CONSERVATION STORIES
Stewarding Natural
&
Cultural Travel Assets Worldwide
Now Accepting Donations to Help Protect Wild Places, ATCF 2023 Auction
Each year the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund hosts an auction of donated trips and travel-related items, raising money to support the organization in protecting wild places. Last year’s auction was its best yet, raising over $30,000. (Thanks to our generous donors for making it possible!) Our goal is to double this for 2023. We are looking for your help in making that happen!
Each year the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund hosts an auction of donated trips and travel-related items, raising money to support the organization in protecting wild places. Last year’s auction was its best yet, raising over $30,000. (Thanks to our generous donors for making it possible!) Our goal is to double this for 2023. We are looking for your help in making that happen!
Donation = Membership: Get a 1-year ATCF base membership for new ATCF members who donate items valued over $5,000.
Mark Your Calendars: This year’s auction is scheduled for the fall, timed to a period when many travelers purchase trips. We’ll be promoting and previewing it at the Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido, Japan, to boost awareness and build excitement. The ATCF will host its annual breakfast event and conduct a silent auction with an assortment of donated items during the ATWS event. Event delegates will be able to bid on the silent auction item, and the winner will be announced at the event.
The main event, the online auction, launches on October 11, World Tourism Day.
We are constantly trying to improve the bidder experience, maximize reach, and minimize costs. Auction items will be visible via the ATCF auction webpage, with links to place bids on our partner sites, CharityBuzz and BetterWorld. The CharityBuzz platform has its own audience and markets the ATCF auction to an exclusive group of philanthropic consumers, 60,000 of which are high-net-worth individuals.
We are currently soliciting donations for the auction through mid-August. It is only through the support of adventure travel industry members that we are able to carry this work forward. If you are interested in participating, please check out our donation page. Past donated items have included trips, flights, experiences, lodging, gear, and photography classes. We are open to creative ideas, so if you have suggestions, let us know. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your brand in front of a travel-oriented audience. We will be promoting the auction to:
1,000 ATCF email subscribers including international travelers, committed to conservation efforts.
28,000+ travelers and industry professionals through Adventure Travel Prosper and Adventure Travel News.
750+ industry professionals during promotions and a silent auction promo at the 2023 Adventure Travel World Summit.
60,000+ high net-worth philanthropic individuals interested in supporting conservation projects via CharityBuzz, the ATCF online auction-hosting organization.
Partner with charity website receiving over 600,000+ unique views per month.
Promotion of your brand and auction item to ATCF email subscribers, media list, and social media channels, before, during, and following the auction.
A few of last year’s items:
Last year’s donors:
If you’d like to contribute to our auction please visit our 2023 donation page.
From all of us at the ATCF, thank you for your consideration. Your donation will help protect our wild places.
March Newsletter
After a successful and inspiring board retreat in December, in which we came away with priorities for 2023, we’ve had our heads down working on an implementation plan. The word for the year is Amplify. Amplify funding, impact, membership, grantees, and network.
Update from the Executive Director
After a successful and inspiring board retreat in December, in which we came away with priorities for 2023, we’ve had our heads down working on an implementation plan. The word for the year is Amplify. Amplify funding, impact, membership, grantees, and network.
It’s important to note that in 2020 and 2021, during the acute phase of the pandemic when travel came to a virtual stop, the ATCF continued to support critical communities progressing their conservation efforts. The need was great and the organization felt a responsibility to help where it could. In 2021, we also reached the milestone of having distributed $500,000 to 33 projects in 27 countries around the world. In 2022 we worked on rebuilding the organization, which had been hard-hit by the pandemic along with the travel industry, and re-engaging our communities.
For 2023, our two primary focus areas are:
Reconvene our community - bring our membership back together, bring in new partner businesses from the travel and outdoor supply chain, and convene our grantees. Work has begun on several fronts.
Evolve our grant program - bring in stronger elements of communities who are supporting climate mitigation, consider our geographic reach of projects that qualify for funding, and integrate the ability for individuals to earmark additional funds to projects that align with their priorities. A new and energized Grants Committee is hard at work. Look out for the announcement of our 2023 grant program by May.
Nominations open on May 7th for ATCF members to put forth a project for funding consideration. Keep an eye out for more information on the nominations process coming soon!
There is lots more news to come including our annual Travel Conservation Auction, planned for the fall.
Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, or ideas. Contact us
Welcome to Three New Board Members
We are thrilled to welcome three new members to the ATCF Board of Directors. Welcome, Nicole Abbott, vice president of Wilderness Travel, Amit Sankhala, owner of Encounters Asia, and Jonathan Burnham, ATCF’s digital director! These remarkable individuals will add insight and expertise to ATCF’s strategic direction. Learn more about ATCF’s new board members here.
Hydro Flask Joins ATCF at the Trailblazer Level
We are thrilled to announce the addition of Hydro Flask as ATCF’s newest Adventure Trailblazer ($10,000 Level). Hydro Flask joins other like-minded businesses in supporting sustainable tourism and conservation efforts. Hydro Flask is well known for its reusable, high-quality water bottles and is committed to reducing the use of single-use plastics. The company’s products are a perfect fit for adventure travelers who are passionate about sustainability and conservation.
"ATCF’s mission aligns with Hydro Flask’s commitment to responsible consumption. Not just the bottle, but the way people explore and engage with the outdoors," said Jeffery Walter, Hydro Flask's corporate social responsibility (CSR) specialist. "Our products are designed for a world of adventures, and it is essential for organizations like ATCF to equip travelers and explores with the knowledge and tools to be stewards for the planet."
Hydro Flask has also teamed up with the ATCF on an exciting partnership that will support a local project and community. More details coming soon.
Barbara Banks Vision Fund (BBVF) Raises $80,000
We are pleased to announce that in three months, the Barbara Banks Vision Fund raised more than $80,000 to support the work of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund. The fund was set up by Charles Altekruse, with Benjamin and Jeremy Banks-Altekruse, to honor the life of wife and mother Barbara Banks, a pillar of the adventure travel community whose untimely death of cancer in May 2020, came as a shock to all who knew and loved her.
New & Returning Members
Mountain Travel Sobek is known as the pioneer of adventure travel and has been offering immersive travel experiences for over 53 years. Their worldwide network of guides and experts allows them to offer tours on all seven contents!
Conservation Conversation With Explorer X
Michael Bennett, Ed.D, is the co-founder of Explorer X, a Seattle-based travel design company launched in 2017 by him and fellow travel industry veteran Jake Haupert. It crafts unforgettable and impactful travel experiences for its clients. The company’s mission is to support clients in both traveling better and living better. Bennet puts it this way, “We're sort of the love-child of Anthony Bourdain, the irreverent yet savvy traveler, and Joseph Campbell, the wise and sage-like teacher.”
Calendar
Spring 2023
April 4
ATCF Happy Hour in Berkeley, CA
May 7
Grant nominations open for ATCF members. (funding consideration)
May 9-11
AdventureELEVATE held in Portland, Maine
Fall 2024
September 11-14
Adventure Travel World Summit held in Hokkaido, Japan
Thanks so much for reading our March newsletter and if you have any questions about the auction please feel free to contact me.
Cheers,
Welcome New Members
We’re proud to announce Freefly, WeTravel, JourneyWomen, Adventures in Good Company, and Explorer X as new ATCF members.
The ATCF is excited to welcome Freely, WeTravel, JourneyWoman, Adventures in Good Company, and Explorer X to our global network of conscious travelers!
Freely is a Travel insurance and safety app. You can customize the cover you need for the days you need it, end to end on the app.
Why is the conservation of tourism destinations important to your organization?
One of our main values at Freely is; 'Giving back to people, places, and the planet'. This is something that lives and breathes very strongly within our organization, and we are working hard to back this up in all ways possible. We want people to enhance their lives with travel and exploring the world, but to do it in the most sustainable way. As a travel (insurance) organization to be able to support the conservation of tourism is an absolute no-brainer.
WeTravel
WeTravel, the booking and payments platform powering multi-day travel, has built its platform with a mission to empower any travel business through its technological solutions. With thousands of group and travel businesses—who interact with 500,000 travelers, annually—using its platform, the business believes it has an unparalleled ability to positively impact how travel businesses operate, including being a champion, through its platform, in helping travel businesses protect and preserve people and the planet.
WeTravel is a proud, new member of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and thrilled to support the organization’s impactful work to create actionable change in the travel industry, for a sustainable tomorrow.
Find WeTravel on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
JourneyWoman
JourneyWoman is the original travel publication for solo women, established in 1994. They also provide a Women’s Travel Directory, which lists women-friendly tours, retreats, guides, and accommodations.
Why is the conservation of tourism destinations important to your organization?
Women - and women over 50 - are the primary decision-makers in travel and can help influence good behaviors in others. Our editorial focuses on how women can travel sustainably, and we want to encourage women’s tour operators to embrace sustainability in their business practices.
