Friends launched the Outdoor Adventures event series this year with the kayaking experience, co-sponsored by DGRI. Lorena is a proud Latina woman and business professional who loves to spend time outdoors and experience nature. In her free time, you can probably find her biking, hiking, and backpacking!
This summer, Lorena fell in love with a new activity: kayaking. She found this opportunity through Friends Outdoor Adventures event series. On a warm Wednesday afternoon, she shut down her computer, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed to the boat launch at Riverside Park. She was met there by Tia, Friends’ community engagement coordinator, and a group of new friends – all ready for a new adventure.
The series is designed to grow feelings of inclusion in outdoor activities, prioritizing engagement with community members who may have not enjoyed the featured outdoor adventure activity before. This allows opportunities for people in the community to experience different outdoor activities and the first installment of this is the kayaking experience. This group was one of seven that Friends’ took out on the Grand River this summer.
Each outing kicked off with a brief demonstration of kayak safety, then into the water! As groups leisurely paddled along, stories were shared, jokes were told, and discussions happened about equity and the outdoors. At 6th Street Park, the adventurers unloaded and journeyed over to City Built Brewing for the new friendships to continue.
“It’s empowering to go on new adventures and try different things with a group.”
Lorena had been kayaking once before this event; however, here she found a new love for the adventure. Since then she has gone a few times and invited co-workers and friends! She says that she loves kayaking with others because it is very intentional.
This is why Lorena is a part of several different organizations that empower Latina women in the outdoors. Creating safe spaces for Latina women to gather in the community is one of her passions. It is important to empower different ethnicities to explore and have more outdoor adventures!
Lorena says, “A ripple effect starts by opening the doors to different opportunities.”
It is because of Friends’ dedication to its mission (empowering people to create vibrant parks, trees, and green spaces) that Lorena feels a connection here! We are so appreciative of community members who share our values and love when they feel a sense of belonging in these great outdoors.
