will help build community, promote accessibility and environmental stewardship, and foster inclusion in outdoor recreation.

Outings Leader

Laura Monsreal Sabido (she/hers/they)

Laura Monsreal Sabido (she/hers/they) was born in Merida, Yucatan, and raised in the Southwest side of Chicago, since the age of 5. As an immigrant, Laura understands the first hand struggles in the Latinx community. Laura’s introduction to the outdoors came from her relationship with her dad. As a boy scout in Yucatan, Laura’s papá has shared his passion for plants, animals and the outdoors with her. Laura remembers when her dad would take her and her sisters to the forest preserves. Over time Laura developed her love for the outdoors through gardening programs, going to the beach, and learning about indigenous communities.

Meeting her chosen family in Latino Outdoors was not a coincidence. Laura is a proud member of the communication team for Latino Outdoors in the Great Lakes area. The outdoors has been a space where Laura has been able to de-stress, reflect, and build community. Laura strives to create inclusive and safe spaces for beginner adventurers, to increase representation of BIPOC folks, and to make the outdoors accessible for everyone.

As an educator working in the Little Village and North Lawndale community, Laura is passionate about youth work, community, the environment, and arts. When Laura isn’t rock climbing you will find her channeling her inner warrior through weight training, running, yoga and dancing! She is a local artist and enjoys photography, illustration and earring-making. Other hobbies Laura enjoys are traveling, cooking, reading, traveling, eating and laughing.

Outings Leader

Laura Menendez Navia (she/her/ella)

Laura (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Portoviejo, Ecuador. Her first precious memories of the outdoors were vacations with her family to the beach where she would build sand castles and learned how to dive under the waves with her brothers. Growing up, Laura would spend most weekends visiting her grandparents at their finca (farm), where she would swim in the river by their house and see her grandfather and uncle harvest fruit from coconut, plantain and cacao trees.

Immigrating to California was a huge transition for Laura. The language, the fast-paced lifestyle, and mostly everything at first was a cultural shock for her. It was through outings to Sequoia National Park, Monterey, and other coastal cities that she found peace and a connection to her roots that made coming to the United States feel more like home.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer Laura wants to engage others in the Latino community to explore the outdoors and experience the healing that nature and community can bring into our lives.

Outings Leader

Krystle N. Ramos (she/her/ella)

Krystle’s (she/her/ella) passion for nature comes from her family who raised her in jardins and playgrounds in local parks as a child. She has over 18 years of experience working with youth and adults facilitating experiential education experiences in the United States, Central America, and Southeast Asia. Krystle began her career in the outdoors as an outdoor environmental educator where she facilitated events such as interpretive programming, backpacking, climbing, and kayaking trips, and elephant conservation. She joined Latino Outdoors after noticing a lack of diversity in the outdoor industry and wanted to connect with other like-minded naturalistas. Krystle received her bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and French from California State University, Northridge; she utilizes her abilities to advocate for language justice, bilingual resources, and inclusive communications for non-English and BIPOC audiences. She currently serves as the Publications Coordinator at California Native Plant Society for their quarterly magazine and scientific journal. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for LO Central Coast, Krystle will support relationship building to provide culturally relevant programming to those who didn’t grow up with the outdoors as leisure and respite, or as a career option.

Outings Leader

Kevin Fernandez (he/him/his)

As a first-generation child of immigrant parents from El Salvador, Kevin’s passion to fight for marginalized communities stems from personal struggle. Kevin is a native to South Los Angeles, California, but spent his adolescent years in East Charlotte, North Carolina. After years of moving across the country and state, he feels blessed to have found a permanent home in Sacramento. Kevin is currently a board member of United Latinos where he co-leads the effort in air quality data gathering in addition to building community-led environmental justice initiatives. Kevin hopes to unite his excitement for health equity, technology, and social justice by promoting better health outcomes for at-risk communities.

Kevin is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and is currently fostering a career as a Data Engineer in the healthcare sector. When he is not gathering air quality data, or leading DIY home air filter building workshops, Kevin can be found out in nature enjoying local hikes with his partner in life and canine companion.

Outings Leader

Kayleigh Wade (she/they)

Kayleigh (she/they) was born in Lynwood, CA and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Growing up in a frontline community impacted by environmental racism shaped Kayleigh into the person she is today, and led her to develop a connection with and appreciation for the outdoors in her adulthood. Her journey with the outdoors and interest in water recreation in particular was shaped by childhood visits to the beach where they ate jaiba and played in the water, right there with the Port of Long Beach in view. She started hiking in her twenties and had the privilege of attending Queer Surf’s inaugural Catalina Sea Camp this year, where she spent time hiking, paddleboarding, and watching garibaldis swim among kelp while kayaking. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Los Angeles, Kayleigh will work hard to improve access to the outdoors, especially near bodies of water, for inland and environmental justice communities.

Volunteer

Karina Juarez (she/her/they/them)

Karina (she/her, they/them) was born and raised in Orange County, CA with familial roots in Oaxaca, Mexico. While growing up in a suburban city, her parents played a role in staying connected to nature through bike rides in local parks and plant identification on their neighborhood walks. Her early childhood visits to Oaxaca nurtured the process of reconnecting to her indigenous roots and also fostered her curiosity for the natural world. Running around her family’s pueblo, immersed in nature and being around animals, gave her a sense of autonomy and life experience not found in the suburbs.

Karina recently graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt (Wiyot Land) with a double major in Fine Arts and Art Education. She has been able to fully immerse herself in the local community and further explore creation through a contemporary lens rooted in colonial resistance. Living in Humboldt County has allowed Karina to volunteer in local community food gardens and learn about food sovereignty, community building, and the importance of our relationship con la Madre Tierra (Mother Earth)

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer in Humboldt County, Karina will play a key role in promoting equity and representation in outdoor spaces. She will bring her cultural perspective to the trails, helping to create a more inclusive environment. Through her involvement, she will gain new experiences by connecting with local community members, making her community presence known, and advocating for greater visibility for diverse groups in outdoor activities. Her efforts will also emphasize the importance of gathering and fostering a sense of belonging while bridging the arts with outdoor experiences, thereby enriching the community’s connection to nature and culture.

Volunteer

Karen Rodas Méndez (she/they/ella/elle)

Karen (She/They/Ella/Elle) was born and raised in San Rafael, CA. As a child, her parents would take her on walks on the local bay trail and to the park near their apartment, sparking a love and interest in the outdoors. But what solidified her interest in nature was attending an overnight backpacking camp near Mount Whitney, introducing her to a whole new world of outdoors and how one can participate in it.

Currently, she still lives in San Rafael and attends the College of Marin, where she is studying Environmental Science. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for San Francisco Bay Area, Karen will act as bridge to connect and explore together with Latine families and college students alike to the outdoors and the many fun recreational activities it has to offer.

Program Coordinator

Justin Tapper (he/him)

Justin was born and raised in the Minneapolis, MN area, and has always had a strong interest in learning about different cultures and ways of life. He made the commitment to become fluent in Spanish in middle school, studied it in high school, and continued by majoring in Global Business Management and Spanish in college at the University of Minnesota-Morris. After this, he worked in the pharmaceutical benefits industry in a bilingual role before taking the opportunity to volunteer for the Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos and One World Surgery organizations in Honduras. During his 13 months there, during the day he worked in the Holy Family Surgery Center as a patient coordinator, working with teams of visiting groups of surgeons and Honduran staff to schedule surgeries for the patients, citizens of Honduras who were provided surgeries at no cost to them. At night, he spent time with the children of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a children’s home housing kids coming from difficult family situations. After his time in Honduras, Justin returned to the United States and moved to Utah after a lifelong desire to live in the mountains, being a big fan of hiking and skiing and wanting to be in an ideal situation to do both. He looks forward to working as a volunteer and helping to grow the volunteer community and connect two of his greatest interests in connecting different cultures and promoting the beauty of the outdoors.

Volunteer

Justan Torres (he/him/they/them)

Justan Torres grew up and presently lives in the San Fernando Valley. Justan has been involved in community activism all throughout Los Angeles County for more than a decade. Growing Justan took the bus all over to attend workshops, protests, and backyard Punk Rock shows, he began to build relationships with likeminded people that believed underrepresented communities were entitled to a higher quality of life. Attending undergraduate school and then graduate school at Cal State LA Justan majored in the field of social work, where he developed a love for the field of restorative justice, seeing it as a tool for healing and empowering communities. Justan now works with youth who are formally incarcerated. He helps them to re-integrate into their respective communities teaching them life skills, providing counseling, and linking them to programs and resources. Justan uses the outdoors and plant knowledge to engage his students and community in a way that promotes growth, healing, and learning. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Los Angeles, Justan will continue to use his naturalist skills to engage people from diverse communities in the outdoors. Justan is most passionate about expanding his knowledge of native plants to share with others.

Program Coordinator

Julie Pasión (she/her/ella)

Julie is a Mexican-Filipino first-generation immigrant, born and raised in Baltimore, MD. Her love for the outdoors stems from her childhood, where she would spend her recess time climbing trees, observing insects, and collecting leaves, acorn caps and pinecones. From there, her curiosity for the natural world grew as she connected to the land through planting and gardening and joyfully observed squirrels and other wildlife in her backyard. Julie’s university studies have taken her further North and she now lives in Philadelphia, PA where she is forging new paths and reconnecting with the land. She is an architectural designer and is dedicated to using her practice to create greater equity and access through the built environment as a unifier of people, place, and history.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Philadelphia, Julie will work to bring her Latinx community together through forging connections to the land, cultivating an understanding of the shared Latinx the heritage to the land and how the built environment shapes our relationships to each other and the earth.

Outings Leader

Juliana Carvajal Castrillón (she/her(s))

Juliana (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia. She has always been in love with sports, particularly basketball during high school and college, and later triathlon. When she wasn’t working at her job in digital marketing coordination, she would probably be riding her bike named Tomasa. Juliana and Tomasa have made many long and unforgettable trips together.

In 2020, she decided to come to the United States to learn English, living as an au pair for two years with her host family in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Three years later, she graduated with her Masters in Education and is currently a high school Spanish teacher. In addition to teaching regular Spanish classes, she also teaches Spanish for Heritage Speakers. She is especially passionate about these classes, where she seeks to connect her young students with their history, roots, and heritage language. In the same school district, she is an interpreter for Spanish-speaking families. Additionally, she is a basketball coach in the winter and a track coach in the spring.

Juliana spends most of her time enjoying outdoor activities such as running (trails and roads), hiking, biking, swimming, doing yoga, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and more. As a Latina Outdoors Volunteer for the Boston chapter, she hopes to spread and share her passion for outdoor activities in a safe and welcoming environment –it has been challenging for her to feel welcomed in groups and clubs that lack diversity and representation. It is a goal that is close to her heart to contribute to the much-needed inclusion and accessibility of these types of spaces for the Latino community. At the same time, she hopes to foster a culture of caring for and advocating for our mother nature.

Program Coordinator

Juan Reyes (he/his/him)

Juan was born and raised in Chicago. Being a first generation Latino, from a low income and single parent household, road-trips and traveling were essentially nonexistent. His first “outdoor” encounter was in Central Park on a high school business trip, where he realized pursuing a business career and exploring the world did not have to be mutually exclusive.

After graduating with an accounting degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Juan moved back to the Chicagoland area where continued his career in accounting. He currently works at Rivian, an electric vehicle company that believes there is a more responsible way to explore the world. More importantly, Juan became a passionate leader in his community striving to foster a culture of social responsibility and self-empowerment. When Juan isn’t busy crunching numbers and helping others, he loves to travel and stay active, whether it’s climbing to the top of Mt. Fuji, or wading through the narrows of Zion.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for the Great Lakes region, Juan aspires to inspire a generation of future pioneers that will lead underrepresented communities in all areas of life.

Program Coordinator

Juan Ramírez (he/him/his)

Juan Ramirez was born and raised in Salinas, CA. Juan grew up visiting la familia en Mexico every winter break where he has fond memories of being connected to land and people. Whether he was helping herd farm animals on his donkey or being in the potrero with his family, he was always aware of the gifts the land gave him and his family. His parents’ experience being farmworkers shaped the kind of relationship he wanted to have with the land. He found the redwood forest being that place that gave him the embrace he needed. Since then, Juan and his family visit the redwoods as a place to connect with each other and the land. Juan stayed local and attended California State University Monterey Bay where his work with service learning led him to education. Now, Juan is the Outreach Coordinator for the Elkhorn Slough Foundation where he is bringing programming that focuses on creating healing relationships with nature and all program participants.

Volunteering as a program coordinator on California’s central coast, Juan will share LO’s different offerings with local families and help the LO Central Coast team with logistics. Juan hopes to collaborate with others and create more access for families in the outdoors.

Volunteer

Juan Muñoz (he/him/él)

Juan M. Muñoz Jiménez was born in Dayton, Ohio, half-raised in the Midwest and half in his native home of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Kayaking in Puerto Rico with his father was his first real introduction to the outdoors. In graduate school he created and led many adventures with the Outdoor Resource Center of Wright State University, ranging from ice climbing and rock climbing to kayaking and snorkeling. Juan’s love for the outdoors brought him to the Southwest after completing his MBA in marketing and international business where he helped found the Albuquerque chapter of Latino Outdoors and work in outdoor education. He currently works for an environmental nonprofit focused on accelerating clean energy solutions to the climate crisis.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Portland, OR, Juan will take Latino youth into the outdoors to ensure they understand that these spaces are for them and can be cared for by them.

Outings Leader

Juan Luzuriaga

Juan Luzuriaga is a writer based in Cambria, California. He was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and immigrated to the US at sixteen in 2000. He attended Rutgers University for Neuroscience and has been published in scientific research. He also attended UC Merced, where he studied English and writing. His interest lies in exploring a spiritual connection with his ancestors through prose and poetry. He teaches poetry in prisons and at California Poets in the Schools. He has been published in The Merced County Times (2022), Poetry Breakfast (2023), The Vernal Pool (2021-22), Matchbox Magazine (2023), and Cholla Needles (2023). He is heavily involved in the community, giving free workshops, classes, and talks. In his free time, he enjoys hiking with his dog “Moksha” all over California and connecting with new people.

Outings Leader

Juan Lazo Bautista (he/him)

Juan (he/him) was raised in Southern California after migrating with his family from Oaxaca, Mexico. Growing up, his access to green spaces came mainly through urban parks, only discovering regional, state and national parks in adolescence as they became more accessible to him. One of his family’s favorite activities growing up were weekend sunrise hikes. Juan is curious about nature’s restorative benefits, for personal and collective healing, and has been trained in nature therapy. He is eager to continue growing his relationship with the outdoors and will try any activity at least once, but can most frequently be found out hiking, trail running and bike riding in the Washington, DC area where he now resides.

As a Latino Outdoors outings leader for the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia region, Juan aims to curate accessible outings that offer locals a third space to build community, decompress and enjoy each other and nature’s company.

