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Category: Introductions to the Outdoors

Yo Cuento: Then & Now

por Jazzari Taylor

Growing in Advocacy

I often think back to the Summer of 2016, my first outing event with Latino Outdoors. My best friend, Maricela Rosales, encouraged me to join the Los Angeles Volunteer team at Heal the Bay for a beach cleanup at Dockweiler State Beach. To be completely honest, I was hesitant because I always felt a tug and pull with my racial identity, being multi-racial and a non-fluent Spanish speaker. I was reassured that the growing Latino Outdoors organization, which I would be joining at the cleanup, welcomed all diasporas, multicultural experiences, dialects, and backgrounds. I remember not knowing what to expect, having jitters, and holding my breath. Taking the leap as a participant and volunteer would bring me back full circle as a Policy Advocate with Latino Outdoors.

As a child, I was fortunate to visit local city parks and join free or affordable recreational opportunities. My parents would send me to income-based YMCA summer camps, take day trips to our state beaches, and visit local public lands. Before I joined my first outing event with Latino Outdoors, I faced many challenges in my 20s and was trying to find my purpose in life. What were my passions? What fueled the very core of my soul?

Having the courage to show up to the beach clean-up in 2016 was the best decision I made, not only for my community but also for my health. That summer day, I was welcomed by a handful of volunteers and partners from Latino Outdoors. This left a lasting impression on my outlook on stewarding lands and promoting more accessible outdoor spaces. A growing number of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) organizations and individuals showed up and took up space, helping to change the narrative that we have always loved and cared for the outdoors. This set a precedence for a larger network of collaborative partnerships for championing a more equitable outdoors.

I have seen first-hand the transformative power of comunidades, healing my inner child through the intentional and expressive opportunities Latino Outdoors has offered. In 2018, I co-led my first hike at Eaton Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center, in the newly proposed San Gabriel National Monument expansion. The most amazing part was being able to bring along my mother to share the experience. I co-led outings with many supportive colleagues across Southern California, which broadened my understanding of conservation, and our role in advocating for representation and equitable access to our public lands.

A huge plus has been being able to share these experiences with my familia. There were many firsts, from SnowShoeing in the Los Padres National Forest with Latino Outdoors and encouraging mi primo to step out of our comfort zones together to building my knowledge and skills with the California State Park’s FamCamp Certification campout event. Latino Outdoors also introduced me to an internship with the National Park Service for youth programming at underfunded YMCAs in the Los Angeles County area. All of these opportunities inspired me to further my education and personal skills. I leveraged my past experiences to encourage myself and others to share our stories and extend our networking opportunities. I continued to work for local city parks and recreation departments and, nearly a decade later, completed my Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Riverside. I was motivated to “do more” and bring our community voices to the forefront. Then the pandemic hit.

During the pandemic, virtual Lotería games, iNaturalist courses, and book clubs offered a safe space for venting, healing, and learning. Latino Outdoors continued to be more than just an organization, but mi gente, time and time again. During a time of social justice and public health concerns, speaking up and leading by example on how to Recreate Responsibly took a united front. I remember a specific moment when I was inspired to do more after watching a virtual lecture by José González, founder of Latino Outdoors. I emailed him asking something along the lines of, “How do I continue to be involved and influence policy? How can I advocate for our communities in the outdoors? What more can I do?” José González replied, “You are doing enough. Trust the process”.

I continued to identify mentors and like-minded leaders within Latino Outdoors and partner organizations like The National Audubon Society, Nature For All, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), along with my local city parks and recreation departments. It all helped me continue to highlight my passions, for community and the outdoors, while further honing my skills. During the 2020 pandemic, alongside a progressive slate of leaders, I challenged myself to run, and successfully win, as an Assembly District Representative. During the following two years, I worked alongside communities while pursuing and completing a Master’s in Public Administration, with a specialization in Leadership Development from National University. My capstone project thesis focused on park equity and the ethical responsibility of Administrators for equitable outdoor access. I leveraged the Parks Needs Assessment and countless amounts of research that supports the claim that relationship building with communities and increased funding through ethical public policies can help create a more equitable outdoors, thus increasing health, welfare, safety, and access for all.

