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PUENTES

Join PUENTES for 2 weekends of outdoor adventure! Your first weekend will be a weekend camping trip, followed by a backpacking trip to build your comfort and knowledge of the outdoors. Your trips will be led by two bilingual Spanish speakers!

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PUENTES was founded in 2022 to create a welcoming outdoor community, especially for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This organization focuses on breaking barriers to nature engagement, fostering joy, and addressing power dynamics. Antonella, its founder, wants to increase BIPOC representation in outdoor activities. PUENTES is an acronym, standing for the organizational values of Personal Growth, Unpack and Uplift, Equity and Inclusion, Nature Connection and Natural History, Teamwork in Community, Experiential Education, and Story-sharing. PUENTES aims to build community, address historical inequities, and promote healing.

program details​

  • Location: Saratoga, CA; Tahoe National Forest

  • Program Length: 2 weekends (6 days total) 

  • Courses & Dates:

    • Students will attend the following two events.

      • Overnight camping trip: 7/20-7/21

      • Backpacking trip: 7/28-8/1

  • Participant Mix: All Summer Searchers

  • Accommodations: Tents

  • Bathroom Access: None when backpacking; toilets in the front country

  • Phone Access: When traveling only; none while backpacking or camping

  • COVID Policy: PUENTES recommends that all participants are vaccinated against COVID-19. PUENTES will provide and conduct Rapid Tests at the start of each outing.

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program activities

  • Your PUENTES experience is shaped by you!

  • Your trip leaders will create a curriculum based on your application, where you'll provide insight about yourself and your interests

  • Everyone will learn camp skills - how to be a safe and responsible camper

  • Cook meals in small groups, working together to make yummy meals like curries and veggie chilis

  • Previous PUENTES groups have participated in:

    • Outdoor skills: learning about plants and animals, nature journaling, etc​

    • Community-building: story-telling, group games, day hikes, etc

    • Creativity, rest, and joy: self-care, arts and crafts, etc

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what you'll get from this experience

  • A customized trip based off of you and your fellow participants

  • Outdoor knowledge and camping skills, developed in a safe space

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resources for this summer experience:

photos from puentes

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