On July 20, Explorando took place—an event with the mission of introducing water activities in the Columbia Slough watershed and promoting nature conservation within the Latino community of Oregon. Organized by the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, a nonprofit dedicated to safe and fun recreation in the Columbia Slough, this event has proven to be a truly meaningful and beneficial initiative for the Latino community.
This free event, which Columbia Slough has been running for several years and had been on pause since 2020, happily returned in 2024. It brought together more than 200 members of the Latino community, who had the opportunity to enjoy canoe rides on the Columbia Slough guided by the organization’s experts. Participants also engaged in birdwatching and connected with several Latino-focused organizations such as ours, Loco por la Aventura, along with others like Adelante Mujeres, Programa Hispano Católico, and many more.
Attendees were also treated to drinks, snacks, and vegan Venezuelan food provided by El Salto PDX, all accompanied by music from DJ Hensy. To complete the experience, there was a Latin dance class led by María Teresa Lopes, adding a touch of fun and culture to the event.
Organizing this event took nearly a year, and we are thrilled to have been part of the organizing committee as Loco por la Aventura, contributing our ideas and support. Explorando not only aligns with our mission of motivating and educating the Latino community to participate in outdoor activities for better physical and mental health, but also strengthens the community’s connection with nature and encourages environmental conservation.
We are excited to see Explorando continue and look forward to being part of this wonderful event in the future, fully aligned with our mission of promoting health and well-being through outdoor activities. We can’t wait to see everyone again next year for another incredible day of exploration and fun!
https://youtu.be/ENH0L-lyGRE