Podcasts about latino outdoors

This week's guest is Jose Gonzalez, who is the founder of Latino Outdoors, co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath and the inaugural Equity Officer for the East Bay Regional Park District in California.  Jose is an accomplished professional educator focused on Equity and Inclusion whose work brings together frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor and conservation fields. He uses a range of sources and mediums including illustration and memes to share his ideas and the science with others.  If there is one theme for this episode, it's about how we can challenge our existing mental models to rethink our relationship with nature.  For some of us that might mean exploring other cultural worldviews where nature might exist as a familial relationship, rather than one of just resource and recreation.  For others it might be simply considering the privilege of access and participation in spaces where our cultural makeup is the dominant one.  And for all of us, it is a chance to embrace the example of biodiversity in nature and the more-than-human world as an example of the diversity in the outdoor community we want to create.  Thanks so much to Jose for taking time to chat. His wisdom and humor is really appreciated in what can often be a tough and thorny subject area. Make sure to follow Jose on Instagram - link in our show notes - to get all of your new favorite nature-inspired puns and memes. Be on the look out for mentions of thriving meadows and a Thursday favorite - Olmos Friday.  Links Jose Gonzalez on Instagram Jose Gonzalez Website Latino Outdoors The Outdoorist Oath 'Healing Severed Connections' by Jose on Medium 'Decolonize, Ecologize, Indigenize, Joyify' by Jose on Medium

On today's episode of Open Space Radio, we're excited to chat with someone very influential in the outdoor recreation industry who is doing a ton of good work to raise awareness about protecting our environment. Not only that, but he is also a leader when it comes to making the outdoors more equitable and accessible. José Gonzáles is the founder of Latino Outdoors, an organization working to bridge the gap and create more inclusive and accessible outdoor experiences and opportunities for Latino Communities. He also currently serves as the equity officer at East Bay Regional Park District in Oakland, California. And, if you're not following him on Instagram, José makes some of the best memes and social media content around. Tune in to our full conversation below to learn more about José and all the good work he and his organizations are contributing to. You'll also learn: How we can learn a lot about leadership from mycelium networks (the way trees communicate with each other via an underground network of fungi) What inspired José to start Latino Outdoors and how the organization is working to bridge the gap and support Latino communities What cultural relevance means in parks and recreation and how it's being incorporated into programs What current challenges and opportunities exist when it comes to making the outdoors more equitable, inclusive and accessible What exactly it means to be a part of a "thriving meadow" And a whole lot more! Related Links: Latino Outdoors East Bay Regional Park District Follow José on Instagram Outdoorist Oath Hispanic Professionals in Parks and Recreation Othering & Belonging Institute Have feedback about this episode or Open Space Radio overall? Share it with us! If you enjoyed this episode or learned something that might help you make a positive impact in your community, please consider donating to NRPA to not only support our storytelling efforts, but also our mission to advance parks, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance the quality of life for all at nrpa.org/donate.

Summer camping season is around the corner, and California's parks and recreation areas have something for everyone: secluded sites in the Sierra backcountry, campgrounds with RV hook-ups and a view of the Pacific, yurts, tent cabins and even campsites that float. We'll get tips on scoring reservations, how to plan for a trip and how to pack. And we'll hear about your favorite California camping memories. Guests: José González, founder, Latino Outdoors; equity officer, East Bay Regional Park District; board member, Parks California (the statutory nonprofit partner to CA State Parks) Ana Beatriz Cholo, public affairs specialist and spokesperson, Pacific West Region, National Park Service Peter Ostroskie, staff park and recreation specialist, Bay Area District, California State Parks

On this week's episode, Luis Villa, Director of Latino Outdoors, joins the show to talk about how to make nature a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for all people. Latino Outdoors is a unique Latinx-led organization working to create a national community of leaders in conservation and outdoor education. By providing leadership opportunities and by changing the narrative about who are environmentalists, Latino Outdoors is helping to broaden the tent of environmentalism to make it more diverse and inclusive. Support the show

“What does it mean to have a diverse outdoors community?” It's a question outdoor companies, organizations and groups are asking themselves in an effort to make nature more inclusive for people from all backgrounds, genders, abilities and ethnicities. But while they're trying to find an answer, America's Black and Brown communities are exploring the outdoors. On hiking trails, rock walls, waterways and bike paths, they are discovering and --often times – rediscovering their love for the natural world.Groups are forming that seek to inspire, connect and engage their communities in the outdoors. One such group is Latino Outdoors Philadelphia. Part of a larger national organization, Latino Outdoors Philly brings together people to help create a world where all Latino communities enjoy nature as a safe, inclusive and welcoming place. On this episode, I'm joined by Julie Pasión. Julie is the Program Coordinator for Latino Outdoors Philadelphia. Be sure to visit my website to get to notified about upcoming episodes. Also, follow us on Instagram and on Facebook for more information about what is coming up next. You can support the podcast by buying merch or donating on our website.Hosting, production and editing: Christian AlexandersenMusic: Jon SauerGraphics: Uncle Traveling Matt's Random Expedition

From coastal beaches to the High Sierra, from redwood forests to desert sand dunes, California's state park system has nearly three hundred sites available to explore and enjoy. These protected areas offer low-cost ways to scratch that itch for adventure, learn about California's history and appreciate the state's natural heritage. We'll get recommendations from outdoor enthusiasts about where to go and what to do, and we'll hear from you: what's your favorite California state park? Guests: Brad Day, publisher, Weekendsherpa.com - A free weekly e-mail about accessible outdoor adventures in the Bay Area Chelsee Lowe, travel and family writer Jose Gonzalez, founder, Latino Outdoors - a community organization that encourages Latinos to go outdoors Joe Connors, supervising ranger, Wilder Ranch State Park

July 24, 2023 -- La organización latino outdoors está celebrando la semana latina de la conservación con eventos informativos y actividades al aire libre diseñadas para alentar a las comunidades de color a participar en la naturaleza y ofrecer un espacio de representación y conciencia cultural para los entusiastas de la naturaleza.KZYX habló con Esmeralda Plascencia, coordinadora de programas del capítulo del norte de california de latino outdoor sobre la organización y la semana de conservación latina.

Welcome to a special in-between-isode of Guides Gone Wild - I'm going to get right to the chase with this one for a change!This Saturday, June 24th, is Summits in Solidarity's annual Solidarity Day fundraiser, which is designed to get everyone outside to celebrate and support BIPOC in outdoor spaces.One of the recipients of this year's Summits in Solidarity fundraiser is the Boston chapter of Latino Outdoors, an organization dedicated to fostering connection with nature that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. And today I've got the pleasure of speaking with Cyntya Uriegas, one of the volunteer leaders for Boston chapter - she's going to tell us a bit about herself, Latino Outdoors, and why this partnership with Summits in Solidarity is an exciting opportunity to build on the momentum this great group has generated in just a few short years in the Boston area.I hope you'll follow Latino Outdoors Boston on Instagram and at their Eventbrite link, and don't forget about Solidarity Day, head on over to Summits in Solidarity.org to donate and sign up for a hike! It's not too late to adopt a peak of your own, or tag on to one of the hikes and peaks that have already been claimed by another ally (or learn more and plan to do a fundraising hike of your own another day, just because it's not officially Solidarity Day doesn't mean you can't still stand in solidarity, right??) Let's help Summits in Solidarity reach the top of all of the 4000 footers in New Hampshire, AND their $35K fundraising goal! Latino Outdoors website@latinooutdoors_boston on InstagramLatino Outdoors Boston - Eventbrite>> Summits in Solidarity - Solidarity Day sign-up 

Jose Gonzalez is a professional educator, conservationist, artist, community builder, the co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath, and founder of Latino Outdoors. We had the opportunity to sit down with Jose to discuss Latino Outdoors, making structural changes to our approach to environmental conservation, education, engagement and inclusion, the spectrum of nearby nature to far away wilderness, and the power that comes when we build constellations, not stars.

September 6, 2022--Host Hannah Bird speaks with Esme Plascencia of Latino Outdoors and Azucena Chavez-Huerta of the Blue Zones Project Mendocino about how we can break down barriers to access green spaces, and find out about some hidden gems to explore in Mendocino! Warning – you may be inspired to take a hike after this show!

This month our guest is Felicia "POD" Hermosillo! We introduce POD and do a quick check up on what we've been up to this month then get right into our main topic. The guys learn a new word, Minoritized, and how that differs from Minority, how it is ok to make mistakes when you are trying to be inclusive, being uncomfortable talking about JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion ) topics is alright, being uncomfortable is how we grow, POD's Spanish language articles on Treeline Review, how to use the social media algorithm to elevate minoritized voices, mention a few Instagram accounts of minoritized individuals that YOU can follow, and little things that you can do to not be a jerk and make the outdoors a more welcoming place for others. Minoritized Voices to Follow on Instagram: Emily on Trail, Akuna, Trevor Noah, Melanin Basecamp, Chardonnay, Latino Outdoors, Black People Hike, Unfilter the Outdoors, Zelzin “Quetzl” Aketzalli, The Daily Show Podcasts to Check out: Codeswitch & Throughline Follow POD on Instagram: @felicialhermosillo Follow The Trail Show on Instagram: @thetrailshow Check out Treeline Review for all your outdoor review needs We need a logo for the podcast! Please reach out if you are artistically inclined or know someone who is. Contact us! Email: adventuringformeremortals@gmail.com Insta: @meremortalpod Discord: https://discord.gg/RkvwxAeyVF Trev's Insta: @trevorbollmann Photo Credit for the Episode Thumbnail: Steven Shattuck @shattuck311

Organizations like Latino Outdoors and Here Montana are expanding access to the outdoors across the Rocky Mountain West — giving people of color opportunities to get out and recreate that may not have been there before. Elinor Smith reports on efforts to expand outdoor access to everyone. Through programs focused on community outreach and building, students of color and people across Missoula are able to get outdoors and try new things.    The Second Look is reported and edited by Elinor Smith.   Questions? Comments? Email us at editor@montanakaimin.com   A podcast from the Montana Kaimin, University of Montana's independent, student-run newspaper. 

