Learning Their Place

As young outdoorsy Latina women, Lizbeth Perez Valdez and Thalia Perez, both 17, feel like they're bucking trends and defying expectations in their community. Listen in as they discuss how they're juggling questions of race, culture, gender and nature.Here's the report by NPR's Shareen Marisol Meraji which is mentioned in this episode.This episode sponsored by: and listeners like you. Special thanksto Emmaline and Wilson Derryfor help with the credits.(And thanks to the grasshopper, too.)

Photo courtesy of Urban Promise Academy. Jill Johnson is a math and science teacher at the Urban Promise Academy, a public middle school in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood. In 2010 she started a program called WILD: Wilderness, Independence and Leadership Development. Her goal? Get every student in the school out on an overnight camping trip. In this episode, we meet Jill. In the next episode, we'll hear from some of her students. More about Jill.More about Urban Promise Academy.More about the community partners making the WILD program work:Science by NatureFoster CalmBay Area Wilderness Training This episode sponsored by:and listeners like you.

We first met Donnie Le in episode four. This "Deep Dig" gives more of the backstory on his life and on Camp Waskowitz, the place where he first realized how much he wants and needs a connection to nature.We'll be following Donnie over the next several months. Look for more "Deep Digs" featuring him soon.

Donnie at Camp Waskowitz Donnie Le didn't know he loved nature. He didn't know he liked to work with kids. He just knew that in order to survive, he had to act tough.Now he's rethinking things.This is my first conversation with Donnie, recorded in October 2014. You can follow his story in our first "Deep Dig," and in future episodes.-- Amy This episodesponsored by:and listeners like you.

This episodesponsored by:and listeners like you.Nineteen-foot porcupines! Butterfly owls! Venomous tarantulas disguised as ridiculously cute second-graders! Find them all at Missoula's Wild Walk, a celebration of wildness of all kinds. This annual party is the kick-off event of the International Wildlife Film Festival and Earth Week.It's also a top contender for the World's Most Adorable Parade.

Jasmine talks about "that one thing that hits you" when you get outside.

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