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Category: Introductions to the Outdoors

My non-traditional pathway to my career as a Conservation Warden

por Lt. Juan Gómez

Greetings! I’m Lt. Juan Gómez with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). I have worked as a conservation warden (law enforcement officer) for the state of Wisconsin since 2008 and would like to tell you about my non-traditional pathway to my career as a conservation warden.

I was born and raised in Chicago and grew up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood known for its crime, drugs and violence during the 80s and 90s. By age 11, I had my fair share of gang exposure and witnessed criminal activity daily. But my family knew one thing; they didn’t want me to get involved with drugs or with local gangs, so they sent me off to a recreational youth camp in northern Wisconsin that summer.

As a city kid, this was my first exposure to the outdoors, where I engaged in fishing, camping, canoeing and hiking activities. My love for the outdoors grew immensely because of that summer camp, and when I turned 16, I even became a camp counselor. These experiences led me to pursue a degree in Recreation Management at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

My summer camp adventures brought about my love for the outdoors. But it was my college days that led me to my career with the Wisconsin DNR.

“My love for the outdoors grew immensely because of that summer camp”

During my freshman year of college, I was heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving break. At the same time, Wisconsin was holding its traditional 9-day deer firearm hunting season that starts the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ends the Sunday after the holiday.

During my ride home from Wisconsin, I couldn’t help but notice all the deer being transported on or in vehicles. This was an unusual view for a city kid whose only exposure to wildlife was a view from Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

When I returned to school the following week, I met with my advisor at the campus multicultural office. I told him about the surprising sight I saw. and he filled me in on the famed Wisconsin deer hunting tradition. The following spring, I enrolled in a Hunter Safety course and participated in my first deer hunt that fall.

In Wisconsin, Hunter Safety courses are offered and put together by volunteer instructors. Alongside these instructors, conservation wardens are available to answer general questions from the public and provide updates on the rules and regulations.

Following the Hunter Safety course, I began researching conservation warden positions available in Wisconsin and found myself more and more passionate about the career. After participating in ride-alongs with various conservation wardens to learn more about their day-to-day work educating people and enforcing laws, I began applying for warden jobs.

In 2008, I was hired fulltime as a Wisconsin DNR conservation warden and have loved every minute of it. Conservation wardens are responsible for protecting natural resources and ensuring the safety of everyone who enjoys the outdoors. Conservation wardens investigate hunting, fishing, environmental, and recreational vehicle violations and rely heavily on the relationships they build in their communities to successfully fulfill their duties.

“Following the Hunter Safety course, I began researching conservation warden positions available in Wisconsin and found myself more and more passionate about the career”.

Throughout my career, I have made it a point to work with others who have had limited exposure to the outdoors. I have organized several Learn to Hunt events exposing families to new hunting traditions. These events have been a great way for me to connect with those who are new to hunting or other outdoor sports.

Conservation wardens are the face of the Wisconsin DNR within the communities they serve. We typically open our hiring process in April each year, and 2021 is no exception. We are looking for great candidates and hope you are able to relate to my experiences and consider applying for a position with the Wisconsin DNR.

  • There are many skills and abilities we look for in warden applicants, such as:
  • A passion for helping people and protecting our natural resources
  • Honesty, integrity, self-motivation, curiosity, confidence and professionalism
  • An ability to self-direct daily work activities in an efficient and accountable manner
  • An interest in community-involvement and problem-solving
  • A desire to communicate with and serve the diverse people of Wisconsin

Explore our warden recruitment website to learn more and sign up for hiring updates! https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WardenRecruitment

It’s amazing to know that all it takes is an experience or two to help guide us through our life journeys. Had I not reached out to my mentor about my experience that freshman year I would have never been exposed to the “local warden”. My interaction with the local warden that day sparked my interest in the career of natural resource protection and has led me to creating many outdoor memories with my family. I am truly blessed to spend time with my family enjoying the resources I protect.

Abre Los Ojos

por Margarita Vargas Patrón

My mamá immigrated here when she was 20 years old, leaving her home, dreams, and loved ones behind on a questionable promise that she would return. Roughly 40 years later, she is in her home in San Diego talking to me on the phone. We call each other at least three times a week to talk about everything. It almost always ends with my questions about her childhood, my abuelitos, her hometown, and her life before us, her kids. On this particular call, I ask why she thinks I love the outdoors; was there a history of camping in our family?

From her perspective, this question was like most of my probing ones- random and filled with curiosity. This time, there was a purpose because I had never shared my love of the outdoors with her. Now I did, to make up for lost time. I’ve told her about my small hikes, the parks around my neighborhood, and the beaches we’ll explore when she comes to visit me. Before getting to this point, she helped me heal first.

“Allí, tu abuelita hacía de cenar y nos contaba historias bajo las estrellas.”

I considered a biology camping trip my first real encounter with nature. It required all the supplies I thought made it official: a tent (I rented), a sleeping bag (I borrowed), and no indoor plumbing for miles. I loved everything: the fresh air, the campfire, and sleeping under the stars. After that experience, I didn’t question my love for the outdoors. Except for the fact that amongst my friends it was considered a white people thing; it was something that required money- something my family and I didn’t have. Growing up, the common phrase was “no tenemos dinero.” Whenever I overheard a classmate share their upcoming family camping trip or their annual skiing trip, to me there was an unspoken barrier of access and a common thread that only white people had access. That classist and racial distinction made it easier to shrug those experiences as white people things. Internalizing whiteness prevented me from connecting with my mom on something that I didn’t know we both loved- the outdoors.