I spoke with Karla Amador on Mar 7, 2022. We spoke about how getting out in nature not only is great for our physical health but also our connection to our spiritual well-being.  Being in nature can bring us many things and it is different for everyone. She speaks about how her company was formed and is currently inspiring others on her love of hiking.  Karla shares how intuition has become a key way of living her life. BioKarla Amador is a speaker, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the 52 Hike Challenge; aglobal movement empowering hundreds of thousands of people around the world toget outdoors and take advantage of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritualbenefits gained through hiking once a week for a year.Since the 52 Hike Challenge launch in December of 2014, over 60,000 participants havejoined the challenge. Together, with the community she has created a culture ofsupport, which can be seen in over 845,000 images shared under the hashtags#52HikeChallenge through #52HikeChallenge2022 on Instagram alone.The 52 Hike Challenge has garnered much attention. It has partners like the NationalPark Service, Latino Outdoors, and Sierra Club to name a few. Sponsors include: REI,Oboz Footwear, Tec Labs and more.Karla holds a BA from California State University Fullerton in Communications with aminor in Business. In 2020 Karla was named “Woman of the Year” in Small Business bythe National Hispanic Business Women Association. She has been named “30 under 40:Future Leaders in Special Events” by Special Events Magazine. She has been a keynotespeaker at “Mindfulness Expo,” "Startup Weekend," "Women 2.0," California StateUniversity Fullerton, SheVentures, REI, and has been featured in various publications,network tv shows and podcasts as an expert in hiking and entrepreneurial leadership.

We are back for a new year of amazing stories and I can't wait for all the conversations taking place this year on Open Space Radio! To kick off 2022, I'm thrilled to welcome someone who is making some big waves in the outdoor recreation industry. Dani Reyes-Acosta is a mountain athlete and storyteller rewriting the narrative of who plays outside and how we build community with others on this planet. Originally from Southern California, she has traveled through Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Andorra, Canada and the U.S. building her mountain craft since 2014, when she graduated from corporate life with a one-way ticket to South America. A splitboarder, rock climber, mountain runner, and waterwoman, she has been featured in the Washington Post, She Explores, Women on the Road, the Los Angeles Times and regional publications throughout the American West. Currently partnered with Protect Our Winters, Salomon, Suunto, Trail Butter, Anon Optics and Athletic Brewing, her mission is to inspire individual action and collective communion through self-care and self-determination found in the outdoors. She also works very closely with Latino Outdoors, whose vision is a world where all Latino communities enjoy nature as a safe, inclusive and welcoming place – a world where the outdoors is a place to share and celebrate stories, knowledge and culture, while growing leadership and an active community of Latino outdoor users, mentors and stewards. Dani's goal as a mountain athlete is to find the limits of her possible, searching for high peaks and ski lines that tell the story of Mother Earth's most impacted places. Tune in to the episode below to learn more about Dani, how her love for the outdoors began, and the mission she is on as an athlete and storyteller exploring the human experience. You'll also learn: How has access to the outdoors has personally played a role in Dani's life. Why human-centered design is so critical when thinking of public spaces. The importance of being a responsible steward of the land and how local park and recreation professionals can provide educational opportunities around environmental stewardship. How park and recreation professionals can support both tourism and their local community members in their parks and programs. How we can use our power to create space for those who have historically been underrepresented or left out of outdoor recreation conversations. What Dani's most proud of thus far in her work, and much more! Related Links: Follow Dani on Instagram Connect with Dani on LinkedIn Dani's website Protect Our Winters Latino Outdoors

The clothing retail industry is not known for being climate friendly. The textile industry, as a whole,  emits 1.2 billion tons of carbon and uses five trillion liters of water per year.Dawnielle Tellez, an EDF Climate Corps alum, is candid and thoughtful about the challenges of making the outdoor apparel industry more sustainable. “What's been tough for me to realize is that at the end of the day, the outdoor industry and broadly apparel industry is reliant on fossil fuels,” she  tells Yesh Pavlik Slenk. She finds reasons for hope, though. Tellez says the circular economy, the adoption of lower carbon materials, and scaling decarbonization are exciting, emerging ways the apparel industry will be reducing negative environmental impacts going forward.  Tellez advises people looking to get into sustainability careers to set goals, ask for informational interviews, and explore the kinds of degrees she and other sustainability specialists have pursued. “The space is just wide open right now,” she says. “I feel like you can really carve out whatever it is that you want.”Tellez fights social challenges as well as climate change—particularly the historical exclusion of marginalized groups from outdoor activities.  She hopes to see them become more visible and included in the outdoor imagination—some of which is modeled by high-profile outdoor apparel companies like REI.“Looking to groups that are bringing access and knowledge of sport, [such as] Black Girls Run, Outdoor Afro, Latino Outdoors, organizations that are doing incredible work to build community amongst different BIPOC groups is, I think, hugely valuable to how we're going to be able to make the outdoors actually accessible for all people going forward.”Resources mentioned in this episode:REI: A Sustainable Future, REI's blog about their sustainability initiativesGRID Alternatives: GRID Alternatives. Dawnielle worked for this nonprofit, which provides affordable solar panels to low-income communities.EDF: Climate CorpsGreenBiz: The 2021 GreenBiz 30 Under 30Black Girls Run:Black Girls Run. Outdoor Afro: Outdoor AfroLatino Outdoors: Latino OutdoorsAdditional information: EDF's Supply Chain Solution CenterREI's 2020 Impact Report (its corporate sustainability report) Nature: The price of fast fashionWorld Resources Institute: Apparel Industry's Environmental Impact in 6 GraphicsUSC Diving: USC Dornsife Scientific Diving, Dawnielle's 2012 blog post about scientific diving at USCFollow EDF:Not yet receiving the Degrees newsletter? Join us here! Twitter: EDF (@EnvDefenseFund)Facebook: Environmental Defense FundInstagram: environmental_defense_fundLinkedIn: Environmental Defense Fund

October 12, 2021--Talking About California presents the last of four programs in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month 2021. Hosts Loreto Rojas and Cal Winslow interview three Mendocino County Latino leaders and activists who report on the work done in the last years to improve the access to health, information and services by the Latinos in our county. Roseanne Ibarra is a spokesperson for the Mendocino Latinx Alliance, a leadership group that provides a voice for the aspirations, needs and concerns of the Latinx community in Mendocino County, as well as a place to inform and grow leaders. She is also a founding member of the Mendocino Diversity, Equity & and Inclusion Task Force, formed in 2020 following community outcry regarding disparities magnified during the Pandemic. Keily Becerra serves as a commissioner on the Citizens Commission tackling the potential Fort Bragg name change. In addition, she is the program manager for the Promotores de Salud de Nuestra Alianza de Willits. Esme Plascencia created the local chapter of Latino Outdoors, a national group working to inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities with the outdoors and nature and embrace cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative, ensuring our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented.

Our nation is becoming more diverse thanks to growth among Latinx, Asian and multiracial Americans. Diversity is our nation's single greatest strength. Nowhere is this more true than in California where the Latinx community is now the largest racial or ethnic group in the Golden State - representing 39% of the population. And yet, if you go to a national park or recreation area, the vast majority of visitors are white. Rather than get derailed by ridiculous racist tropes, like people of color don't like the outdoors, José González started Latino Outdoors as a way of meeting communities, families and individuals where they're at.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this weeks' Nevada Wild, Aaron Keller and Ashley Sanchez are joined by NDOW Outdoor Connection Coordinator Bobby Jones and Outings Leader for Latino Outdoors Dagmar Galvan to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month. Dagmar tells us about her background and how she came to Las Vegas to pursue her career. The group has a great discussion on the importance of outdoor experiences for young and old. As a Latino Outdoors Outings Leader, Dagmar explains how she plans to engage with Latinx communities and share her passion for teaching the rich cultural history and archaeology that the Southwest and its environment has to offer.

Hunter, angler and conservationist Bianca McGrath-Martinez first drank the volunteerism Kool-Aid when she was serving with AmeriCorps. Today, her professional life (with MANY volunteer hours across different groups) is spent working towards an inclusive conservation movement with a program called Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors. 2:00 HECHO; Latino Outdoors Colorado 5:00 Growing up with a negative perception of hunting, and then the slow process of changing your mind as an adult 8:00 How you become comfortable with something that your family has traditionally been very cautious about, like firearms 13:00 Fly-fishing... can open the gate to other sporting disciplines 16:00 The backstory of the American conservation movement, it can sound rosy and peachy -- but there's also racism, censure, and genocide there, too 17:00 Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors - a policy-driven group that advocates for the conservation of wild lands in the Southwest 20:00 Parks podcast, Ashley's recommendation on a frank history of National Parks 23:00 Why it's important to re-teach ourselves American history through a historically accurate lens 28:00 The importance of bringing conservation (and sporting) to elected officials and other leaders 30:00 Find HECHO on Facebook, Instagram, and via their online newsletter 31:00 Cocktails and Conservation event in Utah in October. Keep track of HECHO events here. 32:00 Translating hunting/fishing regulations into Spanish 37:00 Bianca on the Your Mountain podcast, a great listen 38:00 Volunteerism accomplishes SO MUCH in the outdoors space. Check out Latino Outdoors' Yo Cuento blog, the group's job board, etc 43:00 Women's Wilderness  (and their Trailblazers program) 45:00 "I did AmeriCorps... and I think I just sort of drank the Kool-Aid when it comes to volunteerism." 50:00 Tarpon fishing! Large, ancient, big-fighting fish 54:00 Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Ranching for Wildlife program -- an access program for new hunters on private lands 1:02 An upcoming Artemis episode... bowhunting with a baby or a toddler (yes... hunting WITH a baby/toddler, like, on your back)

Bianca “Mo” McGrath-Martinez This week Dave and Nephi sit down to talk with Bianca "Mo" McGrath-Martinez of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) to address the importance of diversity in the R3 discussion. Topics include barriers to becoming a hunter, how Bianca got into hunting, buying her first firearm, mentors, her mountain, and so much more. Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) was created to help fulfill our duty to conserve and protect our public lands for future generations.  We provide a platform for Hispanics/Latinos to contribute knowledge and perspectives about public land conservation. From southwestern deserts to northern forestland, Hispanics/Latinos throughout America have a strong connection to our nation's diverse landscapes. We urge our elected and appointed leaders to safeguard our precious public lands, so that our children can enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities for generations to come. Social- @hechoonline Latino Outdoors, @latinooutdoors Women’s Wilderness, @womenswilderness Article Referenced- The Nature Gap Your Mountain Podcast, produced by Ben Paige

On our latest show: Sebastian Moreno tells us about Latino Outdoors; we celebrate a milestone for Bird Names for Birds; we listen to an Osprey Audio Postcard; and Mike explains the problems with puddles.

