 Hello and welcome everybody to today's program. Thank you for tuning in today. I am Maricela, I am a librarian here at the San Francisco Public Library and I'm so happy to welcome you all today and to welcome our presenters. Today we will be featuring author and bring Tariq who wrote the book Fatima's great outdoors and National Park Ranger Fatima Collindres who will be in conversation with our author today to talk about how special this book is to them both and how special it is that we are able to bring it to you all today so thank you so much for being here. But first I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge that the San Francisco Peninsula is the ancestral home of the Ramatush Ohlone peoples. The Ramatush Ohlone continue to live, work and play here today. They have not ceded, lost or forgotten their responsibilities as caretakers of this place and we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland and it is with deepest respect that we recognize their ongoing stewardship of this land. Next slide please. Today's program is one of our many virtual offerings during Summer Stride. Summer Stride is the library's annual summer learning program for all ages where we celebrate exploring, learning, reading for all ages and abilities this summer. Check out the chat for to find out more information about the Summer Stride program. The Summer Stride library programs and library programming would not be possible without the support of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library they make this program and many other programs actually all the library programs possible, not only in summer, but year round. Thank you so much friends for your support. So today we welcome you to this program today is part of the Nature Boost series for Summer Stride. Nature Boost is a collaboration between the parks and the library and we're so honored to work with the National Park Service, the Golden Gate National Parks Service and the Presidio Trust to make Nature Boost happen every week in the summer but also year round. We encourage you to get out and explore. And I'm so elated to be able to introduce today's author to you today. This program is also part of our BIPOC kitlet series. And we are here to welcome Ambrim Tariq. Ambrim Tariq is the author of Fatima's Great Outdoors and the founder of Brown People Camping. You might know of her from following her on Instagram. She launched Brown People Camping in 2016 in celebration of the National Park Services Centennial. She is storytelling to share how her life experiences as a Muslim South Asian American immigrant woman have shaped her love for the outdoors and to reflect the role of that privilege plays in allowing us to access the outdoors in their own authentic ways. Ambrim is a non-practicing attorney and she works for the federal government during the day and she lives in the Washington, D.C. area. Fatima, which appears in the title of her book, is a special name to Ambrim because it is also her middle name and is the name of our presenter, our next presenter, National Park Ranger Fatima Colindres. Fatima Colindres says that her love for the outdoors started in high school and she believes that everyone should be able to connect to their parks. You may have seen Ranger Fatima and might have not even known it because she will often be in character as Juana Briones during national park programs during which she allows visitors the opportunities to meet Juana Briones, an early pioneering curandera founding mother of San Francisco who lived in the 1800s. I'm so very happy to be able to introduce you to them today and have them here to present today's reading, which is very special because Fatima's great outdoors is published in English, but Fatima Colindres and Ambrim have both recorded today's story for you all, and it's bilingual. It's going to be read in Spanish and in English. But before we get to today's book, I invite Ambrim to come on screen to let us know a little bit about this story and why it's so important to read it. Ambrim, welcome. Hi, thank you so much for having me. I am really excited to be here. And thank you for that super warm welcome. So tell us, Ambrim, why did you write Fatima's great outdoors? Yeah, I'm so excited to talk about this because, as you mentioned, I do a lot of work around promoting the outdoors and advocating for it and advocating really for everybody to be able to get out there and enjoy it in their own authentic way, which involves talking about why it's hard for some people to not get out there, why it's hard to overcome some of those fears and anxieties about what it means to be in remote places. But so I wrote the book because for me, when this book as we're about to read it to you, it's fun to remember that this is actually my life. Fatima is me and I am Fatima. I didn't want to name the character my first name because I want other kids to be able to identify with this character and Fatima is a name that exists in so many different cultures and is special to so many people as we're going to see today. But really the book is very special to me and I wrote it because I wanted to talk about how people of all walks of life can find their joy in the outdoors, can do it their way. And as you'll see in this book, my family, which at the time we were struggling immigrants, my parents were working two jobs each and my sister and I were having a lot of difficulty transitioning into American school. We still found our joy out there we made our food, we, you know, saying our songs and however you want to enjoy it you can and you'll find joy and empowerment in the outdoors and it's a very special place, not just for individuals but for families. So, I really hope you like it. Oh, I'm so excited and I know our National Park Ranger Fatima Colindres will have a wonderful, you know, opportunity to also share a little bit about the shared experience that you both have about name, and also this, the topic. I'm so excited that she will be coming on right after the reading, but let's, let's get started with the reading today. I am extremely excited to be reading my book for you today, Fatima's Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq and illustrated by Stevie Lewis. Fatima and her oppa stood at the curb and waited for their parents to pick them up from school. Today, they weren't going straight home. Today, the Qazi family was going camping for the first time. Camping, her father had told them over dinner and his teaching voice was a great American pastime. Fatima was waiting for her oppa outside of school. Today, they