Blog - Tahoe Fund

New Take Care Tahoe Ambassador Programs Roll Out Across the Tahoe Region

June 29, 2021 by tahoefund

Programs designed to create new opportunities to educate visitors, encourage environmental stewardship and promote responsible recreation

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (June 29, 2021) – Last summer, the Lake Tahoe Basin, Truckee and surrounding mountain communities saw a dramatic increase in visitation as travelers sought out the great outdoors. While the mountains provided a much needed respite, it quickly became evident that many visitors weren’t familiar with Leave No Trace practices. Trash piled up outside of proper receptacles or was left behind altogether. Trails were heavily impacted, trail etiquette ignored, and wildlife disregarded. This summer, six organizations are launching ambassador programs in locations around the Lake Tahoe Region to directly address and reduce tourism-related environmental impacts the region regularly experiences.

Every weekend throughout the summer, up to 50 ambassadors will be positioned at popular recreation sites to provide information to Tahoe-Truckee area visitors about the importance of proper trash disposal, trail and wildlife etiquette, wildfire safety and other Leave No Trace principles. While each of the programs are independently managed, ambassadors from each program will wear the same Take Care Tahoe branded uniform to demonstrate a united, consistent approach to the education effort.

“We’re excited to launch such a robust collection of ambassador programs during this inaugural summer season pilot,” said Crew Stover, program and outreach coordinator at the Tahoe Fund, a Take Care Tahoe partner. “The intention with this effort is to help educate visitors, particularly those who may be new to recreating in the outdoors. The Tahoe Fund is proud to have played an important funding role in getting this new initiative launched with our partners.”

The six ambassador programs include:

Taskforce Trailhead Program

As the number of hikers, bikers and equestrians on the Tahoe Rim Trail continues to grow, trampled vegetation, trash, fires, and negative wildlife encounters have unfortunately also increased. These impacts illustrate the need to educate trail users about basic trail ethics and Leave No Trace principles to ensure a fun and sustainable trail experience for the nearly 500,000 annual Tahoe Rim Trail users. With support from the Tahoe Fund, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association has launched the Taskforce Trailhead Program to help reach trail users and share essential outdoor ethics. Volunteers interested in sharing their passion for trails are needed and can learn more about how to get involved at https://tahoerimtrail.org/volunteer/taskforcetrailhead/.

South Lake Tahoe Student Ambassador Program

Aimed at addressing increasing tourism impacts, the Sierra Nevada Alliance will employ and coordinate 13 students to interact with the public at busy locations in the Tahoe Basin. Their role will be to promote environmental stewardship with the goal of changing behaviors. The program was designed to provide work experience for high school and community college students pursuing careers in the natural resources, hospitality and tourism industries, and is funded by the Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA), City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Lake Tahoe Community College, Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Women’s Fund, El Dorado Community Foundation, and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. In addition, SNA will employ an additional Climate Action Corps Fellow as ambassadors to help build capacity and coordinate regionally with partnership with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Town of Truckee, and Trout Unlimited.

Tahoe Bike Safety Ambassadors

Spearheaded by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, ambassadors will engage directly with cyclists at high-use bike trail locations each Saturday in June, Tahoe Bike Challenge month. Ambassadors will share information with passing cyclists and pedestrians about route finding using the Tahoe Bike Map (map.tahoebike.org), biking etiquette, safety, and the environmental benefits of bicycling. A bike stand, tools, and an air pump for minor repairs will also be available for riders. Bike Safety Days are designed to help visitors navigate the often confusing network of bike trails and routes so that they can get to their destination safely and without driving.

Keep Truckee Green Ambassador Program

This summer, the Town of Truckee’s sustainability program, Keep Truckee Green, will hire two ambassadors to inspire and educate recreationalists to take care of the region’s natural resources and recreate responsibly. The ambassadors will be roving around hotspot areas including Donner Lake, Downtown Truckee and the Legacy Trail to have meaningful conversations with residents and visitors about initiatives like the “Grab a Bag” litter pick-up program, reusable to-go boxes, and the importance of doggy bag disposal.

Sustainable Truckee – Trail Host Ambassador Program

Truckee Trail Host Ambassadors, funded by Visit Truckee-Tahoe and managed by the Truckee Trails Foundation, are both stationed and roving at popular Truckee, California trailheads to educate and inform trail users about responsible recreation while keeping an eagle eye out for illegal campfires. Objectives of the ambassadors are to mitigate wildfire danger, trash, and cultivate a friendly, positive outdoor experience. Truckee’s Host program is also supported by 18 trailhead A-Frame signs stating “NO FIRES” with a QR code to the “Truckee Travel Alert” daily webpage hosted on VisitTruckeeTahoe.com/travelalert.

