Association and Society Memberships

Association and Society Memberships

As part of our dedication to conservation and sustainable tourism, Adventure Life Journeys has partnered with a number of organizations to contribute back to the areas where we travel. By joining with other tour operators, conservation professionals, educators, and local communities, we can help insure that our tours have a positive impact on the people and places we encounter along the way.

The International Ecotourism Society

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) represents a worldwide network of academics, consultants, conservation professionals/ organizations, governments, architects, tour operators, lodge owners, general development experts and travelers dedicated to conservation and sustainable development.

TIES promotes responsible travel that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people by:

1. Creating an international network of individuals, institutions and the tourism industry
2. Educating tourists and tourism professionals
3. Influencing the tourism industry, public institutions and donors to integrate the principles of ecotourism into their operations and policies

TIES' website: http://www.ecotourism.org

International Galapagos Tour Operators

IGTOA: An Important Part of the Galápagos Ecology

IGTOA members are tour companies and other organizations that seek the complete and lasting protection of the Galápagos marine and terrestrial ecosystems and all of its endemic species. Our mission is to preserve the Galápagos Islands as a unique world heritage that can provide education, adventure, and inspiration to future generations of travelers.

Collectively, we have a strong voice in the future of the islands. Each company member assesses itself a fee for each passenger it sends to the Galápagos. These fees are used to fund our projects.

IGTOA Objectives

1. Commitment to low-impact nature tourism
2. Fundraising for conservation organizations
3. Lobbying for lasting protection of the Galápagos
4. Creation and maintenance of professional standards
5. Control of population pressures
6. Minimizing impact of introduced species
7. Protection of the Marine Reserve
8. Assistance to Galápagos residents

IGTOA's website: http://www.igtoa.org/

International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators

IAATO is a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Since the beginning of the modern Antarctic tourism industry in 1969, the number of tourists in Antarctica has grown from a few hundred to more than 20,000 each year. Recognizing the potential environmental impacts that such growing numbers of tourism could cause, seven private tour operators conducting excursions in Antarctica joined together in 1991 to practice and promote the highest possible standards of travel in this remote, wild and delicate region of the world.

In 2005, 69 Antarctica-bound outfitters are voluntary members of our organization, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Together we have established extensive procedures and guidelines that ensure appropriate, safe and environmentally sound private-sector travel to the Antarctic: regulations and restrictions on numbers of people ashore; staff-to-passenger ratios; site-specific and activity guidelines; wildlife watching; pre- and post-visit activity reporting; passenger, crew and staff briefings; previous Antarctic experience for tour staff; contingency and emergency medical evacuation plans; and more.

IAATO is an industry group that has resolved to set the highest possible tourism operating standards in its effort to protect Antarctica. This effort is unique, and the challenge to maintain environmentally responsible tourism exists to this extent in no other region of the world. Our membership comprises ship operators, land-based operators, ship agents, travel agents, one government office and travel companies that charter ships and airplanes from existing operators.

International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators web-site: http://www.iaato.org

International Mountain Explorers Connection

The International Mountain Explorers Connection was founded in 1996 in Boulder, Colorado to promote responsible and sustainable connections between travelers and the people of developing mountain regions of the world. IMEC provides and coordinates education, assistance, and cross-cultural experiences for members, volunteers, trekkers, and local communities.

Promoting Sustainable Tourism

According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Nepal and Tanzania are among the 10 poorest countries in the world, yet of the least developed countries are in the top three in terms of tourism revenue. The IMEC, through volunteer placement, homestays, tourist education, and "off the beaten path" trips is actively following the WTO Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (STEP) program to promote responsible, sustainable tourism that facilitates benefits from tourism "trickling down" to all members of the local population.

Local Offices

In addition to Boulder, Colorado, we currently have offices in Kathmandu, Nepal, Islamabad, Pakistan, and Moshi, Tanzania. These offices update our volunteer handbooks, store gear for our Porter Assistance Project, help place volunteers in local villages, and allow us to conduct additional projects in which we participate.

Partnerships

In Nepal, we collaborate with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP). Additionally, we work closely with several other organizations doing similar work, including the Everest Foundation, the International Porter Protection Group, Inka Porter Project, and Porters' Progress.

IMEC's website: http://www.hec.org/

America Outdoors

America Outdoors® is a national trade association (501)(c)(6), representing the interests of over 550 professional companies that provide a wide range of outdoor recreation services and outdoor equipment to more than two million Americans each year. Our members operate in 40 states and 60 foreign countries. Member companies offer whitewater raft trips, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and horsepacking, camping, hiking, fishing trips, bike tours, dude ranches, and a variety of other outdoor recreation services. America Outdoors® was established in 1990 with the merger of the Western River Guides Association and the Eastern Professional River Outfitters Association.

America Outdoors.® mission is the conservation and enhancement of quality outdoor experiences on America.s lands and waters. We represent the outfitting industry and the public that the industry serves in policy-making to maintain access to recreation resources while pursuing a goal of responsible shared-use of our precious natural heritage. America Outdoors® does not certify the qualifications of its members. Most are regulated by federal or state agencies in the areas where they operate.

America Outdoors' website: http://www.americaoutdoors.org

Better Business Bureau

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and their customers. The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho & Montana provides an ever-growing range of services to meet the needs of businesses and consumers including business reliability reports, alerts and news, membership roster and information, resource library, and dispute resolution.

Adventure Life Journeys is a member of this Better Business Bureau. In order to become a member, the business must meet a variety of eligibility requirements including maintaining a satisfactory record; fulfilling all licensing and bonding requirements by applicable city, county, state and federal agencies; promptly responding to any and all complaints forwarded by the Bureau; making a good faith effort to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business practices; adhering to established Better Business Bureau standards of advertising and selling; and complying with any decisions rendered through Bureau arbitration programs in which the firm agrees to participate.

Better Business Bureau's website: http://www.bbbonline.org/

Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands.

The Leave No Trace Principles of outdoor ethics form the framework of Leave No Trace's message:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

   Leave No Trace's website: http://www.lnt.org