Outdoor Adventure
McKinley club meets Mondays 3-5
Hayes club meets Mondays 3-5
Wilson club meets Thursdays 3-5
SITE SUPERVISORS
Isaac M. Nieto, Club Leader – McKinley
Joseph Hazelton, Club Leader – Hayes
Michael Flores, Club Leader – Wilson
Michael earned an Associate’s degree in English from Long Beach City College, followed by a Bachelor’s in English and History and a Master’s in Literature and Pedagogy from Northern Michigan University, where he was a McNair Scholar and member of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society. He later moved to Albuquerque to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of New Mexico, completing three years of doctoral coursework and five years teaching university-level writing and TESOL courses before shifting his focus to K-12 education. He now holds a Special Education teaching license with endorsements in Reading, TESOL, and English Language Arts, and is in his fourth year teaching with Albuquerque Public Schools. Michael’s commitment to youth development took root years earlier, when he and his wife served as licensed foster parents for six years and became involved in church youth groups and outdoor scouting programs. This is his second year leading CFL’s after-school club at Wilson, which is entering its third year overall; he was drawn to CFL for its commitment to kids’ well-being and its vision for safe, structured, trauma-informed programming. His approach centers on teaching students outdoor and life skills, building their confidence, and holding them to high behavioral expectations rooted in mutual respect. Outside of work, Michael enjoys outdoor and dutch oven cooking, and restoring vintage cast iron cookware.
Wilson: michael.flores2@aps.edu
Isaac M. Nieto, Club Leader – McKinle
Isaac holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and has worked in education and youth development for nine years, serving as both a public school teacher and an after-school club leader. His school site has partnered with CFL for many years, and he credits that collaboration with fostering an amazing, supportive work climate. Isaac’s approach is to expose his students to exciting, engaging outdoor activities, connect them with community members, and involve them in service — helping them feel like they belong in the world and have a place in it. Outside of work, he spends his summers adventure motorcycling, exploring, and camping all over the country.
McKinley: isaac.nieto@aps.edu
Joseph Hazelton, Club Leader – Hayes
Joseph holds a Bachelor’s of Environmental Science from the University of Michigan and is CPR certified. He has worked in youth education for nine years — as a Youth Crew Leader with the Southwest Conservation Corps, a Youth Leader at the Eagle Eye Institute for outdoor learning, and an educational assistant and later teacher with Albuquerque Public Schools. He currently teaches English and Science to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade special education students at Hayes Middle School in the International District. Joseph has been with CFL for two years, drawn by the opportunity to provide outdoor learning his students wouldn’t otherwise have access to — CFL has funded transformative experiences like a field trip to Bandelier National Monument and an ice skating lesson at Outpost Ice Arenas. His approach is to let kids have fun first — if they’re engaged, laughing, and collaborating, learning follows naturally — and he leads by example, sharing stories from his own outdoor adventures to inspire his students. Outside of work, Joseph is an avid mountain biker who has ridden off-pavement from Albuquerque to El Paso, from Canada to Mexico, and this summer across a section of Guatemala, picking up Spanish along the way.
Hayes: joseph.hazelton@aps.edu
