My love for the outdoors is tied, inherently, to my childhood: growing up in the greater New York metropolitan area, I spent a lot of time playing sports outside with my friends, going for walks with my dog, and helping my mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother in the garden. I was very much into wildlife, and was always reading and watching shows about big cats, wolves, chimps, and so many other wild critters.
I looked up to people like Steve Irwin and Jane Goodall, who had helped foster not just curiosity for the wild world, but also love and compassion for its inhabitants. These conservationists taught many young minds, like my own at the time, that we should be doing our best to protect mother earth and all of the plants and animals that call this world home. They inspired me to want to work with animals, and so I made that my dream.
I’ve thankfully been able to make a career out of working in the environmental field, which is a blessing in and of itself. Throughout the various positions I’ve held and workplaces I’ve found myself in, I noticed a glaring lack of diversity in the environmental/outdoor/conservation world. As a mixed-race Latino of Puerto Rican descent, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how truly underrepresented our people are in the greater conversation about conservationism and environmentalism. Which explains why popular environmental figures never looked, acted, or spoke like us.
As a mixed-race Latino of Puerto Rican descent, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how truly underrepresented our people are in the greater conversation about conservationism and environmentalism.
After spending many years bouncing around environmental careers; from education to policy, outdoor recreation, and back into education, I was finally able to make my dream a reality. I started working at the Wolf Conservation Center in early 2022, and just like that my childhood dream to work with animals had come true! It took a lot of time, energy, and effort to make it this far, but perseverance and sense of purpose goes a long way.
At the Wolf Conservation Center, I get to work with wolves on a daily basis and teach programs that discuss the history of wolves throughout North America, the ecological role they play in their habitats, in addition to the human role in protecting their future. We’re currently home to 32 wolves, 30 of whom are critically endangered species who belong to a federally managed wild-release program (we’re a nonprofit who help facilitate and administer the program). The other 2 wolves are our Ambassador wolves, who are essentially wolf teachers and allow folks to experience what it’s like to see and be around wolves.
A lot of the work that we do, not just in terms of education and advocacy, but also through conservation efforts, helps change the negative stigmas and stereotypes about wolves. Like people, wolves live in family units (or packs) and they care deeply for their pack members. They are intelligent, beautiful, and emotional beings, and have every right to exist on this earth as we do. I’m incredibly thankful that my work not only allows me to change the perception of Latinos in the environmental field, but also change how people perceive wolves. While I’m getting to live out this childhood dream, I haven’t lost sight of the ambition that took me to this point, and will use it help make learning about wolves more accessible to disenfranchised and underrepresented communities.
Sean Seary is a 30-year-old environmental educator from the NY metro area who loves spending as much time as he possibly can outdoors. Whether it’s reading, running, hiking, or gardening, you can often find him outside living his best life. Currently, he is a Program Educator II at the Wolf Conservation Center, where he teaches about wolves and the human role in protecting their future.
My uncle came to this country in the bed of a truck. He crossed the desert hidden and hot; nature was not separate and he was connected. To the outdoor industry that I have become part of my uncles’ story is not the typical idea of an experience that builds one’s connection to nature. And though it was not a positive connection, it was potent to his relationship to the desert and to himself as part of nature.
He and many people who don’t have access to interacting with nature as a leisure activity deserve to have moments in nature that are not in passing nor fear. Moments that are not plummeted in the history of the wild and dark being used as a place for violence against themselves and their ancestors, for trauma, or seen as dirty for being in it—but as a place of positive connection, for growth, for home and exploration, a place that can be a refuge.
I was a kid, sitting in a red plastic chair with the words Coca-Cola written on the top, in the heat of Guatemala City. The chair stuck to me no matter how I sat in it. A small parrot cooed. There was no distance between the outside and the inside; I was inside looking up at the sky heavy with weather. The hallway lead from the “patio” to the kitchen, no doors in between and when it rained you would get wet going from the bathroom to the kitchen. The kitchen would be filled with the smell of wet pavement and flowers bobbing under the weight of the midday shower. I was part of nature deeply, the mix of concrete and potted plants was the beginning of my understanding that there is no right way to be the part of nature that you are.
