PUBLICLANDS
GIVING BACKTO OUR PUBLIC LANDS BY DERRICK KNOWLES & JON JONCKERS
FOR OUR SECOND ANNUAL public landsthemed issue, I wanted to highlight some of the hard-working non-profit organizations that make our public lands, and our lives, so much better. Rather than picking those groups and causes ourselves, we turned to some of Out There’s frequent advertisers for their input. In addition to making each issue of Out There possible, our advertisers are an incredible lot who don’t just do business here but also regularly give back to the places that make living here so special. I hope you find their stories and insights inspiring and discover a new public lands cause worthy of your support. (DK)
says Dunau. For Lyte Balance founder Tim Cunninghamm, the decision to help with funds to pay for the care-taking of two river trail access points was a natural fit. “We are a local company, and we love our river. We love the pleasure and the peace it gives us,” he says. Lyte Balance also provides their electrolytes to volunteer river cleanup crews, adds Cunninghamm. “It’s probably one of the greatest assets we have in Spokane—that a river runs through it and that we all get to be on it.” (DK)
SPOKANE RIVER FORUM/
What They Do: Protect Our Winters (POW) helps passionate outdoor people protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change. POW has grown from an idea into a worldwide network of more than 130,000 outdoor enthusiasts and supporters.
SPOKANE RIVER WATER TRAIL Spokanewatertrail.org
What They Do: The Spokane River Forum’s mission is to create materials, events, and activities that promote regional dialogues for sustaining a healthy river system. A major project of the forum and partners has been the development of the Spokane River Water Trail, including improved access along the 111-mile length of the river. LOCAL SUPPORTER:
Lyte Balance Electrolyte Concentrate LYTEBALANCE.COM
The Cause: The 40-mile stretch of the Spokane River from Post Falls Dam in Idaho to Nine Mile Dam in Washington is largely non-motorized with a variety of recreation uses. Since 2010 when the Spokane River Forum and others created the Spokane River Water Trail, 18 river access points have been restored. Andy Dunau, founder of the Spokane River Forum, which brings diverse interests together to the benefit of the Spokane River, notes that river use since the trail was established has increased exponentially. “A lot of our attention now is on how do you maintain the river trail, keep the experience as safe as possible, and educate people,” he explains. “Keeping the river clean is a part of loving Spokane.” Lyte Balance, a Liberty Lake-based company that makes an all-natural electrolyte concentrate that you can add to any beverage, was one of the first local companies to step up as a Water Trail Steward. Donors like Lyte Balance are critical to funding ongoing maintenance at water trail access points, 26
PROTECT OUR WINTERS Protectourwinters.org
RAFTING THE FREE FLOWING SALMON RIVER. //PHOTO SHALLAN KNOWLES
You just buy coffee and enjoy your morning, and we’ll donate your dollar.” Rebecca says she has also witnessed the impacts of climate change in Central America, but it was the farmers in Guatemala, where the beans for their DEEP coffee come from, who first started voicing concerns about climate change. And that caught her attention. “They were asking what are we going to do about water shortages, what are we going to do about the severe droughts we’re facing? They were the ones who motivated me,” she says. “We are seeing the impacts of climate change across the globe now, including in DOMA’s supply chain.” It’s up to all of us to do whatever we can to reverse the impacts we’re having on the planet, adds Terry. “Whether you’re a hunter or fisherman or trail runner or skier, if you’re using the outdoors, it’s worth protecting. We all love the outdoors and need to do what we can to protect it so we don’t wake up one morning and it’s not there.” (DK)
LOCAL SUPPORTER:
DOMA Coffee Roasting Company DOMACOFFEE.COM
The Cause: In 2007, pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones saw more resorts closing from the lack of snow that had always been reliable. Since he couldn’t find any organizations focused on getting skiers and snowboarders involved to help combat climate change, he formed Protect Our Winters, which quickly brought together other concerned pro athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and elements of the outdoor industry. POW reminds us that we all need winter, and winter needs more of us who love the outdoors to get involved on its behalf. Post Falls-based DOMA Coffee Roasting Company owners Rebecca and Terry Patano, both skiers and conservation-minded outdoor enthusiasts, heeded the call and began supporting POW after experiencing climate change impacts firsthand on a coffee sourcing trip to Peru. “We went into some places in the Andes and there was no snow, and no snow means no water and that whole cycle of things,” explains Terry. “And we said wow, what can we do back home that will have an impact? We knew a little about POW and looked into it a little more and liked the work that they were doing and said let’s get involved.” That’s when DOMA created its DEEP coffee that supports POW with $1 from every can or bag sold, explains Rebecca. “If your views align with POW, we make it really easy.
OUTTHEREOUTDOORS.COM / SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2021
PROJECT HEALING WATERS Projecthealingwaters.org
What They Do: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (PHWFF), brings a highquality, full-spectrum fly fishing program to an ever-expanding number of disabled active military service personnel across the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, in military hospitals, and the Warrior Transition Command. Beginning in 2005 serving wounded military service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, PHWFF has since expanded nationwide. LOCAL SUPPORTER: Dry Fly Distilling DRYFLYDISTILLING.COM
The Cause: At its headquarters in the heart of Spokane, Dry Fly Distilling is committed to promoting public lands and conservation. Terry Nichols, VP of sales and marketing, reports that “Obviously streams, rivers and fish habitat are important to us.” Dry Fly invests in more than a dozen public lands advocacy groups, including Spokane Riverkeeper, Casting for a Cure, and Trout Unlimited. Dry Fly also supports Project Healing Waters. Known for a genius method of using fly fishing as a therapy for vets, Project Healing Waters provides the physical and emotional tools for disabled military personnel and veterans to seek healing through fly fishing.
PHWFF has become recognized as a leader and model of therapeutic outdoor recreation for the disabled, successfully using the sport of fly fishing as a rehabilitation tool. The outings are much more than a one-day fishing trip. For many participants, the personal interactions, time out in nature, and camaraderie are as important and healing as the fishing itself. (JJ)
1% FOR THE PLANET Onepercentfortheplanet.org
What They Do: 1% for the Planet is a global movement inspiring businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions to our planet's most pressing environmental issues. Business partners pledge at least 1% of their yearly gross sales to approved nonprofit partners. LOCAL SUPPORTER: Townshend Cellar TOWNSHENDCELLAR.COM
The Cause: In 2002, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard helped create 1% for the Planet to encourage other businesses to donate to protect the environment. Townshend Cellar, located in Green Bluff, was one of the first Washington winery members of 1% for the Planet. It's local giving has been directed toward three Spokane-area nonprofits and public lands causes: Evergreen East, The Lands Council, and Spokane Riverkeeper. Townshend Cellar’s journey toward supporting local public lands and conservation causes began with enjoying the outdoors and eventually being in a business position where they could give back, explains Michael Townshend, who co-owns the business with his brother Brendon. “We had been exploring ways to use our business to be a force of good for a while and in that process learned about 1% for the Planet. And that’s when we decided to commit to donating 2% of our total revenue to charitable causes that mesh with our values and ideals, and a major part of that is environmental causes.” Those efforts locally include supporting The Lands’ Council’s Spocanopy program that works to increase Spokane's urban canopy by planting street trees for free in low-income neighborhoods, as well as lending a hand to Evergreen East Mountain Bike Alliance’s public lands trail building work. “For Evergreen East we have a bunch of heavy equipment we use up at our farm
