YOUTH STORIES
Every student who walks into an Outdoor Academy classroom brings something the program can't teach: a lifetime of connection to this place.
The Rio Grande runs through their histories. The canyon walls are familiar. What we offer is a bridge — from that deep sense of belonging to a real seat in the outdoor economy.
These are some of their stories.
Meet Uma
Meet Uma
Uma first connected with Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte as a teenager through a youth fishing day. What started as an interest in fly fishing grew into something much bigger: a chance to face a lifelong fear of the Rio Grande, develop outdoor leadership skills, and begin building a career in the outdoors.
Through Outdoor Academy, Uma has gone from student to guide and intern, gaining hands-on experience with Far Flung Adventures, local wildlife and ranching partners, and the Bureau of Land Management. Her story is a powerful example of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity, support, and trust to explore what's possible.
“Because of Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte, I have kick-started my career in the outdoors and gained experience that will be valuable for the rest of my life.”
Finding Outdoor Academy
"I had dabbled in fly fishing since I was 11 years old. When I was 15, my stepdad asked me to go to a youth fishing day held by Friends of the Rio Grande. After the youth fishing day, I was told about the Outdoor Academy and offered a spot — and I took it.
I decided to participate in the fly fishing academy because I love to fly fish, and I really wanted to grow my skill set and learn about the guiding world. At that point, I only knew fly fishing as a hobby.
I had always spent a lot of time outside — I practically grew up outside — but when I went to college, my time outdoors started getting smaller. Having a reason to get outside and a responsibility to show up helped me get back out there, even with the stress and busyness of school."
Facing My Fear of the River
"The whitewater rafting program was a completely different experience for me. When I was very young, I almost drowned in the Rio Grande, and I hadn't been able to swim in it since. I decided it was time to face that fear and go into some whitewater.
It was extremely scary. Going down the race course for the first time, I honestly thought I would just freeze and not be able to do anything — which almost happened a few times.
But I had a great guide with me in the raft who walked me through what I needed to do, and the other students were very encouraging. After we finished, it felt like I could do anything, which was incredible because I was so scared at the start.
I love the Rio Grande now, and I don't have that fear anymore. I'm very grateful that I was given the opportunity to face it in a safe way, with a life jacket and trained professionals."
“After we finished, it felt like I could do anything.”
Becoming the Person I Needed to See
"One of my favorite moments in the Outdoor Academy was the day we guided a group of kids at Junction Bridge. I was with this very, very sweet girl, and it was really nice to see a young girl love fishing.
She caught a fish, and she was so excited. I felt ecstatic that I was able to help her have such a good experience. By the end of the day, she said she wanted to go fishing again.
It made me feel so good that there was something I could do to help other girls get into fly fishing and have a good experience. When I was younger, I mostly saw male fly fishers. It made me feel like fly fishing could be a hobby for me, but that was about it. Being given the opportunity to be someone who was actually doing it made me very, very happy."
From Outdoor Skills to a Career
"Outdoor Academy also opened doors to experiences I never would have had otherwise. Through internships, I was able to work with Far Flung Adventures, a local stable, and eventually the Bureau of Land Management.
My favorite internship experience has definitely been with the BLM. I went on a three-day Chama trip to survey for macroinvertebrates and water quality. It was so incredible to me that I was literally floating down the Chama in this beautiful environment, learning incredible skills and getting paid for it.
I was doing water quality testing, including PO4 and turbidity, and using a calorimeter — something I had actually learned about in my college chemistry class. It was crazy that that kind of translated to actual work.
I was doing it by myself, and I felt like, this is actually a skill I learned and I'm able to do it. I obviously like having guidance, but being able to actually do something by myself and feel trusted was a very amazing experience.
“It was crazy that that kind of translated to actual work.”
Those experiences helped me figure out what a career working with nature and wildlife could actually look like. I always knew I wanted to work with nature and wildlife in some way, but I didn't really know the logistics of that. Working with the Outdoor Academy and the BLM helped me iron out the wrinkles and find more realistic career options."
Learning to Advocate for Myself
"One of the biggest things I've learned is that if you're offered an opportunity, you should get everything you can out of it.
During my first summer interning with Friends of the Rio Grande, I heard that a stable needed some help. I really like horses, so I reached out and asked if that was something I could do. On top of my internship with Far Flung Adventures, I was able to intern with the stables as well.
I had also mentioned that I really liked wildlife and wanted to work with it somehow. The next summer, I was offered an internship with the BLM.
Being able to advocate for myself and ask for things that I want really is an amazing life skill, and something I think a lot of young people struggle with."