“I was part of nature deeply, the mix of concrete and potted plants was the beginning of my understanding that there is no right way to be the part of nature that you are.”
Jasmin Antonia Estrada
The young people on the trips that I now lead are from wood and concrete structures. They know the taste of tap water and they feel the pollution in their lungs, they are connected. I found my place in connecting them to the trails and the mountains. They knew about the bus stops and the weeds that have the profound ability to break concrete. I wanted them to also see the rivers and the unadulterated morning light. To hear the birds.
We were in the White Mountains at our campsite on the fourth day of two weeks on the trail with a group of majority youth of color we were debriefing the day late into the night, sitting in a circle recalling the success and learning moments. I remember this night is when we discovered that “together as a team, when we are on the same page, we can do anything.” The revelation of success. These young people who have never been backpacking before deciding that their group was a home they could have, that nature was a house they could thrive in. The rest of us didn’t notice it, but when it was Michael’s time to share he was silent. This look of awe and fear fell on his face, “Is that the moon?” the question fell out of his mouth so loudly as if forced out by his brain. We all looked towards the dark silhouetted mountains. The red sliver of the rising moon was sparkling over the peaks. “Yes, that’s the moon.” Miles responded slowly. We sat there in a contracted silence. Ten minutes passed. “I have never seen anything like this.” Michael had tears in his eyes, Miles put his arm around him, and we sat there, all slowly sharing the moon we all knew.
I have many narratives of myself in the wilderness. My history as a mixed person, as colonized and colonizer, my experiences as a child being mesmerized by ants, my time as an educator coming to the understanding that there is no “right” way to be in nature. I have exhausted and am exhausted by the way I have presented my narrative to be part of white institutions, to express a difference yet a similarity that they are comfortable with.
I can see that moon burned into my eyes, that moon for me is the positive connection that we all deserve. Not just the sunny days in a park, but the part of nature that reminds you that you are nature and that that is a beautiful thing. He deserved this. There is no number of glossy photos or gear that can make you more or less part of it, it is in your blood, and it belongs to you, and that moon, it was Michael’s.
As Jorge’s time on the Latino Outdoors Board comes to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you.
Gracias por todo tu apoyo, tiempo y colaboración durante todos estos años. Whether it was enthusiastically supporting our fundraisers, thoughtfully contributing to LO’s strategic direction, or happily connecting with our volunteers and community members during outings, your leadership, generosity, and vision have helped Latino Outdoors in ways that will reverberate for years to come.
Since joining the LO community in 2017 and serving on the National Advisory Board since 2019, Jorge has helped guide our organization through tremendous growth while always keeping comunidad at the center. He has left a lasting mark on our community.
Congratulations on an incredible term of service, Jorge. While we will miss you on the LO Board, we’re so happy that you’re planning to stay involved as a compañero and champion for Latino Outdoors. Once part of the LO familia, always part of the familia.
¡Nos vemos en los senderos!
-Latino Outdoors
As I finish my term on the Latino Outdoors (LO) National Advisory Board this summer of 2026, after serving since September 2019, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude y con mucho orgullo for everything we have built together. I am not going anywhere. I am still in the Bay Area and you will continue to find me outdoors. Como dice LO: once part of the LO familia, always part of the familia.
Starting in DC!
My story with LO began in 2017 when I started attending LO events with the Washington, DC/DMV chapter. I was working as a carbon scientist with an NGO (non-governmental organization), but on weekends I was searching for something else. There were enough networking events in DC, but where were the Latinos who would enjoy being outdoors, hiking, sharing food? I remember meeting Albert Arevalo at an event and then helping clean banks of the Potomac River with the LO chapter and future friends. On those weekend outings outside of working hours, I was Jorge, the norteño kid from Juarez, chatting in Spanish, English, Spanglish about the music I liked, laughing, and building comunidad with others. For the next years, we shared tamales, empanadas with Patricio, dinners at home with Jesse, listened to Chavela Vargas with Alejandro, and more.
I did not know it at the time, but that community taught me the foundation for my future as an advisory board member of LO and shaped my career path. One of the most important parts of conservation happens when we center community and create space for everyone to see themselves caring for each other, including nature.