Outings Leader

Josué Coronado

Josué Coronado is an aspiring change maker hailing from Houston, Texas. He recently pivoted from the classroom where he taught high school English for several years supporting students from historically underinvested communities through culturally relevant, data driven instructional design practices. Josue has a Bachelor’s in English and Anthropology from Georgetown University and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University.

His role as an educator directly influences his passion toward developing strong, equity focused systems as a means to providing communities with the resources to live a choice filled life. His educational background inspired him to pursue change outside of the classroom, helping young people reconnect with nature as a means to reconnect with their history, culture, and intrinsic resilience. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Houston, Josué is excited to share his passion towards the outdoors and act as a facilitator to support participants’ unique relationship with themselves, their community, and the natural world around them.

Outings Leader

Joseph “Joedy” Yglesias (he/him/his)

Joedy Yglesias was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he grew up visiting Padre Island frequently. He moved to Austin after graduation and became a leader with a gay group called Shaman’s Circle, where he began to hone his connection to nature in a deliberate manner and became an advocate for LGBTQ rights, which led him to join the US Navy during the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, becoming a Department Chief, Diversity Action Officer, Master Linguist, Cryptologist, and Expeditionary Warfare Specialist. During the last decade of his career, he was based in San Antonio and, after returning deployments, used the healing energy of time in natural areas to readjust. He became a docent for Texas Parks & Wildlife and certified as a Texas Master Naturalist & Waters Specialist. He has also served as Co-Chair of the EAC for the San Antonio River Authority, worked at REI, and was a Ranger at Big Bend Ranch State Park. He currently lives in San Antonio and serves and consults with/for the San Antonio River Authority, The National Park Conservation Association, and The Nature Conservancy.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for SATX, Joedy will use his experience, knowledge, and network of partnerships to arrange outings at some of the most pristine and protected natural areas of Texas that many Texans never get to see or visit.

Volunteer

Jose Díaz (he/him)

Jose Diaz, a native of California’s central valley, traces his affinity for the outdoors back to his childhood summers spent in the foothills of Jalisco, Mexico. There, he accompanied his grandfather on outings into the countryside to tend to crops, cultivating a deep-rooted connection to the land. His passion for nature continued to flourish in the Central Valley, where weekends were spent exploring Woodward and Roeding Parks, as well as the valley lakes with his family. Inspired by these experiences, Jose pursued higher education, earning an associate degree in history and another in Law, Public Policy, and Society.
Currently enrolled at California State University, Fresno, Jose is on track to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Urban Civic Education. Alongside his academic pursuits, he serves as a Conservation Interpreter at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, where he shares his enthusiasm for wildlife and environmental conservation with visitors.

In his role as a Latino Outdoors volunteer for the Central Valley, Jose is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor spaces. He seeks to empower his community to embrace and appreciate the outdoors while advocating for environmental awareness and justice.

Outings Leader

Jon King (he/him/his)

Jon was born in California, but moved a lot as a child. When he moved to the Pacific Northwest a love for the outdoors began. As a child, days were spent running through the woods and following streams. As an adult he moved into hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting out in the wilderness. Jon was a Martial Arts instructor for Kids, Teens, and Adults from 2004 until 2020 when Covid shut down his work place. He has since moved into work as a Family Resource Specialist for the Woodland School District in Woodland, WA. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer Jon hopes to connect those who are unable to get the resources to enjoy the outdoors with the resource they need.

Outings Leader

John Sifuentes (he/him)

John was born and raised in a small town in Iowa where he found his passion for exploring and being outside. Whether it was riding his bike on country roads or racing snowmobiles over frozen ponds, there was always adventure around the corner which also meant frequent trips to the emergency room.

John started working at a local pharmacy when he was in high school. During this time, he was surrounded with positive influences and later discovered the importance of environment and its power to shape mindset. His work allowed him to travel all over Texas and this gave him the opportunity to ride the nearby trails on his mountain bike. John has also worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital in New York City where he would commute on the busy streets of Manhattan. Today, he is the director of pharmacy at Central Texas Cancer Centers in Austin, TX.

Over the past twenty years, John has been an avid backpacker and mountain biker. It is no surprise that he was drawn to bikepacking, and gravel cycling which are now his favorite past times.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, John will promote the healing power that being outside gifts and be a champion for increased diversity in the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Johanna Rivera (she/they)

Johanna Rivera is first generation Salvadoran-American, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. As a youth living in a concrete jungle, her early interest in the outdoors came from watching television nature shows on PBS. Once an adult, Johanna made the move to live in the redwood forest of Humboldt County and studied at Humboldt State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Wildlife Conservation & Management. Her love for preserving the outdoors has lead Johanna to aid in conservation projects such as Manu Bird Project in the Andes of Peru, Reintroduction of the Scarlet Macaw in the jungle of Palenque, Mexico and the Wood Boring Beetle Project of Institute for Bird Populations in the Sierra’s of California. Currently, Johanna is working toward graduate school for a Master’s in Biological Sciences. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the SF Bay Area, Johanna plans to inspire others about the importance of protecting our natural environments by sharing her knowledge on birds, insects, plants, mushrooms and how we are all connected, therefore hoping others find the nature as a resource for healing.

Program Coordinator

Johanna Rincón (she/her(s)/ella)

Johanna was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and grew up in Connecticut where her family moved when she was a tiny bebé. As a child, she remembers playing outside until it got dark out, but her true love of the outdoors began when she traveled for a year across the United States, Canada and Europe performing in a musical with the organization Up With People. Having seen various landscapes for the first time—whether the flat vastness of the midwest U.S., the biggest mountains she had ever seen before in Colorado, or the magical grayness of winter snow in Sweden, it sparked wanting to know and see more of nature in all of its wonder. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and a MS in International Relations, with a focus on Indigenous Peoples, from Suffolk University. She is the Executive Director of Girls on the Run Greater Hartford where she uses an experience-based curriculum to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. She currently lives in Connecticut with her two beloved children who usually humor her when she asks them to go for a hike or visit the ocean. She also has a particular interest in the use of plant medicine to help mental illness. As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Connecticut, Johanna will help enrich her community with opportunities to be out on land and reclaim their ancestral roots of knowledge.

Outings Leader

Joe García (he/him)

Joe was born and raised in the Inland Empire, son of Mexican immigrants. He received his Bachelors of Science in Mathematics from UC Riverside, teaching credentials from CSU San Bernardino and Masters in Education from University of Massachusetts. Joe is an avid hiker, cyclist, and does yearly camping trips. He has visited, hiked and camped in numerous National Parks and monuments. Joe is also a current Fire Lookout Host in the San Bernardino National Forest. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the Inland Empire, Joe hopes to introduce more people to the outdoors and make it more inclusive so that they too can experience the beauty of nature.

Outings Leader

Jimmy Linares (he/him)

Jimmy was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley just north of Los Angeles, California. It wouldn’t be until his late teens when he would discover his love for the outdoors. It was at this time that small family trips to places like Yosemite and Kings Canyons National Parks sparked in him an interest in outdoor recreation. Later in his teens, after a short summer working for California Conservation Corps, it became clear that outdoor jobs were going to be part of his future. Since then he has worked as an Emergency Medical Technician, Type II Wildland Firefighter, Conservation Corps Crew Lead, Park Ranger, and currently as an Outdoor Recreation Planner for a Federal land management agency. It became evident quite early on that Latinx communities were not well represented in these fields. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Las Vegas, NV, Jimmy will strive to expose many more Latinx community members to varied and vast recreational opportunities that abound not only in southern Nevada but in other parts of the southwest.

Volunteer

Jesús Bañuelos (he/him)

Jesús was born in San Bernardino CA but grew in a small town in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. Growing up in Amatanejo, Jesús experienced la vida del campo and this cemented the appreciation, respect, admiration, and adventurous spirit to walk the Earth. When moving to Los Angeles Jesús sought out open spaces and eventually discovered the vast opportunities that Southern CA has to offer to get close to nature. Hiking and cycling has allowed him to get to know the land, from the sea to the mountains. Jesús currently lives in Compton and looks forward to expanding horizons through outdoor experiences. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Los Angeles, Jesús will continue to seek community engagement opportunities to get to know the land, the history, and what collaborative efforts can be made to learn from and protect the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Jessica Rivera (she/her/hers)

Jessica was born in Elgin, Illinois and raised in a small-town of Huejuquilla el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico. At a very young age she and her family of ten immigrated to Colorado. As a child, Jessica never explored the outdoors even when she had the Rocky Mountains in her backyard because it was not the norm for her or her family. As time passed Jessica developed her love for the outdoors when she got her fur baby, Rosie. The new addition to her family made her want to go outside to explore new places unexpectedly. Walks around the neighborhood led to trails which in turn led to 14ers. Jessica joined Latino Outdoors as a volunteer to motivate and encourage more Latinos to explore nature and to not feel out of place. She wants families to explore the outdoors with their kids at a young age to create outdoor enthusiasm at a young age. Jessica is currently working on her undergraduate in Public Health.

Outings Leader

Jessica Godinez (she/her/ella)

Jessica is a first-generation Mexicana, passionate about environmental justice. Her educational background is in Global Affairs and the Environment and in her professional career, she works to ensure outdoor access & equity through community engagement, education, & advocacy. She is passionate about reconnecting with her roots in the natural world, as well as helping others connect to their own roots. In her free time, Jess can be found in natural world – climbing, hiking, camping, or simply existing in the outdoors – or cozy in her home, reading, doing yoga, or experimenting in the kitchen. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the DMV in Richmond, VA, Jessica hopes to help to help rekindle others’ innate connection to the natural world by leading outings and opportunities to connect with comunidad together outdoors.

Outings Leader

Jessica Correa

Jessica Correa is a naturalist, educator, and Community Programs Manager at the Bird School Project. She loves to learn and explore new places and loves teaching about birds, plants, and insects. Jess is passionate about facilitating bilingual experiences for youth and adults to build their connection with nature and develop a love for birds and the natural world right in their own neighborhood. In her free time, she enjoys hammocking, bird watching, and going on hikes with Heidi the chihuahua.

Outings Leader

Jennifer Vasquez Callister (she/her)

Jenny was born and raised in Visalia, CA. Every year her parents would take her to visit Sequoia National Park where she would marvel at the giant trees. At home she was surrounded by orchards, farm crops of every type, and dairies. Growing up in the agricultural heart of California taught her the importance of our relationship with the land and all people having access to quality nutrition. She attended college in San Luis Obispo studying food science and fell in love with the beach life. A senior project focusing on preventing child labor in chocolate production focused her attention on corporate responsibility of fair labor and environmentally sustainable practices.

She moved to the bay area and worked over a decade for an organic and natural foods company developing new products made of real ingredients and produced in a way that was respectful to the environment. It’s during this time that she fell in love with the plentiful bay area trails and became an avid hiker and runner. She’s run dozens of endurance races and is currently on a quest to run a marathon in every state. She moved to WA in the summer ‘22.

Ambassador

Jennifer Adams (she/her/hers)

Jennifer was born and raised in San Jose, California. Her mother placed a seed for adventure by taking her to parks and allowing her to explore with her brother. As she got older her excitement for adventure grew stronger and her adventures expanded from just hikes to camping, biking, and kayaking. She is working on her ecology evolutionary biology degree and one day would also like to be a teacher where she hopes to inspire students to find what they are passionate about. She also wants to try to preserve or restore habitats in the bay area so future generations can enjoy it. As a volunteer for the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer will help connect Latinos to the outdoors by reaching out to other organizations that LO may partner with.

Volunteer

Jeff Chavez (he/him/his)

Jeff Chavez lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and enjoys sharing the outdoors with his family. In his free time, Jeff likes to spend his days with his wife and daughter. Jeff also enjoys skiing during the winter and camping/hiking during the summer. As an ambassador for Albuquerque, Jeff looks forward to having new experiences and sharing the outdoors with everyone.

Outings Leader

Jay Del Villar (she/her)

Jay (she/her) was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She didn’t connect with her love of nature until later years when she moved to North Carolina and started spending time in the local forest.

Jay’s greatest love is urban farming and gardening. She comes from a long line of Mexican farmers and has been grateful to reconnect with these practices in the last couple of years. She also enjoys going on hikes, spending time near water, and has recently discovered a love for rock climbing.

As a Latino Outdoors leader for Baltimore, Jay is excited to help coordinate opportunities for latines to connect with nature and each other in culturally welcoming environments. She hopes to help create a space that is rooted in a reciprocal and anti-capitalist relationship with the land.

Volunteer

Javier Lozano

Javier grew up in Chicago, IL and studied Biology and Natural Resources at Northland College in Northern Wisconsin. It was there that he was introduced to the possibilities of outdoor play and recreation as well as the importance of environmental consciousness. He always came home to Chicago and felt alienated for enjoying what was seen as a “white-dominant lifestyle” and then returning to school as one of the few minorities in the class.

Latino Outdoors provides the blend that he’s always craved and would love to continue thinning the gap between minorities and the outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Javier Lopez Herrera

Javier was born and raised in Delano, CA. Living in the valley gave him the opportunity of having nature all around. From rivers, mountains, and the coast. The beach is one of the places he and his family would visit often. As he was becoming a young adult, his interest for nature started to grow. Later, he not only made adventures with his family, but also created them with friends.

Now as a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Bakersfield CA, he would like to share and make memories with his community. By creating events for the community Javier is hoping that they too can create new memories and have love for the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Jason Gonzales (he/him)

Jason is a father to two awesome children and husband to an amazing wife. They are the most important people in his life! Jason grew up in the San Luis Obispo area of California and enjoyed the beautiful outdoor activities this area has to offer. Hiking, trail running, and surfing were some of his favorite activities and remain so to this day! Jason went to college at the University of California San Diego and studied abroad in Spain, Italy, and London. His working career has been driven by curiosity. His work endeavors have ranged from management consulting and investment banking, to Mattel, Nike, and Patagonia. In working with Latino Outdoors, Jason is excited to help create and support a chapter in the San Luis Obispo and Ventura areas of California with the goal of creating opportunities for the Latinx community (especially kids and families) to explore the outdoors. Jason currently lives in Ojai, CA.

Outings Leader

Jason Bonet (he/him/his)

A lover of all things nature, Jason Bonet was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and frequently explored El Yunque Rainforest and the many beaches Puerto Rico has to offer, constantly looking for interesting plants and wildlife. After his move to New York City at the age of 6, his search for natural spaces began, leading him to enjoying the many parks New York City has to offer. He’s a naturalist with a passion for birdwatching, edible mushrooms and plants foraging, and backpacking.

He cultivated his love for nature at the High School for Environmental Studies in Manhattan and at the SUNY College for Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. Jason is currently the Sustainability Education Associate at Groundwork Hudson Valley, growing food at a floating urban farm called the Science Barge and teaching classes on climate change, sustainability, botany, and ecology to Yonkers Public schools and the public.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for New York City, Jason will foster a sense of community through volunteering events and help connect the public to the many interesting organisms and natural processes that the city has to offer.

