Coming up in 2022!
In This Issue:
MIIR RENEWS SUPPORT AS ADVENTURE LEADER
Seattle-based outdoor product company MiiR has renewed its longtime support of ATCF, coming in as an Adventure Leader for 2022. ATCF Adventure Leaders commit to a minimum of $25,000 annually. MiiR joined in 2019 as an Adventure Leader and additionally has donated products for ATCF member and donation campaigns. Moreover, it donated $9,000 to boost grants to three 2021 projects. The company partners with some of the most respected nonprofits in the world to create sustainable projects which support clean water, a healthy environment, and strong communities across the globe. “We are thrilled to have MiiR as an ongoing partner. Our missions of empowering people and protecting places for a better future are aligned,” says Soraya Shattuck, ATCF’s Executive Director. “MiiR represents the best of our community.”
MiiR, creates timeless, innovative and responsibly designed products, primarily in the insulated drinkware category, and each year, invests a portion of top-line revenue into organizations whose work uplifts both people and planet. To date, MiiR has given over 2.7 million dollars to 100+ non-profit organizations in 26 different countries. “We believe every decision you make has an impact,” says Tiffany Ong, SVP of Impact and People. “Preserving the cultures, places and ecosystems which help our global community thrive is core to who we are as a company.”
Step up to become an ATCF Adventure Leader! Contact Soraya or any of the members of the board.
ATCF to Launch a Virtual Speaker Series
Our community is a unique one, consisting of companies, organizations, and media in the adventure travel and outdoor gear space, as well as local nonprofits and community organizations, all committed to the belief that responsible travel can have a positive impact on people, places, and planet. We are launching an exclusive speaker series aimed at gathering and growing this impactful community. The inaugural livestream, being planned for TK, will introduce you to past and current project grantees and the insights we can learn from their experiences. Future gatherings will focus on topics relevant to the community.
We are looking for a volunteer willing and able to lead this important initiative.
Items and Sponsors Needed for Annual Auction
Items and Sponsors Needed for Annual Auction
ATCF's annual auction raises critical funds to enable its work. Please consider becoming a sponsor or donating an item.
We are soliciting a range of items like trip packages, hotel accommodations, airline tickets, adventure travel tours, etc. See examples from our 2019 auction.
So why should you be involved in the ATCF auction?
Visibility through ATCF’s auction emails and messages to our entire database
If it is a high-value item then we may feature it on CharityBuzz.com, which caters to high-end travelers and environmentally conscious bidders. Charitybuzz has a network of 60,000+ active bidders and their website receives 600,000+ unique views per month
Exposure through The Adventure Travel Association’s newsletters and social communications to a network of over 23,000 travelers worldwide
Exposure in an Adventure Travel Prosper piece that goes out to another 5,000 people and 1,300 organizations.
Spotlight for your company in a rotation of announcements on our social media sites
Logo posted on ATCF’s website as a donor during the auction;
Allows you to align with ATCF, which is known worldwide for our important work in conserving travel destinations
All donations from U.S. based companies are tax-deductible
To donate, simply complete this form (5 minutes) as soon as possible and we will follow up with you to finalize details. Questions? Ask Soraya.
Member Spotlight: 3 Questions for Baboo's Paul Sarfati
In the midst of the pandemic, Paul Sarfati, founder of Bamba Travel, decided to start a new travel company, Baboo, an innovative platform that connects travelers directly with local in-destination experts to build custom itineraries all over the world, giving travelers on-the-ground expertise at reasonable prices. Baboo provides centralized assurance and assistance. Not only that, but the company compensates for all the CO2 emissions of the entire trip (including flights), and donates a percentage of its sales to conservation causes, including the ATCF. We had three questions for Paul, who is based in Mexico City.
The majority of travel companies, including yours, were hit hard by the pandemic, yet you launched a new company. Why? Everything stopped, and I actually had time to breathe, to relax, to revive, to become better, and to value what I have. I was inspired to start a business that would be innovative and that could work great with the "new" normal; I wanted it to be a force for good to support our planet. It's our responsibility as business owners and entrepreneurs to do something about it, and not depend entirely on the world’s governments, which in most cases are not doing enough. To that end, Baboo is working towards becoming a B-Corporation and all that entails. We are also working to make sure that the carbon footprint our trips produce is not only compensated, but overcompensated, so that when clients travel with Baboo, they are already helping the planet.