Bianca “Mo” McGrath-Martinez This week Dave and Nephi sit down to talk with Bianca "Mo" McGrath-Martinez of Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) to address the importance of diversity in the R3 discussion. Topics include: barriers to becoming a hunter, how Bianca got into hunting, buying her first firearm, mentors, her mountain, and so much more. Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) was created to help fulfill our duty to conserve and protect our public lands for future generations.  We provide a platform for Hispanics/Latinos to contribute knowledge and perspectives about public land conservation. From southwestern deserts to northern forestland, Hispanics/Latinos throughout America have a strong connection to our nation's diverse landscapes. We urge our elected and appointed leaders to safeguard our precious public lands, so that our children can enjoy fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities for generations to come. Social- @hechoonline Latino Outdoors, @latinooutdoors   Women’s Wilderness, @womenswilderness   Article Referenced- The Nature Gap     Your Mountain Podcast, produced by Ben Paige

Episode 15 features the insightful and engaging Melodie Mendez, outdoors advocate, public relations specialist, NYC Chapter Leader of Latino Outdoors, and all around lovely human being! Mel(odie), a Harlem-resident and NYC native, takes Mel(issa), a once suburbanite now Brooklynite, on a meandering walk all around the beautiful North Woods and Ravine in Manhattan’s Central Park.  Throughout their walk, they talk about all-things diversity, equity, and inclusion and how to work toward a better future at both the individual level and in broader society. Melodie is super passionate about lifting-up and representing her Latinx community and other marginalized populations in the outdoors space, and talks about why that matters, especially now in a post-pandemic world. Mel and Mel also get to geek out a bit on the Appalachian Trail, some NYC fun facts, and some of the extra challenges it takes to be an outdoorsy New Yorker. Please excuse their occasional running out of breath while walking and talking up of some of Harlem’s most notorious hills – they managed to give each other grace throughout and have a bunch of laughs – so here’s hoping you enjoy their walk too! SHOW NOTES / USEFUL LINKS: Gossamer Gear Discount — use code “GIRLGOTTAHIKEGOSSAMER” for a 1-time, 15% off discount on all core products at GossamerGear.com Latino Outdoors New York City Chapter – FacebookLatino Outdoors New York City Chapter – InstagramLatino Outdoors National Organization - WebsiteiNaturalist — app and websiteCentral ParkZogSports  Reclama / Cindy Ramirez – InstagramMelanin Base Camp – InstagramAll Colors in Nature – InstagramNew York Outdoor Recreation CoalitionLenape NationYonkers Running Project – InstagramBoogie Down Bronx Runners – InstagramHarlem Run – Instagram

April 26, 2021--This week on Mendolatino: our relationship with nature and our forests. Hosts Diana Coryat and Loreto Rojas speak with Esme Placencia about her program, Latino Outdoors, and Chad Swimmer, the president of the Mendocino Trail Stewards, about Jackson State Forest. Dr. Coren provides a brief update about the vaccination campaign underway in our County. Este lunes MendoLatino enfocará sobre nuestra relación con la madre tierra y nuestros bosques. Hablarán con Esme Placencia de Latino Outdoors y Chad Swimmer, presidente de Mendocino Trail Stewards, sobre Jackson State Forest. Sintonicen a MendoLatino a las 9 de la mañana!

