Originally from Chile, Claudio Gonzalez, a program manager of a Leadville outdoor group, doesn’t always find a lot in the Colorado Rockies to remind him of home. However, on August 1, the Eagle River Coalition hosted its annual Community Float Day, alongside the outdoor group Exploremos, to give the Spanish-speaking community a chance to ride the waves of the Eagle — and for Gonzalez, a chance to connect with other Chileans in the area. With Spanish-speaking guides, as well as gear to borrow, the coalition’s goal is to make the outdoors more accessible for everyone. By providing the rafts as well as the guides, Community Float Day lets locals gain more access to the Eagle River, the 60-mile tributary of the Colorado River that many people cross paths with every day, but don’t know a lot about. “Part of what we do at Eagle River Coalition is trying to connect our community with their watershed,” said David Geddes, the community engagement manager from Eagle River Coalition.