Volunteer

Jaron Latona (he/él)

Jaron Latona grew up in the northern Sierra foothills (ancestral Nisenan lands). A love of the outdoors runs deep in his family – at six months old his first family backpacking trip took him to Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness (to be fair, he was in the backpack). A CSU Sacramento graduate, Jaron is a historian, writer, photographer and videographer in California’s Central Valley – a region known for incredible biodiversity, outdoor recreation, and conservation leadership. Influenced by the DIY esthetic of punk rock and belief in the power of storytelling to effect positive change, Jaron actively supports others by leading outdoor experiences and offering to create media content to amplify marginalized voices. He believes the outdoors is a place for people to heal, play, and thrive, that access should be a right for all, and recognizes the complexities of Indigenous land rights. In 2017, Jaron co-wrote and directed a backpacking documentary with Luis Ramon Campos-Garcia called “Ostrander Reflections,” and has produced several videos for the channel, “Field Notes from Wild Spaces.” Jaron and his awesome wife, Monica, volunteer for Latino Outdoors together. They share their travels with a small bear named Osito, or Mr. Bear.

As Latino Outdoors Ambassador for California’s Central Valley, Jaron will work to break down barriers that exclude people from experiencing the outdoors, and continue to create media that amplifies diverse lived experiences.

Outings Leader

Jamie Martinez (she/her/ella)

Jamie was born and raised in the Lower Rio Grande Valley which spans the border of Texas and Mexico. Jamie is 3rd-generation Mexican American and grew up closely with a large family that embraced every Mexican Family tradition with so much love and joy.

Jamie discovered her love for the outdoors when she moved to Georgia for graduate school where she experienced mountains for the 1st time and traveled to over 30 national parks all over the world. After graduate school, Jamie decided she wanted to move to the PNW for a lifestyle of adventures – camping, hiking, cycling, backpacking, and skiing. You can find Jamie on weekend adventures with her fiancé, Goldendoodle, and 6-year-old daughter. As a Positive Psychology Practitioner for FranklinCovey, Jamie partners with the top, high-performing organizations in the PNW in creating a positive institution by building exceptional leaders, teams, and creating inclusive, high-trust cultures that achieve their most important goals.

As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader living in Issaquah, WA, Jamie hopes to support the community by empowering families and individuals from all backgrounds to get outside and discover the benefits from finding purpose and connection as they explore the greater outdoors.

Outings Leader

Jacob Acosta

Jacob was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. His love for nature was first ignited as a child when he and his family would go down to the Texas coast to fish and swim at the beach. Jacob graduated with his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2015 from the University of North Texas and he now calls the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex his home. He’s since continued his exploration of nature by visiting multiple national parks and spending time in outdoor spaces across the DFW metroplex.

As a Latino Outdoors outing leader for the Dallas chapter, Jacob will act as a bridge between the Latinx communities and the environment to create diverse spaces and encourage others to build a special relationship with nature.

Program Coordinator

Jackie Dias (she/her)

Jackie Dias is a proud boricua and first-generation Portuguese-American born and raised in Western Mass. She has always loved outdoor recreation since she was little – whether it be chilling outside under a tree or walking along a river. Jackie has a strong passion for community conservation, land access, outdoor equity, and science communication. After working as a fellow with the National Park Service via Hispanic Access Foundation for nearly two years, Jackie joined the team as a Community Planner supporting both the Partnership Wild & Scenic Rivers and Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Programs. She is based out of the Springfield, MA Field Office at the Springfield Armory National Historic Park. She credits Latino Outdoors as a stepping stone to get her to her dream job of working with the National Park Service. Prior to her fellowships, Jackie earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.S. in Environmental Conservation with a concentration in environmental policy and human dimensions both from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Outside of her work, you can find Jackie taking walks with her partner and pup, playing video games, baking, or cuddling with her cat, Luna.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Western Massachusetts, Jackie will use her love of nature and knowledge of conservation to encourage and welcome Latinx families and individuals to create their own path to the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Jacelyn Downey

Jacelyn was born in Santa Clara, California, where her love of family and being outside together began. She spent much of her early days camping, building forts, and boogie boarding at local beaches with her cousins. Her first love was the ocean and after earning her bachelors at UC Santa Barbara, she began her career in marine science. She worked at several aquariums and marine science institutions until finding her home in Wyoming. Together with her husband and two daughters, she lives on a working cattle ranch and is the Director of Community Building for Audubon Rockies. After participating in her first LO event at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, she is hooked and can’t wait to bring more people together to celebrate Wyomings outdoors and recreation with others.

Outings Leader

Isabel Pichardo (she/they)

Isabel Pichardo (she/they) was born in Puerto Rico and grew up between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. She’s been connected to nature since childhood, whether it was picking mangoes from her grandma’s tree, going on beach trips with family, or feeding their chickens. The beaches were her playground, so moving to the U.S. at 12 was a bit of a shock, and it changed how she interacted with the outdoors. Instead of the beach, it became walks around the neighborhood, biking, or visiting the park.

Later, in college, Isabel studied Studio Arts, pulling inspiration from those childhood experiences. But it wasn’t until senior year, during a research experience in Vermont, that her love for the outdoors really flourished. She spent the summer with new friends, exploring lakes, hiking trails, and immersing herself in the nature that Vermont had to offer. Coming back, she was eager to share those experiences with friends and family. Now, as she continues to grow more comfortable in the outdoor her love of nature only grows, and she’s always excited to try something new!

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader, Isabel hopes to keep sharing her passion for the outdoors and build a sense of community. She wants to inspire others to get outside and enjoy nature, wherever they can find it.

Ambassador

Iris Zacarías (she/they)

Iris was born and raised in the endlessly sunny Escondido, California. She studied at California State University, Fullerton obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Design and Production with an emphasis in Sound Design and Engineering. Iris’s love for the outdoors sparked at a young age—whether it was sandy beaches or mountains, she spent her time roaming the beautiful Southern California parks. After spending most of her life in California, Iris moved to Washington in search of clouds, rain, and snow. She enjoys riding her bike, hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, and organizing outings for Latino Outdoors! 

As the Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for the PNW, Iris seeks to connect families and young people to nature as well as encourage and empower folks to conserve and protect our lands.

Volunteer

Indira “Indie” Marquez Robles (she/her/ella)

Indie (she/her/ella) was born in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, and was brought at a young age to the United States to call Houston, Texas, her home. Growing up, her parents prioritized going outdoors for family vacations and learning about the history of the land they were on. As children and even as young adults, she and her siblings would swim in the Guadalupe River, go tubing in the Frio River, and camp overnight on the Gulf shores. Now as an adult balancing work in healthcare and pre-med studies, Indie hasn’t lost sight of the healing and rejuvenating power of the outdoors; she engages with nature at any given chance.

While Houston is one of Texas’s largest urban centers, Indie is committed to marrying her love for the outdoors with her love for Houston. She would like to see the diverse makeup of Houston’s residents reflected in the Texas outdoor community and bring down any and all barriers to make it a reality. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Houston chapter, Indie will work with the group to illuminate the city’s green side for fellow Houstonians to admire, engage with, and conserve for future generations.

Volunteer

Iliana Alviter

Iliana Alviter was born and raised in Houston, TX. Her childhood memories of the outdoors consist of playing in the gardens of the apartments she lived in, traveling to the beach with her family, and going to the park to ride her bicycle and roller skate. She realized she could find solace in nature and how healing it was. Daily walks with her beagle Cooper and hiking trips reminded her that nature has always been there to bring joy and inspired her to find ways to give back to the natural world.

Iliana graduated from the University of Houston and works at a tech company in the field of Supply Chain Management where she volunteers to drive digital equity and mentors Latinx youth. She is also a Climate Fresk volunteer where she leads and supports workshops that bring awareness on climate change to employees and partners the company works with. In her spare time she enjoys walks at the park with Cooper, hanging out with family and friends, writing, and reading.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Houston chapter, Iliana will work towards creating spaces where our comunidad can reconnect with nature, share our stories, and to encourage appreciation and caring for our environment.

Program Coordinator

Gustavo Delgado (he/him/his)

Gustavo was born/raised in the small Texas town of Abernathy, which is located in the Texas panhandle. His family relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area when he was 12, which was home until he relocated to Los Angeles in 2017. His love for nature began when he was 10 years old during a field trip to Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. Growing up in a small town and visiting family in Mexico every summer also gave him exposure to the farm/ranch life, which really helped shape his work ethic as an adult.

Relocating to the Los Angeles area further expanded his love for nature. On the weekends, you could find him out on hiking trails or enjoying one of California’s many national parks. During the week, you could find him generally at REI stocking up on supplies. Gustavo graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, currently works in the insurance industry, and has returned to his native Texas.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer Leader in Dallas, he is looking to share his love of the outdoors with the Latino community and to help them discover the nature that surrounds them!

Volunteer

Gibram Sanchez (he/him)

The “Border Kid” from San Diego and Tijuana. Gibram was born in San Diego but raised in Tijuana for the beginning of his life. This Megaregion has shaped his interest in how communities are shaped. During his high school years, he found mountain biking and that gave him the key to exploring his region and opening the world of the outdoors. Unfortunately, like many other Hispanics, he didn’t grow with outdoor activities. Since picking up mountain biking he’s able to understand the importance of being in touch with nature and wants to promote that within his community.

As a recent urban planner graduate from Arizona State University, transportation, and urban recreation access are his top interests. He currently works as a transportation consultant and Free Bikes 4 Kidz in San Diego. Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a nonprofit program that focuses on sharing the freedom of bicycles with kids in most need. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer Gibram will share his passion for outdoor recreation and community building.

Volunteer

Geraldine Duque Salazar

Geraldine was born in Colombia, on top of the mighty Andes. She grew up in a small city surrounded by mist and mountains, visiting her grandmother’s coffee farm on vacations, where her love for nature sprouted. She moved to the United States to pursue a career in biotechnology, and currently works in neurobiology research. Moving from one wonderfully biodiverse country to another, her “”American dream”” lies in discovering, sharing and caring for everything Mother Nature has to offer here.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Boston chapter, Geraldine hopes to contribute to lowering access barriers to outdoor activities for underrepresented identities and ways of embodiment, actings as a facilitator for others and herself to strengthen community bonds, enjoying nature with awareness of our responsibilities to her.

Volunteer

Geovani Mejia (he/his/him)

Geovani was born in Guatemala but migrated to the United States when he was eight years old. He grew up in San Rafael CA. At a young age, Geovani was introduced to nature. He joined the Boy Scouts in Guatemala where he participated in backpacking trips, learned about leadership & team-building skills, nature surviving skills, and the importance of community service.

Geovani graduated from UC Berkeley with an Economics degree. During his time in college, Geovani joined many outdoor clubs. He participated in hiking events, backpacking trips, water rafting, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. These activities helped Geovani stay physically and mentally healthy.

Geovani reconnected with nature later in his life as an adult. Where he joined outdoor groups. He started to hike, run trail marathons, and connected with new people who love nature. As a Latino Outdoor volunteer in the San Diego Area, Geovani will encourage the Latino community to participate in outdoor activities to promote mental and physical health.

Volunteer

Georgina Rossel (she/ella)

Georgina Rossel (she/ella) was born in Los Angeles. As a young child, she did not get to experience much of the outdoors due to her parents working long hours. Later in her teenage years, she moved to Sacramento – where she was in awe of all the trees the city had to offer. In her teenage years, she got to explore the rivers of Sacramento.

When Georgina moved to Chico to pursue an undergraduate in Psychology, her spark in nature grew. She explored Bidwell park by riding her bike to the park or driving for beautiful hikes. She became a camp counselor and continued to enjoy the outdoors. Once graduating and pursuing occupations in counseling, she continued to bring the benefits of the outdoors by taking youth to hikes. Now back in Sacramento, Georgina continues to enjoy exploring the outdoors by visiting national parks and cruising on her bike along Old Sac and the river trails. In her current position as an advisor, she shares with youth the power of resetting in nature.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Sacramento-Central Valley area, Georgina will share different outdoor experiences that are accessible to the Latinx communities and promote body inclusivity.

Outings Leader

Gabriel-Bello Lawrence-Diaz

Gabriel-Bello Diaz is a Puerto Rican artist, education activist and community organizer. Diaz has spent his career navigating through various mediums, projects and initiatives with this same focus on highlighting underrepresented voices through multidisciplinary collaboration. Born in Hendon London, England, Diaz moved to the USA as a child and grew up in Camden, NJ around a huge family.

He launched his career in architecture and robotic engineering in Boston and eventually moved to Barcelona to focus on higher academic publication while exploring emerging technologies. Here in Seattle, Diaz took his expertise to develop engineering programs for Seattle and Federal Public School. He eventually got into nonprofit admin work to continue to support artists in the city through a cultural lens. Now as the Program Director of Shunpike, Diaz puts his energy towards statewide support for all artists and creative entrepreneurs in Washington state. He has settled his roots here for the community he has built and the abundance of nature to explore. Aside from hiking, he is a big paddleboarder, tennis player, swimmer and soon to be surfer. PNW is a place where he now officially calls home.

Outings Leader

Francisco Villa (he/him)

Growing up Latino means many things in the United States. For Francisco, it was growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood in WA State with a shortfall of resources to get outside. He was always curious about skiing and snowboarding, especially because the mountains were not that far away. Instead, his family would always discourage him with, “Mijo, ese deporte es caro y no es para nosotros.”

Francisco’s luck changed when he went to Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. It was the perfect storm for someone wanting to get outside. Gonzaga provided the resources, friends, and encouragement to get students outside. Before Francisco knew it, he was skipping class to mountain bike, ditching homework to ski at night, and spending his grocery money on bike parts.

The best part of his college community was his friends, who also got outside. Through his friend David and others, he learned to rock climb, ski, mountain bike, and explore all other sorts of adventures. He then became a Student Outdoor Guide at Gonzaga Outdoors. The leadership and outdoor education were now commencing. There was also something else he started to notice that needed addressing. None of the other outdoorsy people at school looked like him. Most students who got outside were coming from upper-middle-class demographics. He knew that the outdoors needed some coloring.

Francisco left college knowing that his main passion is to be outside and stay active. He also wanted to finesse his outdoor skills by continuing his outdoor education. Through the Mazamas in Portland, OR, Francisco achieved these goals and even became an educator for the Mazamas. Although, there was still something missing from all of this. His initiatives to bring diversity to the organization were not enough. It was time for him to do something drastic about it.

Francisco left the Mazamas after 7 years of teaching mountaineering, ice climbing, rock climbing, and backcountry skiing. Now, as a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Portland, OR, Francisco will use his 12 years of outdoor education and experience to help and encourage the BIPOC community to get outside. He wants to help bridge the gap for other BIPOC folks who want to get outside by creating a safe and welcoming environment.