In these past two years, I continued to learn how to authentically engage with community members. I collaborated with both local and state representatives to truly hear the concerns of the people through workshops, listening sessions, city council meetings, and on-the-ground conversations. Sometimes, the on-the-ground conversations were during a mask-mandated food distribution, COVID-19 testing site, outdoor outing, or a hike. Throughout that period, Latino Outdoors was at the center of outdoor resources for engagement and learning opportunities where a supportive LatinX community continues to grow, from volunteers and colleagues to an extension of my own familia. Latino Outdoors has grown from a staff of four with just under one hundred volunteers to now, eleven national staff and over 250 volunteers in 32 and growing regions across the nation. This year, we’re celebrating ten años of Latino Outdoors!

Who would have thought that showing up as a participant in 2016 would lead to being a part of the national staff in November of 2022? In these past ten months, I have had the opportunity to advocate alongside amazing community members and experts. Latino Outdoors founder José González was also one of the founding members of the California Parks Now Coalition, and now I have the opportunity to join as a Chair on behalf of Latino Outdoors. As members of the coalition, we have advocated at the state capitol in Sacramento for outdoors equity, CA 30×30, the Outdoors For All strategic plan, and various bills. The California Parks Now Coalition comprises over 30 organizations and individuals who bring their own experiences, stories, and expertise to protect and expand access to public parks, oceans, and spaces.

As I continue to develop my own skills as a policy expert, I listen, learn, and support campaigns and Indigenous voices through various coalitions that focus on public lands and national monument designations. In April of 2023, I joined the America the Beautiful Coalition in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Latino Outdoors, working alongside over 100 individuals from organizations across the nation like GreenLatinos, Hispanic Access Foundation, Brown Girl Surf, CalWild, The Wilderness Society, and Sierra Club. We joined working groups to meet with legislative offices to amplify two priorities. One is the 30×30 Federal initiative of preserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and freshwater and 30 percent of U.S. ocean areas by 2030. The other is Justice40, which supports that 40% of the federal investments should support underfunded and traditionally marginalized groups. This calls for the federal government to acknowledge that communities of color and frontline communities have had little to no resources in the past. There are strategic plans for new funding to support equitable access, conservation, and investments to protect natural areas with cultural and historic significance.

One of the major takeaways from the federal legislative office meetings was the need for more diverse voices in office and throughout all levels of government. Representation matters when it comes to public administrators making sound decisions that reflect the voices of the people, but this also means that we, the People, have a responsibility to share our stories and remain involved in the processes. I recognize the huge inequities in being able to consistently show up to meetings or spaces when many people’s priorities are to make their basic needs met. This further emphasizes the importance of organizations like Latino Outdoors, which are on the frontline, supporting their participants and volunteers with resources and free or affordable programming opportunities. Our voice matters. Your voice matters and has the power to influence policy.


I am thankful to have a seat at many other tables because of the hard work and dedication of leaders ahead of me, the Latino Outdoors team, and community members across the nation.  Making room for more seats and diverse voices takes the heart of many and the movement of us all. I am thankful for the opportunity to have joined Latino Outdoors in 2016 and the many opportunities to learn more about myself, be able to connect with all of our comunidades, and protect the outdoors. Together, we can make a difference, and it can start with just a beach cleanup. So, my question to you is, will you join Latino Outdoors on our next outdoor adventure?

Kayaks, Trails and Mules: Now, That’s Baja!

por Trudi Angell

It was almost 50 years ago when I became a sea kayaker. Though I had done some hiking, backpacking, and horse riding in my teens in California, I had not been out on the open water before. So how did I end up in México, on a remote beach, with a cluster of date palm trees and a dozen other young people from 16 years old to late 20s? It’s a fun story.

Flipping through a catalog of courses from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) back in the winter of 1975, none of the snow-camping courses (brrr!) or rock climbing courses (ugh, heavy packs) piqued my interest. But when I got to the page that had a photo of warm, sunny beaches with snorkeling, kayaking, and sailing offered as a 12-day outdoor learning experience, I signed right up. Back then, it was $350 dollars for the 12-day course, so I flew to San Diego and met a girl who was also going on the trip. The next day, her dad drove us to Tijuana to catch a direct flight to somewhere in Baja. The town we were headed to had a funny name, something about mules, maybe, but I had studied Spanish in junior high, high school, and a couple of college classes. I figured I could probably get along okay. Wrong.

As LouAnne and I flew over Scammon’s lagoon, we could see the shadowy forms of whales below in the enclosed bay…then the almost-empty 40-passenger twin-engine plane landed on a dirt strip in the middle of a cactus-covered desert, and the “airport” was a little palm thatch shed with a couple of taxis hoping for someone to disembark. I was glad we were traveling together as we grabbed our bags and hopped into one of the taxis. Here is where my Spanish language would come in handy. The driver asked, “Adónde van?”. “Al Hotel Serenidad, por favor.” And off we went.

