Latinos Experience the Outdoors
Latinx students gather together to experience HSU’s landscape
The great outdoors is a cornerstone of student life here at Humboldt State University (HSU).
The Latino Outdoors club provides Latinx students with the opportunity to come together and experience the outdoors in a way that they might not have.
Latino Outdoors is a national organization working to create and support a network of ambicultural leaders in the outdoor, conservation and nature movement.
Jose Cabello is the program coordinator of the HSU chapter. Despite the club being centered around latinos, everyone is welcome.
“We don’t want to make anyone feel excluded. Anyone is welcome regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.,” Cabello said.
The club also tries to be as inclusive as possible by switching up the location of their trips and the intensity of their walks and hikes. For example, the club previously visited the Elk River Headwaters Reserve Trail. The first mile of the trial is paved, allowing for people with disabilities to participate and not feel like they were missing out on experiencing the outdoors.
“It just makes that difference, the fact that, that trail is paved and it’s a beautiful trail as well,” Cabello said.
Over the summer break in August, the club visited the Trinidad State Beach tide pools. The trip was led by Hèctor Flores, who also talked about the geology of the beach as well as beach safety.
“A lot of the students who come up here are unaware of the dangers of the north coast beaches so we talked about beach safety,” Cabello said.
According to Cabello, the club is inactive at the moment but they are planning to have some events in the coming months. One event will be a hike at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, happening at the end of September. The other event will take place in October, the club doesn’t have all of the details for the event worked out yet but they are planning for it to be family oriented.
Cabello and his colleagues are working to reinstate the club due to the big demand from students. The club is free to join and meets in the Latinx Center for Academic Excellence, or El Centro. Transportation to events is provided, however, spots are limited.
Latino Outdoors kayaked at the Fresh Farms Reserve in Eureka on July 14 during Latino Conservation Week. They also walked Trinidad State Beach on Aug. 4.
Photos by Johanna Rivera
