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Area residents enjoy the outdoors with return of Camp Moreno

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Click on the image to see a slideshow from Camp Moreno at Sunset Crater. Pause on photo to see a caption.

AmigosNAZ staff report

FLAGSTAFF — A brief rain and hail storm hit the O’Leary Group campground at Sunset Crater while many of the campers were practicing their yoga exercises under an open tent canopy. So how would they get to the covered ramada?

No problem. Working under the Boy Scouts motto: “Always be prepared,” the campers grabbed one of the tarps they were standing on, put it over their heads and like a well-practiced military maneuver simply walked in unison to the ramada.

Such was the first day of outdoor living at Camp Moreno where strangers soon learned to work together to overcome obstacles, and for many, enjoy their first overnight camping trip.

The camp was held during the weekend of Sept. 14-15, which also happened to be the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. Would-be campers gathered in the parking lot of Killip Elementary School in Flagstaff, taped signs to their vehicles advertising Camp Moreno and then took to the road to set up camp near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.

Once there, campers received instruction on how to properly set up their tents, install a rain fly (covers), before unpacking their gear and taking a short hike to discover nature, including exploring a nearby lava flow.

Camp Moreno is the brainchild of founder Roberto Moreno, who with his wife, Louisa, travel around the southwest towing a trailer filled with camping gear donated by REI, a company that sells outdoor recreational gear. In fact, REI is planning on opening its first store in Flagstaff during the Spring 2014 at Aspen Place at the Saw Mill shopping center.

Roberto Moreno first experienced the joys of camping while on a trip to Yosemite National Park in California. From that original Camp Moreno, the project grew into a series of camping events launched in 2011 by the Colorado-based Alpino Foundation. The goal of the program is to encourage young Latinos to develop a love for the outdoors and the U.S. National Parks system, ensuring future generations of camp goers.

To date, Camp Moreno has come to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Chamzal Monument in Texas, Wind Cave National Park in South Dakato, Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona, and for the second year in the row, Sunset Crater just outside Flagstaff. The Flagstaff effort is coordinated with the help of the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC).

Youngsters and their parents participated in hikes, a yoga exercise program, presentations by U.S. National Parks rangers on wildlife and outdoor safety, along with camping and cooking outdoors 101 lessons.

The entire camping weekend is free to youth and their parents. All the camping gear is provided free of charge. Moreno said he enjoys holding his events in the area given that there are at least 12 National Parks within a two-hour drive from Flagstaff.

In fact, he hopes to eventually recruit enough families, around 55 per camping event, to hold three Camp Morenos in the area each year.

To be added to the email list to sign up for future Camp Moreno programs, contact CHAC vice chair Eduardo Tapia at campmoreno.chac@gmail.com. Call 928-380-4491 or click here for more information.