Because my idea of the outdoors was remarkably limited, I chose not to share my experiences with my mamá. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings; I didn’t want her to say that she wished she could do more. So, I buried this experience and thought I was doing both of us a favor. What I really did was give whiteness all the power to erase my experiences and define the outdoors. Returning to that phone call, her answer was a dose of healing:

“Claro. Íbamos a una casita más allá de la milpa. Allí, tu abuelita hacía de cenar y nos contaba historias bajo las estrellas. Íbamos para ayudarle con las cosechas de frijoles. No mas no le decíamos ‘camping’. Y aunque nosotros no tengamos mucho aquí, sí los llevaba al parque, a la playa, y caminar para tomar aire fresco. Eres libre y la naturaleza está a tu alrededor. Nada más abre tus ojitos, mijita.”

Thanks, mamá.

Margarita is a first-generation immigrant and the first in her family to graduate college. She enjoys reading, cycling, and learning new things. She honors the folks who came before her, who paved the way for any success that has come her way.

The 52 Hike Challenge

por Karla Amador

Take yourself back to your childhood and recall a moment you spent in nature with your family.

I remember when I was young, during spring break, my mom would take my sisters and me on walks at the “Enchanted” Fern Dell Nature Trail a.k.a “Ferndell Nature Museum” at Griffith Park in Hollywood, California.

The trail was beautiful with towering trees, a natural spring that fed the waterfalls, lush green tropical ferns, and lots of flora popping out at you. We would look for magical creatures: turtles, koi fish and dragonflies. My sisters, Sarah, Sybil and I, would run around, laughing, playing hide and seek. I remember imagining fairies lived there. We even found our family dog, Sasha, while walking up the trail to the Observatory.

It’s actually one of the main things I remember doing with my mom.

This was one of few activities I looked forward to as a kid. With three little kids, my parents did not have a ton of money to spend on expensive activities, so walking it was. It’s actually one of the main things I remember doing with my mom.

I didn’t realize it then, but spending time outside with my family was one of the most powerful ways for us to connect to each other and make memories.

Now I know the incredible benefits of getting outside regularly, and with family. The great outdoors can bring you an overwhelming sense of peace and well-being. It increases creativity and overall joy. The best part of all? It’s FREE!

When you bring your family with you, you will all benefit.

Benefits of Getting Outside With Loved Ones

You will:

  • Find time and space to communicate with each other
  • Enjoy the little things and spend quality time together
  • Unplug from technology and your daily life
  • Live a healthier and happier life

As you can see, getting out in nature can have tremendously positive effects on your overall well-being and strengthen bonds with your loved ones.

When you get outside regularly, you increase your physical strength and stamina, reduce stress, improve your mood, and so much more.

So why not make it a goal for you and your family in the New Year?

The Goal: 52 Hikes In A Year

In 2014, I was looking for a worthwhile goal for myself. After falling in love with hiking, I decided to commit to a hike a week for the entire year.

Every week I looked forward to my next hike. I enjoyed packing a lunch and eating outside. I enjoyed enlisting my son and friends to join me. I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment when I reached a summit.

It was life-changing, and I decided to share my 52 Hike Challenge idea with others. The idea took off and spread like wildfire. I now run this movement to help as many people gain the physical mental, spiritual and emotional benefits derived through nature and hiking. We’ve now had more than 41,000 people take the challenge.

With the New Year and a pandemic upon us, one of the best things we can do is commit to finding healthy ways to destress, find joy, and keep our families united. Hiking is a great way to do so, safely of course.

Challenge Yourself in 2021 – Commit to 52 Hikes

I want to challenge you to commit to getting out into nature once a week for a year. That’s 52 hikes in 52 weeks. Are you up to the challenge?

Commit to something that will help you enhance your physical and mental health, build stronger family bonds, and so much more.

Curious about getting started? Here’s what helped me stay committed to my goal:

5 Ways to Stay Committed to Your Outdoor Goal

  1. Set your intention (what do you want to achieve?)
  2. Share your goal with a loved one and your immediate family
  3. Keep track of your progress (log your hikes and take pictures)
  4. Join a community (engage with people who share the same goal)
  5. Reward yourself (and your family) for your hard work!

Are you ready to experience the life changing benefits of 52 hikes?

You simply never know where this year-long adventure will take you, but one thing is for sure: you’ll make tons of amazing memories with your family.

Sign Up for the 52 Hike Challenge Now

So, what do you have to lose? Commit to making the outdoors a priority in your life. Sign up for the 52 Hike Challenge now!

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Karla Amador is the co-founder of the 52 Hike Challenge, a global movement that has inspired hundreds of thousands of people around the world to get outdoors and take advantage of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits gained through hiking once a week for a year. Together, with the community she has created a culture of support, which can be seen in over 430,000 images shared under the #52HikeChallenge hashtags on Instagram alone.