weren't going straight home. Today, the Qazi family was going camping for the first time. Camping, her father had told Fatima that it was a custom of the Americans, a very important custom. The trip felt like Fatima's reward after a long, hard week. On Monday, some kids wrinkled their noses at her lunch. On Tuesday, someone in class laughed and told her it's pronounced fractions, not fractions. On Wednesday, a boy pulled on her long braid in the hallway, and on Thursday, she didn't do so well on her math quiz. This trip was going to be a great gift for Fatima because she had had such a hard week. On Monday, a boy wrinkled his noses at her. On Tuesday, someone in class laughed and told her it's pronounced fractions, not fractions. On Wednesday, a boy pulled on her long braid in the hallway, and on Thursday, she didn't do so well on her math quiz. Fatima smiled when her parents pulled up. The sisters piled into the car, squeezing in between pillows, blankets, and a big cardboard box filled with cooking supplies. Wow, this is a lot of stuff! Fatima yelled, are we moving to the forest? Mama asked the girls in Orlu if they were excited as she reached back to hand them warm homemade samosas. The girls nodded vigorously with jack-o'-lantern smiles. Mama samosas were very excited as she reached back to hand them warm homemade samosas. The girls nodded vigorously with jack-o'lantern smiles. Mama samosas always tasted extra delicious on road trips. How about some Gane? Papa asked. Mama Drafi's voice rose over the car speakers and Bollywood songs spilled out from the windows. Fatima's cares melted away as they all sang along in Hindi. Mama asked the girls in Orlu if they were excited as they reached back to hand them warm homemade samosas. The girls smiled. Mama samosas were the most delicious on road trips. How about some Gane? Papa asked. Mama Drafi's voice rose over the car speakers and Bollywood songs spilled out from the windows. Mama shouted over the music and announced to the whole car how well she had done on her math homework. Mama's teacher even asked her to come to the front of the class and solve a hard problem on the board that most of the other kids had gotten wrong. Shabash, Papa said with pride. Mama shouted over the music and over the car speakers that she had done on her math homework. Mama asked her to come to the front of the class and solve a hard problem on the board that most of the other kids had gotten wrong. Papa went on and on about school. Fatima slumped in her seat and ate another samosa. As Fatima thought about how to change the topic, her big sister pointed out the window and shouted, look, we're here. The family cheered as they passed the sign for the State Park. At the campsite, the girls helped their parents unload. First, Papa said, we must build our tent. Papa and Mama chose to start dinner instead. Fatima watched as Papa took the tent gear out of a sack. When they arrived at the campsite, the girls helped the parents unload the entire car. The first thing we had to do, Papa said, was to build our tent. Papa and Mama decided to start dinner. Papa grumbled in order when the pieces wouldn't fit. Fatima wanted to help, but could she? She hadn't done anything right at school that week. What would make the campground any different? Fatima took a tiny step closer. She suggested to Papa that they read the instruction manual together. When they finished, Fatima stood proudly next to their brand new home in the forest. Shabash! Papa's bear paw clapped her shoulder. The Kasi family celebrated the start of their first camping trip over a delicious dinner of Shamikabab and rotis that Mama had brought from home. After dinner, Fatima and Papa crawled into the family tent. They were so excited to snooze in their new sleeping bags. They never had rooms of their own, not even in India, so being together in one big tent felt cozy and right. The girls zipped up their sleeping bags and chattered on as their parents finished cleaning up. Papa was telling Fatima about how she won her class spelling bee when suddenly her face dropped. She gasped and pointed to the tent ceiling. Eight long, giant legs gripped the outside of their tent. After dinner, Fatima and Papa crawled into their camping tent. They were so happy because they were sleeping in their new sleeping bags. They were so excited to snooze in their new sleeping bags. They never had rooms of their own, not even in India. They were so happy talking about how she won her class spelling bee when suddenly her face dropped. They were so excited to snooze in their new sleeping bags. A monster, the girls screamed and huddled together. They cried out for Mama. She was fearless and would know what to do. When they lived in India, Mama could catch the lizards and throw them out without flinching. That's why she had that funny finger, Papa said. She'd been getting rid of a scorpion from her house when it stung her. The monster moved across the roof and the girls screamed again. What's going on? Mama shouted over the sound of dishes being washed. The causes didn't use paper plates because they were too expensive. Mama, don't open the tent, Papa yelled. There's a giant poisonous spider monster outside. The monster moved across the roof and the girls screamed again. Mama said, what's going on? What's going on? Mama was laughing while she was washing the dishes. The girls almost didn't use paper plates because they were too expensive. Mama was washing the dishes when Papa said, Mama, don't open the tent. There's a monster, a giant spider. Mama replied impatiently, go brush your teeth before bed. Mama held the tent door flaps and on the count of three, the girls ran out. They followed the same precautions coming back inside. One, two, three, they zoomed into their sleeping bags in a single fluid motion. Mama said, go brush your teeth before bed. Mama held the tent door flaps and on the count of three, the girls ran out. They followed the same precautions coming back inside. One, two, three, they zoomed into their sleeping bags in a single fluid motion. That night, Fatima had a hard time falling asleep. Crickets chirped and wind blew against their tent. She flinched every time a twig snapped. But soon, as the trees swayed outside, Fatima's eyes got heavy and she drifted into a warm deep sleep that only campers enjoy. Soft snores drifted outside the Kazi's tent and joined the sounds of the forest. That night, Fatima had a hard time falling asleep. It was hard for her because she could hear the sound of the night. Outside, she could hear the wind that was blowing and apart