My Work
Meet Rocío
Founder
I was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the rhythm and rush of New York City—where the sidewalks hummed with paint-bucket drums, the Korean bakery owner knew your order by heart, and the MTA taught you patience and grit. Music was my first love (trombone, if you must know), and thanks to an audition and my mom’s support, I landed at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, where practicing scales and chasing melodies was a full-time affair.
College began with music education at SUNY Fredonia, but my spirit kept nudging me toward something else…toward trees, stars, and a different kind of rhythm: the wild. I thought, could a city girl like me really find belonging in wide-open spaces? Spoiler: I did—and I built the trail myself con sazón and compass.
Curious and undeterred, I created my own major to explore how nature inspires artistic expression and how informal education shapes youth development, blending outdoor education and arts-based learning. I made it to graduate school at SUNY Cortland—driven by my future and by the kids like me who deserved to see themselves in these spaces.
I've always believed the world to be interconnected.
Landscapes, experiences, and moments of wonder have led people to compose music, advance science, design new technologies, and imagine better solutions. I've always believed education should reflect those same connections.
How KES Came to Life
As I began working in outdoor education, I quickly recognized an opportunity to think differently. Many programs did an excellent job teaching outdoor skills or fostering environmental stewardship, but I found myself asking questions that extended beyond the activity itself.
What makes recreation possible?
Who designed the gear? Why do our bodies move the way they do? What engineering allows us to climb, paddle, or ski safely? How do landscapes, materials, and environmental systems influence every outdoor experience?
My background in music had taught me that learning isn't just about practicing a skill—it's about interpretation, creativity, collaboration, and contributing something new. I wanted outdoor education to cultivate those same habits of mind.
Rather than treating recreation as the final destination, I began using it as the starting point for deeper exploration. Outdoor experiences became opportunities to investigate human movement, engineering and design, environmental systems, and the people whose ideas continue to shape recreation.
That vision became the KES Framework—Kinesiology, Engineering, and Sustainability.
KES was created to help students become more than participants or practitioners. It prepares them to think across disciplines, ask better questions, and develop the confidence to contribute to the future of outdoor recreation and beyond.
Over the years, I’ve worked as an administrative professional, educator, and mentor.
My path has taken me from New York City to the open landscapes of rural Wyoming, and now to the vibrant communities of New Mexico. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how work cultures differ and how educational opportunities are NOT made equal.
In every setting, I’ve seen how informal education—summer camps, weekend enrichment , and after-school programs—becomes a critical space for youth development. These spaces give young people the freedom to experiment, discover their interests, build confidence, and shape their identity. It's where curiosity is encouraged, meaningful relationships are formed, and learning becomes something magical and life altering.
My goal is to create spaces where students feel supported, educators feel empowered, and communities can thrive—together.
Become part of something unique. Join the village and help shape the next generation of leaders, learners, and innovators.