The Conservation Alliance Celebrates 10th Annual Backyard Collective

On Thursday, October 11, The Conservation Alliance celebrated the association’s 10th Annual Backyard Collective stewardship event in Bend, OR. More than 90 volunteers from 10 member companies participated in the day.

The volunteers worked in support of Meissner Nordic at the Virginia Meissner Sno-Park. Working together, the group built a new trail–the Bitterbush Loop connector trail. Volunteers also cleared the Mushroom trail, an overgrown existing trail.

Conservation Alliance member companies that participated in the October 11 event include: Cairn, Cascade Financial Strategies, Deschutes Brewery, FootZone, Gregory, Hydro Flask, Picky Bars, Quick Feat International, Ruffwear and Visit Bend. Volunteers started the day with generously donated Picky Oats from Picky Bars, CLIF Bars, Backporch Coffee and HANAH Living and ended the day with post-trail work beers from Deschutes Brewery.

“Thursday was a lot of fun. Not only did we meet many members of The Conservation Alliance, but also we worked together to make our natural outdoor spaces more functional for recreation,” said Michael LaLonde, president and CEO of Deschutes Brewery and a Conservation Alliance Board member. “When we work together on a local level with grassroots conservation organizations, all of these efforts make a big difference. It’s inspiring to see so many people come together for the greater good.”

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 grantees Central Oregon LandWatch, Deschutes Land Trust, Oregon Natural Desert Association and Oregon Wild joined Conservation partner Meissner Nordic in a Grantee Fair to share current information and call-to-action about their program.

“We have an outstanding community of member companies here in Bend, and they came out in force to do good stewardship work,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “Our members understand that they have a responsibility to take care of the important landscapes in their backyards.”