Brooklyn Kids

On Tuesday, I heard about this group from The Murie Center and asked if there was any opportunity for me to speak to the boys. Tonight I was invited to speak to a group of ten 13-14 year old boys from Brooklyn, NY that spent the past four days at The Murie Center.  This was probably the most diverse group of students I had every spoken to.  These boys were chosen by their school to come out to experience Grand Teton National Park and the unique resource that it holds.  The boys spent the week hiking, floating the river, spending a day in Yellowstone National Park and doing fence removal outside the park. 

After a quick dinner of bison burgers, potatoe salad and brownies we all gathered around the fire and began our conversation.  My purpose for coming to speak was to get the boys thinking about what they learned this week, how they are going to take it back to New York and how they are going to share their legacy with others.   A difficult conversation to have at any age, the students took on the challenge and after some hesitation began to share their thoughts on these topics.   These boys addressed challenges that they will face when they return home and how they will overcome these challenges.  Many of the boys agreed that they must start leaving their legacy through small efforts of raising awareness about conservation and the environment while encouraging their peers and others to take time to visit parks, state and national, in their backyard.  I was amazed at the maturity, intellect and respect that the boys had for each other and this new experience that they have had.    I was honored to have spent the evening with such amazing students.  Brooklyn watch out... you've got a group of boys that are about to raise awareness about national parks and conservation one person at a time! 

All for the people...

As I am in the midst of my first week without the NPS Academy students, I am able to reminsce on the the spring and summer that has quickly flown by.   I have learned so much from ALL of the Academy interns, much more than they will probably ever know.  Their enthusiasm and respect for everything that they do makes me realize that the countless hours were invested into the creation and oversight of this program will be paid forward.  The legacy that these students have already left behind will forever impact the parks that they have worked at and I look forward to the legacy that they will continue to put forth in their community and schools.  

One thing that I have continuously told students is that although great opportunities come to us with them they lies a great responsibility.  As minorities, everything we do will either break or build those connections for others in our shoes.  Just as everyone else, we stand on the shoulders of those that came before us.  This week, I was fortunate enough to listen to Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar speak at our park.  In admist of all the running around that he did from an employee talk, press conference and spoke with the park partners I was able to snag a picture and introduce myself.  Ken Salazar, a 5th generation Latino Coloradoan is one of those shoulders that I stand on.  An accomplished man, I expected nothing more than a handshake but he took the time to ask me about my job and where I was from.  As I told him where I was from and the youth engagement and outreach work that I do for the park a smile crossed his face and he gave me a big hug and thanked me for all the work I do for our youth.  I was humbled by such gratitude from a man in his position.  I was proud to do the work that I do for all the youth locally and across the country. 

Another two people that I stand alongside with in all this work are both doing work in California.  These two gentlemen I met at a training on youth engagement and was truly impressed and inspired by them.  Juan Martinez, rock star Latino conservationist and Ernesto Pepito, an all-time inspiration are both people that join me in doing youth engagement and diversity outreach work.   When I think about all the people that conduct this type of work and inspire young students across the country I know our future is in good hands.  I look forward to working and seeing Juan and Ernesto in the coming months as they travel to Grand Teton National Park to spread the wealth of their talents and inspiration with our community and students of my upcoming program. 

Thanks to all those that work on youth engagement and continue to leave a legacy and be shoulders that others will stand on in the future.

                Changing Lives, One Youth at a Time  - Vanessa Torres, Julie Fonseca de Borges, Ernesto Pepito and Julie Chavez Rodriguez          

Pura Vida en Grand Teton National Park

Translated, pura vida means the good life.  That's exactly what we intended students' experience to be during this program.  We wanted to expose them to the good life of nature, outdoor recreation in the park and potential careers that they can have when they grow-up.  We just completed our second year of Pura Vida programs in the park, a program that I created and facilitate in collaboration with Teton Science Schools.  As with any program, the second year is better than the first because you're able to work out any kinks and continue to strengthen the program.  The students of course have fun and don't realize the clockwork behind the scenes. All they know is that these programs are cool, they meet cool people and now many want to be park rangers and bring their family back to enjoy the same things they did.  We try to teach skills that they can carry with them when they come back and skills that they are able to transfer over to their peers and family members. 

Both middle school and high school students were great but this year the middle school group of kids stood out to me.  They were so energetic, attentive and interested in working for national parks in the future. As I sat around the campfire with those students one night they asked me to share my story with them, as many of the NPS Academy students and other park employees had.  I first defined the term Latino, Hispanic and Chicano with them because earlier that day one of the kids had called me a Chicano when I told them I was a Texan, born and raised there.  After a brief discussion and understanding of those terms, with the flames of the campfire in their eyes,  I then told them where I was from, how I grew up and how I got to where I am at today.  One question I often get from students is, "what inspires you?"  Usually it takes me a while to think about the answer but lately, my words come to me more quickly in that I respond, "My parents for working to give us a better life, just as yours' do.  My mentors and most importantly the students that I get to work with in programs like this."   As I finished up with this statement I looked into their eyes.  As they starred at me, one little girl, 12 or 13 years old looked at me and said, "Vanessa, we are proud of you." With a knot in my throat, I fought back tears because this is the reason I do what I do, to hopefully inspire one person.  That to me, makes the world of difference. This little girl came back the following weekend with her family and three other families with them to camp and enjoy the park just as she had done during Pura Vida.  

Keep on, keeping on,

Vanessa

P.S. - Here is a video of their adventures from the week:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=570507952067