*Photo by Jack Schlinkert

Lake Fairfax will be a day of fun, family-friendly activities that include nature hikes, food, music, kayaking, and water-park access!

To sponsor a family friendly conservation day for the Fairfax Latino community (community service and environmental education); to promote environmental volunteerism in Providence District and Fairfax County.

Rock Creek Conservancy and Montgomery Parks invite you to celebrate Latino Conservation Week with us! Join us for a socially-distant trash cleanup, where we will focus our efforts at the Matthew Henson Trail, a Montgomery Parks site. Trash, the visible form of pollution, is a threat to our precious parklands and waterways. By reducing pollution on land, we decrease the chance of it entering our creek, rivers, and larger bodies of water through stormwater runoff.

Thank you for helping to protect the Rock Creek watershed!

REGISTER HERE: https://publicevents.secure.force.com/volunteerEventRegisterPageBootstrap?cid=7014u000001h62s

When: Saturday, July 24th from 10 AM to 12 PM

Where: Volunteers will meet at the Matthew Henson Trail. Parking is available behind Global Mission Church (13421 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906), located directly across Georgia Ave.

What to Wear: Please dress appropriately for the work and weather. We recommend wearing long sleeves and sturdy boots or sneakers.

What to Bring: Please bring your own gloves if you can! All volunteers are required to wear a mask for the duration of this cleanup!

Leader Contact Information: Paola Soto (paola@rockcreekconservancy.org)

Weather/Cancellation Policy: All participants will be notified via email before the event start time if an event is canceled due to inclement weather. If you do not hear from us you should assume the event will occur as scheduled. Please check back if you are unsure.

Únase a ANS ,CHEER , Friends of Sligo Creek, One Montgomery Green, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, y Montgomery Parks  en una emocionante caminata familiar por la naturaleza en el sendero del arroyo de Long Branch durante el inicio de la Semana de la Conservación Latina (Latino Conservation Week). Nos reuniremos en el centro comunitario/ piscina de Long Branch y luego cruzaremos Piney Branch Rd y continuaremos la caminata por la naturaleza a lo largo del sendero del arroyo de Long Branch. Después regresaremos al parque de Long Branch-Garland Neighborhood y donde su familia puede visitar las mesas de nuestros socios comunitarios y participar en sus actividades.

Join ANS ,CHEER , Friends of Sligo Creek, One Montgomery Green, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, and Montgomery Parks, for a morning of fun and learning along Long Branch! We’ll take a family-friendly nature walk  along the Creek to celebrate the start of Latino Conservation Week. We will meet at the Long Branch Community center/pool area then cross over Piney Branch Rd and  walk along the Long Branch stream trail. Following the nature walk, We’ll return to Long Branch-Garland Neighborhood Park where your family can visit with project partners and participate in different educational activities.

Para más información visite / for more information visit: http://conservationblog.anshome.org/si-se-puede/ 

Newly Renovated Visitor Center Features State-of-the-Art Educational Exhibits

Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, CA celebrated the completion of a newly remodeled and expanded visitor center with a reopening event on May 26, 2021. The state-of-the-art exhibits include educational and bi-lingual (English and Spanish) visitor experiences, an interactive and engaging activity for all ages to learn about water management and the lake’s water levels, a live gopher snake, hands-on sand table, and more!

The visitor center is now open on weekends from 9:30am to 3pm. We look forward to seeing you there in person or check it out virtually and watch this video about the new space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cdot9mpnxo. 

¡Venga a celebrar la Semana de Conservación Latina con Tracy Aviary! Ofrecemos un noche en un zoológico de aves incluyendo: recorridos por exhibiciones de aves, actividades de arte y mesas de nuestras organizaciones asociadas. Por favor, regístrese en: https://www.tracyaviaryconservation.org/latino-conservation-week

Come celebrate Latino Conservation Week at Tracy Aviary! We're offereing an after-hours night featuring: Tours of bird exhibits, art activities, and tables by our partner organizations! Register at: https://www.tracyaviaryconservation.org/latino-conservation-week

Visit: https://latinooutdoors.org/photo-contest/ for full guidelines, rules, and criteria for entries. 

WHEN: 

Photo Contest begins July 17, 2021, and ends July 25, 2021 at 11:59 PM Pacific. Voting will occur July 27-30, 2021 and winners will be announced on July 31, 2021. 

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:

All people are welcome to participate, regardless of race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ability, language, and nationality.  

WHAT TO ENTER:

Photos may be submitted under each of the following categories, which are drawn from subjects of special interest to Latino Outdoors’ participation in Latino Conservation Week 2021:

1. RETHINK OUTSIDE: Photos that help redefine what it means to be “outdoorsy”. Share portraits and photos of people engaging with the natural environment and purposeful activities which provide stress relief, promote well-being, build confidence, and offer health benefits to individuals and communities alike. 
2. CONSERVATION CULTURA: Photos that illustrate how conservation is woven into the fabric of Latinx culture. Use photography to highlight cultural elements not found in the mainstream conservation narrative with a particular focus on the intersection of the Latinx identity and the natural environment.
3. THE LATINX EXPERIENCE: Photos that contribute to a better representation of all Latinx people, history, and heritage.

HOW TO ENTER:

Each participant may submit up to three photographs per category using this form. Please complete one form per photo and include a Photo Release Form. Photographs may also be submitted as Instagram posts by tagging @latinooutdoors and indicating the contest category in the caption of the IG post (Rethink Outside, Conservation Cultura, or The Latinx Experience). Photos must capture people outdoors locally, either participating in outdoor recreation or conservation efforts. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Follow @LatinoConservationWeek
• Use the following hashtags #LatinoConservationWeek / #LCW2021 / #LCWPhotoContest
• Practice social distancing and be safe (see #RecreateResponsibly guidelines mentioned above)
• Include a land acknowledgement. Put some effort into learning the history of the location you’re in. Google and the Native Lands app/website could be helpful for research.
• Answer the question “What does conservation cultura mean to you?” in the photo/post caption.

PRIZES:

Grand Prize

• $500 and a Latino Outdoors swag pack

Category Winners:

The following prizes will be awarded for each of the three categories:

• 1st place: $300 and a National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass
• 2nd place: $150 and a National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass
• 3rd place: National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass

Celebrate Latino Conservation Week 2021 with Latino Outdoors: SF Bay Area and the Presidio Trust for a nature hike at The Presidio. Join us on a two-mile moderate hike in the Presidio! We will hike on several of the park’s major trails, which feature striking views and beautiful landscapes. Please wear sturdy hiking shoes, dress in layers, and bring a picnic lunch to carry with you and water! Latino Outdoors will be providing snacks.

This hike is free and will occur rain or shine.

Please visit our website latinooutdoors.org to find the outing event and register on Eventbrite. You will be sent an email with the specifics of the event and to complete a waiver, so check your email for updates!

What Latino Outdoors expects from participants: We take safety at our community outings very seriously. We ask participants to self-certify that they do not have symptoms, have not been diagnosed with or had direct contact with a known or suspected COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, and will comply with LO’s safety policies and procedures. Together, we can ensure safe, positive, and meaningful experiences in nature.

MANO Project interns and alumni will come together at Los Padres National Forest for a weekend of camping, hiking, and more.