Find JourneyWoman on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
Adventures in Good Company creates experiences of a lifetime for women seeking new adventures. Their small group getaways encourage women of all ages and life stages to (re)connect with their adventurous selves, other women and cultures, and the natural world. AGC vacations are for women who love being active, regardless of whether you're a first-time traveler or a lifelong adventuress. They handle the logistics so you can relax, have fun, and fully experience some of the world's most breathtaking places.
Why is the conservation of tourism destinations important to your organization?
AGC recognizes that any form of adventure travel is inextricably linked to impacting the places and people that are visited, but we stand to believe that travel can be a force for good, both in introducing our participants to new cultures and new beliefs and in providing economic benefit to the places we visit. That's why we strive to be a leader in sustainable travel. Our goal is to have a positive impact on the environment and cultures of the places we visit and to minimize the adverse impacts of travel.
Our commitment to sustainable travel follows three guiding principles: environmentally friendly practices like minimizing the use of plastic; protecting natural and cultural heritage; supporting local communities.
Adventures in Good Company has the opportunity to make a greater impact on conservation efforts through ATCF at 100% of our membership dues go directly toward funding conservation initiatives.
Find Adventures in Good Company on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Explorer X is a Seattle-based travel design company dedicated to helping people Travel Better and Live Better.
Why is the conservation of tourism destinations important to your organization?
Working to conserve the culture, history, and environment/natural resources of tourism destinations not only protects/empowers the local community but also increases the likelihood that future generations of travelers will be able to visit, share with, and learn from these destinations and the people there as well.
Find Explorer X on Instagram and Facebook.
September News
See what the ATCF has been up to during the COVID pandemic and our conservation priorities for 2023 and beyond.
In This Issue:
See you in Lugano
Introducing New and Returning Members
JourneyWoman and Wanderful Raise Funds for ATCF
Conservation Conversation with Experience Plus! Bicycle Tours
Convening Communities Coming Soon
What We’re Reading, Listening To, Watching, and Talking About
See You In Lugano
See what the ATCF has been up to during the COVID pandemic and our conservation priorities for 2023 and beyond. We will also have a special breakfast speaker, Georg Schwede from Campaign for Nature, who will talk about 30x30 and tourism's role in the most significant global collective conservation push in the planet's history. Not to be missed!
Welcome New Members
Adventure Leaders
WeTravel
Adventure Trailblazer
Freely
JourneyWoman
Email soraya@atconservationfund.org to renew your membership or become a member.
Conservation Conversation With Experience Plus! Bicycle Tours
Has Travel Been Good for You?
Here’s How to Return the Favor by Norie Quintos, ATCF Board Member.
Convening Communities - Coming Soon
As we prepare for a new grant funding cycle in 2023, we also are introducing a major new initiative to connect not only our grantees to each other but to our members and partners in the travel and travel gear industries. The goal is to provide a platform and opportunities for the various communities that make up the ATCF family to connect, share, and find solutions.
What We’re Reading, Listening To, Watching, and Talking About
See what the ATCF Board Members have been thinking about.
August News
See what’s happening this month!
Record-Breaking Auction!
The 2022 Travel Conservation Auction was a huge success! Thank you to all our donors and bidders - we couldn’t have done this without you! And an extra big thank you to Hannah Lambert and Jonathan Burnham for the support in getting this auction to be our most successful yet!
ATCF Makes Headlines
Hear what Adventure Travel News has to say about ATCF’s most recent milestone.
Conservation Conversation With Journalist Stephanie Pearson
Hear what Stephanie Pearson, contributing editor to Outside Magazine, author of the recent National Geographic book 100 Great American Parks, and ATCF member has to say about travel today.
Travel Conservation Auction Winners
Check out the full list of the 2022 Travel Conservation Auction winners.
Support ATCF When You Shop on Amazon
Give .05% of your Amazon purchase back to the ATCF with AmazonSmile.
Calendar
Fall 2022
October 3-6
Adventure Travel World Summit in Lugano, Switzerland
ATCF will host its annual members’ breakfast on Wednesday, October 5, from 7 to 9 a.m.
Thanks so much for reading our August newsletter and if you have any questions about the auction please feel free to contact me.
Cheers,
Adventure Travel Gear - 2022 Travel Conservation Auction
Check out all of the 2022 Travel Conservation Auction Items.
The 2022 Travel Conservation Auction is here and we could not be more excited! With over 20 items donated, this is our biggest fundraiser to date! Here is everything you need to know about the Adventure Travel Gear.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL GEAR
JUNE 27 - JULY 14, 2022. OPEN FOR 3 WEEKS ONLY!
Cotopaxi Backpack Bundle
Donated by Cotopaxi
A fantastic variety of Cotopaxi backpacks will give you a stylish option for every kind of adventure!
Bundle includes: Allpa 35L travel pack, Tarak 20L backpack, Batac 16L pack, Kapia 3L hip pack
About Cotopaxi: We believe the products that get us exploring can make a positive impact in other people’s lives. That’s why we create sustainably designed outdoor gear that fuels both adventure and global change, by dedicating a percentage of our revenues to nonprofits working to improve the human condition.
Water Purifier & Filter Bottle + Adventure Kit
Donated by Grayl
Never buy bottle water when you travel again! That's right. You can ditch the single-use plastic water bottles and tap into the world's water with GRAYL. Grayl Purifier & Filter bottles make water safe to drink in 10-seconds by removing all pathogens (bacteria, protozoa, virus), particulates, many chemicals and heavy metals-- all while making your water taste great! This Adventure Kit comes with one 24 oz GeoPress Purifier & Filter, one 16.9 oz UltraPress Purifier & Filter, extra replacement cartridges for both, PLUS an Earthwell x GRAYL 32 oz premium steel Kewler bottle for extra water storage.
About Grayl: Seattle-based GRAYL® makes innovative water purifiers and filters for international travelers and outdoor explorers so their adventures can be safe, self-reliant and awe inspiring. Since 2016, GRAYL purifiers have hydrated hundreds of thousands of adventures. GRAYL believes the greatest moments of life occur when one travels beyond their comfort zone, takes risks, builds connections with different cultures, and returns as a global citizen. GRAYL is distributed world-wide and is a member of 1% for the Planet, contributing at least one percent of every sale to non-profit organizations and charities that protect and preserve the natural environment.
2 Helinox Sunset Chairs
Donated by Helinox
A unique, never-seen-in-public coloration of the Helinox Sunset Chair! A customer favorite and for good reason. The Sunset Chair's high-back and compact carry sack that converts to a neck pillow were designed for ultimate relaxation. Lean back and enjoy the view. Add the optional rocking feet and you're in camp chair nirvana! *Shipping not included
About Helinox: Since 2009 Helinox has been a design-first company, focused exclusively on bringing comfort outdoors so you can be At Home, Anywhere. Furniture should be built to travel, so we’ve designed ours to be portable, durable, and beautiful as well as comfortable. This means you can relax when you’re backpacking deep in the woods, sitting on an urban rooftop, lounging at the beach, car camping, or simply hanging out in the backyard. So lightweight and compact, you’ll want to bring your own chair to any adventure or gathering.
4 Hydro Flask 16oz True Pints
Donated by Hydro Flask
Make any hour happier with our insulated 16 oz True Pint. From picnics in the park to panoramic vistas, enjoy your favorite morning brews or microbrews at the perfect temperature. Color - Black.
About Hydro Flask: Hydro Flask® is the leader in high-performance insulated products that help people enjoy the things they love to do in the places they love to be. From the number one-selling water bottle to soft good innovations like the Day EscapeTM Soft Coolers to the Outdoor Kitchen dining collection, Hydro Flask’s delightfully simple designs and go-anywhere durability always deliver the perfect temperature when you need it. Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask inspires active outdoor lives with two simple words: Let’s Go! Its giving program, Parks For All, supports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and investing in public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives.
MiiR Wine Bundle
Donated by MiiR
The 750mL MiiR Wine Bottle keeps your favorite wine at its ideal temp. With the capacity to hold a full bottle of wine, the Wine Bottle looks sleek enough to outfit any table while being durable enough for outdoor treks. The 10oz Wine Tumbler features our Press-fit Slide Lid to prevent spilling and an easy-to-hold design. Both products feature our Thermo 3D® double-wall vacuum.
About MiiR: MiiR is a design-forward, generosity-driven brand that makes premium stainless steel vessels for coffee, water, bar, and food. Every MiiR product sold helps fund transparent giving projects at the intersection of people and the planet.
Eagle Creek’s Best Travel Gear Package
Donated by Eagle Creek
Tarmac International Carry-on (2 wheels) - The Tarmac XE 2-Wheel Carry-On was built incredibly durable to tackle even the most extreme travel environments.
Migrate Duffel Bag 40L - The Migrate Duffel 40L is the quintessential carry-on-sized adventure bag.
Pack-It Travel Organizers - These provide ultra- light organization and peace of mind that sweaty, stinky clothes will stay contained.
About Eagle Creek: Adventure travel outfitters since 1975. At Eagle Creek, we believe both travel and life in the outdoors change people. That’s led us to develop a broad collection of stylish and durable gear to get people to their next adventure - whether it’s on a nearby trail or in a country halfway around the world.
