Congrats to Andrea Torres who joined The Nature Conservancy as a GOCO fellow in June 2023! The GOCO Fellowship Program supports positions at our partner organizations to prepare young people for careers in the outdoors. GOCO fellows gain experience in the fields of conservation, outdoor recreation, and stewardship while growing a professional skill set to apply to future endeavors. Starting in 2024, GOCO Fellows will be funded through the Planning and Capacity grant program. 

Tell us a little about yourself. What did you do before you began the fellowship?

I am a first-generation Quechua Peruvian from New York. Growing up, there was never an AHA moment where I felt a connection to nature. This wasn’t because I didn’t have a connection with nature, but because my family’s way of being with nature is not represented. In my culture, we are part of the land and celebrate the earth through ceremony and dance. This is probably why I was 18 years old the first time I went hiking!

I moved to Colorado to attend school, where I had the opportunity to study Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Ethnic Studies. I had never backpacked, skied, or camped before I moved to Colorado. As I entered outdoor recreation spaces, I noticed how homogenous it is. I found myself needing to create spaces for myself and others that look like me. Thankfully, being in uncomfortable environmental spaces allowed me to discover my passion for equitable conservation and people.

What’s been one of the best experiences of your life so far?

The best experiences of my life have been sharing my love for the outdoors with my family. I was able to organize a camping trip at Acadia National Park last summer. It was my family’s first time camping and seeing my parents and sisters enjoy themselves was the best thing ever. We were laughing, dancing and unapologetically taking up space in the outdoors. I found out my mom loves campfire cooking because it reminds her of cooking at home in Peru. I also found out my dad is very resourceful outdoorsman (and needs a thicker sleeping pad). This reminded me that we all have skills that can be applied anywhere if we’re given the opportunity to.

What about your fellowship organization has been most interesting? 

Where can I start!? I have been welcomed with open arms at The Nature Conservancy (TNC). At TNC, I am part of the Cities team working in urban conservation. Many of our projects are in the Denver metro area. The general scope of our work is urban greening as a pathway to climate resilience. However, our work could have not been done without our community partners. I have learned more about the value of community partnerships and how greening initiatives not only create climate resilience but also community resilience.

Prior to joining TNC, I was unaware of all the working parts that go into making conservation happen. I had always pictured a science team making all the decisions and then buying land. I was wrong, it was eye opening seeing all the different sectors working together for a shared mission. I feel reinspired everyday at my job.

How do you think the outdoors contributes to communities or to individuals’ quality of life? 

Everyone deserves the right to access and enjoy nature. To go beyond this, everyone deserves to see their ways of connecting to nature represented. Inequitable access to nature is an environmental justice issue. We need to change the narrative around outdoor conservation, recreation, and stewardship. Hidden histories of our lands have allowed us to personify and inhabit spaces – mirroring our social relations and beliefs. By severing complex social histories from the land, we reinforce narratives of who belongs and should have access to the outdoors. It’s kind of like, what came first, the chicken or the egg? Is the outdoorsy environmentalist demographic homogenous because those are the only kinds of people that care about conservation? Or is it because we have intentionally excluded everyone else? 

It's all connected! We need to ensure our efforts and initiatives are benefiting both people and nature. Both inclusive outdoor recreation and equitable conservation creates the next generation of land stewards. We need to ask: Who’s at the table? How can we elevate the work already being done? How can we make our conservation efforts more equitable?

What are some of your favorite things to do outside?

I love skiing, although I spend most of my time falling. Through a scholarship program, I was able to ski for the first time last season! Aside from falling, I love hiking with family, backpacking, and just walking to and from places in Colorado’s beautiful landscape. I enjoy trying out new vegan recipes, gardening, and crocheting.

Got a life dream to share or maybe a strong personal passion?

One of my life dreams is to work with underrepresented ecology students in higher education and inspire the next generation of land stewards. For the first couple years of undergrad, I had no idea why I was studying ecology and lacked motivation to complete my degree. Being the only person of color in most of my classes didn’t make it any easier. Luckily, I met great professors and mentors that guided me and sparked my interest in ecology again. I noticed that my mentors shared similar identities as my own which gave me a sense of security in my ability to accomplish similar milestones. I want to be that person I was unable to find the first couple years of my undergrad.