Karen's post from the Capitol

Karen Nolasco, former SOS student and Sherpa, had the chance to accompany Arn Menconi and Paco Holguin to Washington, DC, last week as part of a trip sponsored by the Sierra Club. They were advocating for getting more kids outdoors and sharing their own stories. Here's how it went for her:

By Karen Nolasco

7:00 a.m. I wake up to the sound of “Baby Got Back” by MC Hammer, only to find out that on the other side of that ring tone was SOS Outreach Executive Director Arn Menconi telling me about an opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. The reason for this trip wasn’t to vacation and explore --  it was to advocate for something I strongly believed in, which is to help get kids outdoors rather than spend all day on Facebook.

“Oh Arn and his ideas,” I thought to myself. Of course, I agreed to go to Washington, and after the numerous e-mails back and forth, I finally received my boarding pass.

“Oh my goodness. This is legit!” I said to my roommates. D.C here I come.

It was my first time being on a plane since I was three-years-old. Luckily I was with another SOS student, Paco, and he walked me through the whole process. I thought I was going to wake up at any second to the smell of my roommates burning ramen, but no, I was still on my way to D.C. I was nervous to say the least, going inside the airport with so many numbers and rooms and lines. I swear I would’ve just started walking home if it wasn’t for Paco. Security was a pain -- I was worried that my 20 piercings would set off the alarm, and a giant security officer would taser me to the ground. I finally passed through security and the gates, and the only real issue was them taking my mouth wash. (Jerks.) I walked down the aisle to find my seat. This is where I learned that assumptions are bad; this was nothing like the movies. I wasn’t in a high-tech plane with televisions in front of me. There were no snakes on a plane, and definitely no Adam Sandler singing a love song from first class. It smelled like feet and business.

I knew we were in Washington to advocate, but what I didn’t know was that I was going to be in a room with senators. Meetings… YUCK. Something about penguin suits makes me feel like another sheep in the pack. Although I was required to wear business apparel, I wish I would’ve made more of a statement. These people see suits all day, so they wouldn’t forget a girl wearing an SOS t-shirt talking about what she wants. Besides that, I really did enjoy it. Shaking hands, hideous ties, bumping into the mayor of Denver and watching Arn do his thing. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m not much for sightseeing, but I’m one to shake hands with important people. So Ken Salazar, shaking your hand is finally checked off my bucket list. As for you Obama, I will meet with you next time. Sorry I couldn’t make it to our basketball session, but I was in a meeting with Mark Udall.

I was surprised to see the representatives of Colorado smile outside of pictures. They are people, too, not just robots like I used to believe. Seeing this definitely changed my view of government. I might actually watch their speeches now and not skip the channel as soon as I see a podium and suit. SOS teamed up with the Sierra Club and a veterans group, and we met with different lawmakers telling our stories. I’m always talking about keeping kids healthy, always making sure I’m outside as much as I can be, and always trying to make a difference one kid at a time. Going straight to the source to help support the Get Children Outdoors act was incredible. I can tell my story to the people who will make this possible. I really felt like my voice was being heard, and that Paco and I were speaking for other kids.

I found some inspiration of my own. After hearing the stories about the vets finding their escape in the wilderness, I thought, “What about the kids with parents in the Army -- where is their escape? And can I help them find it?” I also shared my story about how I love the outdoors, all the opportunities that wouldn’t be available to me if it wasn’t for SOS, and how I have my very own escape when I’m out in the wild. When sharing our stories, it felt as if there was no longer a silence. All those kids are being listened to now.

Overall this whole experience was more than I expected. Thank you Arn and the Sierra Club for making this happen. I hope to come back to D.C. one day, and before I start tearing up, I’d like to say “Kids -- go play outside, damn it!”