It’s not every day you get to hold a live catfish, go tubing on the Shenandoah River and listen to the live music of Latin Grammy Award-winning artist Mister G. But, the more than 125 people attending the third annual RioPalooza! held this past weekend in Elkton, Virginia got to do just that.

On Tuesday, July 16, Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF) and Por La Creación Faith-based Alliance were led on an interactive hike in the beautiful Chino Hills State Park, as part of the 6th annual Latino Conservation Week. State Park Interpreter Ian Bernstein and HAF’s MANO Project intern Keila Vizcarra from the Angeles National Forest discussed the importance of taking care of our public lands and their experience with careers in California State Parks.

More than 50 Las Vegas-area youth and families from Centro de Adoracion Familiar Church took to rods and reels on July 18 for a fishing experience at Lake Mead as part of the 6th annual Latino Conservation Week. Led by the Hispanic Access Foundation, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife ,George H.W. Bush Vamos a Pescar Educational Fund and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, these groups came together to engage multi-generational families around basic fishing instruction, water safety, and hands-on conservation and aquatic stewardship activities.

Latinos are the largest minority group in America, representing nearly 17% of the nation's population. But when it comes to taking part in outdoor recreation activities, a 2018 report by the Outdoor Industry Association found only 10% of Latinos participated.

We all have special people in our lives – those who are friends and mentors. One of mine passed away July 12th. He is Dr. Jesse Miranda. It’s with reflection and joy that I write this statement on behalf of Hispanic Access Foundation because Dr. Miranda was an influencer in my life, and therefore, he had an impact on HAF.

On Monday, Jun. 24, Hispanic Access Foundation, Watershed Management Group, 23 members from the Tucson Evangelical Pastoral Association and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance, which unites Latino faith leaders in the development of stewards for God’s creation, celebrated the Santa Cruz River Heritage water release and El Día de San Juan, the start of Tucson's annual monsoon season.

Starting Monday, June 24, Tucson Water will begin the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, reviving a historic stretch of the river near downtown Tucson. Tucson Water will put as much as 2.8 million gallons of reclaimed water daily into a stretch of the river south of Sentinel Peak, which was of major importance to earlier residents and area tribes. The city and county already release treated water into a lower stretch of the river near Marana.

With the goal of creating opportunities for organizations and parks to engage Latinos and for Latinos to demonstrate their passion for the outdoors and protecting public lands, the 6th annual Latino Conservation Week will take place July 13 – 21, 2019 and is expected to be celebrated with over 150 events nationwide. Communities will have the opportunity to camp under the stars, go canoeing, take sunset walks, and hike with family among other activities as they engage in the outdoors and learn about stewardship.

Maite Arce, president and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule, titled the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, that would undo much of the Clean Power Plan, which placed the first and only federal limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants – the largest stationary source of pollution that drives climate change.