ENVIRONMENTAL & CONSERVATION – SPONSORED BY OUTSIDE

The mission of Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) is to unite people in action to achieve a thriving, sustainable Louisiana coast for all. CRCL seeks to raise awareness of the changing environment, the implications for our communities and the urgent need to restore wetlands and natural ecosystem processes. CRCL’s Oyster Shell Recycling and Native Plants programs provide community members with the opportunity to volunteer and engage in hands-on coastal climate solutions, to learn how Louisiana’s wetlands protect and provide for our communities, and to see firsthand how native vegetation and oyster shells can support coastal ecosystems within the context of larger state restoration plans.

Our lakes are in trouble. Human impacts and climate change continue to threaten our precious land and water resources. The Green Lake Association is a charitable organization committed to safeguarding the deepest natural inland lake in Wisconsin and modeling its approach for cleaner lakes within the Lake Michigan basin and across the globe. Pivotal accomplishments include restoring a brook trout species missing for 70 years and shrinking community alert times for harmful algal bloom from weeks to minutes. This small but powerful organization is setting a new standard for lake organizations that are tackling the greatest water quality challenges of our time.

The Henry's Fork Foundation (HFF) uses a science-based, collaborative approach to conserve the fisheries and water resources of the Henry’s Fork and South Fork of Snake River watersheds in eastern Idaho. With nearly four decades of conservation work under their belts, HFF’s projects include water quality monitoring, fisheries health, river access, precision water management and on-farm water conservation. With issues like drought, a changing climate and less reliable water resources year after year, we need to push the envelope with new and innovative solutions to match the pace and scale of the challenges we face. HFF aims to stay ahead of the curve, so the fisheries of Henry’s Fork and South Fork endure for generations to come.

Kupu provides unique, hands-on training programs in conservation, sustainability, environmental education and the culinary arts for young adults. Kupu’s mission is to foster the next generation of environmental and cultural stewards. Kupu’s work is like the role of the kupukupu fern, which is one of the first native Hawaiian plants to cultivate the land after a lava flow. The fern not only serves as a foundational species for rebuilding a healthy ecosystem, but also symbolizes a place where opportunity can grow. Over 5,000 young adults have participated in our programs, providing more than 3 million hours of service, resulting in one million native plants being planted and 100,000+ acres of invasive species being removed. Kupu has also presented $5.5 million in education awards to support the continued growth of its members.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation (Raincoast) is a science-based registered charity, in both the United States and Canada, that applies a unique model of informed advocacy to protect the lands, waters and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Led by a team of conservationists and scientists, Raincoast’s projects are rooted in rigorous, peer-reviewed research and science, and informed by community and cultural engagement. The foundation operates a research lab at the University of Victoria, a research field station on the central coast and runs a 68-foot research/sailing vessel, making it unique in Canada. Raincoast’s on-the-ground presence, coupled with rigorous peer-reviewed science, has given volunteers a deep-rooted understanding of this vast coastline, its processes and its people.