Program Coordinator

Francis Brotons (she/her)

Taylor Francisca Brotons was born and raised in the agricultural district of Miami known as the Redlands. She began volunteering at the zoo at 13, then local animal rescues and sanctuaries after school and on weekends. In college she studied journalism with the intent of writing for National Geographic one day. On a particular assignment she visited the Galapagos Islands for a story on how tourism was effecting the local sea lion population. That experience made her realize conservation work begins at home. She returned to Miami and focused her passion to learning about the native environment that she was never taught to appreciate, and connecting locals to it as well. After over a decade of environmental education, she began her falconry apprenticeship while working on invasive species management for Florida Fish and Wildlife. Currently, Taylor works at Shark Valley of Everglades National Park, volunteers with various bird rescues and community gardens, and campaigns for climate focused solutions at county commission meetings. As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Miami, Taylor will help to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship and give locals a new appreciation for species they may have feared or disliked before. She is most passionate about intersectional environmentalism and working towards a more wildlife-friendly city infrastructure.

Volunteer

Fidel Tafolla (he/him)

Fidel was born and raised in San Jose but has lived all over the Central Valley, his most favorite childhood home being Springville at the foot of the Lumreau Mountain. This is where his love of nature began and since then it has continued with occasional long distance bike rides and hiking trips. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Fresno, Fidel will foster an educational and motivational environment for the Latino Outdoors organization and those it works with.

Outings Leader

Fernando Ramos (he, him, él)

Growing up by the beaches of Hawaii and Puerto Rico, Fernando (he, him, él) was raised admiring and respecting the outdoors. From kayaking in mangroves to traversing rainforests, he learned at an early age about the transformative and restorative qualities that nature has to offer. Leaving Puerto Rico at eighteen years old for educational and professional opportunities, his journey led him to transition from one big city to the next. Immersing himself in NOLA, D.C., MIA, NYC, and now Philly, he has seen first hand the societal disparities experienced by the Latine community and communities of colors in city centers. One of these major disparities being access to the beautiful natural resources this country has to offer.

Now as a practicing attorney in Philadelphia, he looks forward to supporting LO by advocating for the conservation of our natural resources and improving access to these resources for all communities of color. He is also excited to support the LO Philly chapter in creating inclusive events that focus on community building, mindfulness, and healing.

Outings Leader

Eve Martínez (she/her(s))

Eve (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Orange County, CA. Her love for the outdoors began when she was pursuing her PhD at Purdue University in Indiana. She used the outdoors to disconnect from lab work and the difficulties of pursuing a PhD. She is an avid hiker, backpacker, camper, runner, skier, and dog mom. She currently works as an Analytical Chemist at a carbon capture company with the hopes of saving the planet and the ecosystem humans need to thrive on.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the San Francisco Bay Area, Eve will bring her love and passion for the outdoors to her Latinx community. She’s excited to adventure and make amazing memories with everyone who would like to join her, humans and fur babies. It’s important to her to make the outdoors accessible to her community so they can fall in love with nature, just as she did.

Volunteer

Eva García

Volunteer

Esteban Benites-Moreno (he/él)

Esteban (He/Him/Él) was born in Nayarit, MX and has lived in Utah most of his life. His favorite memories growing up involved camping trips with his family. Spending time outdoors has been a great way to relax and re-energize for him. He loves getting outside, whether it is exploring a neighborhood or a national park. He graduated from the University of Utah and currently works for a nonprofit as a community health educator. As a program coordinator/ambassador for Salt Lake City, Esteban hopes create more diverse spaces for all Latinx people where we unite as a community and have fun being out in nature.

Outings Leader

Esme Plascencia (she/her)

Esme (She/Her/Ella) was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, and raised in Fort Bragg, CA. She immigrated to California at 11 months old as a first-generation immigrant. She grew up surrounded by the ocean, rivers, and redwood forests. Her family often visited Pudding Creek Beach, her favorite beach in MacKerricher State Park. She moved to Sacramento to pursue higher education and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation Administration. Her passion for nature exploration and outdoor adventure inspired her to become an outdoor educator in a variety of recreational settings.

As an outings leader for the Sacramento-Central Valley, Esme inspires people to develop their curiosity for green open spaces, personal connection to nature, and wonder in the outdoors. She enjoys connecting community members through nature-based activities such as nature-guided walks, water-related activities, and ocean/forest bathing. She is knowledgeable of the local botany/ecology/culture of the north coast which she enjoys talking about with others.

Outings Leader

Esme Cabrera (she/her)

Esmeralda “Esme” Cabrera was born and raised in the Bay Area and resides in California’s Central Valley. Her connection to the outdoors has always been felt most palpably through her matriarchal lineage. Food, stories and medicine making by the women of the family always struck her as both the source of her cultural awareness and relationship with our Mother Earth. Watching her mom swim with strength and ease, or her abuelita make remedy teas with silken corn tassels affirmed to her that having a relationship with and awareness of place and plants was not only necessary for a healthy body, but also for filling your soul. This has led her to have a life-long relationship with nature that consists of contemplation, art-making, place-based cultural and historical awareness, and environmental stewardship. She plans on connecting with comunidad through Latino Outdoors to share in the journey that brings us to explore and connect with our surroundings and each other.

Program Coordinator

Erynn Castellanos (she/her/ella)

Erynn was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from CSU, Northridge with a B.A. in Political Science and Communication. Shortly after she pursued a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a certificate in Environmental Education from the University of Montana. The core of her work for the program was in designing a curriculum to make outdoor education inclusive to all cultures and backgrounds. Erynn is passionate about exploring cities, forests and literature, alike. She currently lives in Missoula, Montana with her cat Oso and serves as the Program Coordinator for LO in Montana.

Volunteer

Erick Cortes (he/him)

Erick Cortes, pronouns he/him, was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He grew up going camping around the mountains that surrounded him, which is where he learned his love for the outdoors. He got accepted to the University of California, Santa Barbara, and graduated with a degree in Environmental Studies where he expanded his love and appreciation for nature. When he moved to San Francisco, Erick became a Park Ranger with the National Park Service, a job that enables him to do what he loves. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the San Francisco Bay Area, Erick will work on making the road easier for other Latinx people than it was for him by breaking down barriers and creating spaces where people can find their own love for nature, just like he did.

Outings Leader

Eric Montero

Eric was born and raised in a small town in Northern California. Growing up, Eric lived in a Latino housing complex nicknamed El Campo by its residents. Eric’s parents were migrant workers who worked hard for low wages. Eric’s passion for the outdoors flourished as an adult when he and his wife met in the Bay Area. As a child, Eric had fond memories of traveling to Washington and Oregon. Eric would sit window side as he rode along his parents’ van with his brothers and sisters. Eric loved seeing all the snow along the roadside and fantasized about spending time in the woods. Eric remembers going fishing with his brothers and father after a long day’s work and spending time together casting lines from makeshift fishing poles (aluminum cans). Presently, Eric lives in Ventura County where he became an active member in the Boy Scouts. His children and wife often go on hikes and camping trips with their troop. Eric was recently accepted into California Lutheran University’s Education Program where he hopes to attain his teaching credential along with his master’s in education. As an educator, Eric hopes to serve his local community and work in the Oxnard School district to become a positive role model for Latino youth.

Outings Leader

Erasto Renteria (he/him)

Erasto Renteria (he/him) hails from the deep south of Texas, where his enduring passion for the outdoors was ignited. Growing up on the outskirts of San Benito, he embraced his very own ranchito lifestyle with his parents and three siblings. Cherished memories include caring for farm animals and savoring the sweet fruits from his mother’s garden, like higos and duraznos.

Currently calling Austin, Texas home, Erasto is a proud UT Alum who has cultivated his passion for the environment into a career as a landscaper. His aspiration is to one day work as a conservationist and share nature’s awe-inspiring wonders and its lessons. Accompanied by his partner, Liza, and their two crazy black cats, he loves exploring the outdoors and seeking new adventures to challenge himself. His latest pursuits include mountain biking and kayaking.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader in Austin, Erasto aims to introduce his community to the city’s diverse outdoor activities. Through each outing, he aspires to help create memories and foster appreciation for the natural world around us.

Outings Leader

Emma Galofré García (she/her/ella)

Emma Galofré García (she/her/ella) was raised among the forests and ponds of New England where her connection to the natural world flourished. It was from here that Emma’s personal and professional dedication to the outdoors developed. Her love and appreciation for the natural world deepened and expanded throughout her Bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and while working for over 10 years in the conservation realm, including on projects domestically and internationally with an array of species, habitats, and various human communities. Emma is now back in school pursuing her PhD in Environmental Studies at CU Boulder in the Well-Being, Environment, Livelihoods, and Sustainability Group, where she is focused on justice informed conservation action that results in positive social and ecological outcomes.

As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader for Colorado, Emma will work to share her excitement and passion for the natural world and foster the same within our incredible Latine/Latinx community. She is dedicated to helping the Latine/Latinx community reconnect and restore our connection to the land, and to creating a joyful, supportive, and community-based space to do so.

Outings Leader

Emily Jiménez (she/her/ella)

Emily Jiménez (she/her/ella) is a Native New Yorker based in Jamaica, Queens. She wasn’t always a lover of the outdoors but being forced to stay indoors during the pandemic made her body and soul crave being outside and grounding in nature.

She is the eldest child of Dominican immigrants and the first to attend college, obtain a graduate degree and work in a corporate setting. This experience has fueled her passion for being a fierce advocate of equity in education, finding culturally competent mentors and workplace wellness. Her goal is to equip first generation students with tools to thrive in college and corporate environments and encourage them to pay it forward, creating a culture of mutual aid within their communities.

In 2020 she launched The Manifestation Mami, a virtual wellness space. Through this platform, she teaches busy professionals how to prioritize their wellness so they can live abundant, balanced lives through Cacao ceremonies, live courses and Career Clarity coaching.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for New York City, Emily is committed to connecting our communities with the land, incorporating Indigenous wisdom and facilitating fun and engaging culturally relevant activities throughout the boroughs.

Volunteer

Emilio Lerdo de Tejada (he/him/his)

Emilio (he/him/his) was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. As a child he fell in love with environmental literature (his favorite book was/is The Lorax) and spending time outdoors. He was enraged by the unnecessary suburban sprawl seen all over the world. Growing up, his family frequently visited the family vacation home in Florida, and he was always in awe of the state’s unique ecosystems that were under constant threat from that suburban sprawl. His passion led to him obtaining a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Auburn University. After graduation, he began his work career working for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in Tallahassee, with work trips allowing for statewide travel. It was on one of these work trips that he found the opportunity with Miami-Dade County working for the Department of Environmental Resource Management where he felt like he would be able to make more of an impact protecting the natural lands in the area.

Today he hopes to continue to make a positive impact on preserving what remains of Florida’s natural lands, allowing for animals like the Florida panther to not only survive, but flourish. He aims to use the opportunity with Latino Outdoors to share his passion and knowledge of environmental conservation with the Latino community of South Florida.

Outings Leader

Emely Ricci (she/her(s))

Emely (she/her/hers) was born in NY before moving to CT when she was a child. Her grandmother’s love of gardening and animals, stemming from her life raised in the Andean region of Peru, was her first experience in nature. She’s a 2023 UConn Master in Public Administration graduate with a passion to engage in the conservation community. As a LO Outings Leader for CT, Emely will strive to create a space for the Latino community to find place and value in the outdoors and joy in being in nature.

Outings Leader

Ellalina Emrich Keller

Ellalina (she/her/hers) was born and raised on the beautiful central coast of California. At a young age she found a deep connection with nature often staying out late playing in the creek, hiking the hills surrounding her childhood home, climbing trees, or riding her bike. In 6th grade she had the opportunity to attend outdoor environmental education camp with her elementary school and the passion for learning about the natural world around her was ignited.

It wasn’t long until she was attending the University of Denver, majoring in Environmental Science and Spanish, traveling the world, studying and exploring our magnificent planet. Ellalina has devoted her career to making the outdoors accessible to all students. One of her biggest passions has been teaching English through science to her students new to the English language. She spent much of her career at the high school level supporting the Latinx community helping to create greater accessibility to continue their education through programs like AVID, MESA, CalSOAP, and other local initiatives. She also worked as a director with the UC office of the president, at Cal Poly SLO to provide professional development and support in both science and ELD strategies to teachers and college students.

In later years Ellalina served as a principal of a dual immersion elementary school where creating a rich cultural learning experience for her students and their parents became a driving force for her passion within the Latinx community. Ellalina is thrilled to have returned to the spot where her passion for the outdoors was originally ignited, serving as the administrator for outdoor environmental education for Kern County Superintendent of Schools. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for the Central Coast in San Luis Obispo County, Ellalina will work to continue to help breakdown barriers for the Latinx communities and help support and nurture opportunities for individuals to find their own unique relationship with the natural world around them.

Outings Leader

Elizabeth Rodarte (she/her/ella)

Elizabeth Rodarte was born and raised in the occupied lands of the Kumeyaay people in San Diego, CA. She is a first generation daughter of Mexican immigrants from Jalisco and Zacatecas. Growing up, Elizabeth has fond memories of visiting her maternal family’s ranch in their hometown of Coralillos; this is where her deep respect and appreciation for the outdoors began. Elizabeth remembers running through the corn fields, chasing frogs near the river, and helping her uncle milk cows. Every visit to the ranch was filled with unforgettable memories that taught her about our Madre Tierra. Elizabeth learned how mother earth provides an abundance of food, medicine and livelihood to those who nurture and protect her.

Later in life Elizabeth attended the University of California, Riverside, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and then went on to graduate school to earn her Master’s of Arts in Special Education. Elizabeth’s most notable experience came from her study abroad experience while attending UCR in Spain. This opportunity strengthened her bond with nature allowing her to explore various countries and their diverse landscapes. Becoming a mother of two boys, allowed Elizabeth to pass on her love and respect for the outdoors to a new generation. Elizabeth strives to cultivate a sense of adventure and open exploration in her children, no matter what country they are traveling in. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for San Diego County, Elizabeth hopes that through education and community building she can stimulate POC especially parents, children and immigrants to heal, defend, and explore the various terrains that Mother Earth provides for us all.

Outings Leader

Elizabeth Gomez (she/her)

Elizabeth was born and raised in Fort Bragg CA, a beautiful coastal town on the southern tip of the Cascadia Bioregion (a.k.a. the Pacific Northwest). She grew up with MacKerricher State Park as her backyard. Bouldering on cliff faces, examining tide pools, barking back at the sea lions were all par for the course for this salt girl. It was not until she was grown that Elizabeth gained a new perspective: not everyone has access to the outdoors. She began volunteering as a docent for the Noyo Center for Marine Science ready to find new coves, new groves, and new experiences. More so she wishes to share these adventures with others. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the North Coast Chapter, Elizabeth hopes to be a resource to her community so that they can experience the natural beauty of the Mendocino Coast.

Volunteer

Elizabeth Dorantes (she/her/ella)

Elizabeth was raised in Goliad, TX where she spent her summers playing hide and seek with her sisters and neighborhood friends. Elizabeth’s favorite memories include being outside catching frogs and chasing fireflies during the family carne asadas and always felt nature was the most exciting museum and playground since she was very little. Elizabeth continued exploring nature as she moved up to Austin, TX to earn her Bachelors of Social Work and now is completing her Master of Science in Social Work at The University Texas at Austin. Hook ‘em! Elizabeth’s interests in the field include immigrant rights, labor organizing, education, ecotherapy, food justice, children, and family mental health and well-being.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer, Elizabeth hopes to promote self-preservation and joy through community building in the outdoors. She understands the impact colonization has on marginalized communities in nature and hopes to connect more people to green spaces.