As the Wisconsin DNR prepares to welcome another warden recruitment class, now, more than ever, diversity in the field is essential to make sure the warden service reflects the communities they serve. In this episode, we hear from DNR Conservation Wardens Vong Xiong and Juan Gomez who come from different walks of life and serve the same mission. Both share how they were introduced to the career field, the experiences they've had and why it's important to have people of color in the warden service. Learn more about becoming a Wisconsin conservation warden: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WardenRecruitment--------------------------------------TRANSCRIPTSARAH HOYE: [00:00:00] From the Wisconsin DNR, this is Wild Wisconsin. Bringing you inside voices on Wisconsin's outdoors.KATIE GRANT: [00:00:17] Welcome back to another episode of Wild Wisconsin Off the Record. I'm your host, Katie Grant. It's a new season. Spring has sprung and we're looking for our newest class of Conservation Wardens. At the Wisconsin DNR, we want to make sure our wardens represent our community. So today we're talking with wardens Juan Gomez and Vong Xiong about their experiences on the job and why diversity matters. So sit back and listen in.All right. Thank you guys for joining us today. On this episode, we really want to talk about what it's like to be a Warden, why you wanted to become a Warden, what some of the challenges are that you face as a Warden and what your favorite part of being a Warden is. So to get started, why don't you guys go ahead and, and each introduce yourselves. Tell me your name, where you're based, the region you cover and kind of, you know, what it is that you do here. Vong let's go ahead and start with you. WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:01:17] Thanks, Katie. Again, I appreciate you having us on the show here and, um... kind of about who I am. My name is Vong Xiong. I'm a Conservation Warden for Jackson County in Wisconsin and I cover all of Jackson County right now.There are two stations, technically one is vacant. So I do cover both sides of the County and, uh, that's... I'm a Field Warden so I spend every day out patrolling, enforcing ATV, boating, snowmobile laws. Uh, whatever the seasons bring is what I enforce. So that's pretty much the sum of what or who I am.KATIE GRANT: [00:01:55] Perfect. And Juan, why don't you go ahead. WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:01:58] Sure I appreciate it. Um, my name is Juan Gomez. I am a Lieutenant with the Department of Natural Resources. I started in 2008 as a Field Warden, very similar to Vong, uh, down in Kenosha. Um, I spent about a year and a half in the Kenosha station before transferring to Walworth County where I spent a larger bulk of my career.Um, when I was a Field Warden down there, um, I covered the county of Walworth by myself for, uh, a pretty extensive period of time, um, engaging with the public and enforcing recreational vehicle enforcement, environmental enforcement, um, uh, and a number of other areas that the department is responsible for.Uh, in 2017, I promoted and I supervise the Field Wardens in Sheboygan and Fondulac County. I've again, been here since 2017, uh, have enjoyed every minute of it. I've had the opportunity now to, uh, use the skills that I learned while in the field and working with the field members that are now, uh, under my supervision to kind of help, uh, you know, mold them to be the best Field Wardens that they can be.KATIE GRANT: [00:03:08] Absolutely. So DNR Conservation Wardens are credentialed law enforcement officers. You guys work across the state and are responsible for enforcing natural resources and recreation safety laws. You also educate the public on conservation topics and help patrol those state parks, forests and trails. Can you guys walk me through a little bit of what a typical day is? If there even is one. WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:03:34] You know, with, with a lot of our presentations, that's probably one of the most common questions that we received. You know, what does a typical day look like? And quite honestly, there is no typical day. So for example, right now, the fishing season is starting to become really hot. You know, fish are starting to swim up river and, and people are really starting to catch fish.I might be out there with the intention of working fishermen today, you know, checking licenses, checking bag limits, and, and that kind of enforcement. But my, um, direction might be changed. Like a couple of weeks ago when I had to respond to a vehicle that was on fire in the state park. So it's one of those situations where something like that can happen in a split second and it could change your day.You know, obviously we work closely with our, with our Sheriff's departments and we get dispatched, um, to help them out, you know, or we get dispatched to a traffic stop to help out the deputy with a traffic stop or whatever the case may be. So it changes almost daily.KATIE GRANT: [00:04:41] For sure. So, you know, when you say you might be out there, uh, checking for licenses, checking bag limits during fishing season, are you just kind of randomly doing that to ensure compliance or, you know, what, what is the, the thought process or the reasoning behind doing kind of random checks like that?WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:05:00] Yeah. So as everybody is aware of, as most people are aware, the Department of Natural Resources is tasked with enforcing laws, making sure that people abide by the regulations set forth by the, by the department to ensure that resources aren't being overused or, or being, um, over-utilized. And that everybody has a fair shake at these opportunities that Wisconsin provides as far as fishing, hunting, um, any of those recreational sports.So by having, or by, by. uh, patrolling and being out there on a daily basis or on a weekly basis, whatever the case may be based on workload. Um, it, it allows the public to see us in a light that is positive because realistically we're, we're checking licenses and, you know, flying the flag, quote-unquote you know, talking to folks from the community and, and showing the community who we are as a person.But the second part of that is to make sure that people do abide by those laws. So that those resources aren't being, um, spent, or aren't being used by somebody that may or may not have already caught their bag limit for the day, or have already caught their bag... uh, I'm sorry. possession limit for the two days that they were fishing.KATIE GRANT: [00:06:19] Right. Yeah. We're... The DNR isn't just some building in Madison or, or wherever. Uh, we're people too. Right? Uh, that's a really great point to make Vong. Both of you took unique paths to becoming Wardens. Juan, you grew up in Chicago in the Humboldt Park neighborhood with little exposure to the outdoors. And I read recently in Latino Outdoors that your family sent you to summer camp in Wisconsin to keep you away from gangs. How did your summer camp experience lead to your interest in the outdoors? WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:06:52] Sure. So, um at about the age of 11 in my local church, there was an opportunity for, uh, for me to go to a summer camp in Eagle River, Wisconsin and my family jumped on that opportunity, uh, just to get me out of the neighborhood.Uh, the neighborhood that we lived in was at that time, pretty rough, uh, with multiple, uh, gang units in the area and not necessarily gang units that, or, uh, for one another either. There is always gunshots at, at night, there was always rival gang, uh, issues that we had to deal with. Um, you know, I, I was always directed to be home before the lights got, uh, when went on in the street lights.Uh, so I had to make it home in the evening. Uh, just, uh, keep myself safe from getting involved with, uh, any of the crossfire or any of the fights that were happening with the local gangs. Um, so, you know, my family quickly realized that the environment that we lived in, uh, wasn't what they wanted me to be around.Uh, so they sent me away to the summer camp where, uh, it was my first exposure to the natural resources and the outdoors. Um, it was a recreational youth camp, uh, where we did everything from swimming, fishing, uh, kayaking, canoeing, uh, taking trips down the Wisconsin River in canoes and kayaks. Um, and archery and... and you name it. Um, so that, that was my first kick at the can here with the outdoor adventures, uh, that the great state of Wisconsin has to offer. KATIE GRANT: [00:08:25] Yeah. And I also read that you had, you know, an interesting ride home from college your freshman year. What did you see that changed your life path? Can you tell us a little bit about that story?WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:08:36] Sure. So, uh, obviously with my great experience in Wisconsin, I chose to, uh, go to a college in Wisconsin and, uh, of all colleges I picked UW  Lacrosse, uh, which is on the western side of the state, right along the Mississippi River there. And during my freshman year of college, I was driving home for our Thanksgiving break.And, uh, during that time of year, it's obviously our traditional nine-day gun deer season. And that was really my first exposure to hunting. Uh, I was, I was about 18 or 19 years of age at that time. I'd never seen, uh, you know, the number of dead deer that I had seen that day on my drive home. Uh, it sparked a, uh, you know, uh, a spark... something that caused me to go and ask my advisor at the multicultural office, uh, to learn what was going on. Because again, it just was very odd to me at the time, uh, to see all these dead deer being transported on vehicles. So on my, on my return, back to school that following Monday or Tuesday, uh, having my interactions with the multicultural advisor that I had, I had asked them what was going on.And he says, well, you haven't heard of the traditional nine-day gun season here in Wisconsin. It's huge. And I'm like, no, I've never, I've never, I've never heard of it. I've never seen it. Don't know what you're talking about. Um, so he encouraged me to take the Hunter Safety program and, uh,  I took them up on that.I took Hunter Safety that following spring, and, uh, that following fall, he introduced me to his deer camp, uh, where I have grown to be really good friends with him and his, his group of hunters that he hunts with and have had opportunities to return back to deer camp, to hunt with them, uh, since becoming a Conservation Warden.And then it's just something that has grown on me that, uh, uh, you wouldn't believe. I've taken everything on from deer hunting to trapping, to, uh, upland bird hunting. And those are all things that I would have never participated in had I not had that experience on my drive home from the university, uh, and nor had I had asked my advisor about what was taking place.KATIE GRANT: [00:10:51] For sure. So that made you interested in the hunting side of it. What was it ultimately that made you want to become a Conservation Warden? WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:10:58] Sure. So, you know, obviously during my Hunter Ed Pro... uh, course that I had to take, uh, as Wardens, we go into these courses and provide generally an hour, an hour and a half presentation.And that was actually my first exposure to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Warden. Uh, you know, prior to that, I had never engaged with one, uh, here in Wisconsin, nor down in Illinois. Uh, I wasn't really aware of what the position was or what they did. Uh, so after their presentation, it sparked an interest, uh, in me that I actually started doing a little bit of research of what a Warden was and what they, what they're responsible for and what they do on a day-to-day basis.Uh, my, my research led me to want to do ride alongs. Uh, cause as a, as an agency, we do provide ride alongs for those that are 16 years of age and older. And I participated in two ride alongs with Wardens, just to get a perspective on what the job was like. Um, I took the opportunity to take the, uh, ride along in Eagle River, uh, and the Eagle River, Three Lakes area.Because at that time, uh, during my university years, I was, uh, working at the summer camp that I attended when I was a young child. Um, and I also took the opportunity to ride along with a Warden down in the Kenosha, Walworth area. Uh, because my wife, my now wife was from Kenosha and, uh, I just happened to be visiting her down there and made an appointment to do a ride-along with the Warden that was stationed down there at that time. And during my interactions with these Wardens, it really, uh, enhanced my want to be a Warden. Um, and I just started to prepare myself to apply for positions when positions became available. KATIE GRANT: [00:12:45] For sure. Yeah. Vong, you were born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to the US as a small child before your family settled in Wisconsin. Tell me a little bit about how you became interested in the outdoors. WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:13:00] Yeah, so Katie, um, basically, you know, right there, I was born in a refugee camp. Um, my family moved multiple times. Uh, every time I asked my mom or, or my dad, the story changes of course, but, um, you know, they list anywhere from five to six times we moved. We landed in Charlotte, North Carolina, and then we moved multiple times ending up in Milwaukee and then moving eventually to Oshkosh, Wisconsin.And that's where a lot of my family resides. So as far as cousins, uncles, and stuff like that. Um, so a lot of the Hmong community, as most Wisconsinites know, are really big into hunting and fishing. I never got into hunting mainly because my mom was concerned about firearms. She was not fond of firearms.So I did not hunt growing up. But I participated in fishing and that comes from, you know, hanging out with my cousins, my uncles, my brothers, we fished all the time growing up. And that was primarily what sparked my interest in the outdoors was, was the fishing aspect. And of course, growing up in the, uh, childhood that I did.Coming from where I came from, we didn't have money. We didn't have money to spend on luxury items. So we obviously didn't have money to spend on snowmobiles, ATVs, boats, any of that stuff, because that's, that's really expensive to begin with. But we also didn't have those connections, even to folks that had access to those kinds of items.You know, obviously, I had friends at school that had access to those items. But being that I felt like I was different than everybody else. It was hard to connect with folks and, and reach out and, and kind of step out of my comfort zone to do some of those kinds of things. So I never got into that stuff until I became a Warden.Um, but prior to me becoming a Warden, um, when I graduated high school, I had wanted to get into law enforcement. And what really got me interested in law enforcement to begin with was a class that I took in high school. It's called Everyday Law. You learn about the constitution. You learn about policing in America.Um, you learn about, you know, laws that pertain to just every day, uh, lives. So, you know, something as simple as parking laws, something as simple as, um, speeding vehicle laws, any of that stuff. So that's, that's primarily what got me interested in the law enforcement realm. And then I attended Fox Valley technical college and obtained my criminal justice degree in law enforcement.And from there, I didn't, I still, uh, at this point, did not know that Conservation Wardens existed.  Much like Juan it wasn't until much later in my life that I learned about what Wardens were or what they even did. I actually remember this day vividly because it got me really interested. I was fishing on the banks of the Fox River in Oshkosh, uh, fishing for catfish at night.I think it was about nine or I think it was about eight or nine o'clock at night. And as I was leaving, I was with my cousin and his girlfriend and we were leaving and two officers came up to us and asked for fishing licenses. And I thought they were police officers and I thought they were, um, you know, city police officers checking fishing licenses.And it, it didn't dawn on me until I looked at the badge and looked at the patches and realized, wait, these aren't police officers, these are, these are Wardens. What, what are Wardens? So I started asking a couple of questions. And from there, it really got me interested now that, you know, now I had, instead of one route where I was going to go into law enforcement, I'll add two routes that I could go.Um, Knowing that Conservation Wardens do enforce laws. Um, and they do protect the public, you know, just like police officers do, um, with the specific direction of protecting the natural resources. So from there I attended, graduated from the Police Academy at Fox Valley technical college. Then I attended UW Oshkosh for my bachelor degree.And in attending UW Oshkosh, I took environmental courses like geology, geography, um, you know, you name it, just any of those, uh, any of those environmental courses. And so through those courses, I learned more about, you know, carbon footprint, the human impact on our natural resources, the importance of why we have natural resource departments to maintain.The integrity of those ecosystems. And that really got me interested because we are at a time right now where we can make a difference in how we use the resource, whether it's the biological side of it or the enforcement side of it. Obviously, the rules don't mean anything if we don't have an enforcement branch to it.So, um, with that being said, that really got me interested in and immediately following taken those courses that Spring, the position is opened up for our Deputy Warden position. And that's basically a LTE or a limited-term employment position as a Conservation Warden with the department. And I am, I applied for that and I was successful and was hired and worked on the Mississippi River in Lacrosse.As a Deputy Warden or a, a, an LTE Conservation Warden part-time and I worked with the full-time guys and I gained the experience with the boating, fishing or the boating, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, ATV. Um, I learned a lot about that stuff and my, my climb was very steep, but I learned all that, you know, and I'm still learning today, but, um, I, I learned a lot of that stuff through that job, through that part-time LTE position. And then I was successfully hired as a full-time Conservation Warden in 2018. So that's essentially how I became a Conservation Warden. KATIE GRANT: [00:19:04] Yeah. I think it's really interesting to note that, you know, you, you really started here in that part-time... that LTE position, you know, that, that not being a full-time gig didn't scare you away. Do you feel like that has made you a better full-time Conservation Warden now?WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:19:21] I can tell you if I had gone into applying for a full-time Conservation Warden without ever being in a limited-term or an LTE Conservation Warden I would be 10 steps behind because I wouldn't have had the experiences with boating. I wouldn't have had the experiences with hunting, trapping,  ATV you name it. So that really excelled, I think excelled my application and my resume and not on paper, but in terms of experience and getting into a full-time Conservation Warden already having done the job, um, part-time