In our journey through the cities we build history and leave indelible footprints in the collective memory of the present and the future.
Current history is marked by the constant processes of mobility and displacement of people fleeing wars, social problems, and political and religious conflicts to other countries in search of new opportunities. However, cities still lack a friendly communication system with the new residents, thus creating different levels of social segregation due to lack of information.
Building better cities requires the inclusion of all residents in the planning and development processes of natural and built spaces. Likewise, it requires offering safe spaces for their cultural immersion and personal and professional development.
Huellas Latinas aims to inspire and empower Latinx communities to embrace and engage in outdoor recreation, through year-round inclusive and culturally-responsive outdoor recreation programs, to promote well-being, connections to nature, foster and sense of belonging and strengthen community bonds
Is to create a future where Latinx communities are equitably represented and actively engaged in outdoor activities and spaces, enhancing their quality of life, strengthening community bonds, and actively participating in the conservation and sustainability of our natural environment.
Huellas Latinas aims to inspire and empower Latinx communities to embrace and engage in outdoor recreation, through year-round inclusive and culturally-responsive outdoor recreation programs, to promote well-being, connections to nature, foster and sense of belonging and strengthen community bonds
Is to create a future where Latinx communities are equitably represented and actively engaged in outdoor activities and spaces, enhancing their quality of life, strengthening community bonds, and actively participating in the conservation and sustainability of our natural environment.
Core Values
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Inclusivity
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Empowerment
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Well-being
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Engagement
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Sustainability and Conservation
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Adaptability
Our Impact since 2021
179
Activities
1021
Families
1788
People
Go out and find your next outdoor adventure
Huellas Latinas Membership
Hiking Challenge
Activities
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Women in Nature: Building Community and Connection Outdoors By Jennifer Nieto & Luisana Mendez March is International Women’s Month, a perfect opportunity to recognize and celebrate the efforts and contributions that women around the world — and particularly in our state of Minnesota — have made in the outdoor industry. Women have been explorers, leaders, […]
Forest Bathing By Jennifer Nieto & Luisana Mendez “Nature is the place where we can find inner peace and wisdom” – St. Francis of Assisi Nature wisely advises us that inner peace is a gift we can give ourselves; we don’t have to struggle to live within it. Often, what others say we have to […]
Winter Storm Safety: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe and Warm By Milavetz Law Winter storms arise when the temperature is at or below 32 degrees, and strong, gusting winds are present to draw moisture from bodies of water to create clouds. As the moisture returns to the ground, the cold temperature it […]
5 Types of Trails during the winter By Luisana Mendez With the arrival of winter many things change. One of them is the use of the trails in the different parks of Minnesota. When I started Winter Hiking I was completely unaware of this. I ventured into a park following a digital map and then […]
8 Life-Changing Benefits of Winter Hiking By Luisana Mendez Winter Hiking is definitely something that was never on my list before I moved to Minnesota and even up to two years after I moved here. However, upon discovering the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of hiking, winter walks also became an important part of my […]
10 Tips for Developing a Greater Cold Tolerance By Luisana Mendez I came to Minnesota in the middle winter of 2018 with zero tolerance for cold. It was a drastic change and a great experience. Seeing the snow for the first time gave me great excitement. Learning to dress correctly was a huge challenge. However, […]
Camping at Itasca State Park: from a Memorable experience to a Transformative experience By Luisana Mendez Camping is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Minnesota. There are many places available around the state where you can enjoy this activity at any time of the year, either alone or with others, as a family […]
¿Do You Feel Like You’re Running Out of Time? Getting Outdoors Can Give You the Energy You Need. By Jennifer Nieto We all have a certain amount of energy each day to do things, solve situations, and simply exist. Most of us spend the majority of our day working. Our hours are tied to an […]
“Hello Luisana, I wanted to write to thank you for the activities you do with Huellas Latinas. They are really very supportive of Latinos like me who came to the city without knowing anyone. It is a more than great space to integrate and get to know the beautiful places that the city has. Thank you again because you become a guide and always a friendly smile when you are so far from the family. We can see great passion in what you do 😍. Again a thousand thanks and my admiration for that constant work.”
– Cristina Tobon (Ella / She / Her)
“Thank you Luisana for providing an opportunity to see the natural beauties that Minnesota has to offer and specifically the metropolitan area of St Paul and Minneapolis. It is important to see people like you interested in getting involved with the community and how you stated “being part of the city”. Your activities are important to show that our metro area offers endless opportunities to enjoy nature and to instill a healthy lifestyle. These activities also serve so that people who move to this area feel our welcome attitude from this that could become their new community. Thank you for all the work you do and see you in the next activity!”
– Wilmer Fernandez (El / He / Him)
“I joined Huellas Latinas with the desire to go out more often. Although I have lived in Minnesota all my life, I don’t know much here. The walks with Huellas Latinas have been a great opportunity to see new places, places that I can later take my family so they too can see all that Minnesota has to offer.”
– Oscar Hernandez Ledesma (El / He / Him)
“I joined Huellas Latinas Hiking Club to stay connected to my community and enjoy the outdoors with people who may have similar experiences to me, and can understand the transition of moving here from another state, or even from another country. I felt very isolated when I first moved here. Minnesota is finally starting to feel like “home” now that I have started attending walks with Huellas Latinas and other events with groups that focus on people of different races and nationalities.”
– Ripley Nohemi (Ella / She / Her)
“I joined Huellas Latinas Hiking Club because it invites me to discover new places in different cities in Minnesota with the help of experts who share stories and information about the places. Also, it allows me to meet amazing new people from the Latino community”
– Tania Eden-Piñeiro (Ella / She / Her)
“Descubrí al club al leer un boletín del DNR de Minnesota titulado “Women in Conservation”. Me pareció muy buena idea para reconectar con mis raíces latinas ya que a diario sólo le hablo español a mi hija (en casa hablamos francés con mi esposo) y ya llevo casi 20 años fuera de México. Mejor aún si es compartiendo una actividad que me encanta y puedo hacer con mi hija! No me quedé decepcionada, el grupo y las actividades me han encantado!”
– Yari Cabezas-Perusse (Ella / She / Her)
Huellas latinas made me feel a sense of belonging, and connection to my latina/ Hispanic community. I have met so many wonderful people and shared amazing experiences- including my first time camping! Thank you Huellas Latinas for making me feel part of a community, helping me establish roots and making me feel like I’m part of a family!
– Roxana
Through a call from Huellas Latinas we found out about a camp inside a park in Minnesota and we decided to go. From the moment we arrived at camp, fresh air and natural beauty enveloped us. The different previously planned activities gave us the opportunity from day one to learn more about the environment and the animals that inhabited that place. Nights around the campfire became the heart of camp. Living with families from different countries added value to our experience, of course there was no shortage of laughter. To have a complete experience, the hike in which Luisana guided us was one of the most memorable moments because although many of us went with the firm idea of only traveling half of the way, the landscape and the company made us finish the entire path without feeling tired. When we return home, we take with us not only photographic memories, but also a renewed sense of community and belonging.
– Yuri
MY mom and I last summer–we had the opportunity to participate in a camp organized by HUELLAS LATINAS–a very pleasant experience in a family and safe environment where we met and shared with more families for 3 days, we enjoyed walks in the area , an afternoon with games for children and the whole family, nights with bonfires 🔥stories, stories and shared experiences, we enjoyed and shared different foods from our different countries, a great opportunity to meet more people who have now become more than friends, in a great family with whom we will continue sharing experiences 🫶🏼❤️ thank you Huellas Latinas 😊
– Magdalena