A New Perspective on Public Lands
"Growing up, I spent so much time outside hiking and exploring that I never really thought about the fact that having public lands isn't a given.
During the Academy, there was a big threat to public lands, and that's when I realized that having public lands isn't guaranteed. They're something that needs to be protected.
Working with the BLM also gave me a completely different viewpoint. I never realized the amount of work that goes into caring for our public lands and keeping them accessible.
The outdoor skills I've gained have become more than just hobbies, too. My whitewater skills came into use during my three-day Chama trip with the BLM, where I had my own kayak and was able to safely get myself down the river. That skill helped make an incredible experience possible."
What's Next
"I'm very proud of the whitewater skills I've gained because overcoming that fear was such a big thing for me. I'm also proud of the outdoor competence I've developed because it's an extremely transferable skill in any outdoor job.
Outdoor Academy gave me experiences that most people would either have to pay for or work toward for a long time to get. I got so much incredible experience in one summer, and it really has been a blessing."
Her advice to future Outdoor Academy students?
“DO IT!! I’ve gotten so much incredible experience that most people would either have to pay for or work toward for a long time to get. I got all of that in one summer. This program really has been a blessing for me, and if you try it and don’t like it, you really don’t lose anything.”
Because of Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte...
"I have kick-started my career in the outdoors and gained experience that will be valuable for the rest of my life."
Meet Estevan
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Meet Estevan
Estevan first connected with Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte in eighth grade, when Ben visited his science class at Taos Middle School to talk about public lands, outdoor recreation, and fly tying. Already an avid outdoorsman, Estevan brought his own fly-tying equipment to class and jumped right in.
That experience made him look forward to joining Outdoor Academy when he started high school. What began as a desire to become a better fly fisherman eventually opened the door to guide school, internships, and a potential career in the outdoors.
“Outdoor Academy has opened the door to new opportunities for me.”
Finding Outdoor Academy
"I first heard about Outdoor Academy when Mr. Ben visited Mr. Gilroy’s science class at Taos Middle School. He talked to us about public lands and outdoor recreation, and he taught us how to tie flies. Mr. Gilroy had told us about the visit ahead of time, so I brought my own fly-tying equipment and participated.
I was in eighth grade at the time, and the experience made me look forward to joining Outdoor Academy when I started high school.
I joined Outdoor Academy because I wanted to work outdoors and was interested in fly fishing. I wanted to master the art of fly fishing and get my foot in the door for a career in the outdoors. From the presentation at my middle school, I already knew that Outdoor Academy could help me pursue both of those goals."
Turning a Passion Into a Career
"I was born and raised in the outdoors. From a young age, I spent a lot of time hunting, fishing, raising livestock, and working with animals on my family’s land. Being outside has always been an important part of my life and my family’s life.
Outdoor Academy has given me new ways and opportunities to spend time outside and has helped me turn something I already loved into a potential career.
One of my favorite experiences was working as an intern with Taos Fly Shop during the summer. I helped guide kids, teach students, and guide adults.
One of the highlights was a trip to the Conejos River, where I helped guide students my own age as well as adults."
“I got to put clients on some big fish, including huge cutthroat trout. That was really exciting.”
Learning to Guide — and Teach
"One of my biggest challenges was learning to accept constructive criticism from the guides at Taos Fly Shop. I had to be willing to listen and make changes in order to grow. That feedback helped me improve and become a better guide.
I learned many things through Outdoor Academy. Most importantly, I learned how to guide, work with people — especially adults — and become a better teacher.
Learning how to teach others was a big accomplishment for me.
I am most proud of learning how to work with people of all ages and from all walks of life. I have also learned how to teach others."
Seeing Public Lands Differently
"Outdoor Academy changed the way I think about public lands.
I learned how important public lands are to our community and to tourism, which is especially important here in Taos. I also learned how to take care of our rivers and keep trout safe so that people can continue to enjoy good fishing year after year.
Before Outdoor Academy, I had considered becoming a game warden because I knew it was a job that would allow me to work outdoors. The program showed me that there are many different career pathways in the outdoors, and I became interested in becoming a guide.
Outdoor Academy helped me train for that career, attend guide school, and gain real experience working as a guide intern."
Learning to Keep Going
"I will never forget my first year of guide school. We went fishing at Eagle Nest Lake, where the fishing was very difficult even though we knew there were big fish in the lake. We had to stay persistent and keep trying.
Later, we went to the Cimarron River, where the fishing became really good. It was a relief to catch a bunch of fish after working so hard at the lake.