for two years prior to being hired full time, um, that definitely helped out and it didn't scare me. You know, with a job like this with as much responsibility as Wardens have it didn't scare me, you know, getting into it and saying, holy crap, that's a lot of stuff I have to know. It was man, there's a lot of stuff I have to know and I'm, I'm willing to build on it and, and learn more about all the stuff that I have to enforce.KATIE GRANT: [00:20:28] Yeah, for sure. Juan, you mentioned that, you know, you spent a lot of your career here so far in Walworth County, which, you know, it's a, it's an area that sees a high level of boating traffic. In 2013, you were named the National Boating Law  Enforcement Officer by the National Association of State Boating  Law Administrators.So you've spent a lot of time you know, responding to search and rescue situations, many times involving intoxicated boaters. And you've done a lot of work around educating the public on safe boating. Especially because that boating is so prevalent in the area that you were working in. Why is educating the public on that safety perspective so important? WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:21:10] Sure. With the amount of presence that we as Field Wardens give, uh, we, we typically try and use that as a deterrent from, uh, people making poor decisions while they're out recreating. Um, you know, a number of the accidents that we respond to generally involve, uh, alcohol and or drugs. And if we can get out there and prevent an accident prior to it happening, uh, the better we are, um, uh, as a whole. You know, a lot of times, uh, the investigations that we are involved with, um, once the accident has taken place, it takes a lot of time and resource and energy from, uh, you know, a variety of, uh, individuals, whether it's the Field Wardens or the local Sheriff's department and, or the dive personnel that we have to utilize to recover a body that's now submerged under, underwater. Um, so if we can be out there, provide the presence, be the deterrent and provide a safety message at every contact that we make, um, the better we are as a whole. KATIE GRANT: [00:22:13] Absolutely. Yeah. Changing gears a little bit. Vong, you have two young nephews that you take everywhere. I can totally relate to that. I...my niece, when she was younger was basically my Mini-Me. So I totally get that. Why is getting them to enjoy the outdoors so important to you?WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:22:31] Yeah. So a lot of, well, not just for, um, the future of the department. You know, obviously, we are tasked with, as I mentioned before with, with, uh, the management of the resources, but the only way to continue that management, the only way to continue to ensure that we have access to those resources is, uh, funding obviously.And, and without people, without new faces coming into the sport, the funding obviously will decrease. Over the last decade, we've seen decreases at an average of 2% in recreational sports every year. And that's troublesome because that takes away money from the funding that will essentially manage those resources.So, um, not only is it important from that aspect of it, but from the personal aspect of having these kids get into the outdoors and, and taking that step like I did, out of their comfort zone to enjoy something that really is... as a resource that should be cherished. It's a resource that not everybody has access to.You know, some third-world countries don't have it as well as we do as far as the resource goes. And that's super important in my opinion, with, with that and, and introducing kids to, um, something that is a good pastime. Rather you know, uh, then spending time sitting at home, playing video games all day or, or getting into trouble with uh, drugs, alcohol, whatever the case may be. It gets them into, into the outdoors to enjoy something that will keep them out of trouble and put new faces into the sport as well as, as help manage the resource. KATIE GRANT: [00:24:15] And I think the, the pastime aspect you mentioned is really important. Uh, on our last episode we talked to...well, we talked to, uh, Dr. Shilagh Mirgain from UW Madison about the importance of getting outdoors for mental health. And, you know, right now we're spending so much time on Zoom, so much time on our computers, you know, virtual schooling, virtual work... whatever it may be and so giving them that pastime that gets them outdoors, yeah. Super, super important right now. So, this job isn't always easy. How do you guys take care of yourselves? When the work gets to be heavy emotionally? WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:24:51] Yeah, so I, I can start off. Um, so you see it a lot in the statistics that were published over the last decade, last 20 years with law enforcement and kind of the troubles that law enforcement runs into. And a lot of those involve alcohol. You know, it's a super stressful job. A lot of the decisions you have to make are very difficult and adding alcohol to the mix obviously does not help things. And that's why the suicide rates amongst police officers were so high for such a long time. And they're still really high.Um, the way that I cope with the stress of the job is as I get outside, I get outside and I, I do fish. You know, I participate in fishing. I participate in hunting. I participate in, in boating when I can, um, going for hikes at our state parks, any of that stuff. And then when I get home, say there's not enough time for any of that other stuff.I exercise, you know, I lift weights. I have lifted weights competitively now for, for 10 years, you know, in some fashion. Um, even when I haven't competed, so to speak, I've lifted weights to, to maintain that mental, mental health and mental awareness. WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:26:05] Yeah, for me, I would say that it starts at home with the family. I have a very supportive spouse. Um, she is the bedrock of the family and kind of can tell when I am, uh, kind of drawing that line where I need to get out and do something. Um, because obviously there is a lot of stress, stresses with the, uh, type of work that we get involved in, um, with our investigations, whether it's a, you know, fatal snowmobile or ATV accident or a hunting-related incident that takes place.And, uh, you know, we're dealing with either a deceased individual or a person that was severely injured and now we're having to deal with, you know, not only the investigation, but the emotional sides of that investigation and the families that are, uh, related to the individual that, uh, uh, was either injured or is now deceased.So my wife is very quick to kind of point those items out to me. Uh, and for me, what I ha, what I enjoy to do is to spend as much time outdoors. And actually, I, I enjoy woodland management. Believe it or not. Um, uh, while I was down in Walworth, I managed a 130 acre tree farm. And for me, it's running behind the chainsaw, uh, cutting, cutting wood.And for us now at home, it's for the fireplace, uh, and, or, uh, taking care of the invasives that are out on the property. Um, I also love to be on a lawnmower. Um, you know, between the, uh, the earmuffs and the hum of the machine there's nothing, no other stressors around. And for me, that's a reliever. Um, and then all the added recreational activities that we enjoy.So the hiking with the family, the biking, uh, the playing or throwing a ball with my three kids, um, and getting them involved outside, um, That's really how I kind of cope with the stresses is just, um, you know, interacting with the family as much as I can. And then doing the things that I enjoy doing, where there's very little thought or stress, stresses involved. KATIE GRANT: [00:28:09] Last summer, this country faced a racial reckoning with the spotlight on law enforcement becoming brighter. Were either of you impacted by the national discussion about race and law enforcement?WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:28:20] Katie. I think everybody is impacted by the discussion. Whether you're a police officer, whether you're a civilian, it doesn't really matter because realistically all our lives are governed by the government. Um, whether it's traffic laws, fishing, you know, DNR laws, um, ordinances, any of that stuff, it's governed by that.And whether you have positive or negative interactions with the police. So it impacts everybody. And it's super important to be part of that discussion, whether it's from the law enforcement aspect or it's from the civilian aspect, because change starts with every one of us. WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:29:03] What I would add is that the job has become a little bit more difficult, um, over the, you know, 12 plus years that I've been doing it. And, and as of late, you know, I've had experiences where, uh, individuals are more challenging. Uh, they, they challenge the law enforcement's authority. They challenge, uh, why you're stopping them. They're challenging why you're even having a simple, basic conversation during one of our compliance checks. Um, and that has really, uh, put a dagger into, into the work that we do, um, because the, the joyful conversations that we used to have about, Hey, how's your day going?Oh, how many fish have you caught? Um, you know, how is, how is it today in your world? Um, some of those conversations are no longer taking place and they're much shorter. Um, and they're very more direct and pointed and folks aren't engaged in those types of conversations, because I think that there's this kind of sentiment that they have to be kind of standoffish because now you're the authority.You're here interacting with them and they may be in trouble. Uh, and that's not always the case. You know, you know, 90 plus percent of the people that we deal with on a daily basis are nice people. They're enjoyable to a conversate with, and there's no violations or anything that, uh, we are there to write them a civil forfeiture for. Uh, you know, a lot of times it's just a simple conversation to see how your day's going, see what you have in your basket.Make sure that you're in compliance with the state law. And really just to have a conversation. Um, and I, those days I think are, are, are gone. Um, I, I, like I said, I've noticed a change in our conversations or a context are becoming a little bit more challenging. Um, as we do our work.KATIE GRANT: [00:30:55] You know, if we're being honest, Wisconsin's Conservation Warden service is not super diverse. Right? Why should a person of color want to be a Warden with us here in Wisconsin, if they don't see themselves in that group? If they don't see that diversity there?WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:31:10] A couple of things here. I think if a person has interest in the outdoors and managing or protecting the resource and they have a want to be a law enforcement officer, I don't think that not seeing yourself in those shoes should stop you for a couple of reasons. Because the saying is, if not me then who? If not now, then when? So if you don't take that step forward, nobody else will take that step forward and nothing will change. So don't look at it as, Hey, I don't see anybody that looks like me.Look at it as, this is an opportunity for me to show the world who I am. And for me to be that first person that other folks can look up to, that I can push for that, that you know, that I can push other folks to be.,Um, in the future.KATIE GRANT: [00:32:06] Bringing in more diversity is something that's really important to the DNR right now. Why do you believe having a diverse team of Wardens is crucial and how does it help the DNR better serve the community? WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:32:17] Because I'd start off by saying that if we don't have those diverse backgrounds we're viewing things with tunnel vision, Um, you know, when you look at the recreational activities, people recreate for variety of reasons. And if we were to hire the individuals of alike and they only see it one way, that's how that, that mechanism or that, uh, recreational activity is going to be governed.KATIE GRANT: [00:32:42] Yeah. Vong, did you want to add anything to that? WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:32:45] Yeah, the, um, I guess the only thing I would really add is when we better represent the public, we better represent the trusting relationship that can be there or that is there. KATIE GRANT: [00:32:59] Yeah. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And you know, the Wisconsin DNR serves really everyone who lives works and recreates in Wisconsin. How do you guys connect with people who are different than you while you're doing your jobs? WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:33:11] I really don't look at it as, Hey, you're different than me. I look at, as this is an opportunity to build another relationship with a person of the public. Whether it's somebody that I've talked to before, once before, twice before, whatever the case may be, it's an opportunity to build that relationship, provide my contact information if they ever need or have questions.Um, because really Wardens are here to help out the public. We're here to investigate obviously environmental, uh, crimes, wildlife crimes, and those sorts of things. But, we're a resource that the department has, um, to help out the public. KATIE GRANT: [00:33:52] We'll lighten it up a little bit here. What gets each of you excited to get out of bed and go to work every morning?WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:33:57] I said for me, it's, uh, you know, there's no two days alike. Um, I can. I can anticipate having a game plan for my day and having something pop up that completely changes what I thought I was going to do. Uh, I, I love to engage with my team now that I'm in supervision. Um, I have the opportunity to work with young Wardens that are just starting the career, uh, and provide a different perspective than I do. Uh, they have different ways of doing the job than I'm accustomed to and are always teaching me new tricks. Um, especially with like social media and, um, uh, internet-based investigations, the things that these guys think of, uh, to try and, and develop a case.It's just phenomenal. Those are things that I probably would never think of and, you know, rely on these guys to kind of guide me through some of these and kind of educate me. Um, I love the fact that my office is outdoors. You know, uh, as Wardens, we have mobile offices, you know, we live and breathe in our vehicles.The vehicles that we drive have everything that we need for the day and for the weather and for the circumstance. Um, we rarely spend time inside an office. And in the times that we do spend in the office is generally following up on casework or, uh, reports that we have to write. It's more comfortable sitting at a desk to type a report than it is to be sitting sideways in your, uh, vehicle, uh, trying, trying to type a report. Um, I love how the seasons change. Uh, there there's no, no two seasons alike. I just love uh, the opportunity to work outdoors. I love that I never know what my day's going to bring. WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:35:36] Yeah. I think it aligns a lot with what Juan has is that there's no two days alike. Um, the variety of the job is super fantastic. I mean, it's one where I don't wake up and say, man, it's time to go to my, you know, everyday boring, normal job. It's man. What, what is today going to bring? You know, and that being on your toes constantly is, is really important for not only professional development, but for mental development.Because if you'd never exposed yourself to a new challenge, a new don't learn from the new challenge, you never really change as a person. So that professional development is super important to me. I think we should always strive to be better in any position that we hold. Uh, whether it's coaching, whether it's sports, whether it's your job, you should always strive to be the best person that you can be.Um, not necessarily wanting to promote or anything like that, but just be a better employee. Um, because then people look up to you and. Uh, you know, people look towards you for advice and all that kind of stuff. So the other aspect of it is, is that I wake up and this job is so important because we do enforce and regulate the natural resources.Uh, and we are also coupled with protecting the public. And those two things to me are very important. Obviously, as a person that likes to hunt and fish, I think it's super important that we ensure that we have those natural resources for the future generations. Um, so waking up every day and, and being able to make a difference through every single contact. You know, pulling somebody out of the water that you know, who got overturned and their kayak or the canoe.  Or, um, responding... responding to an ATV crash where somebody breaks a leg and helping transport them out of the trail system so that they can get medical attention and, and start to, to, um, uh, heal. So all of that stuff is super important and that's really what gets me out of bed every day. KATIE GRANT: [00:37:50] What advice do you both have for anyone who's interested in becoming a Warden? WARDEN VONG XIONG: [00:37:55] My advice being that, you know, prior to, uh, being hired part-time in 2016, was don't be afraid to fail. Get into this job. Never be afraid to fail because you only learn from your failures. You'll learn that, hey that didn't work this time. Let me try it again. Next time doing it this way. So you learn from your failures. Um, again, you, you develop that professionalism, you develop that, that resume quote-unquote. And so my advice, my biggest advice is don't be afraid to fail and don't be afraid to take chances. WARDEN JUAN GOMEZ: [00:38:34] And I guess I'll add to that, that, uh, you know, our state has the opportunity to provide individuals with the ride-along opportunities that I spoke with prior.If someone is really interested in knowing what we do or how we do it, or someone is trying to determine if this is the right career path for them, I would encourage them to participate in those ride alongs. Vong had mentioned the LTE program. Uh, I look at the LTE program as a stepping stone to becoming a full-time Conservation Warden.The LTE program allows a person the opportunity to develop the skills that are necessary to be a Conservation Warden. Uh, Vong said it himself that without the LTE position, he would have been a lost soul, uh, coming through the ranks of, uh, as a Warden. Um, so I, I just, always recommend that, uh, you know, if a guy's interested in this position that they utilize the LTE position as that stepping stone to learn the job, uh, try and get, you know, a feel for what Wardens do for a day-to-day basis and apply the skills that they learned during that during their time in that position to better themselves in the interview process.Uh, or promote themselves during that interview process so that they're successful candidates getting offered the full-time position. KATIE GRANT: [00:39:57] The application period to become a Warden is now open through April 25th. Visit dnr.wi.gov and search "Warden Recruitment" for more information and to apply today. SARAH HOYE: [00:40:10] You've been listening to Wild Wisconsin. A podcast brought to you by the Wisconsin DNR. For more great episodes listen and subscribe to Wild Wisconsin wherever you get your podcasts.