$ 150 Toad & Co Gift Card
Donated by Toad & Co
The gift that always fits, and never requires awkward size guessing – a gift card is always a good idea. Get a gift card for yourself, a friend, and your loved ones! A gift card means no gift waste, all reward.
About Toad & Co: We’re big on enjoying the simple things in life, embracing the silly, and letting go every once in a while. It keeps our spirits high and gives us the energy to focus on the things that matter, like empowering people with disabilities, sourcing the most sustainable materials, partnering with the cleanest factories, and looking for new ways to do more with less.
$250 Toad & Co Gift Card
Donated by Toad & Co
Adventure Travel Photography Workshop
Donated by Merrill Images
This gift certificate is for one person to attend a small group online workshop with professional travel photographers John and Lisa Merrill. In their three-session workshop, the Merrills share tips for creating visual stories of the places you explore and the people you meet. Using examples from assignments and adventures around the world, John and Lisa will help you harness the transformative power of light, compose for impact, and intentionally make, versus take, photos. You’ll get tips for compelling portrait, landscape, food, architectural, and street photography, and explore ICM (intentional camera movement) for impressionistic images. John and Lisa will also share techniques for organizing and optimizing your photos, and combining them into compelling stories of your travel adventures to treasure and share.
About Merrill Images: John and Lisa Merrill are travel and social impact photographers who create images to evoke wonder, inspire action, and strengthen communities. The Merrills are inspiring educators who help nurture photographic creativity via online and in-person workshops, Pacific Northwest PhotoWalks, UnCruise Photo Adventures, and international photo tours. View galleries and learn more at www.merrillimages.com.
Osprey Suitcase & Pack Bundle
Donated by Osprey
Transporter Global Carry-On Bag (Venturi Blue) - the Transporter® Global Carry-On Bag is built with durable materials to handle adverse conditions around the globe and withstand the rigors of travel.
Daylite Wheeled Carry On Duffel 40 (Black) - Lightweight and durable, the Daylight® Carry-On Wheeled Duffel 40 is ready for your next trip out of town with a large main compartment that makes packing quick and easy and two exterior pockets that hold quick-access items.
About Osprey: Today, Osprey is a melting pot of diverse personalities, backgrounds, and abilities. All share the common belief that adventure is open to everyone and found anywhere. Developed by Osprey employees, these guiding principles are our moral compass and an honest representation of our entire company: INNOVATION. INTEGRITY. QUALITY. RESPECT. STEWARDSHIP. Since day one, sustainability has been part of our core values — from building the most durable products possible to launching our All Mighty Guarantee to introducing high-quality recycled materials and better chemistry.
Osprey Pack Bundle
Donated by Osprey
Porter 65 Deluxe Travel Duffel (Petunia Blue) - Ideal for lengthier travel excursions and adventures of all kinds, the Porter 65 offers a large storage capacity and convenient organization with on-the-go access.
Arcane Roll Top Pack (Stonewash Black) - A beautifully crafted everyday bag, the Arcane Roll Top was designed to fit a variety of scenarios and withstand the demands of daily use.
Tenkara Rod & Starter Kit
Donated by Tenkara USA
Hane Rod - 10ft10in. The HaneTM is a super compact all-around tenkara rod that will quickly become your favorite adventure rod. Measuring just under 15 inches when collapsed, but extending to 10ft 10in (330cm), the Hane fits nicely inside a small day pack, making this a superb tenkara rod for backpacking, bikefishing and other adventures.
Tenkara Kit - This starter kit comes in a custom mesh bag and contains all the essentials to get started tenkara fishing
Tenkara Book - This book is a complete guide to the techniques, gear, history, and philosophy of tenkara, the Japanese method of fly-fishing.
About Tenkara USA: Part of what makes us unique is our connection with Japan. Tenkara is a method of fishing that comes from Japan with a long history. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but rather to share the tenkara story. We believe the easiest way to keep tenkara simple is to look at the Japanese tenkara anglers and what they have to teach us.
Klean Kanteen Good to Go Kit
Donated by Klean Kanteen
The Good To Go Kit is a stainless steel set made for eating and drinking on the go at work, school, or anywhere you travel. Featuring our 32oz Insulated Food Canister to keep food hot for 11 hours and cold for 45 hours, plus a leakproof, plastic-free 34oz Food Box with a press and lock tab.
Also includes a 16oz Insulated food canister.
About Klean Kanteen: A leader in BPA-free, stainless steel drinkware and food transport, Klean Kanteen is family owned and operated, with distribution in 40-plus countries worldwide. Our products are the vehicles that deliver this promise, starting conversations, and inspiring people to make conscientious choices every day. A certified B-Corporation, Climate Neutral, and 1% for the Planet member, Klean Kanteen is committed to using business as a force for good and has donated over $3.4 million to environmental organizations globally.
Protect our world’s natural and cultural resources by placing a bid today!
As always, thank you to our members and to everyone who donated to the auction. We would not be able to do this without you.
Adventure Travel Experiences - 2022 Travel Conservation Auction
Check out all of the 2022 Travel Conservation Auction Items.
The 2022 Travel Conservation Auction is live and the bids are flowing in! We have over 20 items available for bidding, making this our biggest fundraiser to date.
Adventure Travel Experiences will be available on Charity Buzz from June 27th to July 14th.
With just over a week left to bid, here is everything you need to know about Adventure Travel Experiences.
ADVENTURE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
JUNE 27 - JULY 14, 2022. OPEN FOR 2 WEEKS ONLY!
5-Day Lower Salmon River Rafting Trip
Donated by Oars
Soak up the sun. Ramble with the river. Idaho’s Lower Salmon River is home to some of America’s most beautiful inland river beaches, super-sandy and sprawling alongside clear, mellow pools which are perfect for stand up paddleboarding and playing in inflatable kayaks. There’s no shortage of thrill seeking either. Some of Idaho’s most famous whitewater rapids, gorges and viewscapes—like Demons Drop, Snow Hole and Blue Canyon are just around the bend.
About OARS: OARS is a family-owned and operated company since 1969 remain the same. Today, our dedicated staff and guides, carry on the long legacy of providing people with unforgettable experiences in some of the most beautiful places in the world! OARS strives to encourage and actively support awareness, deeper appreciation, and preservation of our rivers and environment.
3-Night Safari in Maasia Mara Game Reserve, Kenya
Donated by Angama Mara
The winner of this amazing package will enjoy a 3-night stay with a friend at Angama Mara in Kenya’s Maasia Mara Game Reserve. Included in the packed are accommodations for three nights, all meals and drinks (other than French Champagne), driving safaris into the reserve and walking safaris.
About Angama Mara: Angama Mara is a remarkable owner-run safari lodge inspired by the Swahili word for ‘suspended in mid-air’. Located high above the floor of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara overlooks Kenya’s Maasai Mara, considered by many as the loveliest game reserve on the continent. Here guests will find a lodge where everything is as it ought to be: two intimate camps of just fifteen tented suites each, a private airfield and access to the Mara below, tailor-made safari days and a famously warm Kenyan welcome.
5-Day Adventure in Sacred Valley
Donated by Mountain Lodges Peru
Design your own adventure through the charming towns of the Sacred Valley, to seldom-visited Inca archaeological sites, along remote highland hiking trails with breathtaking views, and to hidden villages for a first-hand glimpse into the culture and daily life of these traditional Andean communities. End the experience with a visit to the magical citadel of Machu Picchu.
About Mountain Lodges Peru: Mountain Lodges of Peru is a family-owned Peruvian adventure travel operator providing sophisticated journeys and adventure experiences through the mountainous regions of Peru leading to the incomparable ruins of Machu Picchu. Established in 2006, MLP provides adventurous and active travelers an opportunity to experience a full cultural immersion into remote Andean communities with the comfort of six exclusive mountain lodges and four unique boutique hotels in the city of Cusco.
7-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Donated by Mountain Lodges Peru
The Salkantay Adventure goes beyond deluxe lodges and a great trek. It is also a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Andean culture as you learn about the Inca civilization and the extraordinary legacy that they left for generations to come. After 6-day of hiking you reach Machu Picchu Sacntuary for an in-depth exploration of the one of the seventh wonders of the modern world.
About Mountain Lodges Peru: Mountain Lodges of Peru is a family-owned Peruvian adventure travel operator providing sophisticated journeys and adventure experiences through the mountainous regions of Peru leading to the incomparable ruins of Machu Picchu. Established in 2006, MLP provides adventurous and active travelers an opportunity to experience a full cultural immersion into remote Andean communities with the comfort of six exclusive mountain lodges and four unique boutique hotels in the city of Cusco.