Outings Leader

Elizabeth Castro Maldonado (she/her)

Elizabeth was raised in south Monterey County with her home life resembling the norms of the rural ranchos of Guanajuato, MX. From an early age, Elizabeth felt a deep connection to the natural world around her. When she looked to the outdoors everything seemed to make sense, from hearing her father say, ‘Agua es vida” during every rainfall or seeing her mother admire bird variations while cleaning up their backyard. While working summers in agricultural labor as a teen, Elizabeth was able to see over 200 sunrises between the CA Ventana Wilderness and Pinnacles National Park illuminating her drive to seek out an outdoor-driven lifestyle. Exploring Yosemite with the Migrant program mobilized Elizabeth to plan a trip for her family to Yosemite as a teen and sparked an enthusiasm to encourage others to explore the natural world around them.

Now residing in Fresno, Elizabeth is a first generation graduate from Fresno State with a B.S. in Public Health. She has a passion for supporting community holistic healing, health awareness, shared joy, and resiliency building for disadvantaged communities. Since then, she has sought out opportunities to incorporate the power of the outdoors with the communities she serves. She has been able to advocate for the outdoors from teaching monolingual students and using nature as an example of the beauty of adapting to new environments, supporting perinatal women by illustrating the use of the outdoors as a stress buster, as well as planning outdoor field trips with school-age children for resiliency and self-esteem building.

As an Outings leader for Latino Outdoors, Elizabeth’s purpose is to foster community, joy, a sense of safety and belonging, resiliency, as well as a deeper connection with the outdoors. She has felt how intimidating outdoor recreation can be due to lack of exposure and a lack of visibility, so she strives to foster a sense of safety, empowerment, and confidence for others to feel that they belong in all places. In her free time, she enjoys storytelling, kayaking, hiking, yoga, picnicking, and rock climbing, as well as always looking for an excuse to explore any outdoor activity. Elizabeth believes it is important to share ideas, life experiences, and convivir with others.

Outings Leader

Eliud Rios (he/him(s)/él)

Eliud Rios (Eh-Li-udh) (he/him(s)/él) was born in Mexico City, Mexico, raised in a small suburban town in Sacramento, and now lives in Sacramento. California is home and he is grateful for experiencing his developmental years in such a beautiful place. Eliud’s first generation immigrant experience provides a multicultural approach to his involvement within the Latinx community. His passion for nature and the outdoors stems from his time living near the American River. While spending time with his younger brother, they would often explore the river trails. He has ties to local Sacramento community groups that promote outdoor exposure and inclusivity with people of color and has been involved in organizing nature walks called “Walk with an Arborist” within the Sacramento and Davis area. Eliud holds a Bachelor’s degree from the California State University, Sacramento in Anthropology. Currently he works for a local Sacramento non-profit and his professional background includes teaching.

As a Latino Outdoors outings leader for the Sacramento/Central Valley area, Eliud will use his background in education to teach about all the greatness and healing qualities that nature provides. His experience working with trees and woodlands will assist in instilling a sense of ownership for the land. He understands the power of community and will assist in creating a safe and ethical learning space for BIPOC and Latinx members. Eliud will lead by example and continue the legacy of Latino Outdoors by being a steward that promotes inclusion, equity and justice.

Outings Leader

Elisa Valdez de Ramírez (she/her/ella)

Elisa was born and raised in Albuquerque and is strongly connected to our land. She and her family have roots in Rio Arriba County in the northern part of the state, and although she is part of the first generation not born there, she describes that area as “home.”

When she isn’t leading software engineers to build great things for athletes at Strava, you can find her camping, fly fishing, hiking, climbing, or cycling all over the state.

Program Coordinator

Elisa Medina O’Neal (she/her(s))

Like many of the birds that nest near her home, Elisa’s migrated to Texas by way of Central America. Her parents worked hard to provide for her and her brother. This meant that Elisa and her brother spent hours exploring the outdoors, riding their bikes everywhere, and building mini-habitats for all the critters they would catch. Elisa’s curiosity of the natural world evolved into seeking answers to life’s big questions. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in Philosophy with a minor in Religious Studies and Mandarin Chinese. She is also a Chinese Bridge Scholarship recipient which means she lived and studied in China for 2 years, completing her Chinese Language Certification from Renmin University in Beijing China. She now works at the Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena, TX where she does her part to reconnect people with nature. As a member of the LO HTX team, Elisa hopes to create spaces where people can reconnect with each other and the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Elías Naser (he/him/his)

Elías was born and raised in Los Angeles from immigrant working-class parents. Elías is a first-generation college graduate who is currently teaching Special Education at a local High School while residing in Pasadena, CA. Elías’s love for the outdoors begins with his respect for nature since he was a child through hiking, camping, and his love for animals which led him to being a vegan. As a teacher, Elías is passionate about having younger generations positively lead the way for our planet and our ever-growing social world. As a Latinx and Egyptian, Elías is keen on ensuring Latinx communities and people of color are given the opportunities to explore and embrace the outdoors together!

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Los Angeles, Elías will engage with the Latinx communities through empowering education while creating spaces to grow and thrive en nuestra naturaleza con respecto a la madre tierra! Elías is an excited Outing Leader who plans to grow, learn, listen and build an outdoor inclusive Latinx community!

Outings Leader

Elexis Padrón (she/her)

Elexis was born and raised in the small Central Valley town of Sanger, California. Every year, she looked forward to her family’s annual camping trip at Refugio State Beach or Pfeiffer Big Sur– a tradition that started with her grandma’s generation. These camping trips planted the seed of her love of the outdoors, though the seed lay dormant for many years.

It was during her last quarter of studying Art and Community Studies at UC Santa Cruz, during an internship in the campus garden, that the long-dormant seed finally sprouted. After UCSC, Elexis worked in arts education in Los Angeles and devoted her free time to tending her growing love of the outdoors by planning camping trips, hounding for her own gear at affordable prices, hiking, and learning all she could about plants and wildlife through volunteering and community college classes.

Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2019, she has taught in an elementary school classroom garden, worked as an interpreter for California State Parks, and taught nature journaling workshops for a few different organizations. She now works for an awesome non-profit called Saved By Nature, where she gets to help break down barriers to access to the outdoors so that everyone can experience the spiritual, mental, and physical well-being that nature provides.

As a Latino Outdoors outings leader, Elexis hopes to inspire a love of nature and provide a welcoming, inclusive space for other Latine folks who may be entering the outdoor recreation space.

Program Coordinator

Elaine Hernández (ella)

Elaine was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas but spent the weekends and summers at the beach or lakes. There, she was taught by her mother’s aunt to fish and learn about the outdoors. This sparked her love for the outdoors at a very young age. As a young girl, Elaine would go on campouts with the girl scouts, learned to fish, host bike rides in her neighborhood with friends, go boating with her family during the weekends, and enjoy every moment outside. She is a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She loves science!

Her most memorable trips are camping out at Big Bend, Zion National Park, Marfa, and Antelope Canyons. You can find Elaine hiking/exploring new trails, cycling new green belts, outdoor photography, and reading books on travel, plants, and nature on the weekends.

Elaine has been participating in LO outings for almost 5 years. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer leader, she wants to share her passion for the outdoors and reconnect everyone back to nature. She wants to encourage everyone to enjoy and explore the outdoors together.

Program Coordinator

Edith Campos (she/her(s))

Edith was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and began residing in Houston, TX at a very young age when her family migrated to the United States in 1990. She graduated from the University of Houston and currently works as a Program Manager at PNC Bank where she focuses on enhancing community development programs that primarily benefit low-to-moderate-income families.

In her spare time she loves spending time with her friends and family, reading, entertaining her beloved pug Filiberto, watching documentaries or planning her next trip. Her love for the outdoors began when she moved to Nevada after graduating college and started exploring hiking opportunities near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as a way to pass time. Hiking quickly became a hobby that expanded into a love for visiting national and state parks, camping, road-tripping and learning more about the outdoors. She loves bringing friends and family together to explore the beautiful outdoors and is on a mission to visit all U.S. National Parks (She’s one third of the way there!). Her favorite parks include Big Bend, Mt. Rainier and the Smoky Mountains. Now residing in Houston again, she wants to make a conscious effort to explore nearby areas, spread environmental awareness and connect with other Houstonians with common interests.

Joining Latino Outdoors as a Program Coordinator, Edith hopes to continue bringing people of Latino communities together to learn, explore and enjoy the outdoors all while celebrating their heritage. She wants Latinos of all ages to know that the outdoors are accessible by everyone regardless of their background and can be enjoyed and benefited in many different ways.

Outings Leader

Eddie Negrete

Eddie is a Chicano adventurer and visual storyteller on a mission to ignite inspiration and empower change. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Eddie discovered his passion for visual arts at Phoenix College. Growing up in Phoenix, Eddie spent his childhood playing outdoors, camping with his family, and frequenting the local parks with his close friends. In 2015 Eddie moved to mountainous Colorado to explore his interests in adventure photography. In 2022 Eddie started an adventure photography company on a mission to document and promote diversity in the outdoor space. Eddie has proudly collaborated with creatives and organizations making a positive impact in their communities, in and around the beautiful state of Colorado.

Eddie currently resides in Colorado Springs Colorado and enjoys his time capturing the beauty of Colorado’s great outdoors. Eddie combines his passion for photography with his love for nature. Some of his favorite activities are hunting, hiking, climbing and ICE FISHING! Eddie has two dogs that share his love of wide open spaces. So with a camera in hand and furry companions by his side, he creates breathtaking visuals that promote diversity, inclusion and change. Join him on his adventure as he explores the wild landscapes of Colorado and beyond. As a Latino Outdoors outing leader for Colorado Springs, Eddie is excited to share all that Colorado has to offer through seasonal programming that gets his community involved during any season.

Dunia Barahona

Dunia Barahona is passionate about bridging gaps, whether in community work, education, or the great outdoors. Raised in a rural community, she developed a strong work ethic, a deep connection to nature, and a love for hands-on learning. While she once dreamed of big-city life, her roots eventually brought her back to appreciate the values of community and self-resilience.

In 2023, Dunia discovered Latinos Outdoors, and her first trip was camping in the Cibola National Forest, which sparked a deeper connection to the outdoors. After attending a few more outdoor events in New Mexico, she joined the volunteer team. Through Latino Outdoors, she reconnects with the land and learns from others who share her passion for nature. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming, and camping year-round, taking every opportunity to travel to the mountains. For Dunia, it’s all about embracing the land, the people, and the stories that bring us together.

Outings Leader

Dianna Gomez (she/her(s))

Dianna (she/her/hers) is a first generation Mexican-American born and raised in Sacramento, CA. She received a B.S. in Computer Science from Sacramento State University, where she discovered her love of the outdoors through her university’s recreation program. She signed up for her first guided backpacking trip with the program and has since backpacked every summer throughout the Sierras and around the country, lead group backpacking trips, completed multiple thru hikes, and ventured into trail running. She currently resides in Sacramento, CA where she works full time as a software engineer.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Sacramento-Central Valley, Dianna will use her leadership and wilderness knowledge to inspire other Latinx folks to take up space outside, as well as foster a sense of community. She also hopes to educate others on how to properly recreate outside, following Leave No Trace principles.

Program Coordinator

Diana Ramos (she/hers/ella)

Diana has been a nature enthusiast from a very young age. Whether it was hiking the Blue Hills in Massachusetts where she was raised or exploring waterfalls in El Yunque while visiting family in Puerto Rico, every excursion filled her with wonder. To this day she still thanks birds for singing their songs and stops to give frogs right of way on the trail. As a transplant currently living in Virginia, Diana spends most of her free time in state and national parks. She built a career in anti-hunger programs and is passionate about ensuring everyone has an equitable opportunity to live a happy and healthy life. This includes making outdoor spaces more accessible. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, Diana hopes to help others find healing, happiness, and community in the outdoors through inclusive and engaging outings.

Volunteer

Diana Muñoz (she/her(s))

Diana Muñoz (she/her(s)) was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. Although she now has an appreciation for the wildlife that is all around us, even in urban environments, growing up she wanted to see the wild places she read about in books or saw in nature documentaries. She was specifically interested in working with birds, which led her to pursue her Bachelor’s degree at UC Davis. She now resides in Sacramento because she loves the various ecosystems that can be visited within a day’s drive.

She is currently working on her PhD in Ecology and works part-time as a wildlife biologist. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, drawing, and teaching her dog, Dante, new tricks. She is interested in all of California’s plants and critters and enjoys teaching others about them.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for California’s Central Valley, Diana will strive to organize opportunities to explore the natural wonders of California.

Volunteer

Diana Mirón -Valadez (she/her(s))

Born in Mexico City and raised in Oxnard, California from the age of 4, Diana got to experience the early California morning dew and the always sunny days. On the strength of her parent’s work ethic and desire to succeed, her outdoor life existed throughout her neighborhood. One of her fondest family childhood memories is a vivid scene of just walking throughout the city. Today with the help of her 3-year-old, the outdoor experience has developed into a form of therapy. By just observing her son in the splendor of nature, Diana feels complete. Taking time from monotony by gazing up to the sky brings her peace and perspective. She currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is dedicated to her non-profit community work. As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Utah, Diana will connect with her community and show them the importance and benefits of the outdoors. She believes that all children should have the space to run free and be present with nature.

Program Coordinator

Denisse Tiznado (she/her/ella)

Denisse Tiznado was born in San Diego, CA, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico – two places with incredible accessibility to nature’s opportunity. Denisse started enjoying the outdoors early on, during family trips to Baja in Mexico, where she would snorkel and enjoy the beautiful beaches. Her love for the outdoors grew even more when she found rock climbing and experienced the power of community in the outdoors. Denisse is a clinical psychologist, who understands the healing power of nature. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer living in Seattle, WA, Denisse hopes to support her community’s well-being by leading/co-leading outdoor events that invite discovery of and connection to nature in psychologically healing ways.

Volunteer

Denisse Ruiz (she/her)

Denisse is originally from Los Angeles. She has traveled to five continents and lived in Berlin, Germany and Saigon, Vietnam, ultimately settling down in Boston. It is through her adventures around the world that she discovered the beauty of the outdoors – she has scaled waterfalls in Vietnam, gone on safari in South Africa, scuba dove in Thailand, and hiked through the jungles of Colombia.

She currently works with a non-profit focused on realizing economic justice in Native Nations. She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature and German Studies from Wellesley College. 

As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador, Denisse plans to bring greater representation and diversity to the outdoors (as she was oftentimes the only Latinx on her global adventures).

