10 Vancouver Outdoor Charities and Not-For-Profits to Support on Giving Tuesday

Power to Be participant using a TrailRider wheelchair

Power to Be participant using a TrailRider wheelchair. Photo: Power to Be

If you enjoy the outdoors in Vancouver, consider giving back this year on Giving Tuesday. There are tons of local charities and not-for-profit organizations in our city working to help get people outdoors, build and maintain trails, and preserve ecosystems. Here are 10 Vancouver-area outdoor organizations to support this Giving Tuesday.

What is Giving Tuesday? This annual event occurs on the Tuesday after Black Friday. It’s a global movement for giving and volunteering. If you are able, donating on Giving Tuesday (or at any time of year) is a great way to support charities and non-profits making a difference for your favourite cause.

 

North Shore Mountain Bike Association

The North Shore Mountain Bike Association is a volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to building and maintaining mountain bike trails on Vancouver’s North Shore.

 

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (BC Chapter)

CPAWS-BC works to defend BC’s natural environment to create large parks, protected areas, and wildlife corridors. Their work includes advocating for BC’s provincial parks, endangered species, and threatened ecosystems.

 

Take a Hike Foundation

Take a Hike Foundation fuses outdoor adventure with clinical counselling and academics to help vulnerable youth graduate high school and achieve success. Students in the program take an outdoor field trip each week and three multi-day wilderness trips each year.

 

Colour the Trails

Colour the Trails helps introduce Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to outdoor activities including hiking, camping, mountain biking, and skiing by removing financial barriers and providing mentorship. They organize group outings and skills clinics and are starting to build a gear library.

 

HUB Cycling

HUB Cycling works to remove barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver through advocating for a connected cycling network. They also provide bike education for people of all ages and skill levels and organize cycling events like Bike to Work Week and Bike the Night.

A child riding in a bike lane in Vancouver

A bike skills camp participant rides in a bike lane. Photo: HUB Cycling

 

Mountain Mentors

Mountain Mentors facilitates one-on-one mentorship by pairing mentees and mentors to help people develop backcountry skills and create outdoor recreation spaces where everyone belongs and feels safe.

 

Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports

Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports runs skiing and snowboarding programs for persons with disabilities at Vancouver’s three North Shore ski hills. With students of all ages and disabilities, they use adaptive equipment and specialized teaching techniques to ensure everyone can enjoy the snow.

 

Local Search and Rescue Teams

If you get lost or injured on our local trails, a search and rescue (SAR) team will help you. There is no charge for rescue in BC, and all SAR team members are volunteers. There are 12 SAR teams in the Vancouver area and they all rely on donations as an important source of funding.

North Shore Rescue team members on a task near Vancouver

North Shore Rescue team members on a task. Photo: North Shore Rescue Facebook

 

Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC

The Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia (FMCBC) represents the interests of outdoor clubs across the province. They are dedicated to protecting and maintaining access to BC’s backcountry through advocacy, trail maintenance, and trail building.

 

Power to Be

Power To Be offers adaptive recreation programs to support people living with a disability or barrier in experiencing inclusive recreational activities. They help people experience kayaking, camping, hiking, surfing, and more with the use of adaptive equipment like TrailRider wheelchairs.

 

More Vancouver-Area Charities and Not-For-Profits to Support

Here are more ideas for Vancouver-area organizations you can support this Giving Tuesday. These groups rely on donations and memberships to continue operating. They could use your support this year:

 

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