In today's episode, Jason talks with Claudia Pineda Tibbs and Jonny González of Latino Outdoors. Claudia is a member of the Advisory Board who works at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California leading sustainability efforts and helping make ocean conservation more culturally relevant and inclusive. Jonny serves as a volunteer for the Latino Outdoors chapter in Salt Lake City and shares his passion for entomology, herpetology, and outdoor recreation with others through his work at a natural history museum. Claudia and Jonny speak to the need for diversity and inclusion in conservation, how we can increase participation in outdoor recreation, and how the hunting community can make the outdoors a more welcoming space. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conservationunfiltered/support

Join drag queen Lady J Monroe and news anchor JC Estrada for Wey, ¿Sabes Que? A podcast about everything Latinx queer. Órale Wey Rewind!Grab your tent. Light up the campfire. We're talking with Latino Outdoors' and proud Latino Albert Arévalo. In our 'tea session,' Paulina Rubio's Latin Billboard Awards performance, a new Spanish-version of Jolene, Lady J's new jewelry and more. Let's get the chisme started. FOLLOW US: ➡️ Wey ¿Sabes Que? Podcast➡️ JC Estrada @Mr_JCE➡️ Julio Acevedo @_julio_aka_ladyj_OUR GUEST: ➡️ Albert Arévalo TWITTER @BertInNature➡️ Albert Arévalo IG @betomayonezaJOIN THE CONVERSATION: #WeySabesQue#OraleRewindOUR SPONSORS: ➡️ LATINX HISTORY PROJECT ➡️ DJ ALEX

There are many health benefits to being outside and  involved  in physical activities.Latinos are underrepresented in sponsored recreational and outdoor activities.Latinos Outdoors sponsor outdoor and physical activities for Latino families and youth.Latino Outdoors are responding to Covid19 by going to virtual activities and small group activities.Latino Outdoors, depends on volunteers,  if you want to volunteer or donate contact Latinooutdoors.org 

La misión de la organización Latino Outdoors tiene algo muy claro: unir todas aquellas cosas que nos hacen ser una comunidad.

Latino Outdoors' José González is an experienced educator in formal and informal education settings with an array of associated interests in the arts, education, conservation, and the environment. He has broad experience as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. His teaching credential coursework was at the Bilingual Multicultural Education Department at California State University, Sacramento.As a public school teacher, he taught courses in Spanish, Social Studies, Behavior Intervention for at-risk youth, and English Language Development in middle school and high school settings. As a Program Coordinator at San Jose State University with the California Mini-Corps Program, he trained and led groups of undergraduate students providing direct instructional services to migrant students in partner school districts and in outdoor education programs. At the University of Michigan, School of Education, he was an instructor for science education in their undergraduate program. Recently, at the National Hispanic University, he has taught course on Science Methods, Math Methods, Primary & Secondary Language Development, Latino Culture, and Technology Integration at the Teacher Education Department. Latino Outdoors is a community first and an organization second. They are a community that strives for an outdoors that is safe and welcoming for all people, regardless of race, creed, nationality, language, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. They also are a community that celebrates diverse forms of outdoor engagement. and a community that believes meaningful outdoor experiences make us stronger, healthier, and happier.José founded Latino Outdoors to provide for a focused conversation on the Latinx experience without being limited to it. Our community’s voices are varied while remaining united in celebrating diversity and declaring it a core tenet of Latino Outdoors.Latino Outdoors' José González looks forward to opportunities and collaborating with organizations seeking to diversify their outdoor and conservation programs. He is available for trainings, workshops, and speaking engagements around these topics.

As the world prepares for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the Latinx community will seek meaningful ways to commemorate the historic occasion by visiting parks and cleaning up our environment. Albert Arevalo of Latino Outdoors will share ways you can contribute and enjoy our country's parks, along with responsibilities we all have when visiting them.

“None of us are well, until all of us are well.”  José González returns to his alma mater, University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability (formerly School for Natural Resources and Environment) to speak on Wayfinding Cultural Connections: From Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to Decolonizing. Photo credit: SEAS Office of DEI José González, … Continue reading Latino Outdoors: José González on Representation in the Outdoors →

On this week's episode, Luis Villa, Director of Latino Outdoors, joins the Green Gang to talk about how to make nature a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for all people. Latino Outdoors is a unique Latinx-led organization working to create a national community of leaders in conservation and outdoor education. Started in California, Latino Outdoors is now an international volunteer movement.Let's face it: mainstream environmentalism is too white. But that is not because people of color don't care. (Polling suggests the opposite: that people of color express more protective sentiments on issues like climate change than white people.) Rather, people of color are missing from mainstream environmentalism because they have been excluded. The Green Gang believes that all people have an inherent love of nature. Discovering or reawakening that love requires getting into natural spaces and feeling like you belong there.Support the show (https://www.humboldtbaykeeper.org/get-involved/donate)

José G. González is the Founder of Latino Outdoors. He is an experienced educator as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He is also an illustrator and science communicator. His commentary on diversity and environmental/outdoor equity has been featured by High Country News, Outside Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and Latino USA, among others. He engaged in collaborations with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior, and the National Park Service during the Obama Administration. He also represented Latino Outdoors in several coalitions including the Latino Conservation Alliance, the Next 100 Coalition, and California Parks Now. He has been recognized with several honors, including the National Wildlife Federation Environmental Educator Award, Grist Magazine “Grist 50”, and The Murie Center Spirit of the Muries, among others. You may have also seen him in various outdoor spaces or read his poetic musings. He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. Want to start your own cause-based podcast? Let’s get you launched!! For more details on how you can work with me 1-on-1 to get your show up and running, please visit http://www.ASustainableMind.com/launch In this episode Marjorie and José González discuss: The importance of having minorities represented in the outdoor community - as participants and as leadership The challenges that some communities encounter regarding outdoor access and how to overcome those challenges How strategic partnerships play into building a more racially diverse outdoor community and why not just commitment, but alignment, plays a key role in success partnership success How to support youth in building healthy relationships with nature Resources from Jose: Four Network Principles for Collaboration Success by Dr. Jane Wei-Skillern and Dr. Nora Silver  Dr. Carolyn Finney, author of Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by Adrienne Maree Brown Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer  @TheNapMinistry Connect with José González & Latino Outdoors: José González: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josebilingue/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/josebilingue/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josebilingue/ Latino Outdoors: latinooutdoors.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/LatinoOutdoors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatinoOutdoors/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinooutdoors/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latino-outdoors     Connect with Marjorie Alexander: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asustainablemind/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SustainableMind Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asustainablemind/ Website: asustainablemind.com Subscribe, Rate & Review ASM on Apple Podcasts: http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1039692339

In episode 17 of in our tribe we are joined by Jose Gonzalez, Founder of Latino Outdoors. During our time together Jose shared how Latino Outdoors is fulfilling a vision where all Latino communities enjoy nature as a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place- a world where the outdoors is a place to share and celebrate stories, knowledge, and culture, while growing leadership and an active community of Latino outdoor users, mentors, and stewards. Latino Outdoors has 19 chapters throughout the United States and growing fast. Listen in to see how you can get involved. 

I decided to sit down and chat with the founders of Black Girls Trekkin about diversity in outdoor communities and how they started their group.Show Notes ► Jazzed About Nature PodcastCreator/Writer/Host: Jasmine D. Lowe Website: http://calrecycle.ca.gov Blog: https://jazzedaboutstuff.com/ Message me: jasmine@jasminedlowe.com ► Content Mentioned in This Episode:Black Girls Trekkin -- https://blackgirlstrekkin.com/Black Girls Trekkin Instagram -- @blackgirlstrekkin https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlstrekkin/AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/Outdoor Afro https://outdoorafro.com/Latino Outdoors https://latinooutdoors.org/Unlikely Hikers https://jennybruso.com/unlikelyhikers/Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge https://sixpackofpeaks.com/socal/The Queer 26 https://theq26.com/► Music By Uniq- | Chill, Lofi/hip hopSupport the show (https://www.paypal.me/jasminedlowe/10)

Legislating better parking, Southern Hospitality food truck-style, and Latino Outdoors.