Outings Leader

David Ríera (él/he/him)

David is an FEF McKnight Fellow, DEI Doctoral Fellow, Bilingual Writer, & Environmental Gladiator​. As a doctoral candidate in Teaching and Learning at Florida International University, he leverages his passion for research, conservation, and education​ to be an advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM. He holds six collegiate degrees and eleven professional certifications (from veterinary technician to open water deep-sea diver) in various STEM and industrial disciplines, which he utilized in partnership with scientific, environmental, and education leaders to increase the presence​ and participation of underserved students/emergent professionals through initiatives and activism. His service in the United States Marine Corps as a Combat Veteran supported his efforts to be a First Generation Afro-Hispanic college graduate driven to continue to serve in his community in many ways. David is pushed to raise public awareness through environmental and agricultural education, is relentless at work tackling various social and ecological (in)justice issues (like environmental racism, urban degreening, food desertification, y mas), and is committed to co-creation, distribution, and preservation of cultural knowledge and inquiry-based research in navigating the politics of our world. David’s motivaciones surge from the convergence of science, education, advocacy, and nature!

As a Latino Outdoors Leader, he seeks to work alongside su comunidad, para (re)establecer conexiones autenticas with our/their natural world, para que practiquen stewardship, y crear una plataforma juntos for better communication and acción a favor de nature globally. David cree que lo más crítico en el desarrollo del bienestar humano son las relaciones con nuestras familias, gente, y cultura para fortalecer los valores intrínsecos que apoyan y sostienen la tierra, el mar, y el espíritu/alma.

Ambassador

David García (he/him/his)

David is a bonafide bird nerd currently based in the Pacific Northwest, who spends most of his time birding Seattle’s many parks from his bike or skateboard. Growing up in San Diego, some of his fondest memories were visiting the Living Coast Discovery Center and camping trips with his family. These experiences led to a desire to provide similar experiences for children who might not have as easy access to outdoor spaces in urban settings. While earning his BA in Environmental Policy from Fordham University in the Bronx, David worked as an environmental educator at the New York Botanical Gardens, providing fun nature experiences for children in New York Public Schools.

After graduating from Fordham University David moved back to the west coast, settling in Seattle and continuing his work as an environmental educator with local Seattle Audubon Society as an Americorps service member. It was during his 6 years with Seattle Audubon that David’s love for birds was ignited and his passion for creating safe & welcoming spaces for all to learn about nature led him to becoming manager of Seattle Audubon’s Nature Shop.

Having recently moved on from Seattle Audubon to transition into a career in wetlands science, David is now a student at the University of Washington’s Wetlands Science & Management program. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, David hopes to continue creating space for BIPOC youth and families to safely experience the natural beauty that surrounds them in their own cities and beyond.

Volunteer

Danny Amaya-Ruiz (he/him)

Born in Los Angeles, California but grew up in Northern Virginia and currently living in Austin, Texas. Danny grew up exploring the blue ridge mountains and fell in love with the outdoors ever since. During his time at Virginia Commonwealth University, he interned at the Insect Ecology lab and enjoyed learning more about insects while also hiking the outdoors. Since then he has received his B.S. in Forensic Biology and incorporated a lot of his outdoor knowledge into his career as a Forensic Scientist. He really enjoys volunteering and helping the community in many different forms.

As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Austin, Texas, Danny will be helping spread knowledge of past, current and future events in the area. He is very excited to meet new people through this role and ready to explore more of the Austin outdoor community.

Volunteer

Daniel Vázquez (he/him)

Daniel “Danny” Vázquez, (He/Him) native to Mexico City yet raised on the Southside of Chicago since he was eleven months old. From a young age, he liked to explore and learn about animals and nature. Whenever his parents had an opportunity, they would take him camping. Danny has fond memories in middle school, as his classmates would talk about wrestling and Pokémon, he would talk about what he learned on Animal Planet or the Discovery Channel. In high school, he was the only one pursuing a Zoology degree, but quickly realized how his immigration status would affect his college career. As a DACA recipient, he worked and attended community college to receive a degree in science.

Danny later work in the Education Department in several nature/science institutions with the goal of representing Latinos in Environmental Science and Natural History Education. He would like to be the bridge between the Great Outdoors and black/brown communities to create a place where they can feel accepted and comfortable.

Outings Leader

Daniel Urdialez

Daniel was born and raised in the heart of Texas – San Antonio (GO SPURS GO!). Growing up, he had an absolute love for fishing, camping and hiking. But living in the inner city and being unaware of local resources, he was hindered from exploring.

After studying Communications at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Daniel began his career in the technology industry. He quickly found that sitting at a desk for nine hours a day takes its toll. Because of this, Daniel decided to make a conscious effort to spend more time outdoors and found the gratification of sharing nature’s benefits with family and friends. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for San Antonio, Daniel wants to share his passion for the outdoors with the Latino community and help them discover the accessibility and benefits that come from reconnecting with nature.

Outings Leader

Daniel Correa (he/him)

Daniel was born in Colombia, but while he was still young, he and his family immigrated to New Jersey. Daniel always had an interest for the natural world, and a curiosity for all living organisms and the natural processes around him. His strong curiosity and passion for the natural world led him to get a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Latin American Studies from Stockton University in New Jersey. With his new environmental knowledge and understanding, plus his Latino background, Daniel hoped to merge these two personal passions by bringing Latinx communities closer to nature. Soon After graduating college his dream became a reality. He accepted a one year internship with the USFWS through Hispanic Access Foundation. This internship allowed Daniel to lead presentations and nature walks to young students of various backgrounds at the USFWS Wildlife Refuge. Daniel left New Jersey in 2019 and moved to Concord, California to start a new chapter in his life. As a Latino Outdoors Leader for the San Francisco Bay Area, Daniel hopes to introduce new outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and birdwatching to as many Latinx community members as possible.

Program Coordinator

Dagmar Galvan (she/her)

Dagmar was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. Between the beautiful landscape and early exposure to both the Discovery and History channels, she developed a strong interest in the outdoors. A particular interest in Egyptian history and the vast unknown of the Amazon ignited her passion in archaeology working in the outdoors. This eventually led her to earn a bachelors degree in Archeology from Baylor University, during which time she was fortunate enough to explore and excavate prehistoric archaeological sites in remote areas of Central Texas. She continued her education at Northern Arizona University and obtained a masters in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology. Working as an Archaeologist for the Coconino National Forest in Flagstaff, AZ allowed her to experience the beautiful environment of the American Southwest. Dagmar is currently living in Las Vegas, NV and is working with the Bureau of Land Management. As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader, Dagmar will engage with Latinx communities and share her passion for teaching the rich cultural history and archaeology that the Southwest and its environment has to offer. 

Outings Leader

Cynthia J. Román Cabrera (she/ella)

Cynthia (she/ella) was born and raised in New York City to Dominican parents. Her love of the outdoors came later in her life as her passion for traveling grew. She enjoys hiking, cycling along cityscapes, gardening, getting closer to food and herbs for health and wellness, and is curious about camping! She is currently based in Philadelphia, PA as an Evaluation Consultant at Equal Measure. Cynthia has a Masters in Public Health with a specific focus on health and racial equity along with belonging strategy development, facilitation, theories of change, logic modeling, community-based participatory research, and advocacy for racialized and targeted individuals.

As an Outings Leader for Philadelphia, Cynthia plans to create curiosity and excitement towards nature. She envisions creating opportunities for the Latine community to learn and step outside their comfort zone with other likeminded comrades.

Program Coordinator

Cristi Graciano (she/they)

Cristi (she/they) was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. Growing up in a large metropolitan area lead her to study urban planning while the close proximity to the Angeles National Forest ignited a passion for nature and further studies in regenerative and environmental fields. Currently, Cristi lives in San Diego and works for the State of California as an environmental planner.

As the Latino Outdoors prgoram coordinator for San Diego, Cristi will guide the community to explore the outdoors while reconnecting and fostering a passion for nature and a sense of belonging.

Outings Leader

Colleen Pineda (she/her(s))

Colleen’s (she/her/hers) love for the outdoors ignited when she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2017. Her hometown of Columbus, Ohio offers surrounding national and state parks; however, being in the presence of the majestic mountains of Yosemite, the coastal views of Big Sur, and the towering redwood trees of Muir Woods provided a considerable drug-free high not felt in the Ohio. Furthermore, she reconnected with her biking hobby (she used to bike regularly on empty tennis courts with her older brother as a kid) given the abundant biking infrastructure that the Bay Area offered. She continues biking in her new city, Sacramento, where she has lived for the past several years. Feeling fortunate to find an inclusive and welcoming biking community in Saramento, she hopes to enrich the biking community further by encouraging more members of the Latinx community to join group rides and events around the city.

By joining LO as a volunteer, she hopes to lead varying types of group rides (long rides, short rides, bikepaking, themed rides, y mas!) and utilize the platform to inform the local LO community of other biking events in Sacramento.

Program Coordinator

Christy Herrera (she/her(s))

Christy (she/her/hers) was born and raised in Kern County. Her dad taught her to love and appreciate the outdoors. Fond memories of her childhood include having an Easter egg hunt at Sequoia National Park, flying kites on the Santa Lucia Range and camping at Lake Success. Those experiences ignited a love for the outdoors. She enjoys exploring new places and is a foodie at heart. She loves working with kids and is pursuing a teaching career. Christy hopes to motivate others to explore and love the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Christine Riesgo (she/her)

Christine was born and raised in Miami, FL and it wasn’t until her move to Missoula, MT that she discovered her deep connection to the outdoors. While hiking in Montana, she heard a sound she had never quite heard before in her hometown: silence. This silence has helped her connect to herself in unimaginable and special ways. In between the moments of silence on her hikes, she loves the sound of her feet rustling leaves, creek water rushing, and woodpeckers knocking on trees. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Missoula, Christine will support community members that are feeling intimidated by the outdoors with empathy and encouragement.

Outings Leader

Christina Aguirre

Christina Aguirre, originally from San Antonio now resides in Austin with her husband and three children. Christina, formerly a school nurse, is currently a stay at home momma. She enjoys making and selling jewelry out of polymer clay in her free time, listening to a good podcast, and trying new coffee spots on the weekends.

From an early age Christina recalls enjoying the outdoors with annual camping trips with her family to Uvalde along the Nueces River and always found a way to be outside, whether it was horseback riding, swimming, or running a raspa stand in her front yard for the summer. When Christina’s son was in boy scouts she grew an even deeper admiration and a new understanding of outdoors and conservation.

As a Latino Outdoors ambassador for Austin, Texas, Christina will help LO by engaging and fostering a friendly and welcoming community for all. She will help create a fun platform capturing and sharing content, bringing to life all that LO represents. She is excited to connect with our community and meet like-minded people to help create new and fun experiences.

Volunteer

Christian Camarillo Mendez (he/him/his)

Christian was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco and grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah after immigrating at a young age. He was late to loving the outdoors, but did eventually find the light after having more time post-graduation.

Christian graduated from the University of Utah with a Masters in Accounting and is a practicing CPA working for Utah’s very own outdoor retail company, Backcountry.com. Christian loves bouldering during the winter, training on his road bike during the summer, and hiking any point during or in-between.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Salt Lake City, Christian will work to bring the outdoors to the Latino community and strive to increase the degree of Latino representation in Utah’s outdoor through connecting beginners with resources and planning events.

Outings Leader

Chris Vélez (he/him)

Chris Velez was born in New Brunswick, NJ, and raised as a city-dweller in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since the age of six. In his college years, Chris discovered a love for outdoor recreation and the beauty of the Pennsylvania wilderness — all thanks to the kindness and effort of friends and strangers who also loved the great outdoors. Today, he believes anyone from any background, at any age, can enjoy the physiological and mental benefits of being in nature. Chris seeks to facilitate outings and events for participants of all experience levels so they may benefit from the empowering, challenging, and fun activities that our Earth has to offer. Additionally, he wishes to lead efforts in exposing more of the Latinx community to the world of indoor and outdoor rock-climbing activities. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for Pennsylvania, Chris strives to apply a philosophy of life-long learning so he may better serve, support, and assist the Latinx community in exploring la Madre Naturaleza.

Outings Leader

Charlyn Rodríguez (she/her)

Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Charlyn spent most of her childhood visiting her Abuelita and was sheltered from the outdoors. She wasn’t allowed to venture further than her porch or backyard but in those limited spaces her creativity for adventure came alive. She would watch the squirrels devour the sunflower seeds, watch bees harvest pollen and learn how to plant seeds with Abuela and would watch them grow into tomatoes.

Later in life, during her adventures studying architecture at Thomas Jefferson University she met many new people and had some of her outdoors firsts; hiking and skiing. With the Wissahickon Valley Park nearby campus, she could hike very close to her college. This access to natural resources was never available to her before in her North Philadelphian neighborhood, where the only outdoor experience might be an abandoned park or public library.

Now as an Architecture Designer, Charlyn has a passion to reconnect with her roots and learn more about Latinx culture and the outdoors. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the Philadelphia region, Charlyn hopes to encourage others to explore with her and her friends and create a passion for nature and adventure.

Volunteer

César Piñón

Cesar O. Piñon was born and raised in Houston, TX playing sports and spending time in Houston’s Memorial and Bayland parks.

Between 2017 and 2022 he resided in Colorado enjoying all of the outdoor activities that the state has to offer; camping, hiking, paddleboarding, climbing, & more. In his spare time, you can find him spending time with family, cooking, climbing, and planning the next outdoor adventure.

As a member of the LO HTX team, he hopes to inspire more people to explore the outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Celeste Royer (she/her/ella)

Celeste grew up in a small agricultural community in the San Joaquin Valley. She remembers her abuela brewing yerba buena for tummy aches and tending her flowers. Spending time in abuela’s garden led to Celeste’s love of the outdoors. This early childhood introduction into nature, post-college global travel experiences, and several professional opportunities contributed to Celeste having a 35-year career in outdoor and environmental education. At the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, she directed Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School’s residential, field, and classroom programs. As director of the California Regional Environmental Education Community Network, she built regional and statewide partnerships to support environmental education initiatives. She provided 30 years of leadership to the California Outdoor School Association. As Director of Equity & Inclusion at Ten Strands, she focuses on centering equity in the work to advance environmental literacy. Celeste serves on several boards that promote equity, justice, environmental literacy, and conservation including Justice Outside, Lawrence Hall of Science BEETLES Project, and the Land Conservancy of SLO County. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, Celeste will promote increased access to outdoor spaces for the Latinos in her community. Celeste holds degrees from UCLA, SFSU, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Outings Leader

Carolina Ruiz (she/her/ella)

Carolina’s roots lie in Bakersfield, CA, where she was born and raised amidst the diverse environments of the central valley. Throughout her upbringing, she developed a profound appreciation for the natural world, constantly questioning the intricacies of life around her and eagerly delving into knowledge about the local wildlife. While pursuing her degrees in Biology and Anthropology at CSU-Bakersfield, she found solace in the soothing background noise of the National Geographic channel during her study sessions.

