Breaking barriers at the Borderlands Field Course

Guest blog

Para leer la versión en español, haga clic aquí.

In the midst of the imaginary lines we humans draw on maps, wildlife knows no borders. 

Along the wall that divides countries, flora and fauna follow their natural course, defying any construction that tries to stop them. The Borderlands Field Course reminded us that, although the landscape has been filled with cities, manufacturing plants, and pollution, what has always existed — and continues to exist — is life, flourishing even within the most divided place: the border.

During the course we engaged in activities that brought us closer to the community, nature, and the cause of conservation. One of the most significant experiences was participating in the Nuestra Vida Verde project, a shelter for homeless people struggling with addiction in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. This space seeks to support their rehabilitation process through contact with nature, offering them access to gardens and productive activities that awaken their interest in the environment, giving them an opportunity to reconnect with themselves and the life around them.

BFC Participants share a meal in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

We also collaborated with the organization Caminantes del Desierto in their beautiful Botanical Walkway project in Hermosillo. This non-profit organization works tirelessly for the conservation of the Sonoran Desert, promoting citizen participation, environmental education, and the design of public policies that protect local ecosystems. It was enriching to contribute to this work that transcends generations.

In addition to the knowledge acquired during the course, what made this experience unique was the human connection: meeting people who, like us, love nature and believe in the possibility of a greener, fairer, and more conscious future. People who do not see the wall as a boundary, but as a reminder that life always finds a way.

Keren with BRN Executive Director, Rodrigo Sierra Corona, and Education Program Manager, Jordan Sene.

This course taught us that no matter how many barriers we build; life, hope, and the will to keep what we love will still cross any border.