5-Day San Juan Island Hopper Adventure
Donated by REI
Spend five days soaking up the magic of the San Juan Islands on an exhilarating hike and kayak adventure with REI. Kayak waters rich with marine life while circumnavigating Henry Island, search for whales, porpoise and more on a premier wildlife cruise, enjoy 360° views from Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juans, and sleep among the trees in a luxury yurt and relax at a historic Pacific Northwest resort. Trip Includes Four nights accommodations; most meals; tandem kayaks (singles are not available) and kayaking equipment; dry bags; any park or other admission fees; wildlife watching cruise; interisland ferry fares while on trip; all gratuities related to services necessary to support the itinerary, with the exception of lead and assistant guide; all ground transfers as noted on daily itinerary, to include one transfer to Eastsound airport at trip conclusion on Day 5. This trip is rated Easy Active [2]. You should be capable of kayaking up to 8 miles (up to 6 hours) and hiking between 3–8 miles. Beginning kayakers are welcome.
About REI: At Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) we believe a life outdoors is a life well-lived! We believe that it’s in the wild, untamed and natural places that we find our best selves, so our purpose is to awaken a lifelong love of the outdoors, for all. Since 1938, we have been your local outdoor co -op, working to help you experience the transformational power of nature. We bring you top-quality gear and apparel, expert advice, rental equipment, inspiring stories of life outside and outdoor experiences to enjoy alone or share with your friends and family. And because we have no shareholders, with every purchase you make with REI, you are choosing to steward the outdoors, support sustainable business and help the fight for life outside. So whether you’re new to the outdoors or a seasoned pro, we hope you’ll join us.
2-Nights at Camp Sossus, Namibia
Donated by Ultimate Safaris
Bid now for a 2 night getaway under the stars at Camp Sossus! Escape to the tranquil and scenic Namib Tsaris Reserve and spend two nights, all inclusive, under a blanket of stars at Camp Sossus. A perfect escape to unwind and reconnect with nature, while exploring the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei.
About Ultimate Safaris: Ultimate Safaris is an award winning Namibian Conservation Travel Company. We are dedicated to the protection and conservation of the areas in which we operate as these are some of the most pristine and delicate wilderness areas on earth. Our camps are conservation impact investments, pioneering environmental sustainability, community development and conservation.
3-Day Glamping in Baja California Sur
Donated by Todos Santos Eco Resort
Camp Cecil de la Sierra is a luxury tent camp in the mango and grapefruit grove of a local ranching family in the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve of Baja California Sur, close to the town of Todos Santos.
About Todos Santos Eco Adventures: Todos Santos Eco Adventures (TOSEA) is the leading eco-adventure company in Baja California Sur. Family-owned and operated since 2002 by Sergio and Bryan Jauregui, TOSEA boasts boutique style, concentrated attention to the guest experience, strong conservation travel credentials, three amazing properties, and a dynamic team that loves sharing their passion for the phenomenal natural beauty, unique culture, and extraordinary wildlife of Baja.
4-Day Red Mountain Essential Retreat
Donated by Red Mountain Resort
A 4 day, 3 night Essential Retreat for 1 solo guest in a Desert Oasis Room at Red Mountain Resort. The retreat includes daily guided hiking, fitness classes, use of the resort amenities and 3 healthy meals each day.
About Red Mountain Resort: Red Mountain Resort has everything you need to relax, renew and rediscover your passion for adventure. As one of the most ideally located resorts in St. George, Utah, Red Mountain Resort allows for customized adventures to Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks, while Snow Canyon State Park is only about a 1/4 of a mile down the road.
3-Night Stay at Mount Gahinga Lodge, Uganda
Donated by Volcanoes Safaris
Mount Gahinga Lodge is the perfect base to go gorilla tracking on the Ugandan side of the Virungas, track the rare golden monkey, climb a volcano, walk through local villages and most of all to share the culture of the Batwa, the oldest inhabitants of the Central African rain forest. The beautiful hand-built bandas reflect the magic of the aesthetic traditions of the Bufimbira people. Stay provides direct private footpath to access gorilla trekking in Mgahinga National Park, and includes personal butler service for all guests.
About Volcanoes Safaris: Volcanoes Safaris have been pioneers of gorilla and chimpanzee eco-tourism in Uganda and Rwanda since 1997. We have had a clear vision during our 25 year journey: to develop lodges that are sensitive to local culture and aesthetics, connect to local communities and conservation of great ape species and seek to use resources responsibly.
Pacific North West Getaway in the Oregon Cascades
Donated by Westfir Lodge
Two night stay at the Westfir Lodge and guided tour of your choice for two with the Cascades Outdoor Center. Homemade breakfast is included every morning.
About Westfir Lodge: Located in the Willamette Valley, in the Oregon Cascades in the foothills of the Willamette National Forest. Our cozy adventure based lodge is across from the longest covered bridge in Oregon, just a short drive from Crater Lake National Park. Nestled conveniently between Eugene and Bend, a perfect base for all your adventures. The Cascades Outdoor Center offers daily tours from the Lodge which include whitewater rafting, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking and snowshoeing tours!
4-Day Coasta Rice Jungle & Beach Retreat
Donated by GreenSpot Travel
3 night stay in a One Bedroom Bungalow with full a-la- carte breakfast included. A sandy, forest-fringed beach hugs boutique eco hotel Aguas Claras, where airy, Caribbean-style suites and bungalows dot the jungle- shaded grounds, and a spa and beach club fuel its laid- back vibe. GreenSpot Travel will also include round-trip ground transportation from San Jose, Costa Rica’s international airport (SJO) to the lovely Aguas Claras boutique hotel on the Caribbean side of the country for up to four travelers in the same party.
About Cayuga Collection: We’re The Cayuga Collection. 7 award-winning, sustainable luxury hotels in Costa Rica, Panama & Nicaragua. We’re tucked away in the most incredible corners, committed to protect and preserve the communities and ecosystems that surround us.
About GreenSpot Travel: Adventure, nature, and culture reign supreme. Our custom-designed ecoluxe vacations are all exciting, pampering and relaxing, where you’ll meet fascinating people and soak up one-of-a-kind experiences in destinations around the world.
Entry Pass to AdventureELEVATE
Donated by the Adventure Travel Trade Association
Join other adventure travel and outdoor recreation professionals in Portland, Maine in May 2023 at the premier networking and educational event in the U.S.!
About ATTA: Established in 1990, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) today is widely recognized as a vital leadership voice and partner for the adventure travel industry around the world. The membership and trade organization is designed to be a force for the industry and exists to drive thought leadership, industry promotion, and opportunities to network and convene globally to create trade and business health. It currently serves more than 1,000members in 100 countries worldwide. The constituency is made up of tour operators, tourism boards, specialty agents, and accommodations.
3-Day Backcountry Alpine Touring Adventure
Donated by Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures and EVO
Escape into Whistler's Backcountry for 3 full days! Exclusively designed for the early rising ski tourer, this package bundles in a mechanized transfer service to maximize 3 full days of powder explorations in the pristine alpine terrain of the Solitude Valley. Please Note: this package is limited to guests using Full Alpine Touring or Splitboard gear. INCLUDES
• A Sunday morning transfer into the Lodge 7:30am check-in at our base facilities/parking area
• 2 nights of off-the-grid accommodation for two. All meals for each night booked (après-ski appetizers & 3-course dinner, with a continental breakfast & bagged lunch + hot & cold non-alcohol beverages)
• Tuesday afternoon transfer back to base facilities/parking area (2:00 pm departure from Lodge). Return luggage drop service (40 lbs per guest + an extra set of equipment)
• Use of lodge amenities including our Scandinavian Sauna, guest toboggans, & snowshoes.
• Backcountry ski, splitboard, and avalanche safety equipment rentals provided by evo Backcountry
About Callaghan Country Wilderness Adventures: Callaghan Country is a unique wilderness adventure operation featuring the Alexander Falls Touring Centre providing convenient access to a full range of SKI CALLAGHAN experiences including classic, skate, and wilderness cross-country skiing, dog-friendly trails, as well as forest and meadow snowshoeing, magnificent alpine ski touring slopes, and deep, deep powder. At the heart of this landscape, 13.8 kilometers (8.4 miles) up from the nearest road, sits Journeyman Lodge, a well- appointed backcountry inn boasting friendly hospitality, great food, and comfortable accommodation for up to 24 people. The Journeyman Lodge was hand-built by members of Whistler’s backcountry skiing community back in the 90s - and it’s been a dream destination for outdoor adventurers in search of deep powder ever since.
4-Day Adventure + Flights, PANAMA
Donated by Ecocircuitos Panama and Copa Airlines
Get intimate with nature and explore Panama's rich biodiversity in Panama City:
2 Round Trip Tickets to Panama - Travel non-stop to Panama from any of the USA and Canada gateways serviced by Copa Airlines
Accommodations for three nights (double room) with breakfast included
Private transfer in & out.
Panoramic City Tour (Casco Antiguo and Cerro Ancon hike)
Camino de Cruces Trail + Emberá Indigenous Encounter
Hiking in Campana National Park
All day activities include private transportation, naturalist guide, snacks, and lunch.
About Ecocircuitos Panama: Ecocircuitos Panama is a locally owned tour operator that specializes in designing tailor-made travel experiences in Panama for the adventure traveler. We love exploring unusual places away from common tourist paths; our experiences include, outdoor adventures, wildlife and cultural encounters, family holidays, educational and academic tours, and community projects that foster sustainable development.