Invitation to Join the National Advisory Board
In September 2019, just four months after moving to California and starting at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (‘Ootchamin ‘Ooyakma) of Stanford University, I was asked by Richard Rojas, the chair of the board at the time, to join LO’s National Advisory Board. Since then, we’ve guided the organization through the pandemic, tremendous growth in programming and staff, celebrated our 10-year anniversary in 2023, and in 2025 developed our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan refresher ensuring that Vamos Outdoors, Crecemos Outdoors, and Yo Cuento Outdoors remain strong and responsive to the LO community.
Meeting Bryan, Jennifer, and Esmeralda
When I think about what LO in California meant to me as I started my service, I immediately think of Bryan Rodriguez, Jennifer Adams, and Esmeralda Cabrera. When I moved to California and started my new job in fall 2019, they made me feel at home in a place that was new and unfamiliar. I particularly remember the hike where we got snowed in at Mt. Umunhum in November 2019 and we had chocolate caliente, tamales, and pan dulce up there. After that, Bryan and Esmeralda opened their homes to me, welcoming me to their dinner tables where we shared meals, stories, laughter, and music. In those moments, I found my little Mexico in the Bay Area and the warmth of la comunidad.
Bryan, Esmeralda, and Jennifer introduced me to more people, and I got to explore more of the Bay Area with Aurora Cortés leading many of the hikes. I invited all of them to Jasper Ridge for a hike where we were all amazed by the seeds of the Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides). With Aurora, we organized an event in March 2022 that focused on building a network of outdoor careers. In one day, we hosted more than 50 people from SACNAS, Genentech, USFWS, UC Berkeley, SJSU, and Stanford at Jasper Ridge, connecting young professionals with career pathways in conservation.
I kept organizing these activities, always keeping in mind the volunteers and how to expand their networks as they were seeking careers in the outdoors, while also pushing outdoor employers to recognize that young diverse people were here and ready to apply for jobs. I did this as an advisory board member and I will continue doing this.
This is what LO really is: a community that practices hospitalidad, that understands welcoming someone means inviting them into your community. Bryan, Jennifer, and Esmeralda saw someone who was new and they extended their comunidad in the most personal way, helping me build a life in the Bay Area. When people ask me about LO, I tell them this story first.
National Campouts and Meeting Toda la Familia
The adventures continued. In August 2021, I floated the Sacramento River with the LO community and our founder José González. It was my first time floating a river in California, what an adventure that was! That same year, I attended the national campout at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in Northern California, surrounded by those ancient redwood giants and so many national volunteers, the familia that keeps LO alive. On that same trip, we visited the Redwood Rising project, a project with multiple co-benefits. The laughter and sense of belonging reinforced what I had learned with LO: this movement is about creating a support network, in our terms, a familia. I still remember that it was from this campout that volunteers asked us, the advisory board, to add a volunteer voice to the board. We listened and welcomed André Sanchez.
Bridging LO with Jasper Ridge and Greater Networks
When I became Executive Director at Jasper Ridge in October 2022, though I was busier than usual, I kept bringing everything I had learned from LO with me. At Jasper Ridge, we serve more than 5,000 educational visits each year, and every program I develop reflects similar values to LO. I developed a resources page for students that intentionally included links to LO, OutdoorAfro, ESA SEEDS, SACNAS, and other organizations supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds. I wanted to make sure that students knew that academic research and culture don’t have to be two separate choices or pathways.
One of the most meaningful moments came at the 2021 ESA virtual Annual Meeting when Bryan, Jennifer, Esmeralda, and I co-presented on bridging community organizations and academic institutions. Three incredible LO volunteers shared the stage with an academic from Stanford, demonstrating that community knowledge and academic knowledge are interconnected. I also invited them to present at Jasper Ridge’s community lecture series.
Throughout my tenure, I’ve lifted up LO in every space I enter, from national organizations like ESA, SEEDS, SACNAS, and OBFS to regional programs at UC campuses, the NSF SOAR Network, Save the Redwoods League, and community networks throughout the Bay Area. I’ve shared how LO creates welcoming spaces and provides pathways for students to see themselves in outdoor careers. I always emphasize that the mentorship that matters most often happens outside the classroom: on trails, around campfires, floating rivers, and around those picnic tables full of delicious food. That’s where transformation happens.
