“We don’t need to convert people to the outdoors. We need to invite them.”
In this episode of The Wild Idea, we speak with José González, founder of Latino Outdoors and co-founder of The Outdoorist Oath, about identity, community, and redefining what it means to belong in wild spaces.
José shares his personal journey from rural Mexico to national conservation leadership, and why the question isn’t just how to get more people outside, but why it matters who gets to belong there. Together, we explore how cultural narratives shape outdoor experiences, why affinity groups like Latino Outdoors are so powerful, and what it looks like to carry your full self, including your cultura, into nature.
This conversation challenges assumptions, celebrates difference, and invites a deeper kind of connection – to the land, to history, and to one another.
You’ll hear:
- How José’s sixth-grade encounter with sequoias sparked a lifelong relationship with nature
- Why “belonging” means more than just being present in the outdoors
- What it means to move from “inviting” to “co-creating” space
- The role of storytelling, education, and art in expanding who feels welcome
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thewildidea.com.
Books, resources, and other notes from today’s episode:
Connect with Today's Guest
José G. González is a professional educator with training in the fields of education and conservation. He is the Founder of Latino Outdoors, Co-Founder of The Outdoorist Oath, as well as having served as a consultant at large as a Partner at The Avarna Group and his own consulting. He currently serves as the inaugural Equity Officer for the East Bay Regional Park District.
His work focuses on Equity & Inclusion frameworks and practices in the environmental, outdoor, and conservation fields. He is also an illustrator and science communicator.
He received his B.A. at the University of California, Davis, with teaching coursework at the Bilingual, Multicultural, Education Department at Sacramento State. He received his M.S. at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. He serves as a board member at Parks CA as well as a Commissioner for the California Boating & Waterways Commission, along with having served in a variety of other board and voluntary leadership roles in several conservation and outdoor industry organizations.
He also appreciates a witty pun.
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