Lucy's Story - Hike it Child

THIS BLOG IS PART OF OUR ELEVATING VOICES SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Meet Lucy Crespo, the Northeast City Neighborhood Engagement Specialist on the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation. We had the pleasure of assembly Lucy when she was the Director of Youth Initiatives at Groundwork Elizabeth. On the time, she was internet hosting the primary Mom’s Day occasion at Phil Rizzuto’s Park in 2022, together with US Fish and Wildlife and our Carry it Exterior Program. This celebration was centered on making the day particular for mothers that obtain assist from Josephine’s Place Ladies Empowerment Heart. After we heard Lucy’s story that day, we knew we wished to share it with our neighborhood.

Rising Up Exterior

Lucy’s household immigrated from Argentina to the USA when she was nearly three years outdated searching for “The American Dream.” They arrived to a brand new world stuffed with lights, vehicles and skyscrapers that appeared to cowl the land (New York) leaving their small city Rio Ceballos behind. It took a few years for this household to undertake America as their new dwelling, however finally, Elizabeth, New Jersey turned that place. Over time, they missed Argentina’s mountains, grass, rivers and creeks that crossed their city in order that they ventured for that place that reminded them of their dwelling.

Lucy’s household ventured outdoors of their neighborhood searching for a spot that might fill this void of their lives. They began visiting each park they may discover; Kellogg’s Park, Phil Rizzuto Park, and lots of others. This younger lady grew up surrounded by nature as a result of her mother and father wished her to have the identical alternatives that they had having fun with the fantastic thing about this world. Lucy’s mother and father organized tenting journeys for his or her daughters to proceed the custom of spending time with nature; by way of that, Lucy started to fall in love with nature because it linked her to her Argentinian roots. In 2014, Lucy joined Groundwork Elizabeth and went on a visit to Yellowstone Nationwide Park, which proved to be life-changing for her. She grew her data in prepare upkeep, habitat restoration, and management abilities. For years Lucy traveled to many Nationwide Parks and Nationwide Wildlife Refuges across the nation main teams of youth within the battle to protect our nation’s open areas. Lucy led efforts at Yellowstone Nationwide Park, Grand Tetons Nationwide Park, Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, and the Lenape Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Advanced simply to call a couple of. Then utilizing years of information to protect public lands again in New Jersey and educate communities as talked about within the video.

Lucy and her associate Douglas, now have a two-year-old son named Enzo. They work collectively to supply Enzo with a greater life, surrounded by nature. Her final objective as a mother is to create a greater surroundings for her son which consists of retaining the air, soil, and water clear for him and the long run generations.

Lucy shares, “I hope Enzo will perform the tradition of outdoorism. I’ve taught him because the second he was born to like, admire, and respect nature.”

Lucy now works with the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation utilizing her experiences to assist the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in NJ, NY, and PA with their City Partnerships inside surrounding communities.

Lucy & Maria’s Recommendation for Dad and mom

Lucy says to “admire each second you will have together with your youngsters. Carry them outside! Make these reminiscences – that’s what they’ll bear in mind essentially the most.

Maria Lincuiz (Lucy’s mother), agrees, saying “take your youngsters out! Take your youngsters to the park. In case you are frightened about cash, simply go for a stroll!” Lucy’s mother is so happy with the way in which Lucy is elevating her son, and the way a lot she exposes Enzo to nature.

We’re so honored to work with Lucy, and her mother, and to witness the event of three generations of out of doors lovers!

ABOUT HIKE IT BABY

Hike it Child is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world the place everybody can benefit from the bodily and psychological beneﬁts of spending time outdoors. We’re centered on creating alternatives and eradicating limitations to entry so households with infants and younger youngsters can take their ﬁrst steps outdoors. We imagine all households have the fitting to attach with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outside and be impressed to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, Hike it Child is a rising neighborhood of 270,000 households and over 400 volunteer Department Ambassadors. Extra data, in addition to outside engagement occasions, will be discovered at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.

EDITORS NOTE:

We hope you loved studying this text from Hike it Child. We’re working laborious to supply our neighborhood with content material and assets that inform, encourage, and entertain you.

However content material just isn’t free. It’s constructed on the laborious work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an funding in growing premium content material to make it simpler for households with younger youngsters to attach with nature and one another. We don’t ask this calmly, however in case you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.