This year marked the first time Latino Conservation Week was celebrated in September. Previously held in July, the shift was made to avoid the rising summer temperatures, and conveniently coincided with the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month.
ForestWatch participated in the national campaign by hosting a night hike as part of our Outdoor Connections program. As an exciting addition, we partnered with Wilderness Youth Project for a full moon kayak paddleout, inviting families from the same program to join in the experience.
For many participants, these nighttime activities were a new experience, leaving them filled with awe and joy as they connected with one another. For the past six years, ForestWatch has organized Latino Conservation Week events with bilingual leaders, and no matter the activity, participants consistently cherish the sense of community and the shared language—primarily Spanish. This year was no exception!
Latino Conservation Week: Disfrutando y Conservando Nuestra Tierra is an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, created to encourage the Latino community to engage with the outdoors and actively participate in protecting our natural resources.
The goals of Latino Conservation Week are:
- Provide Latino families and youth with outdoor recreation opportunities close to home.
- Showcase the Latino community’s commitment to conservation.
- Partner with Hispanic and Latino leaders to bolster local and national conservation efforts.
- Inform policymakers, media, and the public about the Latino community’s perspectives on key conservation issues.
A special thanks to our partners Padres Juntos Promoviendo La Educacción and Wilderness Youth Project.
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