Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for outdoor recreation and conservation as a part of Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective program. Our team had more than 80 meetings with elected officials, focused on advocating for the EXPLORE Act and the importance of supporting outdoor recreation. What made this experience truly impactful was how it shifted my perspective on activism and my own role in it. For me, this trip was a major milestone in my advocacy journey.

Growing up in Bosnia during the war and coming to the United States as a refugee made me passionate about helping others. This passion is what led me to advocacy. My time on Capitol Hill advocating for a cause I care about was both exhilarating and intimidating. I didn’t know what to expect. How would the meetings go? What surprises might come up? It was my first time on the Hill, and the nerves were real. I didn’t want to let anyone down. I thought engaging with Congress was only for lobbyists or career activists. But what I’ve learned is that advocacy is for everyone, you don’t need to have years of experience or a political science degree. You just need to care about the issues and be willing to show up.

After my first meeting, my fears melted away. I realized that talking to elected officials isn’t as daunting as I had imagined—it felt more like a conversation. The most eye-opening part of the experience was learning how accessible advocacy is. The outdoor recreation community truly has a voice, and our voice matters. We met with both lawmakers and their staff, and I learned that meeting with a staff member is just as valuable as meeting with a member of Congress. They are often the ones informing the member on the issues that matter to constituents.

During the meetings, I shared my own story about how I connect with the EXPLORE Act, legislation that would expand outdoor recreation opportunities to all across all of our public lands. As a child, I spent my time swimming in rivers, playing in forests, always being outdoors. I wanted lawmakers to hear how the outdoors shaped me and why it’s important to protect them in a way that is equitable and sustainable for future generations.

Over the last six months, I have received training as part of Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective and learned about the power of relationship-building with our elected officials. I learned that members of Congress want to hear from their constituents. You can meet with them, share your story, and ask them to take action on the issues you care about. If you’re thinking of getting involved but feel overwhelmed, start local. Go to a city council meeting, or write to your mayor or governor. The most important step is to start—everything else will fall into place.

One of the most surprising aspects of this experience was the profound impact it had on my mother. After finishing my meetings, I FaceTimed her while still on the Hill. The moment she picked up, tears filled her eyes. She kept repeating how proud she was of me, and it struck me how monumental this moment was for her too. “You were a war refugee, and now you’re on Capitol Hill,” she said. Her words underscored the significance of my journey—not just for me, but for her as well.

Being in D.C. with the Outdoor Alliance and my fellow Grasstops leaders was inspiring and an experience I will never forget. Everyone is doing such important work in their communities, and the experience energized me to continue with my own advocacy journey. For me, this is just the beginning. I plan to keep advocating for my community, building relationships with my members Congress, and inspiring others to raise their voices to protect the outdoors too.