from that, she could also hear the crickets that were making her sing. Then she heard that someone was standing on a stick and broke it. But soon she started to hear the sound of the leaves of the trees, how they moved with the wind. And that's when Fatima began to feel that her eyes began to feel more and more heavy. And soon, very soon, she was asleep. Enjoying that dream that only the people who have camped know how it feels. Well, soon, the whole family had fallen asleep and the Kazi's family's campaign tent could hear the sounds of their snores and the forest could hear outside. The next morning, Fatima woke up to the smell of Anda and Roti cooking in ghee. Papa was waiting for her to make the bacon over a roaring fire. He had promised Fatima they could have bacon for breakfast, just like the other American families. They had even made a special trip to the Halal butcher shop for the beef kind. Bajarajao! Papa called for them to come outside. The sisters crept out slowly. The next morning, Fatima woke up to the smell of Anda and Roti cooking. Oh, that was tasty. Papa was waiting outside with the bacon. And he was cooking it over a roaring fire. He had promised Fatima they would have breakfast just like the American families. They had even made a special trip to the Halal butcher shop for the beef kind. Bajarajao! Papa said when they all came out, the sisters crept out slowly. Mama pointed at the top of the tent between chuckles. Go look at your big monster, she said. A harmless little daddy long legs sat quietly between beads of morning dew. It had been guarding them from mosquitoes all night. The girls laughed and laughed. Mama and Papa laughed too. Fatima was pretty sure the spider joined in as well. Mama, les enseñó arriba de su tienda de campaña, ríendose, les dijeron. Mama, les enseñó arriba de su tienda de campaña, ríendose, les dijeron. Miren nada más. Miren su gran monstruo. Es solamente una arañita de patas largas que las ha estado cuidando toda la noche. Hasta, miren, tiene una gotita de sereno en su patita. Las niñas empezaron a reír igual que Mama y Papa. Fatima estaba segura que probablemente la araña también se rió. Let's start the campfire so we can make the smoky bacon you've been so excited about Fatima, Papa said. Twenty minutes later, there still was no campfire. Papa grumbled under his breath in Urdu. The fire wouldn't catch. Hay que empezar la gran fogata para cocinar nuestro tocino. Especialmente porque pues he estado tan emocionada con esto Fatima, dijo Papa. 20 minutos después, todavía no había fogata. Papa estaba medio frustrado diciendo cosas en Urdu, debajo de su así la calladita mente. Ay no, este fuego no quiere empezar. Fatima looked around at the other family's campsites and they all had roaring fires. Why couldn't theirs look like that? Why did Fatima's family always have to be so different? She pouted and kicked rocks. Ay Fatima se puso a ver a las familias de los otros campamentos. Y pues ellos tenían unas grandes fogatas. ¿Por qué es que la fogata de ellos no podía ser igual? ¿Por qué es que la familia de Fatima tenía que ser siempre tan diferente a los demás? Ay no, se quedó ahí media triste y le dio una patadita así a una piedra que estaba a la par. Papa kept spraying lighter fluid on the logs. The fire would scream for a second and then it would be gone. Mama came over to see what all the fuss was about. She shook her head and clicked her teeth and disapprovaled the way Fatima's aunties did. El papa de Fatima empezó a echarle líquido para hacer fuego a la leña. Pero la leña agarraba un poquito de fuego y de repente nada se iba otra vez. Pues mamá vino a ver qué es lo que estaba pasando, que era tanta la frustración. Cuando se acercó, ella le hizo así con los dientes. Ay no, como las tías de Fatima le hacían cuando estaban diciendo no, esto no está bien. That's not how you start a fire, let me show you, she said. A fire like strength takes patience to build. She made the girls gather twigs and dry leaves for kindling, then bigger sticks for tinder. Así no es como se comienza un fuego, dijo ella. Háganse pa' ya, dejen enseñarles. Un fuego necesita fuerza y necesita paciencia para construir. Le dijo a las niñas que fueran a recoger palitos pequeños y hojas secas para empezar. Y luego también les pidió que buscaran palitos más gruesos para cuando el fuego ya empezara, pudiera darle más fuerza a la llama. Unlike papa, who grew up in big cities in India, mama came from a small town where they had to use a wood burning stove outside to make chai when they ran out of gas for the inside stove. Fatima remembered visiting her nani's house and helping one morning. Mama showed Fatima how to use a long metal pipe to breathe oxygen into the fire. That's how it comes alive, she had said. A diferencia con papa, la mama de las niñas no creció en las ciudades grandes. La mama creció en un pueblito pequeño donde tenían que usar una estufa de madera o de leña que estaba fuera de la casa. Cada vez que tenían que hacer chai, cuando se les terminaba el gas, adentro de la casa. Fatima se recordaba cuando fue a visitar a su nani y le ayudó una mañana a hacer la fogata. Mama le enseñó a Fatima cómo usar una pipa de metal para darle oxígeno al fuego. Y así es como el fuego agarra vida, le dijo a ella. Fatima remembered that when it was her turn, she had blown a giant puff of air into the fire. But no one had told her not to inhale right after. She got a mouthful of smoke and started coughing. Her cousin said how old would laughter at the city girl. Well, now you know, Mama had said, rubbing Fatima's back as she clocked. Fatima smiled at the memory and watched wide-eyed as Mama blew life into the campfire. Though Fatima hadn't built the fire herself, now she knew how. Fatima se recordó cómo ella había tenido un turno en darle vida al fuego usando la pipa. That time they taught her how to start a fire. And she remembered how no one told her that when she had a little bit of air into the fire, she didn't have to breathe the smoke out of the fire in return. And she breathed the air in and then she breathed deeply. And the lungs were filled with smoke and started coughing. And her mother gave her her back so that she wouldn't smoke so much. But now she was looking with a smile, remembering that, looking at her mother, giving her life into the fire, giving her a little bit of air while the fire was growing. Fatima didn't make the fire herself, but it gave her a lot of pleasure to see how Mama did it. And now she was going to be able to do it again in the future. As the Qazi family packed up, Fatima's heart felt