Statistics from the National Park Service show that Latinos are underrepresented as visitors at national parks. A survey from the Outdoors Industry Foundation found that Latinos are the lowest participants in outdoor activities after African Americans in the US.

Latino Outdoors is trying to change that. They’re a network of environmental educators, outdoors enthusiasts and teachers, that tries to get Latinos, especially youth, to go to the outdoors. The idea: to teach Latinos to take ownership of outdoor spaces, whether its their neighborhood playground or a national park. Maria Hinojosa interviews Latino Outdoors director and founder Jose Gonzalez, about what’s keeping Latinos indoors and what they’re doing to change that.

Jose González has broad experience as a k-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. He is currently working on several projects, with a focus on founding and growing Latino Outdoors. Recently he was a Butler-Koshland Fellow with Radio Bilingüe, the Latino Public Radio Network. You can connect with José G. González on Twitter @JoseBililngue and @Green_Chicano

Photo courtesy of Angela Bass.