WASHINGTON – With the goal of creating opportunities for organizations and parks to engage Latinos and for Latinos to demonstrate their passion for the outdoors and protecting public lands, the 6thannual Latino Conservation Week will take place July 13 – 21, 2019 and is expected to be celebrated with over 150 events nationwide. Communities will have the opportunity to camp under the stars, go canoeing, take sunset walks, and hike with family among other activities as they engage in the outdoors and learn about stewardship.

“Latino Conservation Week is about engagement – groups and parks engaging Latinos and Latinos engaging with groups and parks,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “While this week is designed to highlight Latinos, we want it to be as inclusive as possible – all are welcome to participate and organizations are welcome to design their own events.”

Latino Conservation Week was launched in 2014 as a Hispanic Access Foundation initiative to encourage and support collaboration between a variety of partners including, individuals, organizations, businesses, churches and government agencies to develop and participate in events and activities that not only connect people with parks, landscapes, rivers, and wildlife, but also teach more about their responsibility as environmental stewards. Last year more than 150 events were held in partnership with more than 190 partners and sponsors including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Latino Outdoors, REI, Audubon Society, George H.W. Bush Vamos a PescarEducation Fund, Sierra Club, and many more.

“This is a national collaborative effort with the potential to impact the Latino communities in large urban settings, emerging Latino communities, and in rural communities that aim to celebrate our heritage, culture, spirituality, and stories around our nation’s treasured natural places,” said Arce. “Latino Conservation Week is also critical in shining a light on the importance of Latinos as tomorrow’s environmental stewards.”

For organizations, parks and other groups interested in holding their own event, they should visit www.LatinoConservationWeek.com to post the event to the national calendar or please contact Jessica Godinez at jessicag@hispanicaccess.org for more information. This year celebrate online by following #LatinoConservationWeek and #LCW2019 on social media.

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