2026 National Campout: More Familia and New Momentum
In 2026, I attended the national LO campout at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico with all of the LO familia. It was so refreshing to meet so many new volunteers since my last national campout. Sometimes we joke that you invite one Latino and they show up with all of their primos and primas. Well, this time it was not a joke, it was true and it was an amazing gathering! Being in the landscape with so much Indigenous and Pueblo knowledge, engaging respectfully through local Tribes, and weaving that knowledge with various activities around ecology, conservation, and advocacy led by the volunteers, reminded me once again why building collective voice with them matters. These national campouts are truly the best fiestas, celebrations of who we are and where we come from, with so much momentum building for the activities this year. Similar to 2021, I noticed the passion and momentum that the LO community has for a new initiative focused on advocacy. Keep your eyes open, LO is showing up in more ways in the outdoor space!
Gracias!
My term is ending, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make space for new voices that will strengthen this movement. If you feel called to serve, I encourage you to consider joining as a participant, volunteer, supporter, or advisory board member. Being involved with LO is deeply rewarding, and LO needs everyone’s perspective, passion, and commitment. You will continue seeing me with LO!
To every volunteer, board member, and staff person, gracias. To Albert, Jesse, Alejandro, Bryan, Jennifer, Esmeralda, Vero, Carlos, Miguel, Aurora, and every volunteer who welcomed me into your comunidad. To José, our founder, and Luis, our Executive Director, you created something that changed many lives. To Richard, Claudia, the current board, and every supporter of LO, gracias!
Nearly a decade ago, I showed up as a volunteer in DC, and LO welcomed me. A few years later, I arrived in the Bay Area alone, and LO welcomed me. I will continue to bring up LO in every conservation space and open doors for volunteers at Jasper Ridge and beyond. To anyone considering getting involved: Do it! ¡Sí se puede! You might find your comunidad, like I found my little Mexico. To the LO familia, keep going and I wish you all the best for more campouts, trails, and picnic tables full of pan dulce!
Gracias por todo, Latino Outdoors. Como dice el Chicharito: “Imaginemos cosas chingonas carajo.”
Dr. Jorge Ramos is Executive Director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (‘Ootchamin ‘Ooyakma) at Stanford University. Originally from Juárez, México, he served on Latino Outdoors’ National Advisory Board (2019-2026) after volunteering since 2017. An ESA Eugene P. Odum Award recipient and California Academy of Sciences Fellow, Jorge champions research, education and conservation-centered stewardship in outdoor spaces.
Construyendo Comunidad, Bienestar y Pertenencia a Través de la Acampada
Algunas de las mejores historias comienzan alrededor de una fogata.
Este año, Outdoor Afro y Latino Outdoors se embarcaron en un hermoso viaje conjunto, uniendo a las comunidades negras y latinas a la naturaleza a través de una serie de experiencias de campamento de varios días centradas en el bienestar, el liderazgo y la pertenencia. Desde Houston hasta el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco y la región de Chicago, los participantes se reunieron bajo una visión compartida: que el aire libre es un lugar donde nuestras comunidades pueden conectarse, aprender y prosperar juntas.
Lo que sucedió en estos eventos fue un recordatorio de que nuestras historias, culturas y tradiciones siempre han estado conectadas con la tierra y entre sí.
Cada parada en el camino añadió otro capítulo a esta historia.
Capítulo Uno: Houston
Creando Espacio Para el Bienestar
En Palmetto State Park, a las afueras de Houston, la importancia de reunirse se sintió especialmente profunda.
Los participantes hicieron salsa en molcajete y compartieron tacos de discada. Aprendieron sobre las raíces africanas que dan forma a gran parte de la música latinoamericana y bailaron juntos para celebrar esas historias compartidas. Aprendieron a encender fogatas, flotaron en el río y contemplaron las estrellas en comunidad.
