SPONSORED BY KLEAN KANTEEN
“You didn’t come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here.”
-Alan Watts, Philosopher
Adventure: n. an exciting or remarkable experience.
What’s your relationship with adventure? Do you seek it out? Or do you wait for it to find you?
Adventure looks different to everyone. For some, adventure is summiting mountains or surfing big waves. For others, it’s a leisurely walk on a new path. However you experience adventure in your life, know that it is all around you. Opportunities for outdoor adventure are boundless and endlessly adaptable!
A great way to develop a deep love for our planet is to get outside and savor its beauty. A strong connection with nature creates awareness of the interdependence among our lives and the environment. Respect and appreciation for the natural world are the basis for a sustainable society where people and planet live in harmony.
But some of our most cherished natural places are under attack. The current US federal administration has removed protection from 13.5 million acres of U.S. land, opening it up to mining and development. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro plans to further open the Amazon Rainforest to drilling and destructive agriculture, where the current rate of deforestation is 60% higher than in previous years. Ghana’s Atewa Forest is under threat of mining, which would lead to devastating loss of habitat.
How can you fight back? Demonstrate your values by contacting elected representatives to advocate for conservation policies and support organizations fighting for land preservation. Call further attention to the economic value of nature by supporting sustainable outdoor tourism that benefits local economies, communities, and environments; in fact, outdoor recreation can be a bigger economic boost than fossil fuels.
Whether hiking, biking, climbing, walking, running, kicking a ball, throwing a frisbee, surfing or more, there are many ways to make your adventure truly sustainable! When adventuring, Leave No Trace in the places you visit, so others can enjoy them after you for all time!
It’s time to get outside. We are going on an adventure
Imagine living 10 miles from the ocean and never visiting the beach… because you don’t have the means to get there. Imagine lacking access to any kind of nature… because your community doesn’t have the funding to preserve or create green spaces. Imagine feeling unwelcome in outdoor recreation areas… because no one who looks like you is represented there.
Such are the realities for too many, maybe even for you. Outdoor adventure should be available to all, but that is not always the case. This challenge will expose you to a diversity of outdoor experiences and perspectives, reinforcing why outdoor adventure should (and hopefully can!) be accessible to everyone.
Explore Diversify Outdoors, with the goal of “promoting diversity in outdoor spaces where people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented.”
Look through some blog posts. Share your favorite story with us. Why did it resonate with you? (150 words)
Upload a PDF Document your response. Include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
You may have heard the quote, “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” Let that sink in: your destination is important, but so too is how you go about getting there. The steps you take in any adventure matter just as much, if not more, as where you go. Consider your gear, transportation, food, even the contents of your backpack.
It’s time to plan a local adventure. Call upon everything you’ve learned from PGC thus far in order to leave the smallest footprint possible. We want you to think critically about the details of your adventure and make a plan to explore without harming the earth.
Pick your place. Make it local, somewhere you can get to easily. Read up on the 7 Principles to Leave No Trace and incorporate them into your plan.
Consider…
Share your planning details in a creative way.
Upload a PDF Document with your response. Include your name (or team name), username, email address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
So you’ve thought about where to go, how to get there and what to bring… all that’s left is to go on your adventure. And today is Saturday! We suggest going somewhere you haven’t been before. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be fun and rewarding!
Start by setting intentions for your adventure. Read 12 Essential Lessons Nature Can Teach Us for inspiration. Write down one intention you took away from this article and tuck it in your pocket.
Let the adventure begin! Take three pictures of your surroundings and caption them with observations. What are you seeing? What animals, plants, and other humans do you notice?
Reflect on your experience.
Share a reflection on social media that includes an inspirational takeaway, along with a picture of your adventure and a call for others to go on an adventure of their own. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and @KleanKanteen and use #PGC2019.
Upload a PDF Document with pictures from your adventure and your responses. Include a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, ema.il address, and school.
Submission Guidelines
Up to 10 Greener and 10 Greenest of the most outstanding submissions will be chosen as winners and awarded prize points to redeem in the PGC Prize Store. Greener wins = 75 prize points, Greenest wins = 100 prize points. Check the Winners page to see if you’re selected!
5 submissions will be randomly selected to receive:
Klean Kanteen 16 oz Insulated Food Canister
To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensils
Patagonia Provisions Raspberry Breakfast Grains
Each time you submit a challenge, you get an entry. Complete Green, Greener, and Greenest to triple your chances!
Extended deadlines and extra credits do not apply.
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