Atypical: ¡Vamos Outdoors!

Article by Bailey Mccaffrey

A·typ·i·cal
???tip?k(?)l/
adjective
Not representative of a type, group, or class.


Campus Recreation has endless possibilities for every member, so why can it be hard to find your place here?

When you walk into our Recreation center, where do you go? The basketball court, the rock wall, a fitness class, the weight room? The possibilities are endless here, yet it is easy to feel out of place, or boxed in

Atypical stories are important to share because they pave the way for diversity and counter the dominant narratives. When we tell stories that are more inclusive, we begin to create an overall more welcoming atmosphere for everyone participating in Campus Recreation. It is time we celebrate people who expand their comfort zone and experience new areas at Campus Recreation

The ¡Vamos Outdoors! program at CSU Campus recreation reminds us, no matter what race you identify as, the mountains are Calling you, too.

In the Fall of 2017, Aileen Palma started this program to encourage people of Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx heritage to join the outdoor recreation movement and take to the mountains. On these trips, participants learn new outdoor skills, build relationships, and are pushed outside their comfort zones.

¡Vamos Outdoors!, has been to the sand dunes, camped, hiked, and snowshoed in Rocky Mountain National Park this year. To even further expand their outdoor abilities, the group is headed to Horsetooth reservoir to rock climb on April 15. Each trip allows participants to challenge themselves, and people of all different experience levels are encouraged to get involved.

The vision behind ¡Vamos Outdoors! is to invite people with Latinx heritage into a space of community where identities can be celebrated and deep relationships can be created through the environment and recreation

“I want this to be a good opportunity for any level of outdoor enthusiast. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert, this is a great chance to meet people from the same background and connect deeper through the outdoors,” states Palma.

If you identify as a Latinx individual and have an interest in the outdoors, trips are open and you are encouraged to join. Contact Aileen Palma with the Outdoor Program at CSU Campus Recreation for more information. Or visit our website trip details HERE.

Thank you for all you are doing to break, “norms,” at our recreation center Aileen, Jovan, and all other participants!