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.
My siblings and I spent our summers on the East side of New Mexico on my grandfather’s ranch. Our family called it La Garita. Those trips and my upbringing in southwest New Mexico gave me my first introduction to horses, and the beginning of a deep appreciation for the Gila National Forest that was almost in our backyard.
My mother was the eldest of 15 siblings, and she would often share with us what it was like growing up on the ranch, doing chores and pausing to take a break while my grandfather would break a watermelon on his knee for them all to share together. My family has always had a strong tie to the land, because as ranchers, nature is your livelihood…..