Event Description:

There is a trend among national parks to go cashless, with 22 parks so far requiring that entry fees be paid via credit or debit card only. With access to nature—a costly affair—already a challenge for Latinos, cashless access to our national parks represents still another barrier for the unbanked portion of the U.S. Latino community to enjoy the great outdoors.

In response to these changing circumstances, Bishop, California-based conservation nonprofit Friends of the Inyo, in partnership with AltaOne Federal Credit Union, the U.S. National Park Service, Cerro Coso Community College and other organizations, is hosting a FREE bilingual outreach event called “Naturaleza, Conectividad y Crédito” (“Nature, Connectivity and Credit”) in downtown Bishop on July 15, as part of Latino Conservation Week.

Naturaleza, Conectividad y Crédito aims to help local Latinos establish credit to facilitate access to national parks and other opportunities to which credit can open the door. The event also aims to educate Eastern Sierra Nevada Latinos about how to navigate national park websites for making camping reservations, checking weather and road conditions, etc.; how to recreate responsibly in nature, practicing The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace (www.lnt.org); how to strengthen their homes against wildfire; how to recycle trash properly; how to register for classes at Cerro Coso College; how to apply for available local jobs; and more. There will be food, music, opportunity drawings, and lots of networking designed to help Latinos and other underrepresented communities learn how to better enjoy nature and be better stewards of our scenic lands. 

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