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Tag: Latino Outdoors

This Salvadoran-American Woman Rock Climbs to Combat Parkinson’s

por Clare Bennett

When my mom Teresa was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, rock climbing wasn’t on her radar as a potential intervention. She’d been dealing with mysterious symptoms for nearly a decade at that point — tremors, a stiff left hand, migraines, a dragging left foot. The Parkinson’s diagnosis hit hard. But Teresa doesn’t give up. When her doctor’s office shared a podcast episode about rock climbing for people with Parkinson’s, it planted a seed.

Rock climbing? For someone whose hands shake and who struggles with balance? The more we learned, the more rock climbing made sense for someone living with Parkinson’s. Using harnesses and rope systems keep climbers safe. The problem-solving on each route, big movements, and strength-building could help slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. For Mother’s Day 2021, we gave Teresa some climbing lessons at local climbing gym SportRock with instructor Molly Donelan-Cupka.

Molly had been running a regular climbing meetup for people with Parkinson’s for years. Teresa’s first lesson started on a short, 25-foot wall, and her nerves were high. But by the end of that session, she was tackling a 40-foot wall. She was hooked. The improvements started to shine through fairly immediately. Teresa’s left hand, once stuck in a cupped position, relaxed and got stronger. Her tremors became less noticeable. No more dragging her left foot — she’s walking with confident, big steps again. Teresa’s doctor had been planning to increase her medication, but after seeing how much better her symptoms were from climbing, he decided to wait.

“Before rock climbing, I used to be very scared about my future with Parkinson’s, and now I don’t think about it as much,” Teresa said. “As long as I can rock climb, I will be fine.”

Teresa’s experience is not only inspiring, it’s evidence of how beneficial movement can be in combating disease. “Before rock climbing, I used to be very scared about my future with Parkinson’s, and now I don’t think about it as much,” Teresa said. “As long as I can rock climb, I will be fine.” Teresa joined Molly’s group of climbers with Parkinson’s who meet multiple times a week. Some are in their 80s, some are new parents in their 40s. Some use wheelchairs. All are determined climbers who’ve become a wonderful community. And when Teresa competed in USA Climbing’s Para Climbing Nationals, they were there cheering her on.

The climbing community Teresa found goes beyond recreation. They’re proving that adaptive sports can be challenging, competitive, and transformative. Molly has since formalized the group into a nonprofit called Up Ending Parkinsons, providing climbing for people with Parkinson’s across the country. They even climb outdoors! Four years later, Teresa continues to climb multiple times a week. She’s added swimming and Pilates as cross-training.

This story raises something important about who gets to recreate outdoors. Often, when people think about rock climbing, they picture young people who certainly don’t have Parkinson’s symptoms. But the outdoors are for everyone. Helping people to get moving and get outside can bring healing, community, and adventure — even if it looks different than what’s more commonly portrayed in popular media. When we make outdoor spaces more welcoming, we discover more possibilities for entire communities.

The Voices of the Rio Grande: Reclaiming Connection to the Outdoors on the Border

Por Marisol Vazquez

For many, “outdoor recreation” flashes images of someone hiking in national parks, camping under the stars, or backpacking through forests. But in South Texas, “outdoor recreation” can mean fishing, hunting, or carne asada. For those of us living on the border along the Rio Grande—especially in cities like Laredo, Texas—our connection to the outdoors looks different, but it’s no less real or meaningful.

Growing up here, the river wasn’t just scenery—it was survival. It’s our primary water source, a sacred space, and the heartbeat of our community. The outdoors to us means walking along dusty roads, fishing with uncles on the weekend, or gathering under mesquite trees for that stretch past sunset. We engage with the land through necessity, tradition, and love. Nature here isn’t always green or gentle—but it’s alive and deeply interwoven with who we are.

My personal connection to the outdoors wasn’t inspired by nature documentaries or summer camps. It was because I saw the importance of protecting and conserving the Rio Grande to ensure Laredo is habitable for future generations.

Outdoor engagement must be redefined to include experiences like ours—those rooted in survival, stewardship, and everyday life. We may not have high mountains or tall pine trees, but we have ritual, respect, and history on this land. The outdoors should welcome all forms of connection, especially those that have been ignored or undervalued.

Unfortunately, access to nature along the border comes with barriers. Militarization, pollution, and limited green space often make the outdoors feel like a restricted zone. The river that nurtures us is also guarded by checkpoints and fencing. There’s fear—of surveillance, of displacement, of contamination. Even public parks feel political when you grow up in a place where your backyard is a border.

