Join Ranger Cam and friends to discuss the “Parks for All” iniative at Saguaro National Park.

“We opted to create this strategy for engagement so we could take the park to the people and bring the concerns of the people to the park,” said Ranger Cam. Saguaro ultimately engaged with many different communities, including Latino/Latinx, Black and African American, Indigenous, and other groups. However, one gap in service that often went unaddressed was accessibility.

Cam identifies himself as both an “extroverted able-bodied person” and an “introverted disabled person.” He has two congenital birth defects—one affecting his heart and the other a limb difference. He holds a Master of Science in City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning from the University of Arizona. These lived experiences and professional background are just some of the many reasons he felt passionate about creating the “Parks for All” initiative.

“Parks for All” aims to recognize and include members of the accessibility community. Cam explained that he uses the African ubuntu greeting as a lens through which to approach this work.

“The greeting basically translates to, ‘I see you and I see your struggles,’ and the response is, ‘Thank you for seeing me and who I am,’” he said. “When someone recognizes you, you feel engaged. You feel included. Imagine what it would mean for this community to have trails and websites where they are seen and their needs are met.”