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Author: Ruby Rodríguez

How to be a Latino Outdoors Trailblazer and Make a Career

Authors: Maria F. “Masi” Mejia and Cynthia Espinosa Marrero

 As Latinos continue to grow demographically, we are reaching new heights not only outdoors but also indoors. In her Study, Taylor (2004), stated that “ethnic minorities are severely underrepresented in the environmental workforce” (p. 4).  This quote can serve as a statement that representation of minorities is needed in the environmental workforce. By acquiring an environmental-related degree, Latinos are becoming part of the environmental movement, workforce and applying their cultural knowledge which is crucial. We, at Latino Outdoors, have been able to turn our experiences in the outdoors into higher education and ultimately careers and so can you! 

Some of us connected to the land at an early age and some of us at a later age, by camping, hiking, hunting, gardening, amongst other recreational activities. These various experiences exposed us to education and career opportunities that are possible in the outdoors. The possibilities are endless! To become a successful outdoor professional from a park ranger to wildlife veterinarian, one must pursue education from a high school diploma to a Doctor in Philosophy. Education should never cease, as it is something that no one can ever take away from you.

Maria F. "Masi" Mejia, pursuing a Master of Science at Texas Tech University in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management.

Maria F. “Masi” Mejia, pursuing a Master of Science at Texas Tech
University in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management.

Cynthia Espinosa Marrero, pursuing a Masters of Science at Antioch University New England in Environmental Studies concentrating in Environmental Education.

Cynthia Espinosa Marrero, pursuing a Masters of Science at Antioch University New England in Environmental Studies concentrating in Environmental Education.

 There are lots of opportunities available to students who are interested in careers in the outdoors.  We have compiled a list to help make any individual interested in pursuing a career in the field of natural resource management and recreation successful:

High School

For individuals entering high school or in their teens, it is important to Get Outside! When you get outside you connect with other outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. During these outdoors experiences, it is at this moment that you should ask as many questions as you can. Asking professionals and outdoor enthusiasts how they got to where they are can show you just how diverse people are. The classes that you engage more in high school will add more knowledge and experience! Don’t forget to take your ACT or SAT during your junior or senior year of high school. These academic placements tests, along with other qualifications are needed to enter a higher education institution to pursue an undergraduate degree in something you love.

Undergraduate Degrees

Undergraduate degrees in this field include environmental education, conservation biology, wildlife management, outdoors recreation, natural resource management, advocacy and social justice, sustainable development…the possibilities are endless! Degrees in other fields can also be applied to this field such as accounting and marketing, as they are essential to environmental organizations and agencies. Generally speaking, there are two types of undergraduate degrees. A Bachelors of Arts is a degree that focuses more on liberal arts classes related to the career field. A Bachelors of Science is a degree that focuses more scientific classes related to the career field. Both types of degrees are extremely valuable to natural resource management and recreation. You might want to ask yourself what job you envision yourself doing. A bachelor of science might be more valuable if you want to become a wildlife biologist. A bachelor of arts might be more valuable if you want to become involved in advocacy and social justice.

Graduate Degrees

The thirst for knowledge should never end. As an individual you should always continue to learn whether it is informally or formally. Graduate degrees in this field include Masters of Arts, Masters of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. The differences in masters of arts and masters of science is similar to above. Typically a Master’s degree takes about 2-3 years to complete. An individual takes classes while working on research related to the field of natural resource management and recreation. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is next degree to pursue in higher education. A doctoral degree can take about 3-5 years to complete depending on the research.

A degree in higher education regardless of bachelors, masters, or doctor of philosophy means greater career opportunities in the environmental field!

As Latinos we should strive not only to pursue higher education, but to pursue higher education in career fields we love. For those of us who were able to connect the outdoors to a career we love, we are leaders of tomorrow.


Be sure to reach out to reach out to either of the authors listed above or your regional Latino Outdoors Ambassador to find out how your love of the outdoors can lead to a career!

 

References:

Taylor, D. (2004). Diversity and the Environment: Myth-Making and the Status of Minorities in the Field. Equity and the Environment. Research and Social Problems and Public Policy, Volume 15. pp. 89-147.

 

Guest Post: Reflections on a Rising Sun

Today I got up early to stand in a field and watch the sunrise. Barefoot, amongst the sparse grass and hard packed dirt, I watched the sky fade from deep blue to the soft pastels of a rising sun. Rose colored clouds drifted in and were gone before the first glints of gold peaked over the eastern ridge. The first rays of true light were filtering through the canyons long before the big ball of fire made its morning appearance.

Frank Thomas Cardenas Blog Pic Nica

The apprehension of a moment like this is indescribable. It’s a daily event I only rarely experience, especially in this manner, not in a car or from a building window, but a true to form, all in, experience. There was a line of trees I had no names for in front of me. Unfamiliar mountains built my anticipation with a fade in better than any movie. It was life.