Al caer la tarde alrededor del fuego, surgieron relatos sobre tradiciones familiares, ancestros y las lazos construidos a lo largo del fin de semana. Otros hablaron sobre la importancia de la unidad, el parentesco, el poder sanador de la naturaleza y lo significativo que es estar en un espacio donde simplemente podemos ser nosotros mismos.
Iliana Alvite, de Latino Outdoors comentó:
“Ver a nuestras dos organizaciones reunirse al aire libre, compartiendo espacio, cultura y alegría, fue algo hermoso. Dondequiera que uno mirara, la gente se conectaba: compartiendo comidas, compartiendo historias, observando aves, observando las estrellas, bailando… riendo y llorando también”.
Una y otra vez, la gente habló sobre la sanación que sucede cuando podemos simplemente ser nosotros mismos, y este fin de semana ofreció un poderoso recordatorio: la alegría no está separada del trabajo – es parte del trabajo.
Capítulo Dos: Área de la Bahía de San Francisco
Encontrando La Magia, Llueva o Haga Sol
El campamento del Área de la Bahía nos dejó otra lección…
La lluvia llegó, pero también todos los participantes.
Nadie permitió que el clima interrumpiera lo que habían sido meses de planificación y anticipación. La comunidad se adaptó unida, encontrando nuevas formas de disfrutar de la naturaleza. Las presentaciones de astronomía se trasladaron bajo techo, se organizaron noches de cine y surgieron mesas de arte y manualidades. Las familias se reunían en espacios comunitarios, para jugar a la lotería y al Taboo, compartiendo comidas y creando recuerdos que demostraron que no necesita un clima perfecto para divertirse.
Cuando el cielo dio una tregua, los excursionistas se lanzaron a los senderos y exploraron juntos las piscinas de marea.
Quizás los momentos más bellos ocurrieron a través de las conexiones intergeneracionales. Los niños jugaban con los mayores, los adultos jóvenes encontraban comunidad con las familias, los padres veían cómo se formaban nuevas amistades en todas direcciones.
Aurora Cortes, coordinadora regional de Latino Outdoors en el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco, reflexionó:
“¡Nuestro campamento comunitario en asociación con Outdoor Afro fue un gran éxito! ¡Llovió pero ni siquiera la lluvia fue suficiente para evitar que la gente acampe! Nuestro círculo de clausura se emocionó mucho con la gente expresando su inmensa gratitud por un espacio seguro… Todo fue simplemente muy buena vibra.”
La reunión se convirtió en un recordatorio de que el sentido de pertenencia no se construye por circunstancias ideales. Está construido por personas que eligen cuidar de los demás, sin importar lo que diga el pronóstico.
Capítulo Tres: Chicago
Las Historias Que Llevamos a Casa
Cuando nuestras comunidades se reunieron en el Indiana Dunes State Park, a las afueras de Chicago, algo especial ya había echado raíces, y ahora se les unieron aún más nuevos participantes del Medio Oeste que llegaron listos para conectarse.
Los recién llegados eran recibidos como viejos amigos. Comida se compartió. Se intercambiaba equipamiento. Los miembros de la comunidad se reunieron para ofrecer su conocimiento de las dunas mientras alrededor de la fogata, historias, risas y momentos
¡Luego llegó Sheila, un pájaro azul herido que los participantes encontraron y se convirtió en un compañero inesperado para el fin de semana! Los miembros de la comunidad cuidaron de ella hasta que llegaron los profesionales de la vida silvestre, encarnando la compasión que viven en el corazón de ambas organizaciones tranquilos de descanso llenaban el aire en la tarde.
La líder de Outdoor Afro, Sheena Duffey, reflexionó maravillosamente sobre la experiencia:
“Hay algo especial en estar rodeado de naturaleza y aún mejor cuando se comparte con la comunidad. Estos son los tipos de recuerdos que te acompañan, arraigados en la conexión, la cultura y la alegría de estar al aire libre.”
Y eso es exactamente lo que estos campamentos crearon: recuerdos tan profundamente arraigados como para viajar a casa con nosotros.