Be the good medicine that is needed in the world. Get ready to be blown away by this week's guest, José González. José is an educator, conservationist, artist, and founder of Latino Outdoors. José shares his unique perspective on the word revolution, how to reconnect to nature in our modern world, and why having the courage to express fear and have uncomfortable conversations is the way to create change. Follow José: @josebilingue josegagonzalez.com   Outside by Design is the podcast about the business side of creativity in the outdoor industry. We talk to some of the outdoor industry's finest leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, freelancers, and creatives about crafting a life and career based upon being outside. Follow us on Instagram: @wheeliecreative View episodes, transcripts, and more info about the show: wheeliecreative.com/podcast Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss new episodes every Thursday and leave us a review to let us know what you think about the show!

In the United States, a large country defined by its greatest natural wonders, engaging with nature is considered essential to good health and civic virtue. But African Americans, while representing 13 percent of the U.S. population, make up just 7 percent of visitors to our national parks; Latinos and Native Americans are similarly underrepresented among park attendees. The leaders and staffs of America’s major nature organizations—from park services to foundations to public agencies—are much whiter than the country as a whole. And studies show that non-whites rarely show up in media images of people in the outdoors. What explains this phenomenon? How much of the problem lies in a lack of access to the wild and to parks, and how much involves historic and present-day barriers? And what changes must be made before the people enjoying America’s natural beauty actually look like America? REI marketing executive Myrian Solis Coronel, Latino Outdoors founder José González, North Carolina State University environmental sociologist Myron Floyd, and writer and hiker Rahawa Haile visited Zócalo to participate in a Zócalo/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County panel discussion on how to diversify access to the natural world, held at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

A beginner's guide of sorts to advocating for land we can all love and enjoy. This week, we’re back camping with Amanda Machado, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), and 13 women who are passionate about learning about championing public land. Women featured in this episode: Special reporter Amanda Machado (learn more at brownenvironmentalist.org); Laura Torres, Megan Hernbroth, Amy Wong, Aracelli Hernandez, Briget Underwood, Christine Mariano, Grace Rougier, Jenifer Mendez, Jenny Lopez, Nanci Torres-Poblano, Maricela Rosales, Miyuki Gomez, Michelle Magalong, Rebeca Contreras, and Sally Garcia. Hosted by Gale Straub In this episode, you'll hear: Camper Amy Wong's story of love of the outdoors and public land starting in her own backyard Why public lands matter to the women attending a campout with the NPCA The unique relationship women of color have with parks How to make the outdoors more accessible to all people How the outdoor industry is gradually changing and the importance of brands getting behind issues of accessibility to public land Steps the NPCA recommends to get started with advocacy for public land The impact sharing the outdoors with people you love has on your life and public land A summary of tangible action steps for getting involved Sponsors & Codes: Ridge Wallet: Get 10% off (and free worldwide shipping) at checkout with code EXPLORE Sawyer: Enter giveaway at She-Explores.com/sawyer Ritual - Ritual.com/explore Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Visit She-Explores.com Resources mentioned in this episode: National Parks Conservation Association: Website NPCA Advocacy Amanda Machado: Portfolio Brown Environmentalist She Explores Episode 19: Finding Your Voice to Speak for Public Land Brown People Camping Latino Outdoors Brothers of Climbing Melanin Basecamp She Explores Facebook Group Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Lee Rosevere, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel via freemusicarchive.org with a CC by A license.

Caro Luevanos-Garcia believes the key to closing the gaps between generations can be found in the outdoors. And she also believes the inverse: that people across generations can find the outdoors with the help of each other. Caro started hiking, backpacking, and running when she retired from a career in corrections at the age of 50. Now 56, she’s run 26 half marathons in 18 states. She loves backpacking. She’s hiked Half Dome twice and section-hiked 90% of the John Muir Trail. In short, she’s made up for lost time. Now that she's discovered that love, she wants to share it with her grandson to make sure he's comfortable in the outdoors from a young age. Women Featured in this Episode: Carolina Luevanos-Garcia. Follow her on Instagram @abuelaafuera & @carohikedhere. Read her writing on her blog. Hosted and produced by Gale Straub. In this episode, you'll hear: How Caro's relationship with the outdoors (as a first-generation American) was influenced by her parents Barriers to more traditional outdoor activities for some people of color Why Caro started running and hiking before retirement at 50 Advice Caro has for her younger self How saying yes has benefited Caro in her retirement Caro's philosophy on the benefits of older people taking younger people into the outdoors Why the outdoor industry should represent more older people in their marketing A call-to-action from Caro that will help diversify outdoor spaces Enjoy this episode? Rate us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. It’ll help other people find us. Sponsored by Subaru. Learn more at www.meetanowner.com and follow along on Instagram: @subaru_usa Join the She Explores Podcast community on Facebook. Visit She-Explores.com Links mentioned in this episode: Caro's Instagram: @abuelaafuera Latino Outdoors Outdoor Afro Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays-- subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode. Music for this episode is by Swelling, Josh Woodward, Kai Engel, and Lee Rosevere via freemusicarchive.org. Music is also by Dobsy.

Ever feel like you need permission to try something new? We talk with Amanda Machado, author of the Vox essay "The Strangeness of Being a Latina who Loves Hiking." Amanda brings up the astute point that we so often look around us for permission to take a risk, when we just might not find it within our close circles. Amanda's advice? Go for it anyway. We talk with Amanda about growing up in Florida, how she got into hiking and backpacking, and traveling the world in her 20's. Most importantly, we find out what she's passionate about right now, the ways in which she's merging her interests and her communities, and how she's using her talents as a writer to reach people. Learn more on the episode page via she-explores.com/podcast. Read Amanda's writing via her portfolio site, www.amandaemachado.com. Donate to Latino Outdoors and learn more about their mission. Music is by Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Chris Zabriskie via Freemusicarchive.org Thanks to our sponsor, Oru Kayak. Links mentioned in this episode: Amanda's Portfolio Vox Article: The Strangeness of Being a Latina Who Loves Hiking Latino Outdoors She Explores Podcast Facebook Group

In 2016, we conducted an extensive series of interviews and surveys to find out how OIA—the outdoor industry’s membership trade association—can best support outdoor companies. What we learned is that our members see us as a convener—the unifying entity best equipped to galvanize the industry around three important issues: policy, participation and sustainable business. We then identified individuals who are already working to move the needle on those issues within their respective companies.    We’ve all heard the stereotype: "The outdoors is for old white guys." James Edward Mills, a freelance journalist and photographer, and Jose Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors, are out to change that perception, one outdoor experience at a time. Together, they’re a force for diversity in the outdoor industry, and they’re not stopping until the demographics of the outdoor recreation population reflect those of the American populace.   Want to learn more about these individuals and the work OIA is doing to foster collaboration throughout the industry and to catalyze change? Visit outdoorindustry.org/outdoorist to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and our Audio Outdoorist podcast.  

Communication, activism, and reflection. In the second part of our series on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the outdoors, we talk with experts to provide practical steps for how organizations AND individuals can cultivate a more inclusive outdoor space. Liz Song of Snowqueen and Scout cohosts with Gale Straub on this special two part series. Featuring Ava Holliday and Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin of The Avarna Group; Elyse Rylander of "Out There Adventures"; Graciela Cabello of "Latino Outdoors" and Miho Aida. Voice memo submissions from Sara Murphy & Monserrat Alvarez. Make sure to listen to part one, "Diversity, Beyond the Buzzword" to fill yourself in on the background of this episode. Learn more on the podcast landing page via www.she-explores.com/podcast. Thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Goal Zero. Music in this episode is by MindsEye, Dr. Rinkel, & Mise. CC by SA

Sometimes, when we're talking about environmental conservation it's difficult to know or even imagine exactly what really mean. That's especially true when we're asked care, I mean really care about remote areas thousands of miles away from where we live work and play. One such place is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In a region of Alaska so remote that it is only accessible by small charter airplane the Arctic Refuge is perhaps the most geographically isolated wilderness area in the continental United States. Very few people will ever visit there, but as the home many different plant and animal species including caribou and grizzly bears this remarkable ecosystem on the shores of the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean is at the forefront of the modern conservation movement. And as a bellwether of the global impacts of climate change the protection of the Arctic Refuge is a major priority for conservation groups like the Sierra Club and many other environmentally focused community outreach organizations. José Gonzalez is the founder of Latino Outdoors. His group aims to help members of the Latino community to become engaged in efforts to protect the natural environment. Along with a leader from Outdoor Afro, a group dedicated to helping African American families forge a bond with the natural world,  José and I had the rare opportunity to travel through the Arctic Refuge. Over the span of seven days we paddled more than 50 miles  along the course of the HulaHula river to experience for ourselves the unique beauty of this vast yet fragile natural habitat. In the hopes raising awareness for the importance of this and other distant wilderness areas this trip was organized to help make a connection with emerging communities of color who will one day be called upon to save them. The Arctic77 photos

Sometimes, when we're talking about environmental conservation it's difficult to know or even imagine exactly what really mean. That's especially true when we're asked care, I mean really care about remote areas thousands of miles away from where we live work and play. One such place is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In a region of Alaska so remote that it is only accessible by small charter airplane the Arctic Refuge is perhaps the most geographically isolated wilderness area in the continental United States. Very few people will ever visit there, but as the home many different plant and animal species including caribou and grizzly bears this remarkable ecosystem on the shores of the Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean is at the forefront of the modern conservation movement. And as a bellwether of the global impacts of climate change the protection of the Arctic Refuge is a major priority for conservation groups like the Sierra Club and many other environmentally focused community outreach organizations. José Gonzalez is the founder of Latino Outdoors. His group aims to help members of the Latino community to become engaged in efforts to protect the natural environment. Along with a leader from Outdoor Afro, a group dedicated to helping African American families forge a bond with the natural world,  José and I had the rare opportunity to travel through the Arctic Refuge. Over the span of seven days we paddled more than 50 miles  along the course of the HulaHula river to experience for ourselves the unique beauty of this vast yet fragile natural habitat. In the hopes raising awareness for the importance of this and other distant wilderness areas this trip was organized to help make a connection with emerging communities of color who will one day be called upon to save them. The Arctic77 photos

In a little more than a month, America’s National Parks System will celebrate its 100th birthday. Outdoors enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate on the centennial: 376 protected areas covering over 83 million acres. But there's still room for improvement. When you look at the people who recreate in America’s national parks, the demographics don't match the diversity that is so prominent in the United States.   José González is out to change that. He leads an organization called Latino Outdoors, whose mission is to "connect familias and youth with nature, engage and inspire Latino leadership, empower communities to explore and share their stories in defining the Latino Outdoors identity."   More on Latino Outdoors - http://latinooutdoors.org/   20% off at bigagnes.com with the promo-code "meister" at checkout.   Purchase a MtnMeister t-shirt here - https://gumroad.com/l/QiebU