I grew up in the city, in Los Angeles, where Hollenbeck Park was nature and the sun rose over the rich neighborhoods in the hills. It was a different experience. I was blessed in that my parents made it a priority to show us other places. They both grew up in the city too. They were conscious of knowing only concrete and glass. They wanted their kids to see beaches, deserts, and mountains. They were also lucky enough to have jobs that allowed them to afford the gas and the time off.

My first camping trips were up to Big Bear only a few hours from our house. We left before dawn and watched the sunrise through the car windows, that was a new marvel then. We missed traffic and arrived early enough for bacon and eggs over a campfire. The smell of burning wood accompanying the sizzle of bacon still brings me a sensation only described as a smile in my soul. It was family time. It was life.

Now that I am older I take trips on my own. I work to save money, go to national parks on the weekends, camp with friends, hike local trails in the evenings, whatever I can do to get beyond city limits on a budget. Most local parks are free and have marked hikes for short to medium lengths. I’d carpool with friends to split gas for farther destinations, take blankets instead of sleeping bags, bags of precooked spaghetti and leftover carne asada, fill old two-liter bottles with water and swipe one of the house flashlights for the weekend, whatever worked.

I had one tool, above all else, that enabled this though. It was a present my father gave me when I graduated high school, a recreation atlas. It was a $12 sale buy with the sticker still on it but it still serves me better than any GPS ever could.  It came complete with maps of my entire state with all the hiking trails, recreation areas, public beaches, camp grounds, rv parks, state parks, national parks, golf courses, back roads and vista points anyone could ever want. It’s battered and torn now, with my own print-outs and inclusions marked in ink, proof of its service and my thanks. The atlas has become a sort of outdoor bible, leading me to more sunrises and unexpected understandings than I ever could have imagined.

I didn’t have the rancho of my grandfathers youth. I never knew the fields he did, never worked with the animals, or had to wash in the river. I didn’t know what that was like. I grew up in the city seeing my father leave for work with sleep blurred vision and my mother dropping us off early to get to work on time. Their struggles were different.  Still, they were able to show me the value of being outside, the gift of nature.

My grandparents knew it inherently. That is how they survived. The land offered them everything they needed if they were will to work hard enough to obtain it. My parents knew its worth through years of absence, knowing not through what they had, but the experiences they lacked. My generation has come full circle. I have experienced nature through moments of beautiful clarity. Sunrises in unfamiliar territory. Shortcuts that turned out to be the scenic route. Forgotten tools that led to making due. Resilience and resourcefulness through self-study. These are values I hold in highest regard now.

The love of nature is in my blood. City life could not stamp it out. There is an anger and frustration I see in my fellows sometimes. It’s a animal inside with nowhere to run, no quiet place to retire to, no vast open space to let you know exactly how little you are. It may sound odd in those terms, but if nature did anything for me, it checked me. It let me know exactly how fragile life can be. The importance of food and water. The ability to improvise. The glory of a sunrise when you have no idea who you are.

Frank Thomas Cardenas is an LA based writer and media producer. His work examines the intersections of race, gender, class, and their relations to community, politics and the environment. You can see more of his work atchicanotraveler.wordpress.com or contact him at: FTCard7@gmail.com

Summer Youth Camp at Salt Point State Park

I have seen the immense value of taking a group of Jr. and High School students camping every year.  The students learn valuable skills, they also create wonderful memories and connections with the outdoors, friends, siblings and youth leaders.

Latino Outdoors Regional Coordinator Melissa Avery and Esperanza Viva Youth Leaders Jesse Avery and Nate Rische took five high school students camping on three day/two night camping trip at Woodside Campgrounds at Salt Point State Park (August 2014).  The students enjoyed learning outdoor skills, hiking, camping, playing soccer, cooking, and much more.  Salt Point State Park was a great location to camp near the beautiful Northern California Coast.

“I liked how we played soccer on the beach, but the ocean was very cold and I’m scared of sharks.”
Simon ~ 8th Grade (Stump Beach Cove)

At Camp…

Everyone is usually very excited to get to “camp,” most of our students have been camping before with their families but none of them had ever set up their “own camp.”  As good youth leaders, we gave the students a few moments to enjoy their natural surroundings before we started handing out responsibilities and tasks.

SaltPointCampTent1

Our students had never set up their own camps so to their shock, and even though we had told them many times before, many expected the “adults” to set up camp for them.  We love teaching responsibility to our students and having them set up their own camp is a great way to do it!  Since everything is a race with teenagers, the boys scurried off to their campsite to build their tents while the girls timidly started setting up their own tent.

SaltpointCamptent2

I was particularly proud of my girl students because not only did they “beat” the boys in setting up their tent but they also set up their tent  correctly on the first try!