Longer story short, LouAnne, the other dozen students, and I became great friends. Something about the outdoors, camping, minimalist lifestyle, and the camaraderie of living together for a couple of weeks in the wilderness and paddling down the coast with our food and gear tucked into the crannies of a sea-worthy kayak, like a floating backpack, well, it was certainly a turning point. There must have been something in the synchronicity of budding Spanish language skills blended with the amazing teachers we had on our NOLS Baja course, the gorgeous coastline, and the simplicity of living day to day in our environment like the local fishermen and farmers in México. Now, 48 years later, the stars overhead, the swish of the sea, and the trails that lead into the desert are truly a comforting home.

Trudi Angell has been a pioneer of adventure travel in Baja California Sur, México since 1983. Leaving a wake of 30 years of sea kayaking, plus exploring the peninsula on mules to ranches and rock art sites. She has ridden mules through Baja from top to bottom, twice, and is planning another 1000-mile mule-pack trip for 2024. She is celebrating 20 years of having dual citizenship. She produced a documentary about mule riding on El Camino Real in Baja, and her Spanish is now really good!

Yo Cuento: Then & Now

por Laura Flores

Climbing My Own Mountains

The Start of Something

I remember one night watching a team of men climb a snow capped mountain. As grueling as it looked, it ignited something inside me, and with excitement and hope, I told my dad I would do that one day. His response was less than desirable, “You can’t do things like that plus how would you get there?” Doubt masked with sarcasm is something I grew up with but it didn’t stop me from dreaming.

My family and others in my community have historically been told what we can and cannot do because of the color of our skin, the language we speak, our socio-economic status, where we live, and where we have come from. Opportunities to connect to nature have been vital in rebuilding self-confidence, self-reliance, mental and physical well-being, and pushing myself to know what I am capable of and, in turn, what my community is capable of.

Wild Curly Haired Kid

I was the wild curly hair kid who only looked forward to waking up and climbing my tree, playing in the mud, and riding my bike until the street lights came on. When your option was either to stay inside and clean or go outside and play, the decision felt like a no brainer. When I wasn’t outside imagining being in a jungle or on a tall mountain I was watching explorers on Nova with my dad. 

I grew up in New Mexico and Southern California, surrounded by mountains, rivers, the ocean and rich culture. Southern California tended to lend itself to warm summer days where we would visit my abuelos house. When we entered the gate my nose was immediately filled with the fragrant sweet smell of pink and red roses in the front yard and we were welcomed by fresh avocados, lemons, and oranges in the backyard. My grandfather worked as a lechero, a milker, on a cow farm. He loved agriculture and shared his passion with his children and grandchildren. 

“I loved playing in the dirt, making mud pies, and gardening with my dad. It was always amazing to witness a tiny seed grow and be cooked by my mom into a delicious meal.”

Moving from California–which is gorgeous but often overcast from smog–to New Mexico, a wide open space with clear beautiful mountains and bright stars, was a game changer. We even moved into a house with a backyard. I loved playing in the dirt, making mud pies, and gardening with my dad. It was always amazing to witness a tiny seed grow and be cooked by my mom into a delicious meal. My favorite was calabacitas with onion, tomato, and a little bit of cheese sprinkled on top. More precious than the food, was the time we spent gardening. 

Time in the garden almost softened my dad and allowed him to speak freely about his complicated past. In doing so, he’d try to educate me about the hate in this world. Like many other Chicanos of his generation, he was punished for speaking Spanish throughout his education. He would often talk about his family and growing up. Despite not having much, my abuelo would still make time to take him and his siblings outdoors. My dad knew this tradition needed to continue, and for that, I will always be thankful. Sometimes we would be in the garden so long the stars would come out. 

 When we went camping, it wasn’t fancy. Our gear mostly consisted of the pots and pans we had in the kitchen and the comforters straight from our beds. I would spend hours exploring and chasing after the lizards and toads scampering around the desert floor. When it was time to hike, we put on our chanclas or tennis shoes from Kmart; they got us there just fine. 

I was very fortunate to grow up in a state that lends itself to the outdoors, but I only became aware of this when I was much older. As time passed, our camping trips became less frequent. I remember people saying there was never anything to do in our state. Suggestions of what to do would vary but were rarely positive. We were surrounded by nature and beauty but were only aware of the glimpses our parents showed us growing up. It was easy to be sucked into negative feelings about where we lived, and oftentimes, it led to negative choices like doing drugs or drinking to entertain ourselves. 

