The Conservation Alliance Hosts Successful Backyard Collective Stewardship Event in Seattle

July 6, 2018

SEATTLE, Wash. (July 6, 2018) – More than 170 volunteers from 12 member companies participated in The Conservation Alliance’s Backyard Collective stewardship event in Seattle, WA on Thursday, June 28.

The volunteers worked in support of Forterra and the Me-Kwa-Mooks Trail Stewards to help clear over half an acre of invasive species and noxious weeds and also mulched and watered over 700 young trees around Me-Kwa-Mooks Park in West Seattle.

Conservation Alliance member companies Arc’teryx, Brooks Running, Cascade Designs, Gregory, Filson, Nikwax, Nuun, Outdoor Research, Perpetual Motion Reps, REI, Stanley, and Waypoint Outdoor participated in the event. Member company Clif Bar contributed snacks to the event. Local coffee company Caffe Vita donated coffee and Harried & Hungry Catering contributed lunch.

“It’s always an inspiring day when local member companies come together to have an immediate, visible impact right here in the Seattle area,” said Tracy Brunz, Divisional Vice President, Merchandising Initiatives & Operation at REI and Board Member for the Conservation Alliance. “This week’s Backyard Collective event did not disappoint. It was another great example of the impact local outdoor businesses can have on their community. And let’s face it, any day outside doing good beats a day in the office, hands down! A huge thanks to all the companies, their employees and non-profits that showed up ready to get dirty to improve a local park.”

The mission of The Conservation Alliance is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. The Conservation Alliance launched the Backyard Collective Program to give member company employees in the outdoor industry the opportunity to work together on a local stewardship project while learning more about organizations that receive funding from the group.

Conservation Alliance local grantees Access Fund, American Rivers, Forterra, and Washington Wild joined for a Grantee and Conservation Fair to share current information and call-to-action about their programs.

“We have a wonderful community of member companies in Seattle, and they came out in force for this year’s Backyard Collective,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “Our members understand that we need to work together to protect and steward our wild places.”

For more information about Backyard Collective events, please contact Abby Becker, Backyard Collective Outreach Coordinator at abby@conservationalliance.com.

About The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of like-minded businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to all companies who care about protecting our most threatened wild places for habitat and outdoor recreation.  Since its inception in 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $20 million, awarded 626 grants, helped to protect 51 million acres of wildlands; protect 3,102 miles of rivers; stop or remove 30 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase 13 climbing areas. For complete information on The Conservation Alliance, see: www.conservationalliance.com.