Charity Outdoors

More good people doing good things… iGearList.com, an online outdoors clissified service, has announced that it is donating all commissions from its gear shop (@ www.igearlist.com/shop.html ) to benefit the WildeBeat , from now through the end of February. You can find all sorts of gear on iGearList, both used and new, from kayaks to skis, and backpacks to crampons. For those of you not familiar with the WildeBeat, it’s a non-profit audio-journal site that encourages everybody to enjoy the great outdoors.

From WildeBeat.net:

“A typical outdoor recreation publication focuses on extraordinarily fit and highly-skilled people taking spectacular risks in distant or exotic places. Or they focus on the latest high-priced gear proffered by their supporting advertisers. Perhaps they sensationalize the brutality of wildlife and nature. Or they preach about environmental politics, and forget the enjoyment of natural settings in the process.

We show you that you don’t need to do extreme sports to enjoy nature and being outdoors; anyone can enjoy backcountry activities, such as camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, skiing, or snowshoeing. Listen to The WildeBeat to get enthused about exploring new places, learn safe and responsible skills, and get ready to get into the wilderness!”

If you’re in the market for some new gear, or getting ready to sell some off, head over there and check them out .

“The rule of the street is tough on children. Getting away from the violence and dirt of the city is the only way I can do the extra things, the important things, with the children. I can teach and develop minds in a classroom but I can only work on the spirit, soul, and character in the woods.”

From Sierra’s ICO about page:
Inner City Outings (ICO) is a community outreach program of the Sierra Club that provides low-income, inner city youth with trips to wilderness. The Sierra Club San Francisco Bay chapter established the first ICO group in 1971. Today, a dedicated core of volunteer leaders located in approximately 50 cities across the United States work with local social service agencies and schools to provide wilderness experiences for people who otherwise might not have them.

Climb one of North America’s iconic peaks, get tons of free gear, and help inner city youth at the same time! Introducing Climbing for Kids:

From BAWT’s About page:

Bay Area Wilderness Training (BAWT) is a project of the Earth Island Institute a 501(c)(3) corporation founded by environmental activist and climber David Brower. Brower’s legacy as a climber with hundreds of first ascents on High Sierra peaks is only overshadowed by his legacy as a tireless champion of the environment. Read more about BAWT, Brower and Earth Island Institute.

Mission Statement
To create opportunities for urban youth to experience wilderness first hand.

Vision Statement
BAWT exists as a vital, comprehensive and ongoing source of support to agencies that lead youth wilderness trips. We believe that urban youth, once exposed to wilderness, have a broadened sense of themselves, each other, and the world around them. BAWT extends it services to the eight counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. We hope other organizations will take this vision to the rest of the country and the larger world.

Primary Strategy
BAWT’s primary strategy for achieving its mission is to provide Bay Area youth agency staff with wilderness leadership training and outdoor equipment so that they, along with the youth they serve, may explore the power and beauty of California’s wilderness.

Registration begins Oct. 10th for Backpacker Magazine’s annual Summit for Someone charity event benefitting at risk youths.  Two dozen mountain expeditions are planned, of varying difficulty, all led by expert guides.  This is a great way to give back and get something great in return.

With fall coming up, Hunters for the Hungry and affiliated organizations will be ramping up operations and are going to make a real difference this upcoming holiday season. Hunters for the Hungry and related organizations donate hundreds of thousands of meals each year to various food kitckens and charities with meat from deer and other big game harvested during hunting season.  Most organizations are purely voluteer organizations, with hunters and non-hunters alike donated their valuable time to food in the mouths of those who need it most.  Even Ted Nugent has gotten behind the effort, and there are now dozens of organizations of the like across the U.S. and Canada.  For more information on local organizations and how you can help this hunting season, visit the NRA’s Hunters for the Hungry Information Clearinghouse.