Embajadores on a Mission! Increasing Access To Outdoor Recreation and Fostering Healthy Lifestyles Among Latinos and Hispanics
By Esteban Salazar, Outdoor ambassador “Embajador” and Health and Wellness Coordinator at the San Luis Valley Great Outdoors.
While our public lands belong to all of us regardless of our race, gender, or background, there is, unfortunately, a specific demographic that is associated with outdoor recreation: a Caucasian patriarchal male.
Recognizing the underrepresentation of Latinos, Hispanics, and Indigenous Peoples in outdoor recreation, the San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO) created the “Outdoor Embajadores,” a unique program led by a team of Hispanic community leaders who are outdoor ambassadors. Our mission is clear: to increase access to outdoor recreation and foster healthy lifestyles among Latinos and Hispanics. Two years ago, I was invited to join this organization as one of these chosen leaders.
Over the past three years, we have been committed to our goal of outdoor equity. We aim to develop and offer thoughtful and inclusive mountain biking, walking, and hiking programs accessible to all. We are determined to dismantle barriers and challenge the historical exclusion of our community in public lands and outdoor recreation.
The lack of resources is among the biggest obstacles to the Hispanic community's utilization of outdoor spaces. It is important to acknowledge that some of these recreational activities are not accessible to the average person.
Many people don't have the money to invest in outdoor gear. Part of our mission is to identify opportunities to address that deficiency by making options available for the community to try new activities and supporting them so they can have positive experiences in the outdoors. One of our goals is to purchase gear and make it available on a check-out basis for people who need a backpack, a tent, snowshoes, fishing equipment, and so on.
Another barrier keeping our community from accessing our public lands and engaging in outdoor recreation is the lack of information and consistent outreach.
In our research, we have found that Hispanics, Latinos, and Indigenous People use public spaces differently than other people. Many go to the parks to attend festivals, music events, car shows, and other outdoor activities, but they don't go a step beyond finding the trails at these parks.
There are also differences within our community in terms of how we use outdoor spaces. The data shows that recent arrivals, such as the first or second generations of immigrants from Mexico and Central America, are unaware of the public lands they can recreate.
There's a prevalent misconception that all Hispanics in the United States are immigrants, which is far from the truth. Many of us in Southern Colorado have historical backgrounds and connections to this land that go back 300 years, since the first arrival of Europeans in the American Southwest. Our deep connection to this land is evident in the diverse ways we have utilized it over generations-for hunting, fishing, camping, collecting firewood, harvesting, crafting plants for remedios, and other traditional uses.
Lastly, but not less importantly, our public lands and outdoor spaces must be a welcoming and safe environment for our community, free of judgment. While I often spend time in the great outdoors, I have encountered racism while enjoying nature. It was not only uncomfortable; it felt unsafe. That experience didn't stop me from coming back outside, but it could discourage another person from enjoying these spaces that belong to everyone regardless of race, gender, or background.
While there is still a lot of work to be done, we firmly believe in our mission to increase outdoor equity and representation and are taking steps to accomplish that in the region where we operate.
The San Luis Valley covers six counties in south-central Colorado. Our Outdoor Embajadores program is currently offered in two counties, but it has been so successful that we are seeking additional funding to increase the number of ambassadors and expand our programming to other parts of this vast region.
Stay tuned for more news about our program at SLV GO!