With her entire young and adult life dedicated to the field of education, Carolina witnessed a stark contrast between traditional and modern teaching approaches, particularly in outdoor education. Driven by her passion, she aspires to introduce a fresh and interpretive style of teaching, one that instills joy and curiosity in the hearts of everyone exploring the great outdoors.

Carolina’s identity as a Latino Outdoors Leader for the Bakersfield Region positions her as a vital bridge between the Latino communities and the vast expanse of nature. Her mission is to foster inclusivity and diversity in outdoor spaces, inspiring others to forge a profound connection with nature while nurturing their own sense of curiosity. Through her efforts, she aims to encourage people from all walks of life to cherish and explore the natural world, fostering a lasting bond with the wonders that surround them.

Outings Leader

Carol Flores

Carol was born and raised in Boston, MA and is the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Medellin, Colombia. Carol has always loved outdoor adventures, but it was during the COVID pandemic she truly had the opportunity to discover her passion for hiking. It was through hiking communities such as Summits in Solidarity that she learned about Latino Outdoors. Carol currently works as an administrative director for a criminal defense clinic representing indigent clients in Massachusetts District Courts and is a proud mother of Andrew and Elizabeth. Other hobbies include travel, cooking, and tackling New Hampshire 48 4K footers.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer for the Boston chapter, Carol seeks to aid the Latino Outdoors mission to build community and share/inspire her passion for the outdoors with other community members.

Outings Leader

Carlos Villagrana (he)

Carlos Villagrana was born in El Paso, TX, and raised in Cd. Juarez and Duncan, OK. Darting back and forth from these distinct places encouraged him to find beauty and solace in the outdoors. Whether exploring the arroyos of the colonias or swimming in one of the town lakes, the outdoors made him feel free. His family encouraged and modeled this exploration by going on summer camping trips. It was common for family vacations to include stops and detours to visit natural wonders. One of the more memorable family cross-country road trips to the Oregon coast included stops along the pacific coast highway to enjoy the wildlife that lived in the tidal pools. Experiencing the Redwood National Forest with his parents reminded him that sharing nature with others is a great way to strengthen relationships. The outdoors have always provided a respite from the fast pace of life and space to explore his interest and identity.

For the last 24 years, Carlos has called Houston, TX, home. He and his wife have raised three wonderful humans, the Texaricans. He has enjoyed a long career as an educator. He has had the opportunity to serve in several roles, including bilingual teacher, principal, teacher training specialist, and executive director of a teacher certification program. Recently he transitioned to a program officer role with a local philanthropic foundation. When he is not working to improve educational outcomes for students in Houston, he can be found visiting local parks, riding his bike, or taking in the surf breeze in Galveston.

Outings Leader

Carlos Tafolla (he/him/él)

Carlos was born and raised in Kings County, California. The first time he had the opportunity to experience and connect with the outdoors was when he was in sixth grade. He and his entire class went on a class camping trip to Scicon. There he got to learn first hand about different plants, the wildlife living in the area, and experienced his very first hike. This is also the moment where he discovered an interest in entomology. Carlos’ goal is to travel the world and continue to explore and nurture his unique connection to the outdoors. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader, Carlos will work together with the Fresno team to promote and facilitate outdoor experiences that will foster a love for nature.

Outings Leader

Bryan Rodríguez (he/him)

Bryan was born and raised in Sunnyvale, CA, and currently lives in San Jose. Born to Mexican immigrant parents, his childhood was full of danceable music, delicious food, but unfortunately not exploring nature. Bryan’s first experience with the outdoors was at 9 years old through his 4th grade science camp. It wouldn’t be until nearly 10 years later that he would experience the outdoors consistently, and fall in love with it! Bryan studied Engineering and Music at Cal Poly SLO. Because of his technical background and love of nature and music, in his free time he analyzes the convergence between technology, the outdoors, and music. As someone who grew up in the Bay Area, he loves exploring all of the county/state parks that he didn’t explore as a kid, and observing the natural world through child-like wonder. He believes that curiosity and exposure to nature can open people’s eyes and hearts, and generate more compassion.

As a Latino Outdoors leader for the SF Bay Area, Bryan hopes to teach the Latinx community about the benefits of nature and mindfulness, as well as provide the necessary tools so that those who haven’t explored the outdoors yet, can with confidence.

Volunteer

Brittany Vance (she/her)

Brittany was born in southern California, where she grew up attending marine biology summer camps on the beach and often spent her weekends traveling to nearby national parks with her family. When she was 11, she and her family moved to Las Vegas, NV. The visits to national parks did not end there as she explored Zion NP, Bryce NP, Grand Canyon NP, Valley of Fire, and her home, Red Rock National Conservation Area.

As she grew older she visited these locations more frequently, often with friends who shared the same passion for the exploration and preservation of land. Her favorite outdoor activities are backpacking, rock climbing, and exchanging stories over s’mores. She believes the outdoors should be a safe and inclusive space for all, where experiences can be shared and learned from.

Brittany currently works as a critical care nurse with the ambition to be a women’s health nurse, as she is passionate about serving and advocating for women in her health community. She is excited to combine her love of the outdoors with her desire to serve and learn from each individual’s story in her new role as Ambassador for the Latino Outdoors Las Vegas Chapter.

Outings Leader

Brenda Ramírez (she)

Brenda grew up in sunny Norwalk, California. Her family didn’t go to wild spaces very often, so she found connection with nature in the little things, such as her mother’s house plants. When taking walks near a channelized riverbed she wondered how things might be different if the river was healthy and free. With this interest in environmentalism, Brenda pursued a degree at University of California Santa Barbara in Environmental Studies and Feminism. While she still takes joy in all the little things, such as birds and flowers, her main interest is in how nature connects us all. She did not always see someone who shared her identities represented as the “outdoorsy” type, so she is driven to create spaces where folks from underrepresented communities can share stories and be in community with each other and nature. From the skills she has learned as an environmental educator, she has been able to share her love for the outdoors with her family by going on hikes and even leading their first canoe adventure!  As a Latino Outdoors Outing Leader, Brenda hopes to help break down barriers to outdoor spaces and help Latinx Youth and families feel confident and welcome outdoors.

Program Coordinator

Bianca Velásquez-Pérez (she/her(s))

Bianca Velásquez-Pérez has a passion for exploring the outdoors. She was born and raised in Eagle Pass, Texas, a small border town with Pierdas Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and moved to San Antonio, Texas to complete her Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Science at The University of The Incarnate Word.

On her free time, Bianca is out volunteering with multiple non-profit organizations around the San Antonio area or serving as a Texas State Parks Ambassador for Guadalupe River State Park, where she actively serves through hands on service projects, community outreach and social media. Bianca is passionate about photography and capturing the beauty of nature with the goal that her photos will remind people that we live in a beautiful world that is worth exploring.

As a Latino Outdoors volunteer, Bianca will create awareness for the opportunities that the nature can provide in the Southwest region and plans to continue creating diversity within the outdoors.

Outings Leader

Bianca Madrid Guevara (she/her/hers)

Bianca was born and raised in San Antonio and has traveled to many countries exploring the history and culture of nations while learning from the people in each place. She most recently lived in Spain and uncovered many similarities between Latinx cultures. Through her experiences, she was led down the path of providing positive change by connecting the people and organizations in her community and beyond.

Bianca enjoys guiding, educating, and learning from the community through online and in-person events. During her free time, Bianca enjoys yoga, reading, and steaming hot coffee. She can almost always be found hiking nearby trails or discovering small towns in TX with her Fiancé, Zack, and labrador retriever, Emerson.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for San Antonio, Texas, Bianca will continue to advocate for our parks, collaborate with organizations, and inform the community about ways to enjoy the outdoors and get involved!

Volunteer

Bianca García (she/her/hers)

Bianca was born in Mexico City, where her love of the outdoors and environment was also born amidst poor air quality when she learned that trees purify the air we breathe. Her family moved to Denver when she was seven and she has lived there since. Her love of exploring the outdoors grew with the opportunities she had in undergrad at the University of Denver, where she double-majored in Environmental Science and International Studies, with a Sustainability minor. During study abroad, she was introduced to her first outdoor community with University of Tasmania’s Bushwalking (hiking) Club. After graduation, Bianca was employed by the City and County of Denver where she still works as an Energy Management Analyst, overseeing energy efficiency projects and renewable energy adoption for Denver’s municipal buildings. Bianca enjoys making the time to travel near and far, finding herself in different countries and cultures, and experiencing these through the outdoors by hiking and camping whenever possible. As a Latino Outdoors Co-Program Coordinator for Colorado, Bianca will work to foster partnerships with surrounding organizations that align with the mission of Latino Outdoors and hopes to diversify Colorado’s programming to better serve the Latinx community with new and exciting opportunities.

Program Coordinator

Bianca “Mo” McGrath-Martínez (she/her)

Bianca – she/her/ella – (aka Mo) was born and raised in Southern Maryland. Her passion for nature first developed during her year abroad in Iceland, where she was immersed in a very unique and remarkable environment. Her experiences in Iceland sparked a lasting curiosity about the natural systems in her own country that followed her to Los Angeles, California, and now Colorado. Bianca graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a degree in Global Studies, with a focus on Environment, Health, and Development and a minor in Geography. She currently works as the Program Manager of HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors), which is a program of the National Wildlife Federation. HECHO works to elevate the voices and work of Hispanic/Latinx peoples in regard to public lands advocacy. Bianca also serves as a Board Member for Women’s Wilderness, a non-profit based in Boulder, Colorado that supports girls, women and LGBTQ+ people in accessing their power and improving their health through connections to the outdoors and community.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader in Colorado, Bianca will work with fellow LO leaders to provide opportunities to Colorado’s Latinx/Hispanic communities to be able to connect with each other and their land. Bianca is eager to enhance the experiences and passions of the community through a supportive learning environment.

Program Coordinator

Azalia Rodríguez (she/her/ella)

Azalia was born and raised in Dallas where she was exposed to the outdoors through sports: running and soccer. She always loved the outdoors and had a passion for animals. Her passions intersected and allowed her to continue running cross-country in college. She earned her associate degree in Biology from Western Texas College and later earned a running scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University where she gained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Production Management. When she was fresh out of college she moved to Boulder, Colorado where her passion for wilderness was ignited by wildlife, hiking, and camping at State and National parks with her husband. Her passion for wildlife and wilderness took her all around the world to Australia where she gained her master’s degree in wildlife biology and conservation from The University of Queensland Australia. She now resides in Austin, Texas as The Texas Representative for Defenders of Wildlife where she advocates for imperiled species found in the Hill Country and the importance of representation in wildlife conservation.

As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Austin, Azalia fosters a curiosity about wildlife and the coexistence between humans and wildlife. She assists in bringing the Latino community together to explore lands, promote conservation practices, and educate the importance of acknowledging your own story by sharing what it means to be proud of your culture.

Outings Leader

Ariel Barrios Jr. (he/him/his)

Ariel (he/his/him) always had a connection with the outdoors. Although, being from the great City of Chicago, going out doors only meant sticking inside the urban city. It wasn’t until after his 20’s, when he had the opportunity to hike the Appalachian trail and go ice climbing North of Michigan, he realized what the outdoors truly meant. He now lives in Joliet, Illinois where he pursues his business degree. Given the opportunity to explore different parts of the world, Ariel has then developed a mission. To teach everyone the true definition of what it is to be outdoors.

As a Latino Outdoors leader for the Great Lakes chapter, Ariel will be the hand that reaches out to every member of the Latino community. Ensuring that a safe space is provided to help the community foster a relationship between the environment and themselves.

Program Coordinator

Araceli Hernández (she/they)

Aracelis’ father is from Zacatecas, Mexico and her mother is from Sylmar, CA. Araceli was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She lived here for at least 22 years before venturing out to her local national forest, the Angeles National Forest, a 30-45 minute drive from her house. Araceli had a passion for community organizing and social justice and was quickly introduced to the many issues within the environmental justice field and how that related to her own experiences. Since then, Araceli founded 818hikes, which is an education, advocacy and hiking based community in the San Fernando Valley. She leads a variety of hikes, targeted towards beginners, to connect more Angelenos to the Angeles National Forest, which is in their backyard. In addition, she works as a program organizer for LA Nature for All. Araceli obtained her Bachelor’s in Social Work from California State University, Los Angeles, as well as her California Naturalist Certification.

As a Latino Outdoors Program Coordinator for Los Angeles, Araceli will be supporting hikes, as well as the LA|Latino Outdoors social media. Araceli is also excited to re-connect Angelenos with the outdoors!

Outings Leader

Antonella De La Tore Marcenaro (she/her(s)/ella)

Antonella (she/her/hers/ella) is a nature-lover with a passion for intergenerational experiential education and mentorship. She was born in Lima, Peru, and has found her current home right outside of Watsonville, CA, on land stolen from the Amah Mutsun and Awaswas people. While studying UC Santa Cruz, Antonella developed a deep love, appreciation, and respect for surrounding ecoregions. Though she pursued social sciences, she continued to deepen her relationship with the land, learning natural history and beginning her journey as an outdoor educator. She began working with youth teaching farm and garden education in 2012. Now she works as a teacher and facilitator of natural history, experiential science, sensory awareness, and relationship building with the living earth to folx of all ages. Her passion project, PUENTES, a Spanish-English nature connection program for young adults ages 18-25 that identify as BIPOC and/or LatinX, will pilot in the Spring of 2023 and she is excited to offer this program to her community. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for the Central Coast, Antonella will combine her passion for learning from the outdoors and her strong facilitation skills to co-create memorable outdoor experiences with the Latino Outdoors Community.

Outings Leader

Andrea Kurth (she/her/ella)

Andrea is a bicultural community advocate who has worked to increase justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in conservation and on public lands for nearly five years. She was born in Colombia, raised in San Antonio, Texas, has lived on four continents, and has called Colorado home since 2018. Andrea is an active member of the Next 100 Colorado, a coalition of organizations and individuals working to ensure that Colorado’s public lands and waters reflect the face of the state. Professionally, Andrea leverages her bicultural roots and Spanish language skills to increase equitable access to the outdoors as the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program Manager. In her free time, Andrea hikes, rafts, skis, and lays in her hamaca around her home in Frisco. She’s excited to join Latino Outdoors to increase LO offerings in the Central Mountains region of Colorado.

Volunteer & Advisory Board Member

André Sanchez (he/him/él)

André volunteers with Latino Outdoors as both a Program Coordinator and Advisory Board member.

Growing up in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, André was raised in the agriculturally-fueled and Latine-dominated community of Madera, CA. A community where working the land was the norm and recreating in nature seemed foreign to most members. Fortunately, one of André’s immigrant uncles discovered the joys of getting outdoors and shared the discovery with the family. Through several impactful family trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains and iconic Yosemite National Park, André ultimately developed a passion for conservation and restoration work.

This passion led him to earn his B.S. in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology from UC Davis. Thereafter, André went on to work for several state and federal agencies, where he worked on habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring projects, including conducting amphibian surveys for Yosemite National Park and monitoring trout populations in southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains. After gaining perspective from his work experiences, André returned to school to pursue an M.S. in Natural Resources with a Watershed Management emphasis at Humboldt State University.