heavy. I'm so sad, she told Apa. I don't want to go home. Home meant no laughing around the campfire or telling funny stories from India. While the family was packing up, Fatima felt a little sad. Now that the Qazi family was almost done packing up, she started to think, oh, I'm sad, she told her sister. We won't be able to do what we've been doing here camping. When we get home, we won't do the same. We'll be able to tell stories around a fire and laugh at the stories from India. Home meant no long road trips with fresh samosas and Bollywood sing-alongs in the car. Home meant taking tests, doing homework, getting in trouble, and being teased at school. Home meant Mama and Papa would be tired again from working long hours and two jobs each. Oh, and going home meant that they wouldn't be able to walk in their car, traveling through the forest, breathing fresh air, eating samosas, listening to Bollywood's music. Oh, no. Going home meant taking tests, doing homework, and then getting in trouble when they don't get good grades. Oh, no. Going home meant going back to school where they make a mess. Oh, no. Going home meant that Mama and Papa would be tired after going back to work for long hours and two jobs each. Oh, no. Going home meant that they wouldn't be able to listen. Fatima looked at the tall trees and big blue sky and the imprints in the dirt that she used to stand. Being outdoors reminded her of how she used to feel in India. She had fun, she didn't feel sad or scared, and she loved how adventure was around every corner. At the campground Fatima felt like a superhero, but now she had to leave it all behind. Fatima se quedó viendo a los árboles gigantes, al cielo azul, bello y grande. Y se quedó viendo donde había estado su tienda de campaña que ya solo quedaba las huellas. Ay, Fatima se había sentido tan libre aquí acampando al aire libre. Se sentía como cuando vivía en India. Se sentía tan feliz, no se sentía con miedo. Ay, no, Fatimas le encanta la aventura. Y aquí en el bosque acampando Fatima se sentía como una héroe. Ay, pero ahora lo tenía que dejar todo y regresar a casa. Apa rubbed Fatima's back and said, don't worry, we'll be back soon. Remember, you can share all this at Chontel. Apa le sobó la espalda a Fatima y le dijo, no te preocupes, vamos a regresar pronto de nuevo. Y recuerda, ahora que regresemos a escuela, tú le puedes contar a todos los alumnos lo que aprendiste en esta aventura. Fatima returned to school with stories of her great outdoors. Guess what? She asked her classmates. I'm a superhero. I have lots of superpowers. I can build fires and tanks and I'm not afraid of spider monsters. Fatima beamed as she thought about the Kasi family's next camping adventure would hold. Cuando Fatima regresó a la escuela, les contó a todos los compañeros de clase que o sus aventuras afuera al aire libre. Adivinen qué les dijo a todos. Yo, yo soy una superhéroe. Yo soy una superhéroe con poderes, superpoderes. Ay, sí, yo ahora yo puedo hacer fogatas y puedo construir una tienda de campaña y no le tengo miedo a monstruos grandísimos. Fatima se sintió tan orgullosa de recordar y saber que la familia Kasi iba a volver a campar y iba a ir a una nueva aventura. The end. Y final. Thank you, Ambrine and Fatima and I am so, wow, that was such a wonderful reading and such a beautiful story about getting outdoors and maybe it's like a new experience and you might not, you know, it's not something that your family has done in the past, but they learned together how to do it. And I'm just so happy to have you both here. Ranger Fatima Colindres and Ambrine Tarik. Fatima Colindres is a National Park Service Ranger who has really invited so much of so many of our community members to come out and explore their parks. And Ambrine, I feel like your book is like an invitation to the community to also go out and explore. And I wanted to just give you both an opportunity to talk a little bit about that about that shared experience that you have the connection over this book. And also the beautiful connection that you have with your name because I mean, Ambrine, you shared that Fatima is actually your middle name and Fatima, you know, your name is, your first name is Fatima. And in the audience chat, we actually got a few people saying my name is Fatima too. So I would love for you both to share a little bit about that connection that shared name and also your shared experience because you're both from different cultural backgrounds. And yet have a lot of similarities. And I feel like you two are our perfect people to talk about how you both have a love for this same outdoor experience. So I'm going to let you guys talk and while you do that, we invite the audience to ask any questions and drop them in the chat and we will get them to Fatima and Ambrine. Thank you again so much for having us. And as I said in the beginning, you know, Fatima is my middle name and it was very intentional for me to choose that name to be the character's name. And for reasons I'll explain a little bit, but it's very special for me to be here today with Fatima and with all of you. This is my first book reading event that involves another language and that's extremely not only important to me, but I'm just so grateful for it. And this is exactly what I had imagined more than two years ago when I first started writing this book is the ability to talk to kids from other cultures and other languages. Because there is such a universality when it comes to struggle. There's such a universality in the immigrant experience and as well as the adventure of being outdoors of putting yourself out there finding joy of facing fears and then finding empowerment in the outdoors. And so this event is very special to me because both of us Fatimas are from such different parts of the world. We are thousands of miles apart me born in India and I'm sure Fatima can share where she was born, but it certainly was not in the same hemisphere, and certainly not in the same mother tongue. But we find a love for the outdoors, and we appreciate each other and just simply knowing that she's an immigrant and I had an immigrant experience, there is nothing left to say and I can understand so much of what she's gone through. And Fatima's character in the book is a little bit about that. It was really important to me that the story started with Fatima struggling in school. It didn't just start at them at the campground loving being outdoors. I really wanted to show what happened to my family on a daily basis when we moved here and why being able to have that reprieve in the outdoors. Why