Growing up as a Mexican-American in Bend, I didn’t spend a lot of time outdoors in my youth, and I never really saw any people of color in the outdoors. The closest I ever got to doing outdoor activities was playing in the park in my neighborhood.
That started to change my freshman year of high school at Bend High when I learned about Vamonos Outside. Vamonos Outside is an organization focused on getting youth of color outdoors and involved in activities they might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in. That fall, I joined their mountain biking program and learned how to ride a mountain bike for the first time. Once a week, Vamonos took a group of local youth to ride the trails outside of Bend and develop their mountain biking and outdoor skills. This was all new to me, but I had an AMAZING time. In the winter, I joined the ski program and learned how to ski for the first time at Mt. Bachelor. These programs opened up an entire new world for me.
Green Jobs program
During my next year of high school, Vamonos Outside and NatureConnect Central Oregon started the Green Jobs program, which helps high school students get paid summer internships with local outdoor and environmental organizations. I immediately applied and got a position with the High Desert Museum my first year. I ended up working at the museum for two summers before joining Deschutes Land Trust and Oregon Wild for my internship this summer.
I was interested in working with Oregon Wild because I wanted new experiences and adventures, and to learn about how to protect nature. It turned out to be a great experience and has opened so many doors and opportunities for me and my future. Through this internship, I was able to develop a deeper understanding and bond with nature. I loved learning about all the work Oregon Wild does and being able to do my part to help.
Speaking up for nature
While working for Oregon Wild, I did a little bit of everything: I helped out with tabling events we had in Bend, I sent in Letters to the Editors about current issues affecting public lands in Oregon, I helped on guided hikes to places like Jack Creek in Central Oregon, I led a youth camp with Vamonos Outside, and I attended the Rabble Rouser conference in Portland.
One of my favorite experiences was from the Jack Creek hike, near Sisters. It’s an overall easy hike and the end is magical because you end up at the headwaters of Jack Creek, which is a spring that comes from underground. The water is so clear and cold here, and it was great to dip my hands in the water on a hot day. Jack Creek is part of Senator Wyden’s River Democracy Act, which would protect about 3,200 miles of rivers and streams across Oregon. We stopped at the headwaters for lunch and wrote postcards to Senator Wyden encouraging him to pass the River Democracy Act and protect places like Jack Creek. Everyone on the hike was so passionate about nature and shared stories about their favorite places. It really showed me that nature can bring us together and connect us to each other and everything around us.
Another highlight of the summer was a Vamonos Outside youth camp that was led by all the Green Jobs summer interns. The camp was a week-long, and each day, different interns took the lead in organizing activities for the campers. For my day, we went to the Deschutes Land Trust’s Paulina Preserve along Paulina Creek. Paulina Creek is also a River Democracy Act stream, so we talked about how organizations like Deschutes Land Trust and Oregon Wild use conservation to protect places like this. We played games where campers pretended to be animals that were trying to migrate between habitats. At the end, we enjoyed lunch by the creek and wrote letters to Senator Wyden about the River Democracy Act. That week definitely tested my communication skills, time management, adaptability, and patience, but it was a really fun week overall and an awesome way to end my last year with Green Jobs.
This internship taught me a lot not only about myself but about everything around me. Before going into this, I had no clue what conservation was, let alone all the projects I was going to be working on. The people who work for Oregon Wild have taught me how nature and the wild is something we need to stand for. I especially saw this when I attended Rabble Rouser conference in Portland. I was amazed by how many people came and shared about their work and passions. These experiences taught me it’s more important than we think to speak up and advocate for the places we love before it’s too late. It also taught me that I have the power to speak up and make a difference.
How you can speak up
The Trump administration wants to repeal the Roadless Rule, which protects millions of acres of undeveloped national forests from road building and logging. The public comment period is open now until September 21. You can submit a public comment to help protect these wild places.
Tell your members of Congress to pass the River Democracy Act. This is really important for both wildlife and people. More than 1.3 million Oregonians rely on these rivers for drinking water and the River Democracy Act will help protect water quality in these streams. My water in Bend comes from Bridge Creek, which is included in the River Democracy Act and is part of the Tumalo Mountain Roadless Area.
Speak up for Wilderness by sharing your story with the Voices for Wilderness project. During my internship, I visited the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness for the first time on a hike to Canyon Creek Meadows near Three Finger Jack. All of us who visit and love wild places have an important story to share and this project lets you tell those stories about why wilderness matters to you and your community.
Other ways to use your voice include writing a letter to the editor in your local paper, sharing on social media, and attending an upcoming Oregon Wild hike or Wild Ones training.
Maria Franco spent her summer as an Advocacy and Outreach intern in Oregon Wild’s Bend office. Her internship was through NatureConnect of Central Oregon’s Green Jobs program, which connects high school-aged youth of color to local environmental and outdoor internships. This was the third year Oregon Wild has hosted an intern through the program. Maria graduated from Bend High School in the Spring, and will start at Central Oregon Community College in the Fall.
