Southern Explorations Affiliations
As members, we support several environmental and trade organizations that reflect our corporate values. These entities set high standards for our industry, aid our destinations and make us better at what we do.
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International Ecotourism Affiliations
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The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)
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The International Ecotourism Society
TIES is the world's oldest and largest ecotourism organization with members in ninety countries. It provides technical assistance to communities in the development of eco-projects and practices for the benefit the populations and ecosystems of these destinations. It also promotes adherence to standards that mitigate tourism's impacts by educating visitors as well as those of us in the international travel industry. Southern Explorations is a supporting member and supports TIES projects around the world.
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The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
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Leave No Trace
This organization promotes a travel philosophy to leave destinations in the same state as travelers find them; providing education about the importance of minimizing tourism's impacts on the environment. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the organization's set of travel sustainability principles has been embraced worldwide. Southern Explorations supports and incorporates the Leave No Trace philosophy in all of the trips we operate.
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Ecuadorian Rivers Institute (ERI)
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ERI is a fledging Colorado-based organization founded to help protect Ecuador's watersheds through education and water quality monitoring. It emphasizes the economic development potential of sustainability, promotes kayaking and whitewater rafting to Ecuador's citizens and visitors alike and sponsors an annual festival on the Napo River, an important Amazon tributary. Southern Explorations is the main contributor to ERI and supports the movement to keep the rivers of Ecuador clean and free flowing.
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Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
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Adventure Travel Trade Association
ATTA is a broad-based business trade group that promotes adventure travel throughout the world, representing tour operators, destinations, tourist services and media. It sets standards and best practices for our industry, researches travel trends and provides a unified voice for the adventure travel sector. Southern Explorations is a member of the ATTA and attends the ATTA Adventure Travel Summits every year.
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International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA)
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International Galapagos Tour Operators Association
IGTOA links eco-tour operators and other vacation providers in its conservation efforts to help protect the Galapagos Islands. It funds projects aimed at species and habitat preservation, provides education on a range of island issues such as boat safety and guide training, and serves as a collective eco-industry voice in support of responsible travel standards. Tourists who select an IGTOA member tour operator can be assured that they are doing business with a company that embraces a conservation-based philosophy and adheres to the strictest of sustainability practices. Through IGTOA, on behalf of each Southern Explorations customer booking a Galapagos trip, we suggest and forward a donation to the Galapagos Conservancy, an organization that supports the work of the Charles Darwin Research Station and the maintenance operations of the Galapagos National Park Service. Southern Explorations supports the IGTOA by donating $5 per Galapagos passenger.
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International Rivers
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Our Mission: To protect rivers and defend the rights of communities that depend on them. We oppose destructive dams and encourage better ways of meeting people's needs for water, energy and flood protection.
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La Pagina en la Puerta (The Page in the Door)
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Southern Explorations and many of our travelers support the library with yearly financial contributions as well as bringing supplies.
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La Pagina en la Puerta (The Page in the Door)
On December 23rd 2005, the doors to “ La Pagina en la Puerta ” (The Page in the Door), a free neighborhood library opened, for all of the children ages 6 and older in the Urbanizacion Santa Rosa, here in the district of San Sebastian in Cusco Peru. It is founded and directed by Amy Bakal. Children have been invited to come to read the collection of children and adolescent books in Spanish. What I want more than anything for these children is for them to develop a passion for reading and enjoy a good story just for the sake of that enjoyment. Through literature I want each child to learn to appreciate him or herself and the stories that he or she has within his or her own soul. Mostly, I want them to have a place where they just develop and appreciate themselves while having a good time.
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The library is quite different than the libraries that we are all accustomed to. If you remember, the childhood library that we know is quite silent and the only sound you might here is "shhh" or "be quiet" from the librarian or those around you. Not at La Pagina en la Puerta. There is a lot of wonderful book talk and book sharing noise here. Each afternoon the children rush in with such enthusiasm to pick up where they left off in a story, to begin a new one, or share what is now an old favorite with a friend. They love to share riddle books and tongue twisters. Clifford continues to be one of the favorites among all the children regardless of age. Older children are greatly enjoying the Magic Tree House series, Arthur, and Junie B. Jones.
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The library now offers two programs, Estamos Leyendo (We’re Reading) and Ya Leemos (We already Read!) to the children to help them develop their literacy and comprehension skills. Ya Leemos is for children who are at the first levels of reading where they are still developing their decoding skills and comprehension skills. Each day they pick a book from the list, read it with the teacher who guides their skills and then the child will summarize the book and answer some questions. Estamos Leyendo is for children with a higher reading level. These children pick from a selected but diverse list of chapter books, including fiction and non-fiction titles. Each session they read a chapter, summarize it and answer some thought provoking questions.
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The library has three rooms. The first is the main reading room that has over 1400 fiction and non-fiction titles. The children sit comfortably around tables and read on their own or in small groups. It is great to see them enjoying and sharing a book with one another. There is also a homework room where children have a well-lit area to spread out and do homework with help from a teacher or volunteer when needed. When homework and reading is done, children enjoy playing education games and doing puzzles. The latest addition to the library is the listening center where children, can listen to some of their favorite stories while reading along.
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La Pagina en la Puerta also visits every Wednesday morning with children who are on hospital stay at the Cusco Regional Hospital, children’s ward. Each week we bring a small collection of books, puzzles, coloring books, and toys, for the children to enjoy. The children are gathered into one of the rooms where they listen to stories. Afterwards they, if able gather around a table or from their beds, enjoy puzzles, coloring, or playing with other quiet toys.
Domestic (USA) Affiliations
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American Whitewater Association (AWA)
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American Whitewater
Helps protect the water quality of U.S. waterways and restores shoreline and river habitat as well as promoting responsible recreational use of rivers. Southern Explorations is an Industry Partner of the AWA and supports their mission to keep the rivers of the United States protected, clean and free flowing.
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The Washington Wilderness Coalition (WWC)
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Is a leading grassroots advocacy organization with some 10,000 members. Founded in 1979, it is a powerful force in decisions affecting Washington's wild areas, especially forests, continually at the forefront of the major environmental challenges facing our state. Southern Explorations contributes yearly to the WWC and supports their mission.
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Headwaters Institute
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Headwaters Institute
The Headwaters Institute and its associated network of educators strive to be the premier provider of natural history, conservation, and interpretative trainings for professional guides. These seminars encourage and promote a deeper public understanding of the importance of healthy rivers and their watershed ecosystems from ridgeline to coastline.
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KEXP 90.3FM Seattle (kexp.org)
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Beginning as a tiny 10-watt station back in 1972, KEXP has grown over the years into an innovative, influential cultural force in the Seattle community and beyond.
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Cascadia Wildlands Project
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Cascadia Wildlands Project
Cascadia Wildlands Project educates, organizes, and agitates to protect the ecological integrity of the Cascadia bioregion. We envision vast hills and valleys of old-growth forests, rivers full of salmon, wolves howling in the backcountry, and vibrant communities sustained by the unique landscapes of our home.
Awards
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National Geographic Adventure Magazine - Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth 2009
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National Geographic Adventure Magazine - Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth 2009
Chosen by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” for 2009!
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