being able to take a moment, the privilege of being able to take a single day off of the hustle of my parents working two jobs of, and I'm sure this is a story for so many families. Just the privilege of simply being able to take time out and spend time together as a family, letting the kids just be kids and letting the parents just be human beings enjoying a cup of tea in the woods. And showing Fatima's struggle, not just that she was teased for all these different things like her accent, the clothes she wore, the way she wore her hair because I would always have my mom would tie my hair back with coconut oil and a long braid, which now is cool and now I do it again. But also there was struggle at home for her. It's not just that it was happening at school. For Fatima's sister, Appa, which is the word that we used to call big sister, it's not that Appa is showing off. That just comes naturally to her to do well in school. As you see, it was also really important for me to show that Appa and Fatima had a great relationship and Appa was such a great emotional support for her. But for Fatima, doing well in school didn't come so easy. And so she was struggling with the feelings of disappointing her parents, not doing well socially, not doing well academically, and just being run down. And so the story of her saying, I couldn't do it so well in school, what makes the campground any different? And that is the moment that the character overcomes not the physical act of what she's doing, but confidence. And the outdoors builds a sense of confidence in you that is impossible to find anywhere else because it's from your own hands. It's regardless of your ability, it's the thought that goes into being creative to overcome physical obstacles. So it's a very, very special story for me and to be able to name her Fatima, which is my middle name and is a maternal name in my family. It's been passed down from my grandmother to my mother to my niece. And as immigrants, we don't often get to have special family heirlooms because we come with bags in our hands. And so the name is very, very special to me because it's the one thing that I have that's been passed down in my family. So thank you again for having me here and I'll turn it over to my sister Fatima. Thank you so much. Thank you. Yeah, no, when I was reading this book, it really touched my heart, you know, one because it has my name. And I just really felt so connected to it. And as a pike ranger here in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of my missions has been to welcome new audiences to their national parks, people like myself people like you know that we come from other parts of the world, we feel like we don't belong. And I want people to know that they belong here in their national parks and, and why do I have this mission in my, in my life, it's because, you know, the first time I was introduced to the wildfires. It was such a scary place for me. I come from El Salvador, I'm originally from El Salvador and I came to the United States when I was six years old, and it was during the Civil War of El Salvador so even though I came from a small town, a rural town with cows and you know, nature all around. I was scared of being outdoors. I was taught, you know, that being outdoors was a scary place, an unsafe place because of the war, and because of evil spirits and so I grew up with, with folk tales about, you know, evil spirits in the woods, evil spirits in the water that would get me and so the first time I was introduced to camping, a camping experience was when I was in middle school, and it transformed my life. It, at first I felt so scared because the place that we went camping was right next to a creek. The place was called Caritas Creek, and when my fellow students and I saw this place, we were a little nervous because all of us were from either El Salvador, like myself, or from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras. That's, we were all basically newcomers, and when we saw that creek, I think every single one of us thought of La Sivanaba or La Llorona as she's known in Mexico. This evil spirit that lurks in water areas that you know if kids wander too close to the water, she'll take you. So I was terrified. One of the educators that night decided to take us on a solo night hike. They thought that would be the most wonderful experience for brand new campers to, to live, you know, not for us. No, that was one of the most traumatizing moments of my life and not just for me, but also for my other classmates I found out later on, because they lined us up. This to tallest, of course I was second in line because I was very short, and I still am. The first person in line was my friend Rosminda, and she was waiting for her turn. And when our teacher said okay Rosminda, it's your turn to go. Rosminda went all right she went down, she fainted, and I went down with her because I was so terrified that. And now I was taking her. And so, oh my gosh, to change the story to save this story and how Fatima became a ranger and why I want to bring people outdoors is that what the educators did that night was instead of taking us on a solo night hike they realize that that was not the thing to do with kids like us. And so just like in the book, you know, are the best things happen to us out there around that campfire we got to sing silly songs we got to hear silly stories about plants and animals, and it just saved my whole experience. And so I wanted to grow up one day to become one of those educators and bring people outdoors so that they could get rid of those fears, whether it's Lassie what now by La Llorona, or whether it's a scary, you know, long, eight legged creature, little spider right or snakes, whatever it is that you're scared of those people like me to feel comfortable outdoors. So when I was reading this book, I really felt connected I felt connected with the dad to because I didn't know how to start a fire. You know I had no idea and so like when he's like throwing all that lighter fluid into little flames. I was like, yep, that's what I did when I went to El Salvador for the very first time. And I tried to start a fire at my the s house at my auntie's house. And you know I have seen that she had put some lighter fluid on that on those logs, but I didn't know that you needed kindling that needed you know dry leaves. I didn't know any of that. And so I just like Fatima's dad, I was like, sporting all of the lighter fluid on the biggest logs that I could find. I was thinking that that was how I was going to make my fire so I connected