Nosotros En Naturaleza is building community on trail
Nosotros en Naturaleza, a partner of WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training program, is helping young adults in the Latinx community connect to each other and to the outdoors.
Jesus Mendoza believes in the power of being outdoors — to connect people and to create powerful memories in wild places. He also wants to build a safe place for the Latinx community to explore natural places and reconnect to the land. With that goal in mind, in 2024, Jesus created Nosotros en Naturaleza. In their inaugural year, Nosotros En Naturaleza led 13 incredible hiking trips with Latinx young adults (18 to 24 years) from South King County. From Twin Falls to Iron Goat Tail, Nosotros En Naturaleza has visited many beautiful locations across Washington.
“I have personally experienced and witnessed the barriers our communities face when trying to access outdoor spaces — whether it is due to financial constraints, lack of transportation, not knowing where to go or what to do, or simply not feeling welcome in those settings,” Jesus said. “Nosotros En Naturaleza is a passion project born from my love for the outdoors and the joy I find in sharing these experiences with others. It’s not just about the awesome views, it’s about the people you meet, the connections you make, the food you share, the workout you get, the memories you create. I wanted to bring those experiences to others and share the magic of nature with the world.”
Nosotros En Naturaleza bridges a critical gap in outdoor access, education and representation for Latinx and BIPOC youth. Jesus is committed to serving underserved communities in South King County.
A Nosotros En Naturaleza group snowshoeing trip, with trekking poles and snowshoes borrowed from WTA's gear library. Jesus Mendoza (front, right) started the group in 2024. Photo courtesy Nosotros en Naturaleza.
“As someone who might have been considered a ‘troubled youth’ as a teen, I see myself in many of the young adults who join our hikes,” Jesus said. “When they’re with us, they’re meeting new people who can have a positive impact on their lives, building connections and friendships that could last a lifetime. Through Nosotros En Naturaleza, I strive to create transformative opportunities for young people to connect with nature, learn about environmental justice and build a sense of community — something I wish I had growing up.”
Representation matters. Outdoor spaces have historically lacked diversity, and Nosotros En Naturaleza shows that people from all backgrounds belong in nature. When young adults feel welcome in these spaces, it can inspire them to explore and advocate for the outdoors.
Last summer, more than 50 people joined Nosotros En Naturaleza for hikes and community events. A hike to Mount Fremont Lookout was one of Jesus’s favorites. Equipped with flashlights, the group embarked on an evening hike to watch the sunset at the lookout.
“We were lucky to have a mostly clear day, allowing us to see the sunset and Mount Rainier in all its glory. Hearing people describe the view as ‘a painting,’ ‘AI-generated,’ or simply ‘unreal’ never gets old,” Jesus said. “The laughs we shared while hiking back down in the dark with flashlights were unforgettable”
Nosotros en Naturaleza on a snowhoe trip to Rattlesnake Ledge.
Rain or shine, Nosotros En Naturaleza gets outside. Their hike to Blanca Lake was scheduled during an atmospheric river that hit Western Washington in late August. The hikers made the best of the wet experience.
“We embraced the rainy weather, which, honestly, is part of what makes hiking in Washington so special! After the hike, we warmed up with some delicious Indian food,” Jesus said. “Moments like these highlight the joy and camaraderie that come from our outings, even under less-than-ideal conditions.”
A hike at Mount Storm King on the Olympic Peninsula was the furthest they traveled from Seattle last year.
“We had to take the ferry, which was a first for a lot of people, so it was cool to share that experience. The scenery along the way was beautiful, which made the drive more enjoyable,” he said.
Mount Storm King was also their most challenging hike.
“It felt like we went from 0 to 10 real quick!” he said. “A lot of us were tempted to give up along the way, but once we made it to the top and took a break, it felt so rewarding.”
For all their hikes “one thing I always like to emphasize is that nobody gets left behind,” Jesus said, “That’s the heart of Nosotros En Naturaleza—’Nosotros’ means ‘us’ in English, not ‘me’ or ‘I.’ It’s a reminder to everyone that we’re all in this together, supporting each other every step of the way!”
Nosotros en Naturaleza hikers on a trip to Annette Lake. WTA provided funding assistance to help support this trip. Photo courtesty Nosotros en Naturaleza.
