BLACK HAWK — Damian Vasquez was shy when he met with his group from the Outdoor Belonging Project for volunteer fire mitigation work in Eldorado Canyon State Park. So shy, the 15-year-old couldn’t remember the name of the town he’s from when his turn came to introduce himself to some adults observing the program. (He lives in Aurora.)

That was in May.

Three months later, at a party celebrating his work and that of several other kids from urban and rural areas of Colorado, the first-generation Mexican-American beamed as his leader, Huzi Mandviwala, presented Damian with a special award for all the times he sang and strummed his guitar for his group on their camping and backpacking trips, and for wearing his sunglasses long after the sun set.

The mood among all of the kids who met Sunday

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