Rangers have been a pretty big part of my life these past several years.  They seem to pop up everywhere in life – in books, in parks, in environmental law class, in SUVs on California highways, and now… on iPhones.

Since coming to 1% for the Planet, I’ve been quite prideful of my Junior Ranger status, and it’s been most rewarding to watch as my affinity for park rangers and my work here at 1% for the Planet overlap again and again.  Just after a few months in house, I connected with a with a staff person at Rocky Mountain Nature Association by way of sharing our Junior Ranger experiences.  We took to signing our correspondences to one another, “from one Junior Ranger to another.”  Less than a month later, I found out one of our members, American Park Network, was responsible for the publication of the renowned Oh, Ranger! book that I’d read while gallivanting the grandeur of Yosemite valley.  Who knew!?  Mark, of American Park Network, made my day when he found his way to our 1% booth at Outdoor Retailer this January, and there we exchanged Ranger stories.

And now, now, American Park Network offers a wonderful new smart phone application, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™. This notification came to my inbox and without a breath I downloaded the app.  Being familiar with the geography in Vermont, I hadn’t put it to use until a couple weeks later when I found myself in Oregon, driving in no particular direction, in search of a campsite before sunset.  With darkness looming and growing tired of the relentless logging roads, I recalled the Oh, Ranger! app and put it to use.  This app changed everything.

The horizon before us was no longer filled with tractor trailer trucks and endless highway, but it now glimmered with abundant waterfalls, hot springs, ski areas, campsites and even, not too far off, Crater Lake (the app informed us that we’d clearly taken a route due south further than we’d realized)!   I couldn’t think of a more useful application for someone such as myself who all too often goes off the map, has a horrendous sense of direction, and enjoys spontaneous adventure – all in the company of a best friend with many of the same attributes.  While one part of camping and adventuring is going off the charts and turning off the phone and computer, I will fend for the smartphone in this instance and say that if you’re out and about on a drive and want to find a fun stop, a nearby park to explore, or just spice things up with some adventure, definitely bust out the Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ app.  It’ll make your day – possibly even your trip – as it puts to use modern technology to get back to the natural environment that we’re all working hard to conserve.  While the app inherently supports all parks by raising awareness about them, the 1% donation given on behalf of this app from American Park Network supports nonprofit partners Tread Lightly! and The Student Conservation Association (SCA).

Once you scout out a park with your new Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ app, be sure to go and get certified as a Junior Ranger – no matter how old you are

Photo Courtesy of Brittany

This event kicked off a month at Onion River where donations will be made for each pair of shoes sold. Other Advocate Weeks like this are happening all over the country, supporting numerous NGO’s that are working to protect your favorite areas! Check out the Advocate Weeks microsite to find an event in your city.

And. If you’re still wondering what this program is all about, check out this video from Mountain Sports in Arizona about the Patagonia Advocate Weeks program—it’ll clear things up!

Checking out local fauna

News to me, but definitely not to the pop-culture conscious middle and high school students who teamed up with member company TREW Gear in Washington and non-profit partner Envirolution in Nevada for recent events.

Chris, John and Tripp from TREW spent the morning last Thursday with a class of 7th graders from The Dalles Middle School exploring a piece of protected land outside of Dallesport, WA.  Their “bioblitz” was run by the folks at the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute, the recipient of TREW’s 1% donation.

30 students joined several volunteers from Columbia Gorge and TREW to catalogue the incredibly diverse ecosystem they found just outside town. They discovered water beetles, a scorpion, sparrows and turkey vultures, various kinds of indigenous vegetation, and checked out a pond formed more than 13,000 years ago. As TREW front man Tripp pointed out, “realizing that in just this small area there is so much variety of life can help these young kids to appreciate the even more monstrous diversity of our planet.”

After the Blitz the TREW Crew headed north to ski a recent dump of spring powder and we turned our attention to Nevada.

A few states south, Envirolution organized a fantastic Earth Day event in cooperation with three non-profit Partners, Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) and Sierra Nevada Journeys, along with help from Urban Roots Garden Classrooms, GreenPower and Black Rock Solar.

The coalition, known as GREENevada (Growing Resources for Environmental Education in Nevada) launched a High School Sustainability Plan competition in November and held final presentations on Earth Day. Nevada Governor Bryan Sandoval was on hand, along with experts from the renewable energy industry and academia.

Students from nine high schools competed for $28,000 that they could use to implement sustainability plans they entered in the contest. The money, awarded as part of a $50,000 Pepsi REFRESH grant, will allow students to address environmental challenges they identified at their schools through energy audits and consumption analysis.

Events like this are empowering the next generation to be proactive about addressing climate change. At 1% we’re thrilled to see member companies and non-profit partners teaming up with youth to create positive change. Us old folks might even learn what a Bieber is in the process.

Reed High takes home the first place prize

Australia provides the vino to kickback and relax with from Rod and Spur Wine Company

New Zealand dresses the wee ones in their adorable garb from Pureborn Organic

Hawaii gets creative with graphic designers from AdTournament

Washington distracts the pets while we cook with green kitchenware with GoDogGo Inc. | A Greener Kitchen

Oregon brings brands to life, while simultaneously providing an ecofriendly home cleaning experience ecopop | CleanVia, Inc

California offers fashion, art, ecofriendly computer cables and all natural soaps with 1% member companies: Lazy Glamour Apparel | Wild About Crafts | Ohmlop | Swami’s Homegrown

Utah brings out the sweeter side of 1% with Aseda Raw Honey

Iowa finds the edgier side of art with Up Yours

Illinois offers great deals from responsible companies with Pure Citizen

Massachussetts brings to light creative web designers Red Sequoia

Kentucky keeps caffeinated with the help of Culture Stir Coffee

Oklahoma spices up media with dubieMedia

Minnesota keeps active with Momentum Racing Events

New York consults, educates about recycling and trash, and all the while keeps surfers up to par on their nutrition thanks to Birchyard | Grey Box Inc. | Jimmu Enterprises Incorporated

Pennsylvania is all about connections this month as they bring two new members whom help artists connect and locate one another geographically with A Dying Breed | Purple Lizard Publishing

Georgia provides great consulting from experienced business coaches at Affinity Leadership Group

British Columbia beholds children’s apparel and education tool kits Gouri Design Inc, Kiri Kids Clothing | Pathfinders Design and Technology

If you’re in the United Kingdom, get a screen printed new tee or learn about sustainable marketing with members GET A GRIP | Orbis Marketing

France engages with graphic designers, exceptional mountaineering tools, natural soaps and keeps it all together with great accountants with members Solutions Graphik’n Print | Blue Ice UP France | Mayumi-Bio| L’Abeille Comptabilite

Norway encourages us all to take more holiday, venturing out to some beautiful rentals in Crete from Almyra

Welcome!!