Celebrating Culture, Conservation, and the Outdoors

By Maribel Castañeda, HECHO Advisory Board member, Manager of the Confluence of States, and Manager for Our Virginia Outdoors.

When I think about my earliest memories of being outside, I don’t picture distant mountains or winding trails. I picture my family gathered at the local park, the smell of carne asada on the grill, corridos playing in the background, kids chasing each other around, and my parents sharing stories with my tíos and tías that drifted into the evening. Those memories, rooted in my Mexican heritage, shaped my earliest understanding of what it meant to be outside.

As I grew older, I began to see the outdoors in new ways. In college I went camping and hiking for the first time, and those experiences opened a door to adventures I hadn’t imagined as a child. Traveling through other Latin American countries has also deepened this connection even more, allowing me to experience the beauty of their landscapes and cultures in ways that feel both familiar and new. The outdoors has carried me to unforgettable places like biking along the coast in Rio de Janeiro, hiking a volcano in Guatemala, camping under the stars in Costa Rica, and standing in awe at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Each of these moments has stayed with me, reminding me that nature is a steady companion, no matter where life takes me.

These experiences also make me reflect on the importance of public lands. They are the places where we gather, discover, and grow. They give us the chance to create memories, challenge ourselves, and carry traditions forward. Protecting them means ensuring that everyone can find their own adventure and joy outdoors.

Through my work with the Confluence of States, I have the privilege of seeing how outdoor recreation unites us across boundaries. States from every corner of the country are finding ways to invest in their parks, trails, and waterways, recognizing that the outdoors is not a luxury but a foundation for healthy people and thriving economies. In Virginia, with Our Virginia Outdoors, I work alongside partners who share a vision of expanding access so every family can find connection outside. My work has brought me even closer to the outdoors.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, I am reminded of how deeply our stories are tied to the land. For me, those stories began with the sizzle of food at a park cookout and continue today through the work of building coalitions to protect and expand access to outdoor spaces. For you, they might begin with a walk in a neighborhood park, a camping trip with your family under the stars, or a riding your bike down a cool trail. However we each experience it, the outdoors is part of our shared story, a place where heritage and hope meet.

So let us continue to step outside, to gather, to celebrate, and to protect these spaces that give us so much. The outdoors is where our families build memories, where our cultures shine, and where we all belong.