This year, Jesus is excited to lead more hikes to introduce young adults to the beauty of Washington state.
“One of the most fulfilling aspects of this work is witnessing their reactions when we finally reach the viewpoint of our destination. So often, I hear things like, ‘Oh yeah, I saw how this is supposed to look on TikTok, but let’s see if it’s really that great,’ and their awe when they see the majestic views, mountains, lakes, waterfalls or whatever we came to explore, is truly more rewarding to me than the hike itself.”
2025 will be another year for Nosotros En Naturaleza to break barriers, build lifelong community, and see new places. So far this year, they have already borrowed snowshoes from WTA, thanks to the gear library.
“I look forward to meeting more enthusiastic youth who are eager to step outside, embrace the adventure, and of course, enjoy good snacks and good food on our Nosotros En Naturaleza Journey!”
Nosotros En Naturaleze on an evening hike to Fremont Lookout. Photo courtesy Nosotros En Naturaleza.
Nosotros En Naturaleza collected narratives from the participants over the summer to capture their stories and experiences from hiking throughout Washington. Here are some of those stories, in the participants’ own words.
“Nosotros en Naturaleza is a culturally inclusive group that welcomes experts or novices into the fold with friendliness and joy. I struggled with one of the hikes and the encouragement and cheers that I got from everyone in the group was very motivating and gave me what I needed to keep going. The group is awesome and the connection to each other and the environment is what keeps me going back!”— Maria, Mount Fremont Lookout participant
“Nosotros En Naturaleza unlocked the outdoors for me. It exposed me to the beauty we have here in Washington state as well as taught me to push my limits. Nosotros En Naturaleza definitely awakened my love for the outdoors and even encouraged me to continue my outdoor activities outside of Nosotros En Naturaleza. Not to mention most of my favorite snacks today are the ones Nosotros En Naturaleza put me on to. Nosotros En Naturaleza is an opportunity I truly am so grateful for.” — Ana, Walput Creek Falls participant
A Nosotros En Naturaleza snowshoeing trip from earlier this year. Photo courtesy Nosotros En Naturaleza.
“I love the Nosotros En Naturaleza program because it gave me the opportunity to go hiking for the first time. As someone who doesn't often see many people of color out on trails, it was refreshing to be able to hike with others who shared a similar experience. Most hikes are difficult for me to access because I don’t have a car, but the program made it easy by providing transportation and food, which I really appreciated…The hikes themselves are so beautiful. Connecting with nature is something I never really got to enjoy or experience before, and it was incredibly calming and peaceful to finish each hike. There’s a certain happiness and tranquility that I hadn’t experienced before, and it’s something that has really stuck with me. The whole experience gave me a sense of fulfillment and joy that I’m excited to continue exploring. I made a lot of new friends along the way, too, which has been another highlight.”— Jose, Iron Goat Trail participant
“De Nosotros en Naturaleza me gusta que promueven la actividad física entre los jóvenes mientras nos llevan a conocer lugares agradables en la naturaleza. Disfruto mucho los paisajes en que nos encontramos cuando estamos de hiking y conocer a las personas que nos acompaña. Llamó mi atención que cada hiking lo hacen de manera segura, priorizando la seguridad de los jóvenes que nos acompañan en el grupo y que los lugares a donde nos llevan son muy bonitos y abundantes en fauna y flora. Me gusta regresar a nosotros en naturaleza porque siempre hay lugares nuevos por visitar y actividades por hacer!”— Pilar, Iron Goat Trail participant
“Hiking and exploring with Nosotros En Naturaleza has been so much fun —from the challenging but beautiful fall views of the Ingalls Lake Trail to doing the Iron Goat Trail at night. I was drawn to Nosotros En Naturaleza because their posts online gave me a glimpse of a welcoming and fun community, bonding over a love for the outdoors. I am really grateful for Nosotros En Naturaleza: I've met some really cool people and made memories of a lifetime; it's awesome that Nosotros En Naturaleza works to bring these sorts of experiences to their community.” — Bryan, Lake Ingalls and Iron Goat Trail participant
Follow Nosotros En Naturaleza’s journey on Instagram @nosotrosennaturaleza to stay updated on upcoming hikes, volunteer opportunities, and community events.
Nosotros En Naturaleza on a group hike at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. Photo courtesy Nosotros En Naturaleza.
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