Meet the 2024 SELA YO Cohort II members.
Andromeda
My name is Andromeda and I am from Watts. I go to South East High school. What I enjoy about the outdoors is looking at trees and getting to know what’s around me. What I do in my free time is go outside or play outside with my animals because it is something I enjoy very much. I chose to be in SELA YO because it’s something that I’ve been wanting to do- like connecting with outdoor life and getting to hike with other first time hikers. I will share what I have learned with other people and make connections with them.
Ayleen
My name is Ayleen. I was born and raised in Los Feliz until I moved to Watts during the summer of my 6th grade year. I am a senior at South East High School. What I like about being outdoors is the peace it brings me and how calm and relaxing nature really is. I think it has to do with the way I was raised. I never had a phone or a tablet so I always played outdoors. I had my own mud kitchen so I used to cook or pretend to make food with mud or leaves. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym or going to the beach with my family. I chose to be part of SELA Youth Outdoors because the outdoors is such a beautiful place and such a great opportunity to learn.
Cruz
My name is Cruz. I am from South Gate and I love seeing animals in nature. In my free time, I love to devote my time to extracurricular activities and spending time with the community. SELA YO gave me an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a way that isn’t so easily accessible in my family. I hope that learning how to prepare for large based activities will translate into my organization throughout my life, and help me prepare better.
Fernando
My name is Fernando and I am from Southgate. I love being outdoors because it provides a unique sense of freedom and peace that I can’t find anywhere else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and taking photos to capture nature’s beauty. I joined SELA YO to learn more about environmental issues and connect with others who share my passion. I hope to use the skills and knowledge I gain to support conservation efforts in my community and inspire others to appreciate and protect our natural world.
Jason
My name is Jason. I am from Watts Los Angeles and I am currently going to Southeast High School. The reason I enjoy being outdoors so much is because it is a time away from so many things like stress, people, and tech giving me a sense of freshness. I love doing physical activities. For fun I go to the gym and run. I chose to be a part of SELA Youth Outdoors because it gave me a chance to new experiences that I probably will not have for a very long time. I hope to learn to be more comfortable around people I do not know and be able to speak forward for myself, and especially be more disconnected with social media and technology and more connected with nature.
Jose
My name is Jose and I am from Huntington Park. I’m currently a senior attending Linda Marquez HPIAM high school. I enjoy breathing in the cold fresh air from high altitudes and bringing my dog Daisy along for walks/ hikes. I enjoy drawing portraits, collecting vinyl records, planting trees, hosting city cleanups with my club, and bonding with my dog. I chose to be a part of SELA YO as it’s a kind of program that I’ve never seen before/ had available to me. I hope to use my knowledge and experience to share with my environmental club and advocate for the importance of outdoors to friends and family.
Karen
My name is Karen. I live in South Central Los Angeles and I go to school at South Gate High School. I really love spending time outdoors with my family, especially going to lakes and rivers to cool down in this heat. In my free time, I like to run and swim with my sister. I chose to be a part of SELA Youth, to enjoy the outdoors with new people who also love the outdoors. With what I learn from SELA Youth, I hope to encourage and teach others to have a safe experience in the outdoors!
Karina
My name is Karina and I am from Bell Gardens, CA. I love being outdoors because it’s the best way to give myself a break from the hectic days in my life. I’ve noticed that if I’m ever stressed about something I can just go outside for a walk and feel better afterwards. Other things I love to do in my free time is read, watch movies, and make my own jewelry. I chose to be part of SELA YO because I want to seize new opportunities being outside and learn better survival skills. With what I learn from SELA YO, I hope to be inspired to start my own excursions with my family. For instance, going on more hikes or camping trips and being able to pass on what I learned to them.
Layla
My name is Layla and I am from Los Angeles, California. I’m a senior at South Gate High School interested in the medical field and in becoming a RN (Registered Nurse). What I want to learn about the outdoors is the wildlife so as not to be afraid of bugs and how to take care of yourself when in the outdoors and to just be more comfortable outside. I enjoy playing sports or going out to try new places in my free time with friends and family. I chose to be part of SELA YO to learn to enjoy the outdoors and nature with myself and loved ones.