It’s never too late to ask “What if?” 

Daisy Prado, San Francisco resident, community advocate, and outdoor educator, had a childhood dream of studying marine biology in the coastal haven of San Diego. Instead, her studies took her in another direction to Arizona State, where she received a scholarship in journalism and mass communications. The offer to go to college and be debt-free was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. She shares, “As a first generation, low-income kid, you kind of think out of a scarcity mindset. Why not go for the free public education?”  

Prado’s early visions of studying the natural sciences didn’t wane. “There’s always been a part of me that wondered, ‘What if,’” Prado adds.  

A welcoming environment and a lasting impression 

That question stayed with her after college when she moved to the Bay Area. In 2023, through her connection to Latino Outdoors, Prado was invited to a group campout at Martin Griffin Preserve called “We Got Us,” an annual retreat organized by a collective of diverse outdoor advocates. She was eager to try her first group camping experience. The trip left a lasting impression on her.    

“It was a welcoming environment,” said Prado. “Ever since then, if there’s anything going on at Audubon Canyon Ranch and I can get there, I will do it.”  

An inclusive and rewarding educational experience 

When the California Naturalist application opened at Audubon Canyon Ranch, Prado was curious. Not only was she still passionate about studying science, but she had confidence in Audubon Canyon Ranch’s programs. “I trust the Audubon Canyon Ranch team to create an inclusive, comprehensive program where I would not only learn, but also feel like it was a safe educational space for me to learn and to show up as my authentic self,” she reflects.  

Now, three months into CalNat ,Prado talks about the program, cohort mates, and facilitators in glowing terms, sharing that it has “been one of the most rewarding experiences of my adulthood so far.”  

Palpable joy 

The program field trips have been moments for Prado to slow down, focus on nature, build community with her cohort mates, and connect with childhood wonder. With a tendency to share what she learns with her community and a talent for creating social media content, Prado produced a series of videos documenting the CalNat field trips. These short videos feature clever close-ups of flora and fauna, cinematic vistas of diverse landscapes, and shots of her CalNat friends. 

The first video in this series captures a particularly poignant moment for Prado, reflecting her palpable joy as she comes face to face with the colorful and diverse sea life in the Duxbury Reef tidepools and reconnects with her childhood dream of studying marine biology. 

Supporting the next generation of leaders in the outdoors 

Joy is not the only thing that Prado will be taking away from CalNat. In addition to being a community advocate and storyteller for a reproductive justice organization, Prado runs a project called City Gurlz Hike, an urban hike and community collective that connects Black, Latina, and Indigenous women and nonbinary people from around the Bay Area to enjoy the outdoors. Initiated during the Pandemic, the day-long trips host up to 60 hikers. Through her CalNat training, Prado feels better equipped and more confident as an outdoor educator.   

The safe learning environment she found in the CalNat program—where everyone is welcome, regardless of educational background—is reflected in her approach to leading hikes. She feels empowered to share her curiosity and knowledge along the trail, encouraging hikers to be curious, ask questions, and interpret what they see. 

There is no better time than today 

For Prado, becoming a naturalist is not a destination but a lifetime of curiosity and advocacy for access to nature. “We can all become naturalists. There’s no one way to become a naturalist, and there’s no one way to be a naturalist,” she shares.  She sees her CalNat journey as benefitting not only her own interests, but “showing other folks how to be better stewards, especially right now when our public lands are under attack.”  

“There isn’t a better time than today, than right now, to deepen your connection with the land, with your community, and with your backyard, whatever it may be, wherever it is. We all have a role to play in this movement to protect our collective home.”  

Find your joy in nature!

To get out into nature on a City Gurlz Hike, visit Instagram @CityGurlzHike 

To become a certified California Naturalist or Climate Steward, enroll in a 40+ hour course with an organization in a region near you. https://calnat.ucanr.edu/Take_a_class/ 

To find outings and volunteer opportunities, visit our event calendar. 

Check out outings from our local partners: Sonoma Land Trust, LandPaths, Pepperwood, and Sonoma County Ag + Open Space.