Un Viaje, Muchas Fogatas
A través de cada campamento, una verdad permanecía constante: nuestras comunidades pertenecen al aire libre, no sólo como visitantes, sino como personas liderando experiencias en la naturaleza, narradores y cuidadores. Somos participantes alegres en el mundo natural. Esta colaboración entre Outdoor Afro y Latino Outdoors demostró lo que se hace posible cuando las comunidades negras y latinas se reúnen con intención.
Las fogatas pueden haberse apagado por ahora, pero las relaciones, la confianza y los recuerdos creados en este viaje siguen brillando. Y esta historia todavía se está escribiendo con más campamentos planeados para más adelante este verano, esperamos dar la bienvenida a aún más personas en experiencias que fomenten el bienestar, profundicen la conexión y construyan una comunidad duradera con experiencias al aire libre.
Así que si eres un entusiasta con experiencia en la naturaleza o finalmente inspirado a embarcarte en tu primera aventura al aire libre, hay un lugar para ti con nosotros en futuras excursiones.
Today, that message feels even more urgent. On May 18, 2026, the United States Senate confirmed Steve Pearce as Director of the Bureau of Land Management despite widespread opposition and concerns from conservation organizations, outdoor advocates, Tribal communities, and public lands supporters. The confirmation serves as a reminder that protecting public lands requires us to come together across districts, landscapes, and communities, from the mountains of Southern California to the deserts of the American West, and remain engaged in the decisions that shape their future.
Last month, Latino Outdoors joined partners from the Conservation Lands Foundation and Protect CA Deserts Coalition at a community event in Crestline, California, where we connected with nearly 250 residents, visitors, business owners, and community leaders. Through advocacy activation and outreach, local residents and business owners expressed interest in becoming public lands champions and in participating in future conversations with policymakers. Their message was clear: public lands matter to the communities, economies, and identities of the places they call home.
Crestline, CA (Lake Gregory)
From the U.S. Forest Service-managed forests surrounding Lake Arrowhead and Crestline to the Bureau of Land Management deserts that define much of California’s 23rd Congressional District, public lands support tourism, outdoor recreation, local businesses, and quality of life. The San Bernardino National Forest alone attracts nearly 2 million visitors annually and generates approximately $145 million in visitor spending (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 2020). Together, these mountain and desert landscapes serve as both economic engines and treasured public resources.
That is why accountability matters! Congressman Jay Obernolte (CD23) recently told his constituents, “We need to support the people who keep our parks running and protect this incredible asset for our community.” We agree.
Public lands depend on people, and effective stewardship requires elected leaders who ensure federal agencies remain transparent and responsive to the communities they serve. As the Bureau of Land Management enters a new chapter under Director Pearce, we encourage Congressman Obernolte and California’s congressional delegation to champion public lands and exercise strong oversight on behalf of the residents, businesses, and communities that depend on them.
“As a local media agency, I support many small businesses in the San Bernardino Mountains communities. My job is to use media to bring them more business. Our local businesses are overwhelmingly unique and charming. Our town is not inundated with chains and strip malls. I see firsthand how our lakes, the expansive trees, and minimal noise / light pollution are a strong draw for tourists. As the manager of The Market at Lake Gregory, which supports +30 vendors, half of our customers are not local. It is so important that we prioritize our natural resources, as they have a direct effect on the success of our local businesses.” – Alex Hancook, Company: Digital Nomad Video
We call on Representative Jay Obernolte to publicly uphold these commitments by cosponsoring H.R. 8523, the Public Lands Workforce Stability Act, to stop the firings and protect the public workers who steward our public lands. At Latino Outdoors, we believe that public lands belong to all of us. Protecting them requires more than appreciation. It requires participation. It requires leadership. And it requires holding decision makers accountable for the choices they make on behalf of current and future generations.
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to their office.
When you call or write, you can say:
“I’m a constituent from [city or community], and I’m asking you to fully fund our public land agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management.”
“Please protect our public lands from budget cuts, staffing shortages, and efforts that would weaken long-term conservation and public access.”
“Our communities depend on these lands for jobs, recreation, tourism, culture, and connection. I urge you to support strong stewardship and oversight of our public lands.”
At Latino Outdoors, we know that telling our stories is only part of the work. Acting on them and holding our elected officials accountable is how we protect the places that connect us all.
