In an open letter to the community, Leigh Barnes, President
of the America’s at Intrepid
Travel announced the company has launched its United by Nature campaign, an
advocacy campaign to raise awareness, inspire responsible travel and fund real
conservation work across the U.S. national parks.
Barnes says that the “U.S. government proposing
more major funding cuts that could hurt more than 75 percent of the wild
spaces we love – from additional job losses and trail closures to damaged
habitats and under-resourced rangers. Parks like Yellowstone, Zion and the
Grand Canyon may never look the same again.”
He adds that “These parks are more than pretty places. They’re
sacred lands, home to endangered wildlife, Indigenous history and the stories
of generations. They also welcomed over 331 million visits last year and
generated $26 billion for local communities. In other words: they matter – to
people, to the planet and to the future of travel.”
Over the years, Intrepid has taken over 20,000 travelers
through the U.S.
national parks and the company predicts that about 80 percent of its
customers will visit a national park. Barnes says “The most powerful thing that
we can do at Intrepid is get people out to these places to experience them. We
believe tourism should leave a place better than you found it. If you hike
through Zion or look out over the Grand Canyon, you can’t walk away without
wanting to protect it. Our goal is to turn that awe into action.”
Highlights of the United by Nature Campaign inviting travels to help include:
Responsible Visitation
The launch of “Active-ism’ experiences combine adventure
with advocacy, hosted by U.S.-based climate activists and Intrepid leaders, offering
unique insight into the challenges facing the parks – and how to advocate for
their future. From June 12-26, travelers will receive 20 percent off all U.S.
national trips departing in 2025.
Sign the Petition
Recent legislation passed by the House would slash funding
for the National Park Service, already operating with 16 per cent fewer staff
than before. “Our parks can’t afford more cuts”, explained Barnes. As a result,
The National Parks Conservation Association has organized a petition to Congress.
Funding and Philanthropy
Intrepid has pledged $50K to conservation partners through
The Intrepid Foundation — and will introduce several fundraising initiatives.
In October, a group of Intrepid travelers and supporters will take on the
legendary Rim-to-Rim Grand Canyon trek, raising up to $100K to support the
Grand Canyon Conservancy.
Barnes said, “The roots of the national park movement go all
the way back to visionaries like John Muir, who believed nature should be
protected not just for what it gives us, but for what it means to us. That
legacy lives on — and now it’s our turn. As an industry, we help people fall in
love with these places. So, it’s on us to help protect them too. We can’t just
be visitors — we’ve got to be stewards.”
Informed Action
Adventure.com, one of the world’s leading voices in
adventure and the outdoors (also powered by Intrepid), is investing in a
dedicated reporter to cover national park stories this summer for focus and
accountability. Intrepid is also supporting more creators, journalists and
influencers to visit the parks and use their platforms for good.
It Takes All of Us
The letter highlights the ways that Intrepid is stepping up,
“But the truth is, we all have the ability to protect and preserve nature. It’s
going to take our collective effort to truly make an impact. We need to be
United by Nature,” said Barnes.
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