Gerardo Moran had to be convinced. His wife urged him to try Exploremos — a free outdoor program for Spanish-speaking families in the Eagle River Valley — and for a while he resisted. But after his first outing, something shifted. “These events have helped my family and me feel like we belong to the community,” says Moran, a Dotsero resident about 40 miles west of Vail. “We’ve made some friends and met many amazing people and places, learning more about nature and the areas where we live.”
Before Exploremos, Moran’s family had tried outdoor activities in the Valley, but they rarely saw other Latinos and had trouble reserving camping spots. That sense of not quite belonging — common among Latino families in mountain resort communities — is exactly what Exploremos was built to address.
“Exploremos is a small piece of the world in itself,” says José Rivera, marketing and communications coordinator for Walking Mountains Science Center, the nonprofit that runs the program. “We have people from countries ranging from Central and South America to Europe as well. This means we also have a very rich linguistic and cultural diversity that makes Exploremos unique.”
Founded in 1998 by Kim Langmaid, Walking Mountains is committed to making the outdoors genuinely accessible — not just in principle, but in practice. Exploremos launched in 2015 as Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement (EVOM), one of the original 15 coalitions enabled by the Great Outdoors Colorado Generation Wild Initiative, funded by the Colorado Lottery. The program is also sustained through public support.
REMOVING BARRIERS, BUILDING CONFIDENCE
The Valley is a gateway to thrilling outdoor activities year-round. Locals, as well as visitors from all over the world, flock to our area to relish the recreational offerings. “However, we know that there are many local families who, unfortunately, are unable to access the outdoors due to a lack of transportation, outdoor gear, economic or language barriers, or a lack of skills that make them feel confident,” explains Rivera.
To address those issues, Exploremos was created, with outstanding results. “We’ve had over 11,000 participants of all ages in our programs,” Rivera reports. “Some participants have been attending our programs since their inception, and we continue to see newcomers who have recently moved to the Valley and want to make new connections, get to visit new places and explore what our great Valley has to offer.”
Exploremos is a coalition led by Walking Mountains in partnership with nine local nonprofit organizations: Eagle River Coalition, Eagle Valley Land Trust (EVLT), Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, The Cycle Effect, SOS Outreach, Mountain Youth, Mountain Recreation, Bright Future Foundation and Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.
Together, the organizations co-create events and programs and support partners by providing an Exploremos staff member who assists with Spanish interpretation and translation. Through these collaborations and additional local partnerships, a wide range of outdoor experiences are available, including rafting, mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, horseback riding and more.
“Eagle Valley Land Trust firmly believes that everyone should have access to protected lands and experiences that inspire awe and joy,” says Keri Inouye, community engagement manager with the Trust, a nonprofit organization that permanently protects land for the benefit of the community and wildlife. It has been a partner of Exploremos since its inception. “We partner with Exploremos because their mission to connect the community with outdoor recreational opportunities aligns perfectly with our own mission and work. Exploremos is bringing people together and fostering a love for the open spaces of this Valley, and we are proud to be part of this initiative.”
Inouye notes that she organizes and leads approximately 12 programs with Exploremos each year. These programs include hikes, horseback riding, boat trips and picnics. They are open to the whole family and are offered completely free of charge.
Exploremos provides free transportation to its events and has Spanish-speaking staff present in partnered programs to support interpretation. The “Centro de Aventuras” (Adventure Center), located in Edwards at EVLT’s Conservation Center, is where participants can borrow winter and summer gear, attend outdoor demo workshops, learn how to use the gear properly and learn about local trails. The Eagle Valley Land Trust lends the basement of its Conservation Center for the Adventure Center. “We hope that this will make our participants feel welcome, confident, skilled and capable of enjoying the outdoors,” Rivera explains.
FROM OUTDOOR ACCESS TO COMMUNITY BELONGING
Another avid participant, Cindy Ramos of Avon, notes that it is simple to know what is happening with the group. “To find out about their monthly events, they send us emails with all the information, and we also share it through the WhatsApp group and on social media, specifically Instagram and Facebook.”
Her 10-year-old daughter, Ximena, has spent summers hiking and discovering corners of the Valley her family never knew existed. “I’ve participated in summer camps with Walking Mountains and now also with Exploremos,” she says. “We’ve visited many places through this program and have joined in so many different activities.”
Rivera notes that the trust and connection that Exploremos has built is now even stronger as it has expanded to offer community-based programs in local neighborhoods, helping to provide a safe space for Spanish-speaking residents.
“Exploremos is our opportunity to create new memories together,” says Ramos. Walking Mountains and Exploremos are working to give new residents, especially those of other cultures, the rewards of living in the beautiful Vail Valley with its wildlife and nature experiences.
“Outdoor spaces often feel exclusive,” she continues. “Walking Mountains has supported one of the region’s most enduring models for inclusion through Spanish-first environmental and outdoor programs. By partnering with local nonprofits and centering language access, the organization has created a welcoming, culturally relevant pathway for Spanish-speaking families to connect with nature. Endurance in community trust, representation and relationship-building is essential to creating outdoor spaces where everyone belongs.”