Now residing again in the Madera/Fresno area, André serves as the San Joaquin Valley Organizer for CalWild, where he engages, informs and organizes the area’s communities to advocate for and protect public lands, including some of the outdoor places and ecosystems that inspired him. Outside of this, André coaches youth wrestling and loves to backpack, hike, rock climb, and simply observe nature’s raw beauty.

As the Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Fresno, André works towards inspiring others about the importance of protecting natural resources by sharing his knowledge of rivers, wildlife, and the different environmental services they provide for people, including clean water, clean air, and respite from everyday life. As a member of the Board, he hopes to further this effort and expand his support of LO’s mission.

Program Coordinator

Anahí Naranjo (she/her/hers)

Anahí is an environmental justice advocate and oral historian born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. She immigrated to New York City in 2002. In those years, she was exposed to stark environmental injustices from living close to a toxic Superfund site and not having access to green spaces to seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand on her agrarian community in Ecuador. This drove her to pursue a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Middlebury College followed by an M.A. in Oral History from Columbia University. She has conducted various oral history projects and drives her non-profit communications work with a mission to elevate stories of BIPOC communities on the frontlines of pollution and the climate crisis. Her current oral history project, the Pachamama Oral History Project, aims to document the impacts of climate change on the physical and cultural landscapes of agrarian communities in Ecuador and beyond. She has been a volunteer with Latino Outdoors since 2017.

Outings Leader

Ana Rojas (she/her(s)/ella)

Ana Rojas (she/her(s)/ella) was born and raised in San Antonio Texas as first generation Mexican American. Her love for the outdoors started when she was a child, her parents always worked hard for the “American Dream” but always made time for family adventures. Scenic drives through the beautiful hill country, swimming in the natural spring waters, and camping on the sea shores of the gulf, core memories that would shape her into the outdoor enthusiasts she is now. Outside of her day to day life, she enjoys outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, camping and is always open to trying something new. Through visiting the local Texas State Parks she grew a deeper appreciation for the outdoors and quickly grew into a passionate advocate paving her way to giving back to the parks through volunteering opportunities. In 2019 she started volunteering with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Ambassador Program and has been involved ever since. Her involvement with community outreach sparked her interest in providing others with the knowledge and resources needed to enjoy the outdoors, These opportunities opened different avenues to volunteer with other local organizations, one of those being Latino Outdoors.

As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for San Antonio, Ana will be a guide to her community, facilitating and coordinating events along side other members to ensure equity in the outdoors for the Latinx community, provide access to connect and enjoy the beautiful outdoors while preserving Texas natural resources.

Outings Leader

Amy Hernández (she/ella)

Amy was born in New London, Connecticut and spent her childhood moving between Connecticut and Hawai’i. Amy’s love for the outdoors was passed down from her parents who took her camping, waterfall chasing, and generally encouraged time outside. Although her family had little awareness of the mainstream outdoors community, their deep cultural relationship with the outdoors transferred into Amy’s ongoing aventuras and passion to explore. Amy went on to study and earn a Bachelors of Science in Materials Engineering at the University of Connecticut, where her love for the outdoors was amplified through participation in outdoors activities and clubs. Now Amy is working as an engineer for an aerospace company and also pursuing a Masters of Engineering. She uses her position to encourage confidence in Latinx youth to pursue their dreams, whether it be within STEM fields, the arts, or in their personal lives. Amy identifies her time in the outdoors as a key source of confidence and drive to move forward through obstacles, as a Latino Outdoors outings leader for Connecticut, Amy will provide opportunities for the Latinx community to move into less familiar spaces and allow themselves to grow.

Outings Leader

Amalia Vasquez-Beld

Amalia was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Avon, Colorado. Her family spent much time in nature when she was little, but she lost her connection to the outdoors as time passed. It wasn’t till the birth of her twins that she made it a priority to start getting outside again. Amalia works for a nonprofit that helps single parents on the path to achieving self-sufficiency. The nonprofit she works for has partnered with the Food Bank, and Amalia has made it her mission to ensure the nonprofit is food-inclusive while helping those facing food insecurity. She has recently obtained her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. She is the first in her family to get a bachelor’s degree. Breaking that generational barrier all while raising her five children.

Amalia enjoys reading a variety of genres, cooking, kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, and soaking up as much sunshine as possible.

As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Wyoming, Amalia will connect with her community to share all that Wyoming has to offer throughout the seasons.

Volunteer

Alyssa Saldarriaga

Alyssa Saldarriaga is a South Florida native who is passionate about protecting the diverse ecosystems that exist here and empowering others to do so. Over the last four years in her role as a Science Educator at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, she was responsible for developing Gumbo Limbo’s first celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and overseeing their seasonal events and public and school programs.

In her current role with The Everglades Foundation, Alyssa works to train teachers on how to implement Everglades Literacy in their classrooms to educate and inspire our next generation of leaders.
Overall, Alyssa aspires to always inspire environmental curiosity, critical thinking, and enthusiasm.

As a Latino Outdoors Ambassador for Miami, Alyssa will act as a bridge between the important, diverse ecosystems of South Florida, and the Latinx communities, to ultimately help create a deeper understanding of our environment, so our communities can make informed decisions with representation while fostering healthy relationships with the world around.

Outings Leader

Alma Padilla (she/her/ella)

Alma hails from the west Texas town of El Paso. She and her family recently threw down roots along the banks of the Hudson River in Ossining, NY, a la vuelta de la esquinita from their old stomping grounds in The Bronx. She earned her degree in biology from Cornell University, where she first experienced hiking and camping. After graduating, she worked in conservation field work throughout the western U.S. Alma later returned home to become a public high school science teacher.

Up until recently, she taught middle school science at an all-girls private school in New York City, where she founded the school’s first sustainability team. Always looking to stay a bit feral even in the big city, Alma regularly pursued field work during summer breaks. She twice served as a mentor in The Nature Conservancy’s Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future (LEAF) Program. Most recently, she contributed to projects in México and in NYC in herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles. Alma now works as the Community Outreach Coordinator at Teatown Reservation in Ossining, where her efforts focus on connecting with and leveraging local resources to create equitable access to all the nature that Teatown has to offer. Alma also recently earned her New York State Master Naturalist certification, so feel free to quiz her on flora, fauna, and general natural history during hikes to keep her sharp!

Alma just welcomed a new baby, and in addition to her preschooler, looks forward to being a “stay-outside-mom” with them, to quote Shanti Hodges, thus ensuring that communing with nature is second nature to both of her daughters, right from the start.

As an Outings Leader of the NYC team, Alma seeks to use her experiences to help demystify the outdoors to newcomers, and to plant the seed of stewardship in all participants. Above all, she will strive to use her culture and language to demonstrate that we all belong in nature, to nature, and thus share responsibility for it.

Program Coordinator

Alma “Rosie” Sanchez (she/her/ella)

Alma “”Rosie”” Sanchez is a wildlife conservation biologist with roots in Michoacán, Mexico, and Guatemala (Mam Maya). A dedicated advocate for equity and inclusion in wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation, Rosie’s individual’s work is grounded in empowering communities through representation. A graduate of Oregon State University with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science, her experience spans outreach, education, and campaign work on the historic reintroduction of wolves in Colorado (Proposition 114). Actively engaged as a member of the Next 100 Colorado, a volunteer leader with Latino Outdoors (Colorado), and the Operations Manager for All In Ice Fest, Rosie is currently also pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Indigenous ethnographic carnivore ecology. Her research explores the impact of cultural and social science on carnivore reintroduction efforts on the landscape.

Rosie brings her wealth of knowledge and love for the outdoors to the Latino Outdoors community. As a volunteer, she utilizes her expertise in wildlife science and bird watching to foster diversity in outdoor spaces and infuse joy into our shared explorations.

Outings Leader

Allen Cárdenas (he/him)

Allen is from Modesto, California. After growing up in the Central Valley, he moved to Washington, D.C. to study at American University where he majored in International Studies and Spanish. It was during this time when he developed his passion for the outdoors. Influential professors, firsthand accounts of environmental injustice, and the love of simply being outside allowed him to see the intersectionality between the outdoors and justice. After traveling and seeing diverse landscapes, Allen was comforted to see how easy it was to connect with so many different people over nature, a fire, or a drink of water on trail.

Allen serves as a Washington Outings Leader and lives in Seattle. He hopes to create and facilitate programming that is inclusive of varying abilities and skill levels. His favorite part about volunteering is taking someone on their very first hike. However, he also hopes to show that nature does not have to be a far-away, romanticized concept, but it can also be as accessible as exploring our own neighborhood.

Allen works for the National Park Service as an Outdoor Recreation Planner – Visitor Use Management Specialist in the Park Planning division. There he helps parks address issues related to capacity and conditions while trying to incorporate mindful and sustainable principles of access and equity into his work In his free time, he enjoys running in his neighborhood, biking to his favorite doughnut or coffeeshop, hiking peaks in the Cascades, and (attempting) rock climbing.

Outings Leader

Alexandra Ralph (she/ella)

Alexandra Ralph (she/ella) is a 2nd generation American and granddaughter of Paraguayan and Polish immigrants. This means that childhood was a delightful mix of asado, sopa paraguaya, latkes and matzoh ball soup. Alex’s first forays into nature started young, hiking with her cousins and sister, tía and mom in Montgomery and Howard counties, looking for beaver-chewed trees and geeking out about caterpillars. Fast forward a few years and she is a certified Maryland Master Naturalist pursuing a career in nature education. She is passionate about accessibility in the outdoors. Her own health challenges as well as those friends and family have emphasized the importance of finding ways to enjoy nature when working with different types of mobility and ability. As an LO volunteer for the DMV area, Alex will work to create experiences where the Latiné community can express our whole selves, since being among her people is one of the most powerful feelings in the world, and to do so in nature – chef’s kiss! For her, this also means sharing her passion for environmental stewardship, sustainability, and love of (or at least respect for) all wildlife, including bugs! Alex lives in Wheaton with her husband and dog, and identifies as queer.

Program Coordinator

Albert Arévalo (he/him)

A native Texan and lover of BBQ, Albert is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos—Eat ‘Em Up, Cats! Albert is passionate about making services accessible to everyone, particular minorities and low income communities. He been fortunate to work alongside colleagues and organizations that align with his moral compass. From connecting youth to their local parks to leading a Regional Litter Campaign in DC Albert is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the individuals he works with. In his free time, Albert loves to play tennis, hike, tweet on behalf of @PetTurtleOliver, and play kickball.

Outings Leader

Aimara Rodriguez (she/her(s))

Aimara Rodriguez (she/her/hers) is a first-generation Honduran American currently based in Denver, CO. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Aimara has always had a love and appreciation for the outdoors, fitness, and wellness. She is the co-founder of Function f(x) Wellness, a wellness brand that was started by Aimara alongside her brother Carlos, a fitness advocate and personal trainer with over a decade of experience. As brown people who enjoy climbing mountains and training for functionality, they were motivated by a shared mission of creating more access to the outdoors for communities of color and decreasing the knowledge gap about health and wellness in these communities. Aimara and her brother are currently on a quest to complete all of the Colorado 14ers and as of June 2023, have completed 18 of the 58. Through her work, she aims to cultivate opportunities and create spaces for other professionals and athletes of color to lead, thrive, and be heard. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Colorado, Aimara will support anyone in our Latinx community who is interested in beginner 14er ascents, designing a fitness routine that works for their lifestyle, and becoming a more experienced hiker.

Outings Leader

Aileen Palma (she/her)

Aileen was born and raised in Colorado. She always had an interest in science and the outdoors, but never pursued that interest until college. After completing a couple of classes in Outdoor Leadership/Instruction along with an internship in Grand Canyon, her passion for engaging the public in nature grew. Whether she is working as an educator or an instructor, she is always learning how to best connect her groups to the outdoors. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader for Las Vegas, Aileen will be providing a safe space for Latinx communities and supporting her team so that they may facilitate the best experience for each unique group that we work with.

Program Coordinator

Adriana Becerra (she/her/ella)

Adriana is a proud resident of Visalia on Yokuts ancestral land in California’s Central Valley, and is an advocate for youth, community and the environment. Adriana graduated from Fresno State with a B.A. in Liberal Studies in hopes to impact young lives in her community. Through her internships, she was able to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of students. As an outdoor educator with Tulare Counties’ School of Science and Conservation (SCICON) and as an Education Technician with Sequoia Riverlands Trust and Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership, Adriana’s dedication to teaching and the outdoors blossomed.

Adriana was a participant of Justice Outsides’ Outdoor Educators Institute, which gave her the confidence and experience to lead outdoor activities as an Outings Leader with the Fresno chapter. Justice Outside taught her the importance of leadership, community building and how representation matters, especially in outdoor spaces. Today, she proudly serves as a Co-Regional Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors Fresno, working to expand opportunities for the Central Valley community to connect with nature. Professionally, she’s a Community Development Specialist at Self Help Enterprises, empowering community leaders in water policy conversations. 

In her free time she enjoys exploring new places, trying new foods and creating art in different forms. Adriana hopes to continue sharing her love of nature, public lands and conservation with people all over the Central Valley. She aims to spread joy and share the beauty of the natural world to those seeking a sense of community and connection. 

Outings Leader

Abraham Moreno (he/him/his)

Abraham (He/Him/His) was born in Monterrey, Mexico where his interest for gardening started. His interested in gardening started due to his Abuelita, who had a big beautiful urban garden where Abraham enjoyed hanging out, playing, and planting. His mamá would further support his hobby by taking him to botanical gardens and aviaries which made him fall in love even more with nature. Even though many people seemed weirded out by a 5-year-old having an interested in gardening and nature, he did not care and kept pursuing what he loved. After Abraham moved to the U.S., he found many opportunities to keep pursuing his passion, such as working with his 5th grade science teacher to recycle trash and create a beautiful garden in his elementary school. In 10th grade Abraham met his science teacher Claire Collop, who was in charge of the school garden. Soon enough Abraham was helping his teacher along with his classmates to beautify the garden. As a Latino Outdoors Volunteer for Dallas, Texas, Abraham will bridge the equity gap in BIPOC neighborhoods by giving them access to green spaces where they can cultivate fresh food, play, and hangout just like Abraham did in his Abuelita’s garden.

Outings Leader

Abigail Ibarra (she/her/ella)

Abigail Ibarra (She/Her/Ella) was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Urban Ecology and International Studies, and is finishing up her Master’s degree in Metropolitan & Urban Planning. Her education has helped her pave her way into the legal field where she works alongside attorneys practicing environmental and water rights. Like many others, her love for nature began at a very young age where she would periodically wander outside peeking underneath rocks and climbing the trees around her neighborhood.

Abigail has worked with a variety of organizations on spreading awareness of sustainability and environmental action as well as served on numerous boards including the sustainability board at the University of Utah as the executive director. In her free time, Abigail enjoys morning runs with her german shepherd, boxing, hiking, and hand thrown pottery.