Hello readers, today marks two months of my journey here at ElDorado Canyon State Park and while reflecting on this time, I feel nothing but gratitude for this opportunity and community that I have become a part of.

During the winter season, park maintenance and duties have remained limited due to inclement weather and snowy days, which has given us more time for other cool activities at ElDo. I am proud to say I started off the new year by completing my first ever climb at one of our own ElDo crags with the help of two awesome ElDo climbers that taught and guided me through this unforgettable experience. However, I want to share my thought process as I did my first attempt and then my second to reach the top. I’m a 5-foot Latina with zero experience. When I began climbing after just hearing a 5-minute crash course on it from the climbers, I only climbed about 10 feet off the ground then instantly thought, “Yup, I’m not going to go far.

There’s no way my short arms and legs are going to make it. Why did I think I could do this knowing nothing?” I got off the crag and just leaned on a rock, disappointed and beating myself up about feeling too short to do this climb. Thankfully, one of the climbers (my mentor here at ElDo) asked me, “Are you ready to try again?” Even though I didn’t feel ready, I took his question as encouragement, because if he thought I could do it, then I can think that for myself too and not dwell on what I saw as my weaknesses. I took my time and constantly told myself “You can do one more step” in my second attempt, and that helped me reach the top; an accomplishment I’ll never forget.

Thankfully with this internship, I’ve been given the opportunity to meet with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff and partners and have been able to join biologists in conducting wildlife surveys and monitoring. As an intern that aspires to become a wildlife biologist, being able to learn from the biologists currently working in this field and work alongside them inspired and reassured me that wildlife conservation is the career I aspire to have. I was able to be a part of a group that conducted Bighorn Sheep counts and that was my first time ever seeing those incredible animals. I was also able to contribute to the Raptor monitoring efforts for the state of Colorado at our own Eldorado Canyon State Park! I hiked up to a nest that Bald Eagles always come back to lay their eggs and used binoculars and a scope to observe any raptor movement or additions to the nest. Even though there are no sightings yet for this season, I enjoyed being able to spot the nest. In addition to these awesome adventures, in my free time, one of my new favorite things to do at the park is notice wildlife prints in the snow. Next time you take a stroll or drive, look out for those prints and you’ll be surprised what wildlife you just missed!