so much in the story with the experience and then, of course, our name right, our name and so I'm not Muslim I'm actually Catholic I was raised Catholic, and my name was chosen for by my mother, because of our Catholic background. So even though we're two different religions from two different parts of the world. Look at this, the outdoors has connected I'm reading and I, and now we want the world to come and enjoy the outdoors with us, or on your own. But just come and enjoy your national parks, enjoy your state parks, enjoy your outdoors that I closest to you, and know that these special places are here for you to enjoy just as much as it is for us. So, leave the fears behind, come and enjoy your national park. That's all I can say what do you think I bring I mean standing ovation standing ovation if I could but I have a little noisemaker here I apologize for bringing him into the camera but I live in an apartment again very city girl. Whenever someone walks by he's going to start barking so I don't want him to interrupt us I'm holding him but I couldn't have said it better myself. The fear fear is such a big part of everybody's outdoor experience right a little bit of fear is what makes adventure. A lot of fear is what makes anxiety. There's such a fine line to walk there. And with confidence is what changes where that line falls with community with family with the sense of protection from others and in your own skills. And knowing that you're not the only one out there of experimenting and being curious. That's what changes where that line falls. And I think the privilege of having been introduced to the outdoors with my family, allowed me to not read those same stories right I think these type of fear stories that we have in so many cultures the folklore, if you go out at night with your hair down I remember that that like the witch would get you in the same way or in the forest bad things happen at night. These stories have always been created to keep children away from trouble, or to keep women away from trouble. That's a different show all together we could get into that. But you know, it's so true you bring that up because that's the association a lot of kids would have. You've been trained to not go explore wild places and then all of a sudden, here we are, be confident and that's just not how it works. It really does take different ways to introduce different people to the outdoors kids or adults. I always say that of all the different ways I've tried to camp, whether it was backpacking, whether it's out in the back country whether it's long distance short distance hiking car camping will always be my favorite. It will always be my favorite because it's warm and it's joyful and it's family and it's community and we cook. Family is when you bring the coolers and you bring the pots and you bring the pans and you bring the meat and you just cook you cook up a great meal that no matter what it is always always tastes better when it's cooked over open fire. And so to me that's joy and that's my outdoors. It doesn't have to be extreme. It can be one night. It can be me bringing my pillow or me going for one week into the wilderness. You know, it's whatever you want it to be and what makes you feel joyful and confident and proud of yourself. So it's just it's so wonderful that we can come together like this and share these stories and especially for me as a woman. It wasn't until I was an adult who found my outdoor love for the outdoors and outdoor skills that I felt powerful as a woman and have made other friends who are women. Outdoor enthusiasts that makes me so inspired to get outdoors and through brown people camping I've been able to find and make a community digitally that I couldn't find in person. So all of this is so special for me and I'm just so grateful for it and I'm so grateful for the work that Rangers like Fatima and so many others are doing to put themselves on the line to put their stories on the line and to literally signal that I'm out here, and you can be too. Yeah, I think, yeah, you, both of you have really brought the almost the invitation for us to go out and explore your really, it just feels it's such a warm invitation from both of you to just have our families go out and explore and and as you know, Fatima and I are in the San Francisco Bay Area we're in San Francisco right now. And I want to ask Fatima for the families who might be listening in. Where could, where could families go camping in the Bay Area what national parks in our area D would you recommend for families, because sometimes I feel like it's a trip, and it feel people feel like that that's like it feels like a block if it's too long it's, that's a barrier. There are sites around us that people might explore. Oh my goodness thank you for asking that because yes if you are in San Francisco, where I am. I live in the Presidio San Francisco your national park site of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We actually have a campsite right here in the Presidio called Rob Hill, and it's open for families and groups to come and camp out. And if you've never camped if that's something that's completely brand new to you and you don't have the equipment like we saw the family in the book they had a tent they had all this stuff that they didn't know how to use but they learn how to use, you know, slowly but surely. If you are in the same situation as the Kazi family was, or even less that you don't even have any of idea what to buy or what you will need. Don't worry. If you are part of a nonprofit organization there's different organizations here in the Bay Area that serve families. One that we work with all the time has been Karecin and Good Samaritan. I named these because I read the book in Spanish for you all today. And these are organizations that serve Spanish speaking families that have never camped out so people like me, when I was a first you remember to this country. If you are part of an organization like that, then tell them to bring you camping to the Presidio because there's a program for new campers that have never camped out where we provide you the equipment if you are part of a nonprofit organization a community based organization here in the Bay Area. If you already have your equipment, if you're ready to go camping, there are campsites here at Rock Hill that you can reserve through the Presidio Trust, and you can come in as a group, you know, so check it out, check the Presidio Trust website. If you want to come out with your own family group or inquire with the Parks Conservancy website, where