That experience taught me to push through the difficult times and not give up."
A Future Outdoors
"Outdoor Academy has given me new opportunities to spend time outside and helped me see what a career in the outdoors could look like.
I have learned how to work with all kinds of people — adults, kids, and people different than me. I have learned to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences.
I have also learned how to become a teacher and how to spend my days helping others enjoy something that I love."
“As a guide, you get to know people, hear their stories, tell jokes, and do what you love every day.”
His advice to future Outdoor Academy students?
“I would tell them that they should join. Outdoor Academy gives you many opportunities to get outside, learn new skills, and discover possibilities you might not have known about before. I have had a lot of fun in the program, and it has opened the door to new opportunities for me.”
Because of Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte...
“I have learned how to work with all kinds of people, adults, kids, and people different than me. I have learned to listen to their stories and learn from their experiences. I have also learned how to become a teacher and how to spend my days helping others enjoy something that I love.”
Meet Abbi
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Meet Abbi
Abbi first learned about Outdoor Academy while interviewing his former teacher, Ben Mortensen, for a school project. She was already interested in working outdoors and had spent the summer of 2024 volunteering with the Forest Service, but Outdoor Academy gave her an opportunity to take that interest further — gaining hands-on experience, learning new skills, and getting paid to work in the field.
Over two summers, she has explored wildlife biology, watershed studies, GIS, field surveys, archaeology, and public land management. Along the way, she has gained mentors, friends, confidence, and a deeper appreciation for the quiet moments that make time outdoors meaningful.
“I have now spent two summers gaining knowledge, skills, friends, mentors, and moments I will never forget.”
Finding Outdoor Academy
"I heard about Outdoor Academy from my former teacher, Ben Mortensen, when I was interviewing him for a school project.
I had been looking for an opportunity to gain more knowledge about the outdoors and get paid while working in the field, so Outdoor Academy was a great fit.
I already spent a large portion of my time outside, including volunteering part-time for the Forest Service during the summer of 2024. But Outdoor Academy gave me new opportunities to learn and work in the field."
Learning to See the Forest Differently
"It’s hard to pick a favorite moment because there are so many. A lot of them happen when we get to the end of a hike and reach a beautiful overlook or the top of a mountain.
But if I had to pick one, releasing boreal toads into the wild was definitely the most fun.
Over the course of the program, I learned how vastly different parts of the same forest can be. I learned how to use GIS tools, lead surveys and complete survey sheets, identify fish, birds, plants, and other wildlife species, and understand how different agencies and offices work together.
I also learned how archaeological sites are determined and surveyed, what tools are used by different offices, and so much more.
“I was surprised to see how much can change and happen from one season to the next.”
Learning to Push Through
"Most days spent outdoors are spent in the heat and at high elevation, but the biggest challenge has been the mental battle of telling yourself that you can do it.
I am most proud of gaining the ability to lead a team in the field, use GIS tools, and tell myself that I can get through the tough moments that can happen out there.
Those are skills I know I will carry with me beyond Outdoor Academy."
A New Perspective on Public Lands
"Growing up in northern New Mexico has always allowed me to appreciate public lands, but this program allowed me to see how public lands have to be protected and managed.
Working in the field gave me a much better understanding of everything that goes into caring for these places — from wildlife surveys and habitat work to archaeology and the coordination between different agencies.
It showed me that loving public lands is one thing, but protecting and managing them takes knowledge, hard work, and a lot of people working together."
Discovering New Possibilities
"I always wanted to study wildlife biology, but Outdoor Academy opened my eyes to other areas I hadn't considered. Now I am planning on minoring in watershed studies.
The program has helped me see that there are so many different ways to build a career working outside and caring for the places I love.
I also definitely spend more time outside now. I'm always looking for hikes and outdoor activities that I can bring my friends with."
Memories That Stay With You
"There are so many memorable moments that can happen over one summer, but I truly enjoyed the camping trip I took to Frijoles Creek to do a brown trout removal.
I've learned to appreciate the small, peaceful, and quiet moments much more."
“I now spend more time outside and have truly learned to enjoy the small, peaceful and quiet moments the forest has to offer.”
Taking the Opportunity
Outdoor Academy takes hard work, dedication, and the desire to be outside doing what we do.
If you truly want it, then take the opportunity.
“This has been the best opportunity I took.”
Because of Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte...
“I have now spent two summers gaining knowledge, skills, friends, mentors, and moments I will never forget. I now spend more time outside and have truly learned to enjoy the small, peaceful and quiet moments the forest has to offer.”