Guest Blog: It is Vital to Get More Hispanics to Enjoy the Great Outdoors and Equally Important to Get them Involved in Conservation

By Patrick Ortiz, Operations Director for the San Luis Valley Great Outdoors and HCLC member from Colorado.

I was born and raised in Alamosa, in the San Luis Valley, in south-central Colorado. Both sides of my family loved the outdoors, and I grew up exploring the great outdoors of this region, blessed with stunning peaks, wide-open spaces, and unlimited recreational opportunities.  

My dad’s family has a ranch in Aguilar, Colorado. My first memories as a child are from the time I used to spend there, seeing cattle, goats, and chickens. As I grew up, I helped look after the animals, fixed fences, and was more involved in caring for the land. 

We have nearly three million acres of public land in the Rio Grande National Forest here. I was introduced to fishing and hunting at a very young age. Spending time outdoors with my dad and doing these recreational activities piqued my interest in seeking a career in natural resource management and my passion for balancing conservation and recreation on the landscape.

Working as an Operations Director for San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO)- a non-profit organization focused on enhancing recreational experiences, improving wellness, and connecting the communities in southern Colorado- has giving me an opportunity to do for a living something that I am deeply passionate about. 

Half of the population in the San Luis Valley region is Hispanic, and a good portion speaks Spanish exclusively. It is important for SLV GO and for me to provide this community with culturally relevant opportunities. Building relationships with the people and understanding the barriers that prevent Hispanics from experiencing the outdoors more is essential to reaching out to the community and getting them involved in recreational activities the San Luis Valley region offers.

Just as it is vital to get more Hispanics to enjoy the great outdoors, it is equally important to involve them in conservation.

Besides my work at SLV GO, I am a member of HECHO’s Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC). I joined about two years ago after participating in a conference where I was inspired by young community leaders working to increase justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion across the West.

I want to be part of the movement of inspiring more Latinos to get involved in conservation leadership, outdoor recreation, and environmental justice policy so our Hispanic community is not left behind.

Historically, the Latino community has not had a seat at the table in the conservation policy-making process. Hearing and understanding the injustices happening with farmworkers or people no longer having access to the resources they need, like getting firewood or water to irrigate their crops, hunting, or fishing, really had an impact on me and made me want to make a difference and mentor and encourage more Hispanics and other communities of color, especially our youth, to pursue leadership positions that can impact policies for generations to come, making them feel that they belong and that their voices and perspectives matter.

Diversity equals strength. That's what our country was founded on, and that is a beacon of hope and prosperity.