you can find out more about camping at the Presidio for those community group leaders that have desire to bring out their families to their regional parks to camp out for the first time. So that's how you can do it but of course the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a very large park. And so right across the Golden Gate Bridge we have a whole bunch of other park campsites. And my favorite of all is Curvy Cove so if you've never been camping, and you want to do it Curvy Cove is the place that I've gone camping here in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and it's just across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin. So I didn't get to add how my family even got out there. I said my parents were working several jobs, my mom would be at a grocery store, my dad fast food joints, and when we had moved to the United States we were learning how to be American, like we were learning what Halloween was, different friends came in and out of my parents' lives who would teach us, oh this is what you do on Easter, you get these eggs and then you like paint them. And so we never questioned how weird something was or why we did it, we just did it because we were trying to be American. And my parents wanted us to have the American life. And so in Minnesota in springtime everybody just went outdoors, they went camping. And so my parents thought that was another American holiday, they thought that's what we do here. And so someone told them if you go to such and such big box store and you get this thing and you get that thing. So that's literally what they did, they thought, you know, here's Halloween, here's Christmas, here's Easter, here's camping season. That's why we got out there. And to this day my parents in their community, their South Asian community, back when they lived in California, they're now in New York, they used to go to Yosemite, all the aunties and uncles. They would bring pots about this big, and they would make rice and curry. And like, you know, all the kids would be like, can't we just camp like everybody else, but now I appreciate that so much like, like, yeah, we had biryani in the woods, like, and it was good. I love that. I think you bring your, you know, you bring up the point of like, everyone makes camping their own, right? It's not, it looks a little different for everyone depending on who their family is, but it's equally just as fun. Like it's just, it's, and then it's the beautiful memories that you have as you grow up and about those camping experiences and being outside and learning how not to fear, you know, like I totally felt the character who figured the spider because that's me. That would have been me. There's something outside. I'm not leaving my camp. I'm not leaving my tent. Yeah, I think it's one of those really beautiful things of shared experience. I'm bringing, I, you know, you know, this as I have mentioned to you before this. This presentation is part of actually two summer series, we are every week in the summer for summer stride we've been featuring a BIPOC kid lit author illustrator, someone who is black and indigenous or person of color. And you're part of the series and I wanted to know how you, what do you think about being part of the kid BIPOC kid lit series. I'm only trying to form the words. I don't think you, I never imagined I would get into a position of something that would make me feel so honored. When I started Brian people camping. I just wanted to be part of a BIPOC community. I just wanted to be able to get out there and and not feel like I stand out. I wanted to find other men, women, however you identify folks of color, who don't do immigration, whatever it was, I wanted to be able to like have this beautiful colorful community out there. That's all I wanted. And now I get to be a part of it in a way where I get to tell my story to kids, and hopefully have kids be able to see themselves in the story. And it's not just about being Indian and Muslim. It was really important to me to write a story that was just normative. I'm not trying to teach you about my religion about try to teach you what India is like or, you know, you notice that we don't even define the words that we use in this book this was a very specific decision the publishers were very proud of is, this is how Fatima's life unfolds, nobody stops and defines the word you know and it's a moment in somebody's life by in the type of United States we are now living in. This is my neighbor this is the kid I sat next to in school like this is my culture, and I am so proud I am so so so honored and blessed to be in this position like I have goosebumps right now, if you could zoom in if I had a good like just saying that I feel super super honored. And I just I, you know, there's always that imposter syndrome I'm not going to lie about it I don't, you know, I'm just like I don't know if I should be here but I totally should be here. For me to be in a moment where I connect with someone like Fatima for us to be able to be on camera and share stories and connect and then there's a kid somewhere who is seeing herself or himself or themselves in us. I never had that as a kid so I don't know what it feels like for that kid, but I hope it's pretty cool because that's all we're trying to do. You know, have a world where kids grow up where they don't question themselves as being outsiders and have the confidence to explore and be curious and learn to love nature so that you will have 100% confidence to defend nature. So I am more than honored to be able to be a part of this. Yeah, thank you so much for saying yes and and for being willing to be part of the series and Fatima similar question you, you have been one of our nature boost pioneers. I had this idea last year in summer as we were in virtual. How does it feel being part of the nature boost series and how, you know, what, what is, what is your goal and how do you feel about it. No, I really appreciate being part of the public library family. That's how I feel, because, you know, you all help me complete my mission. And as I said, my goal in this career that I chose was to bring people like me outdoors to help them feel welcome to help them feel that they belong to help them feel safe to help them feel empowered in the outdoors in nature. And why, because this place belongs to us and we belong in it. And I am so happy to be part of nature boost and to be part of the, you know, this the collaboration that we have with the San Francisco public libraries because without your help, you know, I wouldn't be able to be in