One summer, I recall my sister got into a little bit of trouble and was put in a detention center. She was one of the “lucky” youth to be given a rehabilitation rafting trip. Although I agree the outdoors is therapeutic and can change mindsets, I had to ask, why did she have to get in trouble to be introduced to such an amazing outdoor experience? Why were activities like this only reserved for people who could afford them unless court ordered? Her experience initially built a sense of anger and disgust, which then turned into passion. I knew I needed to be more involved in reshaping the outdoors for my community. 

The LO Life

One day, scrolling through IG posts, I saw our wedding photographers’ repost of Latino Outdoors (thanks, Ashley)! I was immediately interested. In 2019, LO did not have a program coordinator in the region, and the wonderful Ruby, LO’s Director of Programs and Operations, asked if I would be interested. Honestly, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. 

Since volunteering for LO, I have been extended incredible opportunities like becoming an Environmental Education of New Mexico Fellow, trusted to assist with Outdoor FUTURE Initiative, sitting on the board for Mana de Albuquerque, traveling and meeting other dedicated volunteers from across the country, being Wilderness First Aid trained, and most importantly, hosting purposeful outings for our New Mexico youth. As a bonus, I got to try many outdoor activities for the first time. There were times I was nervous because I did not know everything (who does), but these experiences have helped me slow down, respect the learning process, and reframe my appreciation for the outdoors.

Full Circle

This past year in October 2022, I was asked to hike with a group of indigenous women to Sagarmatha, Mt Everest Base Camp . My son was only one at the time and my daughter was three. I had not been “keeping” up with my cardio for a trip like this. 

I had every excuse in the book not to go, but my husband, who always has my back, said, “when will you ever get an opportunity like this again? Go, I will watch the kids. They will be fine. You have to do this!”  

Childhood memories flooded my brain, watching those men climb mountain peaks and now knowing I could be doing the same. So I went.

Initially, this trip meant being able to prove to myself that I could do it, but it turned into so much more. Letters from family and friends expressed how much this trip meant to them. I would be the first person in their circle to hike Everest Base Camp! For some, I would be the first person to travel that far or even fly in a plane. Was it scary or hard to leave my family? The short answer is yes, but I knew I had to go. 

By going, I knew it would build excitement about traveling for my students. Every day I was asked a new question about Nepal. By going, I felt like I would open a door for women of color, like myself, who are also moms and who might have difficulty navigating the home-work-self-care balance. We don’t have to stop doing the things we love, the things that excite us, or make us who we are. The hike was for my sister who passed away, to promote more options to help people struggling with mental health issues. She would have been the first and last person in my DM’s asking me about the food, the views, and what I was going to bring her back. 

“We were all invited from different places and different circles, but we were there for each other.”

The hike itself was remarkable. The empowering women I hiked with came from Arizona, Canada, Colorado, Alaska, and New Mexico, with incredible stories of their own. Each morning we would start with a sage circle and say a personal prayer, and each night my roommate Gabaccia and I would giggle deliriously until we fell asleep. Every day we were given a word to reflect on, and we would share our thoughts each night. There was laughter and oftentimes tears. 

On one particular day I remember hiking and feeling the urge to cry. It was like my body had been bottling years of emotions that needed to be released. Initially, I almost felt a sense of shame, but there was no judgment, just hugs and understanding.  We were all invited from different places and different circles, but we were there for each other. The seafoam colored river, the views, Dal Bhat Power 24 hours,  the piercing wind blowing sand in our faces is something I will always remember, but the lesson learned on the mountain from our guides and each other is something I will always take with me. 

The why

Some of my best memories are seeing students and my children smiling from ear to ear, taking in nature, and asking hundreds of questions about the world around them. The benefits of the outdoors have been proven time after time. I will continue to fight and advocate for these safe outdoors spaces. Where our youth and their families can learn and explore. Where our own stories and traditions from our ancestors will continue to be passed down. A space where we all belong, our comunidad.

Laura Flores (she/her) is Chicana with roots in California and New Mexico. She has been an elementary educator for over 12 years. Her desire to share safe, fun, and accessible opportunities is deeply rooted in her community. As the  Program Coordinator, she believes by providing outdoor connections to the youth of New Mexico she is creating a love for her state, deeper awareness for local and global conservation, and joyful experiences which will continue for generations.