Celebrating Bay Area Biodiversity with Nature Lotería

Every year near the winter holidays, my family and I gather around the dining table to play Lotería. It’s a simple, comforting tradition that brings back warm memories of home. Despite living in a rapidly changing world, Lotería has been a constant thread throughout my life, connecting me to my family’s past and future generations. Not only that, but it is also a beloved pastime that brings people together across Mexican American culture and beyond.

As POST’s Community Engagement Intern, I wanted to find fun ways for local Latinos to feel a sense of belonging outdoors. One day I had an energizing idea. What if I put a Bay Area spin on Lotería by depicting the scenic surroundings of our region? That’s how Nature Lotería was born.

What is Lotería?

If you’ve never played Lotería before — trust me, it’s a lot of fun. This traditional Mexican game of chance is a lot like bingo. In fact, Lotería means lottery in Spanish. Instead of numbered ping-pong balls, the game relies on 54 cards typically featuring colorful, culturally iconic illustrations that date back centuries. Pulling from a deck, a player known as the cantor calls out each image. Players then scan their gamecards or tablas; if the image appears in their grid, they mark it with a penny or dried pinto bean. Whether you’re filling out a T, an X, four corners, or a full house, don’t forget to shout out ¡Lotería! when you win. The game’s simple rules make it accessible to people of all ages, allowing everyone from children to seniors to join the party.

The Story of Nature Lotería

Many of the traditional Lotería illustrations have roots in the outdoors. There’s la rana (the frog), el pino (the pine tree), el nopal (the prickly pear cactus), and la chalupa (the canoe), to name a few. Since our area is a biodiversity hotspot, I knew there were so many native species we could highlight, from the pesky poison oak I avoid when hiking at Alum Rock Park to the stunning red-tailed hawks that soar above Mount Hamilton. 

With my POST team on board, I began collaborating on a custom Lotería set with Latino Outdoors and David Cipres, an incredible illustrator from my hometown of San José. The ideas kept flowing, and seeing all our planning come to life was deeply affirming. We hosted a culminating community event, where I watched multigenerational groups gather around patio tables with their Nature Lotería tablas in front of them. As they snacked on pan dulce and bobbed their heads to the live cumbia beats, my heart swelled with gratitude and pride. It’s a memory I’ll hold with me forever.

Some of My Favorite Cards 

Banana Slug

This gastropod is one of the slowest creatures on Earth, moving at a maximum speed of six and a half inches per minute. They have a pretty juicy romantic life as well!

California Condor

This spectacular bird is the largest in all of North America, with a wingspan over nine feet. They can live to be 60 years. Read more about these birds of prey and their relationship to the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Coast Redwood Tree 

The fog-loving Sequoia sempervirens can grow to be over 300 feet tall, have bark up to 12 inches thick, and can live to be over 2,000 years old. Did I mention they’re the absolute coolest trees (ecologically speaking)?

Hydrated Person

This card is a playful nod to one of traditional Lotería’s classic cards: El Borracho. Combat your fatigue while on the trails by drinking plenty of water. We have more heat-friendly hiking tips too!

Pallid Bat

Our official state bat adds to the climate resilience of our environment by eating bark beetles and wood borers. This helps keep trees healthy and reduces the risk of wildfires. These flying mammals are one of several species we’re protecting in Coyote Valley.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarchs travel up to 3,000 miles in their lifetime and have a great sense of direction, following the same migration pattern year after year. Here are some ways you can help save this stunning insect.

What’s Next?

I imagine educators, illustrators, librarians, and families using Nature Lotería in the future. Since the cards have labels in both Spanish and English, it works well for bilingual players. I hope the game helps to instill a sense of acceptance and inclusion among Latino community members who are curious about conservation and the outdoors. Ideally, participants of all backgrounds will enjoy learning more about biodiversity and the cultural significance of this popular game.