Traveler Responsibility Pledge

traveler responsibility

PLEDGE

LOCAL LUMINARY Sherry McConkey

Over a decade ago, ski legend Shane McConkey acknowledged the troubling future of our planet. “We have a lot of environmental issues to conquer,” he stated. “Time is of the essence.” Of his many legacies, Shane’s passion for the environment is evident through work of the Shane McConkey Foundation, a local organization dedicated to making a positive difference. Running point on everything from the Pain McSchlonkey Classic to a national EcoChallenge for students is Sherry McConkey whose commitment to protecting our planet is connected to community, her daughter’s future and perhaps in part, another way to honor her beloved.

Photo: Fallon Multimedia

HOW TO BECOME A STEWARD OF LAKE TAHOE

Welcome to Lake Tahoe. Some of us live here and some of us are just visiting, but we all need to take care while we enjoy this special place. Help protect Lake Tahoe, surrounding communities, wildlife and the environment by pledging to travel responsibly through the Sierra region. The Traveler Responsibility Pledge is composed of six tenets that align with primary stewardship initiatives of the region and by visiting the Blog on GoTahoeNorth.com, you can find specific actions that immediately reduce travel related impacts. Take the Traveler Responsibility Pledge: Please join us as we pledge to be mindful of our impact and respectful of this magnificent environment. The Traveler Responsibility Pledge is simple but the results powerful in ways that preserve and protect. What better way to experience Lake Tahoe than to leave it better than you found it? Take the Pledge and learn more about what to expect and how to travel and recreate responsibly in Lake Tahoe at GoTahoeNorth.com. “The Traveler Responsibility Pledge was developed so visitors can enjoy the unique culture and natural beauty of the Lake Tahoe region responsibly. The six elements of the pledge help guests recognize what personal responsibility looks like and the importance of making a positive impact on the mountain communities they visit. This effort to shift behavior is paramount and will require ongoing collaboration between visitors and residents.” — Andy Chapman, President & CEO of the Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau

THE SHANE MCCONKEY FOUNDATION

The Shane McConkey Foundation was established in 2012 and four years later the EcoChallenge was created, empowering students from across the globe to have a voice in protecting the planet they’re going to inherit. To date, the Shane McConkey Foundation and its sponsors, supporters and donors have raised over $550,000 for charitable causes and organizations, and over 1,300 students have participated in the EcoChallenge. Learn more at: shanemcconkey.org.

What is the power of philanthropy?

It’s the best kind of crowdsourcing. As a nonprofit, we provide critical funding to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration, improve the lake’s water quality and clarity, make recreation more sustainable, improve transportation and inspire people to take care of Tahoe. Since 2010, we have helped complete more than 50 environmental improvement projects and secured more than $50M in public funding to improve the Lake Tahoe environment. Now that’s the power of philanthropy.

To join us, visit tahoefund.org