Celebrate Latino Conservation Week: Events Lineup, Registration

From Montgomery Parks:

Montgomery Parks, part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is hosting a series of special programming and events in celebration of Latino Conservation Week July 13 – 21, 2019. The week, an initiative of the Hispanic Access Foundation, launched in 2014 to provide the Latino community and others opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, learn about conservation efforts and demonstrate their support for protecting our natural resources.

In support of the Latino Conservation Week, Montgomery Parks will host a variety of events, including nature programs, children's fishing lessons, Spanish storytimes, a 5k run/walk, a volunteer park cleanup and a summer festival with live music, dancing and an outdoor movie. This year, there are expected to be more than 150 Latino Conservation Week events nationwide.

"Latino Conservation Week provides a platform for Latinos to be introduced to outdoor recreation and conservation opportunities and helps establish connections between partners and the community," said Maite Arce, President and CEO, Hispanic Access Foundation. "As our nation's demographics continue to shift, the future of our public lands and natural resources depends on welcoming, engaging and cultivating Latinos and our diverse youth as environmental stewards."

Montgomery Parks' Latino Conservation Week event schedule:

• July 13, 1:30 p.m. Youth on Earth bilingual nature program at Meadowside Nature Center
• July 16, 9:00 a.m. Volunteer Park Cleanup in partnership with Latin American Youth Center at Broadacres Local Park
• July 17, 11:00 a.m. Spanish Storytime with special guest Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz at Meadowside Nature Center
• July 18, 10:30 a.m. Animals of the Stream bilingual nature program at Meadowside Nature Center
• July 19, 5:30 p.m. Fiesta de Verano,salsa lessons, live music and outdoor screening of "Coco," (in Spanish with English subtitles) at Wheaton Regional Park
• July 20, 7:30 a.m. 5k Fun Run/Walk in partnership with Latino Outdoors, Latino Health Initiative and Councilmember Gabe Albornoz at Brookside Gardens
• July 20, 2:00 p.m. Trails and Tails bilingual nature program at Meadowside Nature Center
• July 21, 10:00 a.m. Es Mi Parque, kids fishing and storytime, in partnership with Chesapeake Conservancy at Lake Needwood

All events are free and open to the public, though some require advanced registration. For complete event details, visit www.montgomeryparks.org/8-ways-to-celebrate-latino-conservation-week-in-montgomery-parks/

About Hispanic Access Foundation:
Hispanic Access Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, connects Latinos with partners and opportunities to improve lives and create an equitable society. Our vision is that one day every Hispanic individual in America will enjoy good physical health and a healthy natural environment, a quality education, economic success, and civic engagement in their communities with the sum of improving the future of America. For more information visit www.hispanicaccess.org.

About The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Montgomery Parks:
Montgomery Parks manages more than 36,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 422 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land. M-NCPPC has been nationally recognized for its high-quality parks and recreation services and is regarded as a national model by other parks systems.www.MontgomeryParks.org.

Accessibility: Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Program Access Office at 301-495-2581 (Voice/TTY), MD Relay 7-1-1 or 800-552-7724 or ProgramAccess@MontgomeryParks.org to request a disability modification. Visit www.MontgomeryParks.org/access for more information.