A Bold Earth, Earth Day!
It seems so silly that there is just one day specifically slated to celebrate our majestic planet home. From where we’re standing, that certainly does not feel like enough. The truth is, like many companies of our nature—wherein the natural world is our livelihood—we absolutely love celebrating the Earth. At Bold Earth, we celebrate the Earth every day. We cannot properly convey the joy, opportunity, hope, and inspiration that the earth gives us, along with infinite other gifts. Just as a new adult comes to realize that they can never thank a parent enough for what they have given them, we can’t truly ever thank Mother Nature enough for what she gives us. We can, however, make sure that we are doing our part to contribute to a collectively better world, and we know that investing in our planet is one of the best investments you can make.
Invest In Our Planet
Every year, Earth Day narrows in on a theme to help guide the largest secular observance in the world. This year, we are urged to ‘Invest In Our Planet’ during a time when it has never been more important. EarthDay.org reminds us that “now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must “Invest In Our Planet.”
Keyword: together.
We know that everyone can make a difference in helping our planet, and that no action in environmentalism is too small. We also know, however, that we are more powerful in a group than we can ever hope to be on our own. To enact change as an individual is commendable. Inspiring others towards that same change is critical because, asactivist Dolores Huerta said, “when a group of people get together, it’s collective power”. At Bold Earth, we are always working collectively to find ways we can be better, stronger, and have a greater impact. We are proud of trying to have a larger impact by getting involved with non-profits at the group level. We can’t think of a better way to teach our students about environmental stewardship than by actually doing it, and by partnering with super rad non-profits to help show our students the way! From beach clean-ups in Fiji to volunteer service projects on the edge of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, we are so grateful that what we do allows our students to give back in locations all around the world. Today, we want to celebrate two non-profits that we are so fortunate to work with, both of which are a bit closer to our own backyards. We are excited to introduce you to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative and Save Our Shores, two west-coast non-profits that remind us that no matter where you are, there is always a way to get involved!
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
If you’re here, we reckon you have visited your fair share of amazing trails, want to find a way for teens to experience more of them, or somewhere in between. But do you know the extensive work it takes to build, maintain and protect these trails? And what happens when trails and their surrounding environment are used in unsustainable ways? These are the key ideas that the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative works to address, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps protect fragile mountain ecosystems, build trails, and educate hikers about sustainable outdoor practices. Since our Colorado Bold, Colorado Discovery and Bold West itineraries all spend a significant amount of time adventuring in, around and amongst the Rockies, our students get to give back to the areas they’ve visited. In post-trip questionnaires, students consistently commented on the sense of pride and accomplishment they felt being able to play a part in restoring trails alongside the full-time trails crew. At Bold Earth, we take pride in providing diverse experiences for our students to learn more about the outdoor world and connect with the communities and world around them.
Save Our Shores
Save Our Shores is another non-profit we are so fortunate to work with. From our years of work with this engaging organization, they do just what their name promises. They pour their energy into educational programs and policy change devoted to ocean conservation in the Monterey Bay ecosystem. Our students in California have had a blast volunteering with Save Our Shores at Natural Bridges State Beach and at other coastal Cali locations! While working with Save Our Shores, students engage in activities like coastal clean-up efforts and environmental and ecological education.
We are proud of our partnerships with our nonprofits and are always looking for more ways to connect with forward thinking organizations. If you know of a non-profit that we should connect with, contact us here!
Eager to get involved in an environmental initiative before joining us on an epic Bold Earth adventure? Don’t know where to start? Give us a call at the Bold Earth office, we would be happy to help you find a way to give back in your community! You can also visit the interactive project map on EarthDay.org for projects and events across the globe. No matter your location, there are always an excess of amazing opportunities that need more people like you. Find your next community partner to join us in celebrating the earth today, and every day!