everyone's home right now or in their cell phone right now or on their laptop somewhere in the world you know. And, you know, even before we were doing this, virtually, I was going into the libraries, you know, every summer, and then we started bringing everybody out, you know, in shuttle buses out to their national parks, which I hope that we will be able to do again in the future, you know. Yep, cross our fingers. But like to be able to like physically bring our people outdoors, you know, to bring them to these special places that belong to them has been just such a reward such such a mission accomplished feeling you know, like, I love my job. I love what I do. And every single time that I see a smile on someone's face whether they are, you know, a newborn baby in the stroller or they are a grandma grandpa, you know, and they're telling me that they had never been to that site before and wow they didn't know this about that plant or about that animal. It's just been so beautiful it just makes me want to cry that like I'm doing it you know I'm doing what I said you know, it warms my heart. And so to be able to partner today not just with the public libraries but also with an author that has the same love and and mission and and desire to you know bring the outdoors to people to a people of all parts of the world. It's just so beautiful. I just feel so blessed and happy and just empowered to move forward and continue on this path in this mission because it's so rewarding and who knows maybe we will be inspiring the new I think you both will. Amber and we got a question in the chat. They wanted to know what's your dog his name because he, they are predominantly right now in the screen. This is bear. Oh hi bear. My name for speaking about going out to the parks, such a perfect and he's he's he's the bear that you want to see. We call this bear country. We all better watch out, but he's adopted from the Prince George's county shelter last year. So, well, I'm so glad he made an appearance. I'm just going to go in to share with you that someone says I wish I had, they wish that they had books. Like, they had your book in particular when they were growing up. And for Fatima, you know, you embody the American dream that I always thought what the American dream is. And yes, I feel like you both really, really are part of that. And it's what makes you are you are the American experience, you know, we are all this experience we're all bring it differently and just so honored to share this moment with you both. Thank you so much. Any last, last words you want to put out there before we close today. I will say that that is such a special thing to hear, and I'm not going to speak for Fatima but I'm sure she'll agree with me when I say that talking about the American dream and what it means to be American is a really emotional thing for me as an immigrant right doing the work that I do. I know what that means to the large group of people in this country. I, my family worked really hard to get here and their groups of people in this country who were here and whose land was taken away, or who were forced to come here and work this land. And so I know that some of the greatest patriots I meet our immigrants because we've had to work so hard to come here get here get improve ourselves over and over again. But I also deeply deeply appreciate BIPOC folks whose relationship to land is difficult and complicated in other ways and their pride and what it means to enjoy and access land is also very special in their own context so it's really important for me to keep working to learn those stories and learn how to be a good ally while I celebrate my privilege to access and enjoy this land. Thank you. Well, for me, I just want to remind everybody that that is with us today to share this knowledge that you've that you've heard from us today that these places belong to you, whether it's a national park state park local city park. These places are made for you to enjoy it doesn't matter where you were born. You know, especially if you're in a national park. These places are for everyone. You don't have to be born in the United States to enjoy these special places these special places are here for you, just like they're here for me they're here for you and I want you to know that you belong here. They belong to you and you belong here so please come out and enjoy your national parks. Okay, and I pray that soon I will be out there with you all again, bringing you out to your special places telling you the stories that I have learned through the years. I hope that you will share those stories with everyone you know in love, so that they feel confident and, you know, empowered to come outdoors too. Well, thank you both. And there you heard folks who are still tuning in and the YouTube please go out and explore you have a very cordial invitation from both Ambream and Fatima and the parks and the library to go out and explore your national parks and local parks and take your family out there with with you and have fun. Have a great time. Thank you both. Thank you to both our presenters for being here today with us. I invite the audience to come back again on Friday where we will be having a special workshop with Kay Lonnie Juanita and Lisa Brown Kay Lonnie Juanita is our featured summer artist that some of you may have seen the art behind me, and also during our summer stride program you'll you will you have probably seen it throughout our city and if you would like to join summer stride program please join and find information at www.sfl.org where you will find information on how to join summer stride how to do your 20 hours and get your price totes so that you can put your books in and maybe take those books camping. Who knows you could you it's a great place to read when you're out in the great outdoors. This Friday join us again for our nature boost, which is recreate responsibly which will feature our very own Fatima Collindres, who will be teaching us more about how to recreate responsibly and she will be bringing along some of our special ranger guest friends as well to tell us information about how to continue recreating in our parks. Thank you again everyone for being here and tuning in we look forward to seeing you, not only online during our virtual programming but also at our library locations, which are all open and happy, opening up soon, and many of which are open already for service so please join us there, check out some books and come. You know, just for so happy to be here for you all. Thank you everyone for being here. Have a good day.