About Copa Airlines: Celebrating 75 years of service, Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama. From its hub in Panama City, Panama, Copa Airlines serves more than 70 destinations throughout the Americas and the Caribbean and has been recognized as the most on-time airline in Latin America for 8 years in a row.
8-Day Mentoring Retreat in Portugal
Donated by: Walking Mentorship
Join us for an 8 Day immersive mentoring retreat on Costa Vicentina. Take a deep dive into your desired future and draw the action plan to reach it using our time-proven “Destination You” flagship mentoring program while walking the beautiful Costa Vicentina in the Atlantic south of Portugal with a group of like-minded people.
About Walking Mentorship: Walking Mentorship is a company that facilitates mentoring programs, for individuals and companies, elevated by walking in nature. Based on an innovative service model, the WM has been partnering with different co-mentors from various geographies and organizations committed to unleashing their teams' full potential. Always walking, always in nature.
Protect our world’s natural and cultural resources by placing a bid today!
Thank you to our members and to everyone who donated to the Travel Conservation Auction. We would not be able to do this without you.
New Member: HELINOX
We sat down with our latest ATCF member, Helinox, to learn why they became a member. They believe in the conservation of tourism destinations because they are travelers and adventurers. They revel in the diversity and beauty of the natural world and are committed to preserving these places.
Since 2009 Helinox has been a design-first company, focused exclusively on bringing comfort outdoors so you can be At Home, Anywhere. Furniture should be built to travel, so they’ve designed their gear to be portable, durable, and beautiful as well as comfortable. This means you can relax when you’re backpacking deep in the woods, sitting on an urban rooftop, lounging at the beach, car camping, or simply hanging out in the backyard. So lightweight and compact, you’ll want to bring your own chair to any adventure or gathering.
Helinox believes in the conservation of tourism destinations because they too are travelers and adventurers. They revel in the diversity and beauty of the natural world and are committed to preserving these places.
They decided to become a member to support the conservation of these tourism destinations and to connect their brand with the organizations and operators who facilitate bringing people to them.
Helinox was also generous enough to provide our 2022 Travel Consevarion Auction with 2 Helinox Sunset Camp Chairs
May News
In this issue:
New membership categories (lowered pricing for travel industry & media)
Welcome new & renewing members!
Project update from 2020 grantee Friends of Cochamo
Royal Robbins raises $7,000 for ATCF
Three questions for Adventure Trailblazer Toad&Co
And more
In this issue:
New membership categories (lowered pricing for travel industry & media)
And more
New Membership Categories & Reduced Pandemic Pricing
In response to member feedback and the challenges the travel industry is still undergoing, the ATCF Board recently approved changes to the membership structure and dues. The membership levels are more closely aligned to those of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) to avoid confusion. In addition, annual dues have been lowered for travel industry members and media in 2022, considering the pandemic’s continued consequences. “The pandemic has only emphasized the importance of our mission to preserve and protect the planet,” says Steve Barker, chair of the ATCF board. “At the same time, many travel companies are still recovering financially. Our revised strategy lowers the barriers to membership, expands the tent, diversifies funding streams, and builds community.” Also new, is a membership level for individuals.
Join us! Or re-join! Contact Soraya or any of the board members.
Annual Membership Dues Structure
Adventure Leaders - $25,000
Adventure Trailblazers - $10,000
Adventure Stewards - $5,000
ATCF Member (travel industry) - $300 per $1M in sales, up to $5,000 *COVID special pricing
ATCF Member (gear/retail industry) - $500 per $1M in sales up to $5,000
DMO/Tourism Boards - $1,000 flat fee
ATCF Media Member - $100 (with revenue <$1M)
Nonprofits and Foundations - reciprocal
ATCF Community Member - $100 (for individuals: non-voting, non-nominating member)
Welcome New & Renewing Members!
Adventure Trailblazer
Toad&Co, Pandion Consulting, Travel Babbo, Alaska Wildland Adventures, Wild Places, Greenspot Travel, Hi Travel Tales, Stephanie Pearson Media, Bike Odyssey Cycle Tours, Encounters Asia, Law Office of Chun T Wright, Angama Mara, Mountain Lodges Peru, Conservation Alliance, Grayl, Todos Santos Eco Adventures, Trekking Hellas, Wilderness Travel, Norie Quintos Media, & Cynthia Dunbar.
Email soraya@atconservationfund.org to renew your membership or become a member.
Auction Update
Planning for ATCF’s 2022 online summer auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year, is underway. The money raised goes to support ATCF programs and initiatives, including small, high-impact grants that protect a diverse and unique set of the natural and cultural resources of our world. To date, the ATCF—supported by you—has awarded more than half a million dollars to 33 community conservation projects in 27 adventure destinations around the world!
The online auction takes place in June (dates to be determined), and will be hosted on the ATCF website, with high-value items concurrently hosted on Charity Buzz, with its wider audience reach.
We are still taking donations. To learn more about why you should donate an item to our June auction, read here. Thank you to those who have already donated items and trips, including Grayl, Mountain Lodges of Peru, and Todos Santos Eco Adventures.
Project Update
ATCF Grant Funds Trail Maintenance, Provides Work to Unemployed Horse Packers, and Generates Further Funding.
3 Questions for Toad&Co.’s Gordon Seabury
“We believe that if we all work together to make conscious choices, it means a brighter, more joyful future for all of us.”
Royal Robbins Raises $7,000 for ATCF in 2021
Last year, at the height of the pandemic, outdoor clothing company (and ATCF member) Royal Robbins donated a percentage of the proceeds from select products to the ATCF to fund its conservation efforts. The fundraiser raised over $7,000. Thank you, Royal Robbins!
This year we’re making a big push to find more passionate volunteers. Join an experience team of travel leaders to make a major difference in conservation.
Calendar
Spring
May 3 to 5
Adventure Elevate - Eugene, Oregon
ATCF is a supporting partner of Adventure Elevate. Do you want to meet to talk about joining as a leader in conservation? Reach out to Soraya Shattuck to schedule some time to talk!
Summer
ATCF Auction - Virtual, join from anywhere
Donate an item to the auction, spread the word, and bid at ATCF’s largest annual fundraiser.
June 9 to 11
Summer Outdoor Retailer Show - Denver, Colorado
ATCF members will be in attendance. Reach out to Soraya Shattuck to connect.
Fall
October 3 to 6
Adventure Travel World Summit - Lugano, Switzerland
ATCF will host its annual breakfast for members and potential members.
Thanks so much for reading our May newsletter and if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Cheers,
Adventure Trailblazer Spotlight: 3 Questions for Toad&Co.’s Gordon Seabury
“We believe that if we all work together to make conscious choices, it means a brighter, more joyful future for all of us.”
For Gordon Seabury, CEO of Toad&Co., it’s always been about more than making clothes. “We’re committed to helping push the apparel industry to a cleaner future, supporting programs to save the planet we all love, and providing opportunities for people with disabilities,” he tells us, from its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California. It’s one of the reasons the company has longstanding partnerships with 1% for the Planet, Conservation Alliance, and of course, the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF). In fact, the company has made a significant and ongoing financial commitment to the ATCF as an Adventure Leader. And Seabury is on the board of directors and the organization’s treasurer. “We believe that if we all work together to make conscious choices, it means a brighter, more joyful future for all of us.”
1. Toad&Co. has been a big supporter of the ATCF since the beginning. Why?
I believe in connecting eco-tourism (experience) and responsible outdoor brands (product) to maximize responsible traveler’s adventures and minimize their overall impact. The ATCF sits at the intersection of these two communities and includes a third, the people in the destinations travelers visit. These two thoughtful industries working together can change how we travel and positively impact the communities we touch. Our actions with regard to our remaining beautiful landscapes matter a great deal. We can lose the planet to short-sighted exploitation and extraction. Or, we can act to protect destinations and their communities to be cherished, long-lasting and empowered for the future. The ATCF helps companies like ours focus and amplify our efforts.
2. Can travel gear and clothing companies play a bigger role in protecting places and people? What kind of things is Toad&Co doing in that regard?
Yes! We’ve demonstrated this in different ways over the years including the creation of our Search for Adventure program – a unique travel program to facilitate vacations for adults with disabilities; participation in the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge to increase diversity and inclusion within our own walls and the outdoor community at large; and continually raising awareness of ways to travel sustainably. And we believe doing good doesn’t have to be dutiful; it can be fun. For example, some of our clothing tags carry the tagline “Dirty is the New Clean,” and our blog reminds consumers to “wear more, wash less” and offers eco laundry tips.
3. Tell us about a trip that changed you or your thinking?
There have been many that have evolved my thinking, but recently I was invited on a wilderness paddle adventure in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with a group of leaders advocating for its protection led by Steve Barker, founder of Eagle Creek [and board chair of the ATCF]. Of course the vastness, the beauty of the place, seeing nature in its pure undisturbed form, and most vividly, feeling part of the food chain versus on top of it, was unforgettable. But what struck me most was our stopover in Arctic Village, the home of an indigenous community that depended on both the preservation of these wild lands and on the sustainable tourism that visited their home. It had never been so clear how interconnected we all are and thus how much needs to be done to build awareness, respect, and protections for these delicate ecosystems that sustain the planet we all live on.
