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Trading Traffic for Tributaries: A Different Kind of Commute in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Experiencing the Amazon Differently I come from one of the most traffic-choked cities in America — a place where an hour-long commute is considered normal and monthly tolls quietly siphon hundreds of dollars from family budgets. Brake lights stretch endlessly. Engines idle. Patience thins. So when the opportunity arose to join the inaugural ConservationVIP Amazon…
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Pacuare Reserve: A Conservation Journey in Costa Rica’s Coastal Rainforest
A Conservation Leader’s Connection to Pacuare Reserve The first time I journeyed to the Pacuare Reserve Costa Rica, I connected deeply with this amazing place and the local people caring for it. Imagine a trip where you can contribute to conserving endangered sea turtles, preserving a rare heron nesting area and collecting information on primates…
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Gratitude for Mark
Gratitude for Mark: Speak Quietly and Do Something! Mark Hardgrove: Public Land Manager, Volunteer, and Amazing Person. Mark is an example of how to retire to something meaningful. The saying goes that you shouldn’t retire from something, but rather that you should retire to something. We are eternally grateful that Mark Hardgrove retired to…
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Impact Goes Beyond Volunteer Projects
A heartfelt gift from Peruvian friends is a reminder that our impact reaches beyond the hours we spend on the volunteer projects themselves. On our Machu Picchu Volunteer Trip, we visit the village of Chinchero and love to spend time with the artisans of Qori Puskay women’s weaving center. The center was founded by Guillermina…
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Garry Oye – One Volunteer Who Impacts Many
Garry Oye – One Volunteer Who Impacts Many How do we measure a person’s impact on an organization, on fellow volunteers, on communities, on the land? It can’t be done with just numbers. We first featured this story about Garry Oye in our 2024 Impact Report. Then in mid 2025, Garry decided that it was…
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Public Lands: Help Wanted
Across the United States and the world, our land calls to us for help. Will you help public lands? There is a help wanted sign written in footprints on trails and woven by invasive species overtaking native plants. Where is the sign? It is there amongst white toilet paper flags blowing in the breeze just…
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