I am a high school student who loves the outdoors. I first started doing outdoor activities in cub scouts in 2010 and since my I have become an avid hiker, camper and traveler. I want to spread my joy of the outdoors with other minority communities to increase diversity and the number of people who enjoy the outdoors.

The outdoors energize me ever since I can remember as a child.  Growing up in India, it was an enormous privilege to visit every part of the diverse country,  engaging people in a new language in every state, enjoying the local cuisine and being immersed in the local history which typically dates back at least 2000 years.  In the last twenty years since I have lived in the United States, I feel the same joy of discovery every time I visit our spectacular National Parks or even our unique State Parks.  It’s a point of disappointment however, when I don’t see segments of our society deriving the same joy and rejuvenation from these parks.  I’ve pledged to do my bit to help everyone belong outside.

I have always enjoyed the outdoors. There is a special joy that sparks within me when I hike to a top of a mountain or when I am walking on the beach with the sand in between my feet. I found out that I loved the outdoors after I visited Yellowstone national park where the beauty of nature literally took my breath away. I would love to see everyone enjoy these beautiful outdoors that our country has to offer.