Project Update: ATCF Grant Funds Trail Maintenance in the Cochamó Valley
Friends of Cochamo received a $10,000 grant from ATCF in 2020. JB Haab, program director of the Front Range Climbing Stewards and member of the board of Friends of Cochamo, gave us an update on the “From Horse Guides to Conservation Stewards, Chile” project.
Friends of Cochamo received a $10,000 grant from ATCF in 2020. JB Haab, program director of the Front Range Climbing Stewards and member of the board of Friends of Cochamo, gave us an update on the “From Horse Guides to Conservation Stewards, Chile” project.
“We have made major improvements to the main access trail leading into the Cochamó Valley, a U-shaped valley located in the Andes, in Los Lagos region of Chile. Not only did the trail need considerable work, but we also had many arrieros (horse packers) in the local community who were out of work and facing lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down tourism in Cochamó like many other places. These arrieros built a very impressive 805 linear meters of boardwalks, a five-meter long bridge, a 15-meter guardrail, and 845 linear meters of sustainable trail. Perhaps even more impressive was how these funds helped galvanize support, spurring the arrieros and our sister organization, Organización Valle Cochamó raised more money to pay for work that went over our budget and also inspiring the next generation of conservationists to continue this work in the future.”
The Whales of Guerrero - Project Update
An update from The Whales of Guerrero, one of our 2021 Grant Winners. “Now that we know we can launch at least one land-based survey thanks to ATCF support, we have sprung into action! We dream of running 6 sites simultaneously and involving the whole community in the creation of a mother/calf humpback whale sanctuary in Guerrero.”
Here’s an update from The Whales of Guerrero, one of our 2021 Grant Winners:
Now that we know we can launch at least one land-based survey thanks to ATCF support, we have sprung into action! We dream of running 6 sites simultaneously and involving the whole community in the creation of a mother/calf humpback whale sanctuary in Guerrero.
Last week, we received permission from the government to work out of a lighthouse in front of the busy city of Zihuatanejo, where we know mom/calf pairs like to rest right at the surface and where there is a lot of boat traffic. We will be perched atop this lighthouse all season long learning how whales use the marine environment in front of Zihuatanejo and what threats they may face from boat traffic.
We have an incredible team of local citizen scientists and early career scientists in place and want to do more! We have scoped out ideal survey spots extending along a 75-mile stretch of coastline, from the surfer’s paradise of Troncones through all inclusive vacation mecca of Ixtapa to the busy fishing port and charming tourist destination of Zihuatanejo to the tranquil ecotourism village of Barra de Potosi. With your support, our team will spend a minimum of 4 days at each potential site this season to gather preliminary information about humpback whale resting birthing and nursing spots and share what we discover with local communities, involving them in the process so deeply that it will be only natural to create sanctuaries where moms and their newborn calves can rest, grow and gather strength for their long journey north.
We also designed, printed, and are hanging at every port of departure this week. In partnership with the safe whale watch captains who we love to empower and support.
Katherina Audley
Founder and Director
Whales of Guerrero
MORE ABOUT WHALES OF GUERRERO
The Whales of Guerrero facilitates community-driven conservation in the fishing village of Barra de Potosí and throughout the southwest Pacific State of Guerrero, Mexico, pioneering a new approach to coastal protection that cultivates local leadership through citizen science, peer learning, and community outreach. After seven years of collaborative marine mammal research, the seeds of stewardship have taken root in our region. We want to help them bear fruit by galvanizing an emerging group of Fishery and Conservation Leaders who will lead the community toward long-term marine restoration and conservation. The Whales of Guerrero connects people with nature through programs that inspire and empower environmental stewardship.
2020 Grant Winners - 6 Projects Funded
6 NEW conservation initiatives in Chile, Cambodia, Botswana, Palestine, and Bolivia. Our 6th grant winner, in Guyana, was funded by travelers from all around the world! During the month of December, we were able to raise over $10,000 in donations from individuals who care about conservation and the protection of our travel destinations.
2020 was a rough year for the entire planet but we still made an impressive leap forward in conservation by funding 6 NEW conservation initiatives in Chile, Cambodia, Botswana, Palestine and Bolivia.
Our 6th grant winner, in Guyana, was funded by travelers from all around the world! During the month of December, we were able to raise over $10,000 in donations from individuals who care about conservation and the protection of our travel destinations.
Support for the Last Remaining Elephants, Cambodia
Continuing critical care for Cambodia's last remaining captive and wild elephants, restoring their forest habitat, and supporting the indigenous Bunong community during the Covid 19 Pandemic, enabling the project to continue to attract adventurous eco-tourists both.
From Horse Guides to Conservation Stewards, Chile
Funding of this project will allow out of work arrieros (horse guides) affected by diminished tourism, to earn income while working for a much needed stewardship infrastructure project. This project will refurbish critical sensitive sections of the trail to Cochamó and provide wages to an invaluable workforce which keeps Cochamó afloat.
The Elephant Express Conservation Bus, Botswana
The Elephant Express buses educate and promote human-wildlife coexistence by safely transporting vulnerable members of the community through an elephant corridor along which elephants move between key wildlife tourism areas.
Homestay Family Training Program, Palestine
The purpose of the project is to conduct COVID-specific capacity-building training so that local communities can again welcome tourists and thereby continue to raise awareness of the need to protect the Palestinian environment, heritage, and unique communities.
Strengthening Resilience in Chalalán Ecolodge, Bolivia
Recovering tourism after the pandemic in the heart of the Madidi National Park will secure the future income for the indigenous Uchupiamonas families and stewardship of the natural capacities of the indigenous peoples living in this highly biodiverse landscape.
From Horse Guides to Conservation Stewards, Chile
Funding of this project will allow out of work arrieros (horse guides) affected by diminished tourism, to earn income while working for a much needed stewardship infrastructure project. This project will refurbish critical sensitive sections of the trail to Cochamó and provide wages to an invaluable workforce which keeps Cochamó afloat.
THANK YOU!
Our mission to harness the travel community's environmental and cultural conservation efforts for maximum impact, means nothing with our the support of so many people who make this happen:
ATCF Members for sharing the importance of this campaign
Grayl for offering a $2,000 match for this campaign
Every. Single. Donor.
$26,000 Awarded from Fund a Ranger Campaign
We did it! Last month we launched our Fund a Ranger campaign and with your help, in just four short weeks, we raised over $26,000! These funds will be going directly to three organizations around the world, including Kenya, Belize, and Namibia, to get rangers back into the wild protecting our world’s most valuable species.
We did it! Last month we launched our Fund a Ranger Campaign and with your help, in just four short weeks, we raised over $26,000! These funds will be going directly to three organizations around the world, including Kenya, Belize and Namibia, to get rangers back into the wild protecting our world’s most valuable species.
Anne k. Taylor Fund
Protecting Wildlife in Maasai Mara
Challenges:
Nairobi has been in lockdown for the past several months, with everyone country-wide being mandated to stay at home. This includes the AKT rangers, whose safety is paramount. During this period, only partial salaries were paid as the revenue that typically supports their livelihood comes from wildlife tourism, of which there is currently none. Without regular patrols, and the current dire financial situation in Kenya with millions losing their source of livelihood due to the collapse of the Tourist industry (and its trickle-down effect), the snaring and poaching for bushmeat has increased. Additionally, ivory and rhino poachers are also trying their luck.
How funding will be spent?
The grant will keep patrols in the field - we have three vehicles (one for boma fortification team; one for patrol team; one for community work) which is an additional expense on top of salaries for the team. Our patrols protect all species which include elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, and all other wildlife. Snaring is indiscriminate. We have actively participated in wildlife rescues of all aforementioned animals when they have man-induced injuries. Through our patrols, we are directly protecting all wildlife from any Human-Wildlife Conflict retaliation should they wander into community areas.
What does This grant mean to you?
“The COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya has delayed our work for several months, and the team has been anxious to get back to their work protecting the wildlife. This most generous grant will allow me to reinstate their salaries and continue with our patrol work. The Great Migration is currently in the Masai Mara in huge numbers, and this is when the poaching increases – so, this grant is coming at the perfect time to help us save multitudes of animals. During our absence, the poachers have become bolder, but now we are back. We have already apprehended 4 active poachers in a few short days! Thank you so very much for honoring AKTF with this most valued grant.” - Anne K Taylor, Founder
Friends for Conservation & Development
Combating illegal wildlife trafficking of macaws.
Challenges?
Illegal Wildlife Trafficking has been impacting the wildlife population in the Chiquibul Forest for many years although the extent of the problem is yet unknown. This year, based on the records obtained of over 50 parrots lost at the hands of wildlife traffickers, it became clear to us that if the present trend continues, we will be losing the wild populations of scarlet macaws in Belize. The subspecies (Ara macao cyanoptera) is already considered endangered. This prompted the creation of an anti-poaching unit. Protected areas have been closed from visitation and field personnel, particularly Governmental personnel were recalled from the field. This has left a window of in-governance leading to hunters and poachers taking advantage.
