2016-2017 marks the 10th year of Snowbird’s participation in the National Forest Foundation’s Ski Conservation Fund. Since 2006, Snowbird’s guests have contributed more than $500,000 to the fund, resulting in over $800,000 invested in on-the-ground conservation work on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
This winter marks the 10th anniversary of Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort’s participation in the Ski Conservation Fund, a partnership between the National Forest Foundation (NFF), Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWC) and Snowbird to invest in on-the-ground conservation projects on the UWC.
Snowbird, like nearly 60 percent of the West’s winter resorts, operates on a National Forest through a special use permit. The NFF’s Ski Conservation Fund is one way that Snowbird and its guests can give back to the public lands where they play. Since 2006, Snowbird and guests have contributed nearly half a million dollars to the Fund, which the NFF has leveraged with matching funds to accomplish over $800,000 in restoration projects on the UWC.
The NFF provides a 50 cents match on every dollar Snowbird’s guests contribute and makes grants to the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (CCF), a local nonprofit conservation organization, to accomplish work on the Forest. Granting to CCF not only keeps Snowbird’s investment local, but also further leverages funds with in-kind, volunteer and cash matches.
Including both monetary match from the NFF and CCF and in-kind contributions from the Forest Service and CCF, these projects have resulted in over $800,000 in on-the-ground conservation value. Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort was one of the first resorts in the United States to participate in the Ski Conservation Fund and is a founding member of the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.
We’ve seen these dollars used on critical projects within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest thanks to the National Forest Foundation and the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation. We thank our valued guests and community volunteers who have helped make this possible.
“Snowbird was one of the founding partners in the Ski Conservation Fund. Their support has allowed us to have a real impact on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. We are grateful to their many guests who have made this critical restoration work possible over the years,” said Bill Possiel, NFF President.
Since 2006, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest has benefited from the Ski Conservation Fund. As of September, 2016, together with our partners, we have accomplished the following on the UWC:
- Engaged 5,905 volunteers in nearly 50,000 volunteer hours
- Employed or engaged 1,438 youth
- Improved, repaired or maintained 656 miles of trail
- Planted 2,800 trees or shrubs
- Treated 1,841 acres for invasive species
- Restored 75 acres of recreation damage
- Naturalized 38 campsites
The Ski Conservation Fund is a national program that includes ski resorts and other hospitality and forest-tourism businesses from Arizona to New Hampshire. Since 2006, the program has generated more than $12 million in conservation value through direct investments, in-kind donations and volunteerism on National Forests across the country. This amount includes guest contributions, NFF and partner matching funds and in-kind and other support.
Click here to learn about the 2016 award recipients and upcoming projects.
