More than 235 employees from eight Conservation Alliance member companies participated in trail restoration, invasive weed removal at three Portland parks last week. They gathered under the umbrella of ConservationNEXT, the outreach arm of The Conservation Alliance, which brought member employees to Forest Park, Sellwood Park, and along Johnson Creek for the year's sixth and largest Backyard Collective.
“It’s great to get outdoor industry folks out in the field for a day of gratifying restoration work,” said Serena Bishop, Conservation Alliance Program Associate, who organized the Portland event. “This is our way of connecting our member companies with our grantees and their important conservation work.”
The Backyard Collective was organized with the Forest Park Conservancy and the Johnson Creek Watershed Council, who identified the volunteer projects. In addition, the event featured a lively “environmental fair” that provided conservation organizations the opportunity to share information about their work with the day’s volunteers.
Volunteers included employees from: Columbia Sportswear; KEEN; Nau; Horny Toad/Lizard Lounge; The North Face; REI; Under Solen Media; and Ben Moon Photography. Columbia turned out 200 employees in three large busses.
“Conservation should be both meaningful and fun,” said Bishop. “We love seeing competitors working together for something bigger than their individual brands.”
The next Backyard Collective is slated for September 28 in Bend, Oregon’s Skyline Forest.