How Will Funding be Spent?
Raging fires, drought, lack of jobs, limited Governmental authorities in parks and protected areas, and a downslope national economy, are leaving a precarious situation for the rangers who help save species such as the scarlet macaw, jaguar and tapirs. FCD spends seven months conducting bio-monitoring of scarlet macaws which have been categorized by the USFWS as an endangered species and which is locally endangered. Every year more than 10 nests are monitored. In addition, FCD has activated an anti-poaching unit, due to the fact that last year it was reported that from 25 to 50 macaws were trafficked into Guatemala. FCD also has an in-situ conservation program where rescued chicks are hand fed for a soft release. Presently one chick is being cared for at the in-situ laboratory in the Chiquibul. Other species occurring in the park such as howler monkeys, white lipped peccaries and tapir are directly protected through ongoing active patrols.
What does this Grant Mean to you?
“The ATCF grant will assist in retaining the services of the Park Rangers that form part of this Unit. The aim will be to prevent poaching of these emblematic birds and improve their wild population by protecting the nests when they are most vulnerable. By keeping a monitoring and enforcement presence, other endangered species including jaguars, tapirs, white lipped peccaries, howler monkeys and other parrots will also be safeguarded.” ~Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director FCD
Conservation Travel Foundation
Huab Rhino Rangers
Challenges
The Conservation Travel Foundation supports the protection of the black rhino, which was mainly funded by tourism and with the lack of tourism this funding has dried up and could impact the monitoring and preservation of this species which in turn could lead to them been poached.
How Funding Will be Spent?
Rhino Rangers are monitoring all species in the area, and recording any sightings of rare or special species to ensure better management of the area. During their daily patrols they are always on the look out for snares or other dangers to wildlife. During the intensified patrols since the beginning of COVID they have removed a total of 45 snares, new and old. Two teams are averaging around 120 rhino sightings a month (Versus the normal 80 a month), with intensified patrolling to ensure presence, this averages to about three rhino sightings a day.
What does this grant mean to you?
“During these difficult times it is an honor to receive funding to improve the livelihoods of these Rangers to ensure they continue the amazing work they do to preserve this amazing species, and in turn will secure a valuable income for their community through rhino tourism and provide hope to the next generation.”
- Jason Nott, Wilderness Travel
COVID Travel Industry - Feel Good Story
Written by Soraya Shattuck, ATCF Executive Director
April 24, 2020
Over the past several weeks, I have had many conversations with members to learn more about how they are navigating this new world. What I am finding out is that amid the uniform devastation of the travel industry amid COVID-19 there are glimmers of hope, stories with silver linings, and inspirational actions taken. I want to share one of those stories from the owner of a small three-person travel agency, whose business had essentially come to a halt.
But our conversation was not focused on this. We talked about the viral effect of the travel shutdown: the destinations who will not be seeing travelers for many months; the lodges and hotels that have had to close their doors; the tour guides who no longer have anyone to take on trips; the drivers who don’t have tourists to transport. The impact goes on and on.
But if negative things can have a viral effect, so can positive actions. He told me of a recent trip to India and that what made it memorable was not seeing the Taj Mahal or the Ganges River, but his driver.
“So many aspects of how he supported us, the stories he shared with us, how he took care of us, made it such a massive difference, that our trip would have never been what it was without him.” He went on. “In this time when I know how we are hurting here, I am also imagining him. He is not working. As one of the primary breadwinners for his extended family, they depend on his livelihood for their survival. So when I sit here and feel upset about the trips that have been cancelled, and the impact that has on our business, for me, it goes much further.”
And here is where the warm fuzzies come in.
He went on to explain that he recently contacted the driver to check on how he was doing. The result was as expected - out of a job and back home in his village trying to determine what happens next.
“I told him that I was planning to send him $100. It’s not much, but it's something that I know that I can do to support someone who made an impact on me. I know that $100 could never repay the memories he helped create for my family, but it is what I can do right now.”
A few days after the travel agent sent this money, he received a Whatsapp message of thanks from the driver. The driver also informed him of an additional $25 included in the amount sent.
“This was on purpose. I asked him to take the extra $25 and identify five people in his community who were needing it the most and give them each $5. Again, it is such a small amount, but if it can buy flour and lentils to help someone for even a small amount of time, then it is something. If I can help him, and he can help a few others, we need each other in these times.”
He then used an appropriate analogy for these times. “With COVID, the virus hits one person. And then it is spread to a few more. And then they spread it to even more people. And it’s the same thing that is happening in our industry. When one hotel has to close its doors because travelers can no longer visit, it does not only impact the hotel itself. It impacts its employees, the guides and suppliers, and many others. And as this amplifies. When fewer people are traveling, and more businesses cannot afford to stay open, the impacts are also spreading to them, and eventually the whole destination. Like the virus itself, these impacts will be felt by many. But…” he continued, “Like this virus, we can also spread good. With that $100 I sent the driver, it can hopefully support him for a little time. And with the $25 he will share with his community, he will be able to also help them for a small time as well.”
So as I sit here and reflect on this, I am filled with hope. Our community and industry are not only resilient, but are filled with love. Beyond the technical logistics of executing a trip, at the heart of all of our members, is a love to care for the natural resources of our destinations, and the people and communities who depend on them.
ATCF Thanks Our Founding Members!
© ATTA / Hassen Salum
As we get the year started, we also want to take a moment to reflect back and extend our gratitude specifically to the companies who had the foresight to embark with us on this journey starting back in 2016. We couldn’t have made these last years so successful, and we thank you for helping us get the ATCF started, and for leading others in the industry who work at the cutting edge of stewarding the conservation of adventure travel destinations. We look forward to many years of partnership!
Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, Advantage Travel Ecuador, AndAdventure Croatia (Aktivni Odmor doo), Adventure Travel Trade Association, Alaska Wildland Adventures, Angama Pty Ltd, Backroads, Ciclismo Classico, Conservation Alliance, Conservation Volunteers International Program, Cyclo Mundo, Dulabab Travel, Eagle Creek, Elder Treks, Emerging Destinations, Encounters Asia, Exito Travel, ExOfficio, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, GLP Films, Go Custom Travel, Grayl, Greenloons, Green Team Global, GreenSpot Travel, Hi Travel Tales, Holidays for Humanity, Host Agency Reviews, I, Like You, Tours, Ibex Expeditions, International Expeditions, Journeys International, Kallpa Tour Operator, Kartagener Associates Inc., kimkim Inc, Law Office of Chun T. Wright, PLLC, Mandala Tour, Liquid Spark, Lost World Adventures, Modern Adventure, Mountain Lodges of Peru, Natural Habitat Adventures, Norie Quintos Media, OARS, Pandion Consulting, Periplus Expeditions LLC, Polar Latitudes, Portugal Nature Trails, Pure Adventures, Reefs to Rockies, REI Adventures, Rios Tropicales, San Juan Island Outfitters, Say Hueque Argentina Journeys, Strategic Travel Consulting, Suite Integrity Travel, Tartan Group, The North Face, The Wild Source, Tierra del Volcan, Todos Santos Eco Adventures, Travel Oregon, Tribal Adventure Tours Inc., Tundra North Tours Ltd., UnCruise Adventures, Volcanoes Safaris, Wild Places, Wild Women Expeditions, Wilderness Scotland, Wilderness Travel, Wildland Adventures, YAANA Ventures, Zegrahm Expeditions
Thank you to all these founding members and to all our other members who have come on board with us since we were founded. Let’s make 2020 a fantastic year!
A Lookback at a Record Year
As we approach the end of the year, we want to express our gratitude to so many of you from across the globe who have made it a wonderful and successful year for the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and our community.
First things first, our members! They have been there for us in so many ways from nominating and voting on projects to donating auction items to their membership that allows us to support meaningful conservation work around the world, we are so grateful for their support. If you're 2020 goals include supporting incredible conservation work in important adventure travel destinations think about becoming a member. Just take a look at some of our highlights in 2019 to see the power our travel community has when we come together.
2019 HIGHLIGHTS
We distributed our largest annual dispersal of grant funding - $100,000 - to five new projects taking place all over the world.
We witnessed the highest turn out for project voting - over 90% of our members voted for the project grant winners! How awesome is that!
We added a new Adventure Leader, MiiR! And are thrilled about the other new members that joined our community this year - Adventure Transformations, Aniyami, Travel Babbo, India Insight Tours, Sendas Altas, Socompa, Enchanted Expeditions, Iconic Adventures, Hiking New Zealand, Trekking Hellas Group of Companies and Toad & Co. International, Inc.
We organized a successful cocktail event at the Summer Outdoor Retailer Summer show and had a record turnout at our annual breakfast event at the ATWS in Sweden in September, where we featured world-class climber, alpinist, and adventurer, Leo Houlding.
We put on our most successful auction to date raising $15k and we appreciate all of you that donated or participated in some way.