North Lake Tahoe Resort Association Program

The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association (NLTRA) will co-host a volunteer from the Americorps California Climate Action summer fellowship to help mobilize and recruit volunteers for region-wide cleanup days and educate visitors about the importance of safe, responsible travel. The ambassador will visit a number of high-traffic areas across North Lake Tahoe and share tips with visitors that include crisis response, wildlife awareness, trash mitigation (including promotion of the Clean Tahoe Litter Hotline), fire safety, and tenets of the Traveler Responsibility Pledge.

In addition to the new ambassador program, a coalition of agencies, non-profits, and visitors authorities co-led by the USDA Forest Service and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency are coordinating regionally to better manage recreation and tourism impacts. The non-profit Clean Tahoe Program has expanded operations for more trash pickups, on-demand microtransit services are being piloted across North Lake Tahoe, law enforcement agencies are ramping up parking enforcement where possible, additional parking capacity has been added at Emerald Bay, and stewardship messages like Take Care Tahoe are being shared and amplified by multiple agencies and visitors authorities.

TAHOE FUND RECEIVES NEARLY $300,000 FROM VAIL RESORTS OVER TWO YEARS

June 28, 2021 by Amy Berry

Guests’ $1 donations have helped fund projects including the Lily Lake Trail and Clean Up The Lake

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (June 28, 2021) – In just 24 months, Vail Resorts has raised nearly $300,000 for the Tahoe Fund in support of new trails and environmental stewardship projects in the Tahoe Basin. A partner of the nonprofit since its inception, Vail Resorts has raised funds to support projects spearheaded by the Tahoe Fund through its $1 for Tahoe guest donation program—part of the company’s EpicPromise community impact program. Most recently, donations from Vail Resorts have been leveraged as a triple match to fund the Lily Lake Trail construction ($75,000), and as a match in support of the Clean Up The Lake efforts to remove trash from all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline ($25,000).

“We are always looking for ways to give back to the communities we operate in, and to support projects that preserve and enhance the incredible local landscape for everyone to enjoy,” said Tom Fortune, vice president and general manager of Heavenly Mountain Resort. “Guests who visit Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood have demonstrated that their values align with ours, and we’re proud to partner with the Tahoe Fund to turn these generous donations into action.”

The $1 for Tahoe program was started to harness the passion of visitors and residents to help care for Tahoe’s extraordinary environment. Participating local businesses collect dollars from their guests through their purchases of lift tickets, hotel accommodations, food and drink, and other items. Donations are then contributed to the Tahoe Fund’s efforts to support hiking and biking trails, watershed restoration projects, environmental stewardship programs and so much more.

“The decade-long partnership we’ve had with Vail Resorts has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from the company’s guests that have helped us build a portfolio of more than 50 projects,” said Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund board member. “We are grateful to Vail Resorts and all of our $1 for Tahoe partners who continue to give those who love Tahoe a way to give back, and simultaneously help us with trail, watershed and other stewardship projects.”

Watch here to see how far $1 for Tahoe can go.

Learn more about the $1 for Tahoe program and the Tahoe Fund at www.tahoefund.org. Businesses interested in joining the $1 for Tahoe program are invited to contact Amy Berry at aberry@tahoefund.org.

Tahoe Fund Announces Partnership With Camp Wamp to Provide Unique Experience For Kids With Physical Disabilities

June 22, 2021 by Amy Berry

New campaign hopes to raise $25,000 to fund field trips for campers to the Tahoe East Shore Trail and Sand Harbor State Park

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (June 22, 2021) – The Tahoe Fund is partnering with Camp Wamp, a sleepaway camp for children with physical disabilities, to give campers a unique experience on the shores of Lake Tahoe in 2022. The Tahoe Fund is currently raising $25,000 to fund field trips for the campers to visit the Tahoe East Shore Trail and Sand Harbor State Park. The funds will cover the costs to transport the 20-25 campers and their camp counselors in each weekly session.

At Camp Wamp, outdoor summer camp experiences are provided to kids ages 10 to 18 that have physical disabilities. The kids learn about self-reliance and their own ambition. They push their limits. They sleep outdoors on the 129-acre property on cots under the stars. They hike. They fish on 9-acre Deer Lake. They climb a rock wall. They do arts, crafts and have competitions. Most importantly, they have fun.

“One of the best parts about the Tahoe East Shore Trail is that it was designed specifically to offer greater accessibility for people of all ages and abilities to some of the most stunning vista points of Lake Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Being on Donner Summit at the campsite is an amazing experience for these kids, but you can’t see Tahoe from there. Through these field trips we can give them the opportunity to experience the extraordinary beauty of the Lake from the new trail, and the iconic beaches of Sand Harbor.”

