The Conservation Alliance held its Backyard Collective event in Portland, OR, on Thursday, August 1, drawing 290 volunteers from 13 member companies, three conservation partners and one local nonprofit.
The volunteers worked on several project areas in support of Forest Park Conservancy, SOLVE, Portland Parks and Recreation, and Oregon Metro Parks. Employees from Columbia Sportswear worked at Hoyt Arboretum, Washington Park and Howell Territorial Park on Sauvie Island. Participants helped restore more than a mile of trail along the Maple Trail in Forest Park, removed non-native plants and helped with soil enhancement with our partners across the city of Portland.
Conservation Alliance member companies Altra Footwear, Arc’teryx, Columbia Sportswear, Deschutes Brewery, Fjallraven, Greenspace, Gregory Packs, KEEN, Nau Clothing, Perpetual Motion NW, Toad&Co., Trail Butter, and Yukon Trading Companyparticipated in the event. CLIF Bar donated energy bars and Deschutes Brewery donated beer for all attendees.
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 the opportunity to work together on local stewardship projects while learning more about organizations that receive funding from the group.
Conservation Alliance grantees joined in a grantee fair to share current information and calls-to-action related to their programs. Grantees included Waterwatch of Oregon, Wild Salmon Center, and Western Rivers Conservancy.
“We had another great turnout at the Backyard Collective in Portland where we have an outstanding cluster of members,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “Year after year, our community in Portland comes together to steward local parks. Conservation starts at home, and these events represent a strong commitment to preserving these companies’ backyard.”
