From the Sierras to the Smokies, from "sea to shining sea" and all the wild places in between, America’s wilderness is an indelible part of our national heritage and an important legacy to pass on to our children.
Pristine, undeveloped wilderness is important – not only in its own right, but for the clean air and water, recreation, and wildlife habitat it provides all of us.
But these wild places are constantly under pressure and need protection in order to thrive.
And now there is a new program that makes it easy for winter travelers to support those remaining wilderness areas - WinterGreen Vacations.
The idea is simple. Stay at a participating inn or bed and breakfast from January through March, 2010, and they will donate 2% of your lodging of two-day stays or longer to The Wilderness Society.
The beta-test of the program is starting with a select group of 18 small, eco-friendly and independently owned inns and B&Bs in 12 states across the country. The goal is go national in 2011, with hopefully several thousand such eco-sensitive lodging facilities participating.
"There is a natural affinity between small, unique lodging places like us and our beautiful American spaces," said Michelle Duarte, owner of WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford, Oregon, who developed this program. "We tend to be located in vacation destination spots, often near incredible areas of wilderness and spectacular natural beauty."
"It seemed only...well...natural," Duarte adds with a smile, "that we find a way to work together to protect these wild, beautiful areas of our country. That's why we partnered with The Wilderness Society in what we hope will become a major annual program generating strong financial support for their outstanding work. It's a great honor to work with them. They've already made quite a difference in our country. We are all committed to helping them do even more."
Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society’s mission is to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. From writing and passing the landmark Wilderness Act to winning lasting protection for more than 109 million acres of permanent wilderness across the country to date, The Wilderness Society is America’s premier public lands conservation organization. TWS and its 500,000 members and supporters are dedicated to protecting America’s wilderness and to developing a nationwide network of these iconic wild lands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy.
"The Wilderness Society is always looking for innovative opportunities to increase public awareness and generate support for America’s wild places," said Sally Adams, Vice-President of Communications and Marketing, The Wilderness Society.
As it celebrates its 75th anniversary, The Wilderness Society has played a key role in passing pivotal legislation and reversing environmentally detrimental policies. Conservation accomplishments over the past year include:
· The permanent protection of 2.1 million acres of new Wilderness in California, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia.
· The formal establishment of the 26-million acre National Landscape Conservation System, the first new system of conservation lands in more than half a century.
· The designation of the 1.2-million acre Wyoming Range withdrawal area, which protects this scenic landscape from future oil and gas development.
· The suspension of a controversial attempt to allow oil and gas leasing in 77 areas in Utah’s Canyon Country, alongside two national parks and other special wildlands.
· The withdrawal of a Bush administration plan to triple logging on public lands in Oregon.
· The reinstatement of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
· The House passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act – a landmark energy and climate package that provided the impetus for the Senate’s introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
· A nearly 17% increase in funding for 2010 Interior and Forest Service programs over last year’s budget; this increase will support an array of programs that address wildlife, wildfire suppression, climate change research, and land acquisition.
"We’re very excited about working with WinterGreen Vacations," added Adams, "and hope to pilot what could become an important recurring program to help people not only enjoy this country's beautiful wilderness areas, but to support them in a direct way.”
For more information about WinterGreen or The Wilderness Society, please contact:
Michelle Duarte, WildSpring Guest Habitat/Creator of the WinterGreen Program, www.wildspring.com, 541.332.0977 or michelle@wildspring.com
WildSpring Guest Habitat is a small, eco-friendly resort, offering luxurious accommodations in a naturally beautiful environment. Eco-conscious since their initial planning stages, they are as proud of the fact they have a zero carbon footprint through operations and offsets, as they are of the fact they've been recommended twice in the New York Times this past year. They are also a Select Registry Inn, which represents only 400 quality assured, inspected inns and B&Bs in North America.
Sally Adams, Vice-President, Communications and Marketing/The Wilderness Society, www.wilderness.org, 202.429-2616 or sally_adams@tws.org
List of all participating inns:
Arkansas
Arsenic and Old Lace B&B
Eureka Springs' Premier B&B experience.