Still, we find ways to reclaim it. That’s why it’s so important to create an outdoor movement that sees and values diverse experiences. The more we include people like us—who may not look like the “outdoorsy” stereotype—the more we restore justice to our relationship with the land. The Rio Grande reminds us that nature isn’t just out there. It’s here, at home, and it deserves our protection and belonging.

Marisol Vazquez is a recent graduate from Texas A&M International University, where she majored in biology. She aspires to ignite a passion for the outdoors in her community by advocacy, education, and outdoor activities like kayaking, bird watching, and hiking. Marisol’s outdoor adventures began in California, where she learned to kayak and rock climb and gained a love and appreciation for nature. 

Advocacy – From Local Parks to Public Lands – Joining Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective

Por Jazzari T. Taylor, Policy Advocate, Latino Outdoors

At a time when many of our communities are facing threats to safety and belonging, it’s more important than ever to voice your concerns and ensure that the outdoors remains a place of healing and empowerment. The fight for social justice is deeply connected to the landscapes we protect because the right to feel safe and welcome in nature is part of our shared responsibility to build a better life – one that preserves our cultures, affirms our compassion for others, and protects fundamental human rights.

Earlier this month, I joined the Outdoor Alliance Grasstops Collective’s kickoff retreat in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Grasstops Collective is designed to strengthen outdoor advocates for human-powered recreation to protect public lands and waters through policy and leadership. As a Policy Advocate with Latino Outdoors and Chair of the Parks Now Coalition, this experience gave me a chance to connect with advocates across the nation, build skills, and reflect on how our collective work can advance outdoor equity from the local to the federal level.

Days before meeting in Colorado, I came from a Parks Now Coalition fly-in with local organizations from across California, where we gathered to advocate for outdoor access and equity in the outdoors, including investments at the state level. Coming from this powerful local gathering into the national Grasstops Collective, I was reminded of the deep importance and connectivity of local communities’ experiences in the outdoors and the larger landscapes, no matter their jurisdiction. All levels of government must work together alongside Tribes and communities to address environmental justice, equitable access, and the preservation of our shared natural heritage.

 This year marks the 119th anniversary of the Antiquities Act, a vital tool that allows presidents to designate national monuments and has been used by Tribes to protect lands and waters from harmful development. As some seek to weaken this authority, it’s critical we uplift the leadership of Indigenous communities and defend their right to protect sacred places through national monument designations. 

“The Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of human-powered outdoor recreation groups united to protect public lands and advocate for the interests of outdoor enthusiasts.”

Outdoor Alliance’s 2025 Grasstops Collective cohort. Photo credit: Holly Mandarich.

Our local parks serve as gateways to the biodiversity and interconnectedness of the outdoors and the many ways to recreate. Your experience in the outdoors matters, and so does the ongoing work to protect these spaces for generations to come.

During the retreat, our cohort explored themes of conservation, climate resilience, and public engagement. We heard from policy leaders like Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, and Patrick Donovan, State Director for Senator Michael Bennet. These discussions gave us insight into how policy is shaped and how important it is to bring community perspectives into these conversations. They also emphasized the need for collaboration to ensure the outdoors is truly for all.

As I shared in the official press release,

“I’m excited to be part of the Grasstops Collective to strengthen my advocacy skills, connect with other leaders, and shape the future of outdoor access through conservation policy. I look forward to bringing these tools back to my community and network to welcome others into this space and drive lasting policy change.”

Connecting with other advocates from across the country made it clear: while our landscapes may differ, our shared commitment to justice, conservation, and community power is what unites us. These relationships help us grow stronger and more effective in the work ahead.

Yo cuento. Tú cuentas. Nuestros cuentos tienen poder.

I matter. You matter. Our stories have power.

Our collective stories have power, and they help move this work forward. If you haven’t shared your outdoor experience yet, we encourage you to do so. Consider submitting your story to the Yo Cuento blog, use your own social media to reflect on what the outdoors means to you, or have conversations within your community – share many ways you like to recreate in the outdoors.

Let’s keep building a movement where everyone belongs. Share your voice, stay engaged, and connect with us, outdoors and in community.

Visit the Outdoor Alliance Grasstops Collective to learn more about the full Cohort 2 and help Take Action.

Press Release