You made a bold commitment to donate one percent of your company’s sales to ATCF. Why? The Adventure Travel Conservation Fund has the same values as Baboo and firmly believes in the power of travel to protect and conserve the environment. I have seen the work that the ATCF has done in the past with many different projects, and I believe that donating one percent of our sales to ATCF is a great way to help. I think all travel companies should commit part of their profits to give back to the planet, and the ATCF is one to seriously consider. We need to be the change we want to see in the world.
Tell us about a trip that changed you or your thinking. When I was 18 years old, I traveled around the world for a year. I experienced things I had never done before and I met people who challenged my many pre-structured ways of thinking. I did a 10-day Vipassana meditation program; took a Thai massage course; got lost in the Kumbh Mela—the largest spiritual festival in India—for 24 hours without money, food, or water; got certified in scuba diving; among many other things. These experiences taught me to enjoy life, but also to see first-hand the inequality that exist on our planet, thus opening me to learning and exploring more. That yearlong trip led me to dedicate my life to traveling, and to find ways to help people and the planet.
ATCF Joins 1% For The Planet Network
Did you know that the ATCF is an accredited and certified nonprofit partner of the 1% For The Planet network? That means that donations to ATCF, including membership dues, by individual and business members of the network count toward their annual commitment.
Recognizing that the climate crisis cannot be solved without recognizing the disproportionate impact of environmental issues, 1% for the Planet was founded to prevent greenwashing, certify reputable giving, and provide accountability. The 1% for the Planet certification is given to businesses and individuals that meet its high-bar commitment—donate at least one percent of annual sales or salary to environmental causes.
But you don’t have to be a member of 1% For The Planet to make the same commitment. Read about Paul Sarfati of Baboo in “Member Spotlight,” below. Paul has made the bold pledge to donate one percent or more of the company’s annual profits to the ATCF.
Make your commitment to the ATCF today. Join as a member, or make a one-time or monthly donation. For more information, contact Soraya or speak to any of the members of the board.
Thank You to Retiring Board Members Josie Norris and Praveen Moman
After serving two terms, for a total of five years each, Josie Norris of the Conservation Alliance and Praveen Moman of Volcanoes Safaris are exiting the ATCF board. “Both Josie and Praveen have gone above and beyond, these last five years, and I cannot thank them enough,” says Soraya Shattuck, ATCF Executive Director. “Our organization is a lean one, and board members do a lot of the heavy lifting. Josie and Praveen have each brought unique strengths during the ATCF’s formative years.”
As grants director for the Conservation Alliance, a group of like-mind companies that disburses its collective annual membership dues to grassroots environmental organizations, Josie was instrumental in formalizing ATCF’s grant program, where she chaired the Grant’s Subcommittee.
The founder and CEO of Volcanoes Safaris, Praveen has been at the forefront of reviving tourism in Uganda and Rwanda. Having weathered many storms, Praveen's insightful guidance during the foundational years of the ATCF has been key to its success.
While they will be missed on the Board, Josie and Praveen don’t get off scot-free. As board alumni, they join the ATCF advisory committee and will continue to be called on to provide advice and support.
Mark Your Calendars!
SPRING
May 3 to 5, 2022
Adventure Elevate
Eugene, Oregon
ATCF representatives will attend; look for us.
SUMMER
Dates TBD
ATCF Auction
Virtual, join from anywhere
Auction items currently being solicited.
June 9 to 11, 2022
Summer Outdoor Retailer Show
Denver, Colorado
ATCF will host an afternoon event on June 9 for OR attendees, gear folks, and friends in the Denver area.
FALL
October 3 to 6, 2022
Adventure Travel World Summit
Lugano, Switzerland
ATCF will host a breakfast.
LUGANO SWITZERLAND; PHOTO: MAKSYM HARBAR/UNSPLASH
ATCF Loves Its Volunteers!
ATCF runs a lean administration, and therefore volunteers play an integral role in our work. In addition to our dedicated and active board members, who fundraise and run committees and guide operations, we have several people working hard behind the scenes. Jonathan Burnham helps guide our digital marketing. Jerry Sealy worked to get our new newsletter out. Amy Brown is working with ATCF to conduct a needs assessment (while completing her PhD).
Learn more about volunteering and join us!