Analisa Freitas is an extremely busy Peruvian adoptee and the FIRST non-Korean guest to the Rambler!   She is the Bronx Organizer & Climate Justice Campaign Lead for Faith in New York (FINY), the NY state affiliate of the PICO National Network. She was born in Lima, Peru, adopted at two months old, and raised in California's Central Valley. Analisa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies at Sarah Lawrence College and Lehman College in New York. During her junior year, she returned to her birth country to study sociology and anthropology at Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú in Lima. She experienced a reunion with her birth mother and birth brother, and returned to her indigenous roots in Huari, her birth family's hometown.  Analisa has focused on developing environmental outreach, education, and leadership programs for local underserved communities as a Community Organizer for the Tuolumne River Trust and an East Coast Coordinator of Latino Outdoors. She has also advocated for state- and national-level clean energy policy in her role as Project Coordinator of Voces Verdes, a national Latino grasstops advocacy program under the Natural Resources Defense Council's Center for Policy Advocacy. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Gift of Identity Fund, and is adjunct staff with The Ties Program, a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, and a Natural Leader for the Children & Nature Network's Natural Leader Network.   She is on Twitter at @doingthemost247, @vocesanalisa, and @finyanalisa.  YES, those are ALL her Twitter handles (that I know of).   Songs from A Collective Effort are available at SoundCloud (Http://soundcloud.com/acollectiveeffortmusic/sets/a-collective-effort-mix-bag) and other music of the podcast comes courtesy of Needle Drop Records by the band, The Bell.   Follow me on Twitter @TheRamblerADHD, email me at TheRamblerADHD@gmail.com, and like/share me on Facebook at Facebook.com/TheRamblerADHD.  If you like the podcast, please be so kind as to leave a nice review on iTunes.  Thanks for listening!

On tonight's program we bring you a commentary on the Cuban Five, an update on the federal appeals court case to lift the ban on Mexican American Studies in Tucson, poetry, music from Alejandro y Maria Laura and an interview with Latino Outdoors! Tune in!

Diversity has been a consistent topic on the Park Leaders Show. For this episode, three former guests of the show return to have a panel discussion about diversity. Teresa Baker (founder of African American National Parks Day), Jose Gonzalez (founder of Latino Outdoors) and John Griffith (crew supervisor with the California Conservation Corps) team up to form the first Park Leaders Panel. Together, they discuss why a gap exists between parks and communities of color, how one person can make a difference, and how we can connect urban youth to National Parks far away from their home. After listening to this panel discussion, if you have any questions for the panel members, please leave a comment here on the show notes page, and they will respond. John Griffith has become well known for his dancing videos on YouTube. Just for fun, below is  a video of John dancing: Dance Excerpt from the video "Wildlife: Our Low Maintenance Pets." (click to watch on YouTube)

I know Park Leaders is on a roll when I end up talking with someone like Richard Rojas. It is a sign to me the dots are starting to connect. I was introduced to Mr. Rojas through Jose Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors. I was introduced to Jose through John Griffith of the California Conservation Corps. Unexpectedly talking with Richard Rojas was like stumbling onto a treasure chest. He is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom about park management, and the issue parks are faced with. Richard Rojas had a 32 year career with California State Parks. He rose through the ranks, beginning as a Park Ranger, promoted to Supervising Ranger, Park Superintendent, Chief Ranger, and finally served as District Superintendent for the Channel Coast District from 2000-2007. We talk about diversity, of course since Richard came to be known as the "diversity guy" in California State Parks. But it would not be right to stick to a single topic when talking with someone who has as much experience and wisdom as Richard Rojas. We talk about hiring and managing staff, the need for parks to be more flexible, and what other park systems can learn from the California State Park system. Richard also shares what question he would ask a job candidate if he could only ask a single question. You don't want to miss his answer. He also challenges us to consider what our legacy will be. Resources • California State Parks • Latino Outdoors • Parks Forward  

At Park Leaders we examine issues relevant for park leaders. We have heard from more than one guest on the Park Leaders Show about how important volunteers are to the vitality of parks. There are steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of working with volunteers and they get value from working with you too. I recently read a quote that stood out; “As a Leader, one must sometimes take actions that are unpopular, or whose results will not be known for years to come. They are victories whose glory lies only in the fact they are known only to those who win them.”  This struck me so much I wrote it down so I could reflect on it. I realized it applied to the work we are doing in parks. The results of our work may not be known for years to come, or perhaps never be known at all. It is easy to think of someone like  Jose Gonzalez and the work he is doing with Latino Outdoors. He is in the big arena, fighting to make a difference for relationship between Latinos and Parks. But all victories do not have to be big to be glorious. No matter your role in parks, you are experiencing little victories that advance our mission. Whether you are a park manager balancing a tight budget and a thin staff, a park ranger still learning the ropes, a corps member building a trail, or a volunteer doing work the public may never see, you know the glory of your victories. They may only be small victories right now, but it is the start of something bigger. Working with volunteers was one of the true delights of the last two years of my ranger career. I worked with a wide variety of people from all over the country, each with the own unique story. The park I worked at consistently registered more than 20,000 volunteer hours each year. The park manager was known as “The King of Volunteers”. I learned so much from the volunteers I worked with. There are steps you can take to get the most out of working with volunteers and ensure they get the most out of working with you. I developed this list with camphosts in mind because they are with the staff for an extended period of time. They live with you, work with you, and can make your life so much better. Some of these tips may apply to other volunteers as well. Here are 10 tips for getting the most out of working with volunteers; 10. Take the time to interview them before you put them on the schedule. In the initial talk you will find out there experience and what they hope to get out of the experience. You are also likely to find something that lets you know they would or would not be a good fit.  9. Before you put them to work, schedule an hour or more to sit with them. Use this time to explain your agency, talk about the park and staff, and clearly discuss your expectations. 8. Find out what they actually want to do. If you are scheduling volunteers to be camphosts, do they only want to clean firepits, or do they want to be involved in more. I have had volunteers who wanted to clean firepits and greet campers and nothing more. I have also had volunteers who wanted to be busy 8 hours per day and create something they could be proud of. I worked with one volunteer to create recycling bins that saved hundreds of dollars each year for the park. I also had a camphost who owned a painting company. My natural assumption was I could use him for the backlog of painting projects at the park. After talking with him, he did not want to do any painting. He had painted his whole career and did not want to spend his retirement years painting too. It is important to flush that information out early. 7. Take time to hear their story. I know I am asking you to take a lot time out of your busy schedule to slow down long enough to talk extensively with your volunteers, but you need to hear their story. It is important you have an informal, not official feeling talk with them. Find out their story. This will make them feel welcome and show that you are interested in them, not just the work they will do. Hearing their story will bring out any special skills they have that may help you and the park. Often, there is something more they can do that you haven’t discovered yet. 6. Spend more time with them. After the initial investment in time, you cannot turn them loose and expect to only hear from them when something is wrong and then say goodbye when they leave. You need to spend time with them. Stop by to say hello. Ask them what they are seeing. Find out if they need anything to be able to perform their job. The less time you spend with them, the less likely they are to tell you what is really going on around you. 5. Include them in the Parks story. When volunteers know the history, challenges, goals, and vision of the park they can write themselves into the story. When they write themselves into the story, they will take ownership into their area of responsibility and pride in all areas of the park. Volunteers are the face of the park to many park visitors. Consider how many people will visit your park and never see a Park Ranger. You want volunteers to feel they are part of the overall story of the park.  4. Create an atmosphere where volunteers can get to know each other. At Fort Flagler State Park volunteers had their own break room, laundry facilities, library and more. Volunteers where included in staff meetings, which also helped tie them into the park’s story. This usually worked out so well volunteers would plan their own events and many created friendships they took outside of the park. 3. Create a sense of security. It is important for volunteers to feel they are safe while doing their job. Whatever you need to do to make a volunteer feel safe, do it. Provide cell phone or radio if possible. As best you can, let them know who is working on what days and who is on call when no one is working. Let them know how to get a hold of you when there is an emergency or uncomfortable situation. 2. Motivate, inspire, and include them just as you would with paid staff. You would not expect your paid staff to work unmotivated, uninspired, or feeling like an outsider. I know some park managers do, but not anyone who is ambitious enough to listen to the Park Leaders Show. Volunteers should be treated with the same respect you give to other staff. 1. Recognize them for good work. I don’t believe you should take any staff for granted. No one is ever “just doing their job”, even if they are doing what they are paid to do. Appreciate people. Recognize people. Even if they are doing the exact job outlined in their job description, it goes a long way when you let them know you notice when they do a good job. If that is true for paid staff, imagine how important it is for staff you do not pay. Bonus Tip - Interview them when they leave. Interviewing volunteers when they leave will accomplish two things. First, you will find out how they felt about their time with you. You can discuss how you feel they did and they can do likewise. Second, it gets it on your calendar to spend time with them before they leave. Saying goodbye is as important as saying hello. There you have it friends, ten ways you can get the most out of working with volunteers and ensure they get value out of working for you. A strong connection to volunteers gives your park a citizen voice. And when times get tough, a citizen voice is important. Many of those tips I learned from working with Mike Zimmerman, the King of Volunteers, at Fort Flagler State Park. That is what we do at Park Leaders, take the wisdom of the people who have done it, and pass it on to the next generation of leaders, the ones with all of the passion to have an impact.  

Park Leaders has been discussing diversity lately. Diversity is on of the most pressing issues to ensure parks remain relevant. You can not examine diversity in parks without coming across the name Jose Gonzalez. Jose is the founder of Latino Outdoors. Jose founded Latino Outdoors to connect leadership, culture, and communities with conservation, nature, and the great outdoors. He works closely with organizations seeking to add diversity to their outdoor and conservation programs. Latino Outdoors is a platform for Latino Outdoor and Environmental Education Professionals to serve as role models and leads for guided hikes and outdoor excursions for Latino communities—all ages and generations, bilingual and Spanish-speaking. We help set up and lead outings for Latino community members for the purpose of expanding the Latino experience in the Outdoors—with a focus on providing positive transformative experiences with cultural relevancy. In this episode of the Park Leaders Show, Jose discusses the relevance of Latinos in the future of parks and conservation. What We Talk About • Why Jose founded Latino Outdoors • The Mission of Latino Outdoors • Why Parks should specifically address Latinos • Why there are not more Latino Park Rangers and what we can do about it Resources • Latino Outdoors • Bay Area National Parks • Parks Forward