Inspiring Connections Outdoors volunteer Maria Hernandez on the trail
Maria Hernandez knows the benefits of spending time outdoors. "Being outdoors is therapy, and I recommend it to everyone. Growing up, my fondest memories were of spending time at the park and lakefront," she recalls. "My mom must have known of the benefits as well, because she always made time to take my siblings, cousins, and me. When she bought my first bike, it felt like I had just grown wings! I was now able to ride to the lakefront on my own; it was liberating and exhilarating."
As a native and resident of Chicago's South Side and a history teacher at Olive-Harvey Middle College High School, she noticed that many of her students didn't have the same opportunities that she did to enjoy the outdoors. Having experienced the beauty of nature and its restorative effects, Maria wanted to share these experiences with the youth she interacts with every day. She joined Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO), a Sierra Club program that provides adventures for youth who wouldn't ordinarily have the chance to engage with nature.
"Maria is passionate about breaking down the barriers to access for all youth of Chicago," says Chicago ICO coordinator Katty Regalado. "We often hear how green-friendly Chicago is supposed to be, but what does that really look like across our neighborhoods amidst the disparities of resources?" As community leaders and environmental justice advocates have been saying for years, low-income communities in Chicago and across the country are disproportionately exposed to high levels of pollution. "Although the park district is now managing newer natural areas in this region, access is still an issue. I see a lot of North Siders here on the trails during the weekends, but there's a disconnect when we don't see our own members of the community enjoying them."
"Exploring an unfamiliar place makes me feel like a child again, wide-eyed and ready to learn something new."
To get kids outdoors on a day-to-day basis, Maria collaborated with Working Bikes, a not-for-profit organization, to provide bicycles and helmets for her school. Building on that success, she worked diligently with a nearby college to begin a bike tech program to teach youth how to refurbish and repair bicycles. Recently, in partnership with ICO and other groups, Maria secured a grant from the city's Divvy bike share system to provide her school with the funds to start its own bicycle repair program. "The next step is to address the issue of street safety when accessing these green spaces," Katty explains. "Because Olive-Harvey is surrounded by a railroad yard, a Chicago Transit Authority terminal, and an expressway, access to and from the nearby trails creates a challenge."
Maria is also working to provide outdoor experiences beyond the bike lanes. She recently took some students on a service trip to the Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge in Northern California to plant flowers, clear the way for a volleyball court, and build Adirondack chairs. "It was such a great feeling to work together and be able to give back." Future plans with her students include overnight camping, sand dune hiking, and canoeing along the Chicago River. "Getting students to enjoy the outdoors is slightly selfish," she confesses. "I love every bit of it myself. Exploring an unfamiliar place makes me feel like a child again, wide-eyed and ready to learn something new."
Do you want to help inspire connections outdoors? Learn more, volunteer, or donate at sierraclub.org/ico.