Started in 2002 by Stephen Wampler, Camp Wamp offers six one-week sessions every summer in July and August and has hosted over 1,250 kids over the years. Wampler, who grew up in Northern California and has used a wheelchair for mobility for his entire life due to cerebral palsy, knows first-hand the significance that camp experiences like this can have on kids with disabilities.

“We want the Tahoe community to know we’re here, and we’d like to welcome them to get involved with camp and what we’re doing at Donner Summit if they have interest. The kids who come to Camp Wamp have a variety of physical disabilities that range from mild all the way to using a wheelchair, and the experience truly is life-changing for them,” said Camp Wamp Founder Stephen Wampler.

Camp Wamp has a one-to-one camper to counselor ratio, with counselors typically consisting of college students who are working to earn their degrees in a variety of capacities — from recreation to therapy and nursing.

This summer, high school students who are part of the Tahoe Fund’s new Teens 4 Tahoe program will join with the Camp Wamp team to help make repairs and accessibility improvements to the property.

To support this wonderful project, click here.

The Perfect Gift for a Tahoe Trail Loving Dad

June 16, 2021 by Skyler Monaghan

Whether he is an avid mountain biker or a Sunday hiker, it’s not too late to get the perfect gift for your Tahoe trail loving Dad! A donation in your father’s or loved one’s name supports annual trail work so they can continue to enjoy their favorite trails for years to come. To donate to the Tahoe Trails Endowment visit tahoefund.org/tahoetrailsendowment.

Lake Tahoe Partners Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Spooner Lake Visitor Center and Amphitheater

June 15, 2021 by Skyler Monaghan

Incline Village, Nev. (May 15, 2021) – With construction underway on Spooner Lake’s future Visitor Center and Amphitheater, local officials, private donors, and stakeholders gathered at the site to celebrate the highly anticipated improvement project with an official groundbreaking ceremony.

The Spooner Lake and Backcountry Management Area of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park (LTNSP) offers diverse and highly sought-after recreational opportunities for both local residents and visitors from around the world. Established in 1981, Spooner Lake is one of Nevada’s most prized recreational resources within Nevada’s system of State Parks. The park is a popular four-season destination for hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, equestrian users, snowshoers and cross-country skiers, and a wide variety of nature lovers.

In 2018, Nevada State Parks teamed up with partners from the Nevada Division of State Lands, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, the Washoe Tribe and the Tahoe Fund to reimagine Spooner Lake. With more than 150,000 visitors a year, 60 miles of trails and 13,000 acres of wilderness to explore, the goal was to create a trailhead facility that matched the splendor of Spooner’s beautiful backcountry. The one-of-a-kind facilities at Spooner Lake will provide a magical environmental education venue for people of all ages.

The new visitor center and amphitheater will serve as the heart of Spooner’s natural and cultural history programs and ranger-led hikes and tours, as well as provide an immersive environmental education and science venue for students. The project will also serve as a major portal to the expansive and spectacular non-motorized primitive wilderness within the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak expressed his support of the Spooner Lake Park improvement projects: “Breaking ground on the new Spooner Lake and Backcountry Visitor Center and Amphitheater is a historic milestone reflecting Nevada’s celebrated outdoor heritage, and will provide all Nevadans, families and visitors with accessible, affordable, and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities for generations to come. In addition to providing new opportunities for the public to connect with nature and explore the beautiful backcountry around Spooner Lake, these projects will solidify the entire east shore of Lake Tahoe as a world-class recreation destination. As recreation demand continues to rapidly grow, programs that focus on environmental education and stewardship are key to providing a quality recreation experience and strengthening Nevada’s economy, while protecting our precious natural and cultural resources simultaneously. I thank all of the public and private partners for working together to make this project a reality. This public-private collaboration is the perfect example of how we can come together to make remarkable things happen.”

“We are so thankful to the Tahoe Fund donors who generously provided $300,000 in private funding to help secure the public funds necessary to make this dream project happen,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “Congratulations to Nevada State Parks and all the partners for breaking ground on these much needed improvements that will support the users and the natural environment.”

This project is part of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program and is a public-private collaboration between the Nevada Division of State Parks, the Nevada Division of State Lands, the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team, the Washoe Tribe, and the Tahoe Fund. It is made possible by public bond funds, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Nevada Lake Tahoe License Plate Program, as well as the generous donations made through the Tahoe Fund by individuals and foundations who want to help ensure a sustainable Lake Tahoe for future generations.