Our members voted in two new board members: Chris Noble and Gordon Seabury for terms beginning January 2020.
We also hired a new Membership & Outreach Coordinator, Marisa Gant. Who has been such an asset to our team and members.
Lastly, we could not have accomplished all that we did this year without the support of our amazing board of directors, as well as the incredible volunteers that put in countless hours. Special thanks to Amy Brown, Jonathan Burnham, and Colvin Hedgepeth!
Once again, thank you to all of you that made it a wonderful year. We look forward to building upon our successes in 2020 and we are so very appreciative of your support of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund.
Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a great start to the new year!
Sincerely,
Soraya, Marisa, Steve, Cynthia, Richard, Neil, Nicky, Chunnie, Norie, Mandip, Praveen, Josie, Roger, Shannon, Chris and Gordon
For all those that feel the same
Let's Start 2020 By Giving These Projects Life
In case you missed the news last month, we announced our 2019 Grant Winners and awarded $100,000 to fund five conservation projects. Although this was a record year for us we wish we could do more and fund all of the amazing projects that made it onto the ballot.
For all those that feel the same - desiring to get more of these projects off the ground and running - ATCF launched our Adopt A Project Program in 2017 to facilitate member companies or other travel and outdoor and companies to support the other amazing projects left on the year’s ballot. From creating a trail in Georgia to support local tourism to saving sharks in Panama - here are the seven 2019 Projects for Adoption: (View Proposals)
The Transcaucasian Trail- Pankisi Valley, Georgia
Saving Coiba’s Sharks with Communities, Panama
Sustainable Management for 6.3 Million Acres of Ecuadorian Rainforest, Ecuador
A New Frontier, Egypt - Project Adopted!
Protecting Coral Reefs through Sustainable Tourism, Timor Leste
El Impenetrable National Park: Upraising the Wild, Argentina
Bringing Back Endangered Wildlife into Montenegro’s National Park of Virgin Forests, Montene
Learn more about the Adopt A Project Program and please fill out this form to take the steps to fund a specific conservation project from ATCF's 2019 ballot.
Adopt A Project Application Form
Conservation Member Spotlight
Check out ATCF member Natural Habitats project Ride 4 A Woman! So many of our members are already doing awesome conservation work. If you are one of those, please share more with us so that we can help share it with our community!
Donate to the ATCF
Lastly, you can be a part of augmenting our impact by making a donation to support the ATCF. Thank you to recent individual donors Kim Ross and Mona McPhee whose donations are greatly appreciated. As one of our members, Luis Vargas from Modern Adventures said about the difference ATCF makes:
“It's our responsibility and privilege to be able to invest in the conservation of people and place that make what we do possible. Thank you to the ATCF for making this possible in a simple and effective way.”
Your donation helps to:
Grow our yearly grant program.
Increase our ability to capture and distribute stories from our grant projects.
Amplify our presence and reach at conferences and summits.
Deepen the impact we are making in grant locations.
We thank you in advance for making a donation as a on-time offering or a recurring donation. Your donations are tax-deductible and greatly support us in furthering and deepening our collective impact.
Happiest of Holidays to you!
If you have any questions about the ATCF please send me your questions.
Sincerely,
Soraya Shattuck
ATCF Executive Director
ATCF Board Member Conflict of Interest Policy Update
By Josie Norris
Our first guest blogger is ATCF board member Josie Norris. Josie is the communications and grant program manager at The Conservation Alliance a non-profit organization founded in 1989 based in Bend, Oregon that works to protect wild places throughout North America. Since its inception, the Alliance has contributed more than $20 million to grassroots conservation groups with a membership base of more than 235 member organizations.
Hello ATCF Community,
During our first two years as an organization, the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund awarded a total of $235,000 in grant funding to ten projects around the world. Our third grant cycle is underway, and we are on track to award $80,000 in 2019. Every organization seeking a grant from the ATCF must go through a rigorous application process. I’m writing today to provide background about our grant program, and clarify our policies around board member involvement.
The ATCF is based on the same model that The Conservation Alliance has been using for 30 years. The Conservation Alliance engages businesses to protect wild places in North America. The ATCF adapted The Conservation Alliance’s unique grant-making process to fit the adventure travel industry’s needs and ATCF’s mission to fund projects all over the world.
Through this process we learned about one big difference between The Conservation Alliance and ATCF. All Conservation Alliance member companies benefit from the creation of new protected areas where outdoor industry customers recreate, and no single business benefits more than another when a wild place is protected. “All boats rise with the tide.” To that end, Conservation Alliance board member conflicts of interest are essentially non-existent.
In contrast, ATCF projects are often in remote locations and some adventure travel companies will benefit more than others when a project is funded. To prevent ATCF board member conflicts of interest and the perception of conflicts, we have expanded our Conflict of Interest policy. These changes are specific to ATCF board member involvement in our grant program in three specific areas: project nominations; the selection of projects that will be placed on the 2019 ballot; and voting.
Nominating Projects
All member companies are encouraged to nominate two outstanding projects to apply for funding in each grant cycle. This benefit of membership applies to all member companies, including companies represented on our Board. ATCF attracts board members who are passionate about ATCF’s mission, engaged in global conservation initiatives, and knowledgeable about potential candidates for ATCF’s grants. Without board member participation in the nomination process, qualified and worthy projects may be overlooked. Along with regular members, board members may nominate projects during the grant nominations period, provided that they fully disclose on the nomination form a) any interest that they or an affiliated party has in the project, and 2) any actual or potential conflict.
Ballot Discussion
During Board discussions regarding nominated projects, the nominating Board member may not participate in any Board discussions or votes regarding any project the Board member nominated. The nominating Board member shall recuse himself or herself from any discussion or vote. The Board may ask a nominating Board member for additional information about a project, just as it may reach out to a non-Board member with additional questions.
Ballot
All projects on the ballot will clearly state connections to board member companies. This includes financial benefit, benefit to the local communities in which they operate, benefit to the cultural assets and historic site they rely on, etc. This information will be clearly stated on the ballot to ensure all ATCF members understand the connection to our Board member companies when voting for the projects they would like to fund.
Voting
ATCF board members are prohibited from voting for a project that benefits their own companies if such projects are placed on the ballot. The decision to fund board member projects is based entirely on voting by ATCF’s membership.
For further information, please read through ATCF’s BOD Conflict of Interest statement and feel free to send any questions our way. We look forward to another great grant cycle! If you are a member, don’t forget to vote!
MiiR Steps Up As New ATCF Adventure Leader Member
We are pleased to welcome MiiR as the newest Adventure Leader member. Adventure Leaders are distinguished ATCF members leading the way in their fields to conserve natural and cultural resources of international adventure travel destinations. These members play a critical role in supporting ATCF operations, allowing the organization to run and manage a successful grant program. With signing on as an Adventure Leader, these companies make a three-year commitment to contribute $25,000 annually.
“We are already funding nonprofit work around the world, but would love to see a focus on adventure tourism.” says Charlie Clark, Director of Impact for MiiR. “MiiR has a goal to develop an internal travel program which would highlight partners, projects and adventures which are part of our company's greater ecosystem. We see this relationship as an excellent opportunity to not only help drive positive change but be connected to a robust network of like-minded groups.”
The ATCF came into existence in 2017 with organizations in the adventure travel and outdoor retailer industries uniting to support and catalyze conservation and environmental protection efforts worldwide. Since its inception in 2017, the organization has awarded $235k towards 10 projectsin 9 countries in just two short years.
ATCF began their Adventure Leader membership when the organization began and with MiiR joining, we now have six Adventure Leaders: ExOfficio, Adventure Travel Trade Association, Eagle Creek, Backroads, REI Adventures and MiiR. Making a committing at this level, these Adventure Leaders have provided over $150 thousand in organizational support this year that helps the organization steward important conservation efforts worldwide.
MiiR, a Seattle based company founded in 2010, began with the mission to empower people for a better future. A Product to Project company, MiiR donates 3% of revenues to trackable Give Projects, creates timeless, innovative and thoughtfully designed products, primarily in the insulated drinkware category. MiiR partners with some of the most respected non-profits in the world to create sustainable projects that support clean water, a healthy environment, and strong communities across the globe. To date, MiiR has invested in 60 projects across 26 countries, and helped empower over 100,000 people.
Charlie Clark further explained that "at MiiR we exist to empower people for a better future. As an international brand which values environmental integrity and strong, healthy communities, it makes complete sense to align ourselves with the ATCF and its vision. As an Adventure Leader we hope to support critical programs and help drive awareness of the people and places which make the world worth traveling."
Thanks so much to MiiR and to all of the other members dedicated to supporting The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund protect the natural and cultural resources of adventure travel destinations. To learn more about membership, please read through our membership page, sign up to become a member below or contact us with any questions.
Sincerely,
Soraya Shattuck
Executive Director
PS: Thanks to MiiR for supplying us these sweet coffee tumblers at the ATCF Breakfast Meeting! This helped me reduce my plastic waste at this year's Adventure Travel World Summit in Sweden.
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