Since its launch in 2014 with just nine events, Latino Conservation Week has grown into a nationwide movement, with more than 360 events held across 32 states and Puerto Rico by 2024. Through hikes, kayaking, park and neighborhood cleanups, outdoor celebrations, educational programs, community conversations, family activities and more, LCW creates spaces for people to connect with one another, strengthen relationships and turn their connection to the outdoors into meaningful action.
“Latino Conservation Week began with nine events, but the movement was already there—in the families, local leaders and organizations with deep connections to the places they call home,” said Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “LCW creates a space for those connections to grow into relationships, leadership and action. What matters most is not only what happens during this week, but what remains afterward: stronger networks, trusted leaders and communities with a greater voice in shaping the future of our lands, waters and neighborhoods.”
Taking place during the first week of Hispanic Heritage Month, this year’s celebration highlights how culture, community and conservation are deeply connected. Latino communities have built relationships with the outdoors across generations through family traditions, recreation, stewardship, agriculture, faith and community, even when those experiences have not always been fully represented in the broader conservation story. Latino families have been connecting with rivers, refuges, urban forests and public shores for generations—the movement is not new. Latino Conservation Week celebrates those connections while creating opportunities for relationships to grow, local leadership to strengthen and more community voices to help shape the future of conservation.
At its core, LCW recognizes that lasting conservation is strengthened by the people who know their communities best. By bringing together local leaders, community organizations, public agencies and conservation partners, the week helps build trusted relationships, strengthen networks and connect community voices with opportunities to inform the decisions that affect the places where people live, work and gather. This approach reflects Hispanic Access Foundation’s broader commitment to cultivating Latino leaders and strengthening the connections that help communities move from engagement to collective action and influence.
“Latino Conservation Week is a celebration of who we are, where we come from and the places that connect us,” said Luis Cruz, Latino Conservation Week Coordinator. “Whether someone joins a hike, volunteers in their neighborhood, attends a community gathering or simply spends time outdoors with family, there is a place for everyone. These experiences can be a starting point—bringing people together, strengthening community connections and opening new opportunities for people to take action and lead.”
For those unable to attend an in-person event, there are also opportunities to participate wherever they are. The Latino Conservation Week Virtual Race runs from September 12 through October 15, encouraging participants to get outside and be active on their own schedules while celebrating alongside a broader online community.
Events will take place across the country throughout the week, with activities designed for a wide range of ages, interests and levels of outdoor experience. A full listing of 2026 events and ways to participate is available at LatinoConservationWeek.com. Participants can also join the celebration online using #LatinoConservationWeek and #LCW2026.