"One of my favorite memories on a National Forest was on a road trip during the height of the COVID pandemic. We were near the Oregon-California border and needed a place to stay for a couple nights. We decided on Klamath NF and found an amazing, lonely campground right on the Klamath River. The days were blazing hot, the water was cool, and we had plenty of beach completely to ourselves. It served as a perfect opportunity to relax, reflect, and recharge. Experiences like these remind me of the importance of public land and why I'm dedicated to helping others find value and connect with their public land."
BIO
Felipe Lepe joined the NFF in March 2022 as a Southern California Program Coordinator. He was born and raised on Fernandeño Tataviam land (the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, CA). Prior to joining the NFF, he worked for the National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains where he connected local youth to the outdoors, lead habitat restoration efforts, and coordinated wildlife cameras along the LA river in partnership with various stakeholders. Felipe also has experience as a university professor in the field of Ethnic Studies.
Connecting people to public lands is a priority for Felipe. He is excited to bring his professional and lived experiences to the table for Southern California forests and the NFF as a whole. Felipe holds a BS and MS in Recreation and Tourism Management from California State University, Northridge. When not at work, he is usually with his cat, Meow, and cheering for his favorite football (soccer) teams.