“I liked how we learned to make fire and how we cooked all our food on the campfire.”
Simon ~ 8th grade

SaltPointFood

“I enjoyed teaching the students to chop firewood and different methods of how to start a campfire.”
Jesse ~ EV Youth Leader

SaltPointMakingFire

FIRE! One of the primal elements of life was one of the favorite teaching moments among the students and leaders during the camping trip.  Many times growing up in the urban environment children are taught fire is dangerous but never taught how to use it as a survival tool.  Jesse taught the students how to make kindling and properly start a fire with matches and magnesium fire kit.  The students were really enthralled with trying to start the campfire with magnesium!

In addition to making fire to keep us warm, all meals were cooked by fire and the students were responsible for preparing their own meals, something the kids had never experienced before.

The Beach and California Coastal Cliffs…

SaltPointBWOverlooking

“I liked hiking to the coastal cliffs because I’ve never done that before.”
Andrew ~ 9th grade

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Two of our four main “activities” included the beautiful Northern California Coast: hiking to Sentinel Rock Viewing Platform, and enjoying the beach at Stump Beach Cove.  Unfortunately, we never found the viewing platform because the students were so enthralled with the cliffs and tafoni formations in the sandstone along the way.

SPSTCoastline

At Stump Beach Cove (1st picture) the students played soccer and relaxed in the sun.  I had the opportunity to sit and stare at the ocean with Ashley, a high school senior.  We talked, looked at the marine debris washing up on the shore and to our surprise harbor seal popped up several times along the cove.  That was very memorable for the both of us because we could see it staring directly at us!

Hiking and Huckleberries…

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My favorite outdoor activity to do with students is hike, for many reasons!  Learning and teaching by “experiencing” in the outdoors is a great way to effectively teach what a classroom might take away.  Teenagers also have a lot of energy despite of their “sleepiness” and hiking drains their energy in a good way!

We had two main hiking locations at Salt Point State Park.  First we attempted to find the beautiful Rhododendron flowers at the Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve and second we hiked through the Pygmy Forest.

At the rhododendron reserve we were unfortunately a couple months too late to enjoy the flowers at the actual reserve but we later realized we had seen them all along drive up the coast.  We still had great time on our two mile hike.  We had lunch among the redwoods and even had some students and leaders drinking straight from the creeks which they found very amusing (with a water filter, Lifestraw).  New experiences for every one!

The Pygmy Forest was a favorite for many!  During this hike, we were able to find a multitude of huckleberries and a few blackberries which the students hesitantly tried.  Eventually, I had to tell my “pickiest eater” student to stop eating so many huckleberries because we actually had to finish hiking!!

We were hiking among giant trees all morning and once we reached the “top” of the hill we were in a completely different environment.  The students kept asking why the trees where tiny…eventually we found a kiosk and learned about the geology of the Pygmy Forest, while we ate leftover carne asada and snacks!  Personally, I loved walking through a forest with trees the same height as myself.

PygmyTrees

“My favorite part was hiking…it helped me take my mind off of things.”
Ashley ~ 12th Grade

SPSTHiking

“I liked when we hiked along the little trees (Pygmy Forest), I just liked hiking.”
Josue ~ 10th Grade

SPSTPygmy

“Berry picking!  Also, I loved how every tree had a “face” on in it!”
Elizabeth ~ 9th Grade

HuckleBerry1

“It was really exciting to see the teenagers, who barely have a chance to get out of their neighborhoods except to go get fast-food, be able to pick and eat wild berries right off the vine.”
Nate ~ EV Youth Leader

Huckelberry2

As a youth leader, I truly love watching my students just explore nature’s surroundings.  Just as I enjoy watching my own children explore the forests, beaches and mountains, I love hearing what my students think of the outdoors.

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From overcoming fears and complaints turning into requests, are some of the things I most look forward to when I take a group outdoors.  Hastily drinking from the camp water spigot to drinking from a creek, complaining about hiking then wishing we could have hiked more are some of the turnarounds I enjoyed on this trip.  More importantly, I enjoy how being outdoors fosters long lasting and meaningful relationships with my students so my fellow youth leaders and I can help them grow into contributing members to our community.

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Thank you to the Resources Legacy Fund and the Bay Area Wilderness Training for your support, gear and training to getting youth outdoors and the Latino community outdoors. Thank you to the parents who entrusted us with their children and to my fellow youth leaders Jesse Avery and Nate Rische.

LOProfileMelissa is a LO Regional Coordinator for the San Francisco Bay Area where she works to partner with organizations and facilitate outdoor activities with families and youth students.  She also is a youth leader at her local church and an outdoor family blogger at Chasqui Mom, where she writes about her personal outdoor family adventures.