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Contact: Doug Breitling
800.243.5223
http://www.eurekaspringsromancebb.com/
arsenicoldlacebb@gmail.com
California
McCaffrey House Bed and Breakfast Inn
Pure elegance in a wilderness setting.
Twain Harte, CA 95383
Stephanie McCaffrey
209.586.0757
http://www.mccaffreyhouse.com/
innkeeper@mccaffreyhouse.com
Georgia
Beechwood Inn
Georgia's premier wine country inn
Clayton, GA 30525
David Darugh
706.782.5485
http://www.beechwoodinn.ws/
ddarugh@windstream.net
Illinois
Harvey House Bed and Breakfast
Where luxury meets location
Oak Park, IL 60302
Beth Harvey
708.848.6810
http://www.harveyhousebb.com
harveyhousebb@gmail.com
Massachusets
Old Harbor Inn
Every day you get our best.
Chatham, MA 02633
Ray Braz
800.942.4434
http://www.chathamoldharborinn.com/
info@chathamoldharborinn.com
New York
Asa Ransom House
http://www.asaransom.com/
An intimate village inn.
Clarence, NY 14031
Bob Lenz
716.759.2315
RWLenz@aol.com
Genesee Country Inn Bed and Breakfast
http://www.geneseecountryinn.com/
A Short Drive...A World Away!
Mumford, NY 14511
Deborah and Richard Stankevich
585.538.2500
deborah@gcinn.com
Ohio
Glenlaurel
A Scottish Country Inn
Rockbridge, OH 43149-9736
Kelley Leonard
740.385.2951 x310
http://www.glenlaurel.com/
kleonard@glenlaurel.com
Whispering Pines Bed & Breakfast
Upscale accommodations. Down-home hospitality.
Dellroy, OH 44620
Linda Horn
866.4LAKEVU (866.452.5388)
http://www.atwoodlake.com/
whisperingpines@atwoodlake.com
Oregon
Arch Cape Inn & Retreat
Lose yourself beside the ocean.
Cannon Beach, OR 97102
Cynthia Malkowski
800.436.2848
http://www.archcapeinn.com/
westhighlandproperties@yahoo.com
Heron Haus Bed & Breakfast
In the hills overlooking Portland.
Portland, OR 97210
Pam and Carl Walker
503.274.1846
http://www.heronhaus.com/
pam@heronhaus.com
Old Parkdale Inn Bed & Breakfast
At the foot of Mt. Hood.
Parkdale, OR 97401
Mary Pelligrini
541.352.5551
http://www.hoodriverlodging.com/info.html
parkdale@hoodriverlodging.com
Peerless Hotel & Restaurant
Ashland's Peerless Experience.
Ashland, OR 97520
Michael Biggs, Hotelkeeper
541.488.1082
http://www.peerlesshotel.com/
innkeeper@peerlesshotel.com
WildSpring Guest Habitat
For body and soul
Port Orford, OR 97465
Michelle Duarte
541.332.0977
http://www.wildspring.com/
michelle@wildspring.com
Pennsylvania
The Beechmont Inn B&B,
Where history and hospitality come together.
Hanover, PA 17331
Kathryn & Thomas White
800.553.7009
717.632.3013
http://www.thebeechmont.com/
innkeeper521@embarqmail.com
Virginia
Inn at Riverbend
Almost heaven.
Pearisburg, VA 24134
Linda Hayes
540.921.5211
http://www.innatriverbend.com/
stay@innatriverbend.com
Washington
The Shelburne Country Inn
A true American classic.
Seaview, WA 98644
David Campiche
360.642.2442
http://www.theshelburneinn.com/
campiche@centurytel.net
Wyoming
Bentwood Inn
http://www.bentwoodinn.com/
Nestled on 3 acres of Jackson Hole solitude.
PO Box 561
Jackson Hole, WY 83001
Peter and Jenny Tignor
307.739.1411
info@bentwoodinn.com
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