Latino Conservation Week

NPS / Matt Turner

Join us for Latino Conservation Week July 17-25, 2021! This annual celebration seeks to engage the Latinx community (and everyone) in National Park Service recreational activities and stewardship that benefit their local communities and parks, and it emphasizes the community’s role in conservation. Join the National Park Service in strengthening opportunities for the Latinx community to show their support and commitment for permanently protecting our natural, cultural, and recreational resources and inspire the next generation of stewards.

Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.
Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country.

Join the celebration on social media by using #LatinoConservationWeek, #LCW2021 and #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque.

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A park ranger helps new Junior Rangers stamp the certificate on their Junior Ranger activity booklet.

NPS / Justine Hanrahan

Background

Started in 2014, Latino Conservation Week is an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, an official National Park Service partner, to support the Latinx community getting outdoors and participating in activities that protect our natural resources. Since its start, there have been hundreds of programs and special events nationwide to celebrate Latinx heritage.

National Park Service parks, programs, and partners are hosting in-park and virtual events. The Hispanic Access Foundation can help you find a Latino Conservation Week event nationwide.

Left image
Credit: NPS / Whitney Bronson & Matt Turner

Right image
Credit: NPS / Whitney Bronson & Matt Turner

  Alternative Text for the Graphics

Two graphics highlighting five ways to celebrate Latino Conservation Week with an English-language (left image) and Spanish-language version (right image). A slider arrow that moves left and right allows people to see both images in their entireties.

Title and text reads "Five Ways to Celebrate. Latino Conservation Week. go.nps.gov/latinoconservationweek. #EncuentraTuParque". Spanish language version reads "Cinco Formas Para Celebrar. Latino Conservation Week. go.nps.gov/latinoconservationweek. #EncuentraTuParque".

First way to celebrate includes an illustration of a rock climber celebrating reaching the top of a cliff. Text reads "Find a park to explore while recreating responsibly." Spanish language version reads "Encuentre tu parque para explorar y recree responsablemente". 

Second way to celebrate includes an illustration of a sunset on a cell phone screen. Text reads "Inspire others on social media". Spanish language version reads "Inspire a ostros por las redes sociale".

Third way to celebrate includes an illustration of two people talking. Text reads "Share the importance of conservation". Spanish language version reads "Comparta la importancia de conservacion".

Fourth way to celebrate includes an illustration of a person standing next to a display board. Text reads "Work with the Latino community on outreach and service projects". Spanish language version reads "Trabaje con la comunidad latina en proyectos de divulgacion ye servicio".

Fifth way to celebrate includes an illustration of a computer screen showing hanging decorations. Text reads "Research a park with Latino history and heritage". Spanish language version reads "Encuentre un parque con historia y herencia Latina".

Five Ways to Celebrate

1. Find a national park or your local park and learn more about the outdoors and how to recreate responsibly to keep these special places and each other healthy.

2. Research a park or place with Latinx heritage to learn more about Latinx relationships with public lands. 

3. Share the importance of Latino Conservation Week with family and friends and help inspire others to participate in conservation efforts. 

4. Work with other Latinx in your community to help national parks and other public lands through volunteer programs or individual volunteer projects. 

5. Go on your social media platforms and share Latino Conservation Week posts for everyone to see and get inspired! Use #LCW2021, #LatinoConservationWeek, and #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque. 

Kids Activities

Children of all ages are welcome to participate in these activities specifically designed for them! With these activities we hope you get excited about exploring the outdoors and learn about Latino history and culture in the U.S. And we also want you to feel inspired to help us protect our lands for future generations!

Visit A Park

Come outside and enjoy your national parks this Latino Conservation Week. But before you do, there are some tools you can use to help you navigate parks and events.

Ways to Get Involved

Don't limit yourself to only nine days during Latino Conservation Week! There are so many ways to enjoy your national parks and get involved in stewardship and conservation efforts year-round.

Meet Latino Conservationists

NPS Photo

Spotlight on LHIP

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) is a partnership between the National Park Service and Environment for the Americas, designed to provide young adults with hands-on experience in a variety of career fields related to conservation. The program helps raise awareness of our national parks and historic sites, their accessibility, and the need for the Latinx community’s involvement in their preservation and in meaningful and relevant science-based internships.

This year, there are 32 LHIP interns working in person or virtually at 31 national parks and programs across the country. Visit the official LHIP website for more information about the program and how you can get involved.

Videos

Duration:

1 minute

You're invited to go out and explore the great outdoors during Latino Conservation Week!

• 

  Latino Conservation: A Conversation with Leaders

  Join Jhulian Gutierrez, a Latino Heritage Internship Program intern at Fire Island National Seashore, for a conversation with NPS Deputy Director David Vela and Superintendent Alexcy Romero.

  Duration:

  7 minutes, 7 seconds

• 

  Conoce (Meet) a Georgina Jacquez

  Tumacácori's bilingual interpreter shares her family history and philosophy on conservation. Join her!

  Duration:

  5 minutes, 41 seconds

• 

  American History, Hispanic History

  In this final video of our Spanish language series for Hispanic History Month (September 15-October 15), Ranger Lili shares some of the numerous other National Park Service sites that preserve fascinating Hispanic History in the United States.

  Duration:

  2 minutes, 53 seconds