Why I volunteered with the Foundation at Expo East this year

For the second time in just as many years I did not teach a single class at Overland Expo East (go ahead and gasp). Last year didn’t leave me with much choice. For those that don’t know, on the first weekend of 2023 I was hit by a car leaving me on the sidelines for a bulk of the year. Even when I was back on my feet for the summer months I was far from 100%. I wasn’t even sure I could attend Expo East 2023, let alone do much. As such I took the time to reflect on what I was doing as ECOA and what my ambitions were moving forward. Luckily I was able to attend Expo East in 2023 on a Media Pass and enjoyed the show without any major obligations.

This year I opted for a slightly different plan. Still not 100%, and who knows, I may never get back to 100%, I opted for another low-key Expo East. This time, being more capable than last year, I decided to volunteer with the Overland Expo Foundation. They had co-funded a cleanup project I was a part of with Tread Lightly! back in 2022, The Tank Hollow project (their write up; my writeup), and I figured the least I could do was give back with some of my time and energy. Also, given how much volunteer work I’ve been doing lately with Tread Lightly!, I figured it was far from the worst idea I had given how similar the missions of the two organizations are.

My first contribution to the Overland Expo Foundation this year was helping out with the annual raffle that serves as a major fundraiser for the foundation. My job, runner! And run I did. Maybe not the best job for someone with a bum foot, but I did my best to baby my foot before and after the raffle (so doc, if you’re reading this, I did the best I could). However, during the raffle, I did a LOT of running — err limping — err rumping? Uh, no. Let’s stick with running. No regrets though. The second contribution I made was to fire up my Tembo Tusk Skottle — complete with new adjustable legs, new leg-table, and new upgraded burner (BEST. BURNER. EVER!) for some cheese quesadillas to feed the volunteer crew that lingered Sunday afternoon to help police the grounds for trash.

Let’s talk a little bit about the mission of the Overland Expo Foundation. In their words the mission of the foundation is:

TO PROTECT THE BEAUTY & EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC LANDS

That’s something I can get behind. And, as a recipient of foundation funding, I can confirm they do just that. Also in their words, the foundation is, “a group of enthusiasts passionate about the freedom of overland travel and the majesty of our public lands.” Looking at their Board of Directors and Officers I can also confirm that to be true. How you might ask? Well, I’ve worked for and with most everyone on their board. Having been attending Overland Expo Events going as far back as 2015 I remember volunteering along side Racheal, the Foundation Executive Director, at multiple shows. I also worked, for a time, under Alison, Anthony, and Jessica either as an instructor or a volunteer at various expos over the years. These are the kinds of people that not only understand the overland community, but also the impact an organization like the Overland Expo Foundation can have.

So, why am I taking the time to write a blog post about a raffle, you might ask. Well, here’s the deal. Every year we lose more and more access to public lands. Funding for public land management is going down while use (and abuse) of that same land is at an all time high and seems to be getting higher every years. Outside of “overlanding” pretty much every form of outdoor recreation is in the midst of a renaissance. As someone with a long history in outdoor recreation — a lifetime — and almost as much time working in the industry in one form or another this is very personal to me. So personal in fact that I wrote my master’s thesis on developing new curriculum for teaching environmental ethics. I’ll spare you the minutia of my thesis, because let’s face it no one wants to read that, but it’s something that is as much a part of me as is my ginger beard. Also, stewardship was one of the very first topics I wrote about on this blog back in 2015: Environmental Stewardship and the Overlander – A look at conservation, preservation, and responsible land use.

My challenge for those of you reading this article is to think long and hard about what it is that you do, and why you do it. Not only do I do that but I also made it the premise of my podcast, Echoes of Adventure. Okay, I admit, that plug was a shameless self-promotion. I’m just hoping this article finds its way to some new eyes and not just my trust ECOA regulars <crosses fingers>. I digress. My point is that I assume most of you reading this are like me. You’re outdoor adventure enthusiasts. We may drive different vehicles. We may recreate in different ways. We may live in different parts of the country — or even the world. However we all share at least one thing in common: we love the outdoors.

We also have something in common. We have a choice. We can stand by the sidelines and watch our public lands get closed acre by acre. We can stand by the sidelines and watch miles and miles of unimproved roads end up behind locked gates. We can chose to stand on the sidelines, or we can step up and do something about it. We have a choice.

The choice I made was to be less passive about it. All my life I have believed in the idea, “leave it better than you found it.” I never hesitated to make sure my campsite was free of trash, even micro-trash, when I packed up to head home. I even went so far as to post pictures of where I camped showing how little of an impact — often only minor tire tracks, foot prints, and the occasional tent footprint — I left in my wake. However, upon reflection, I realized how ineffective that was. It just wasn’t enough to embody the ideals I held on to. So I made a choice.

A few years ago I chose to become more active with Tread Lightly!. It’s an organization born from the United States Forest Service but not operates as an independent non-profit. While I had done occasional projects over the years <cough> decades <cough>, and had been a member off-and-on as funds would allow, I wasn’t fully integrated to the cause. As my overland adventures took be to back and forth through some of the best terrain rhe east coast has to offer I opted to focus on projects in my area. If you hit the “Tread Lightly” category tag you’ll see multiple projects in PA, WV, and VA. These write-ups only represent a handful of the projects I’ve helped with, but moving forward I hope to highly them more often and in greater detail.

So, what does this have to do with you? Well, you have a choice. I know, I said that already but I’m saying again, you have a choice. It’s rather simple. You can do nothing; or you can do something. Luckily if you do something you have a lot of other choices you can make for how and what the something will look like. You can take the first step and become a member of organizations like the Overland Expo Foundation. You can also join Tread Lightly! You can also join organizations like Blue Ribbon Coalition. Each one puts their own subtle spin on the same mission: protect access to our public lands. However, don’t take my word for it. Visit their sites. Do your homework.

After that comes the second step, volunteer. Join a project or two and see if that is a group you want to not just support but be a part of for the foreseeable future. That’s what I did. After a few years away from Tread Lightly! I started volunteering, rekindled my love of stewardship, made some friends that also volunteer with Tread Lightly!, and then got out the credit card to renew my membership.

The next step is to start your own project. All of the previously mentioned organizations, as well as others out there (like the BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails program and the 50-for-50 program through Quadratec) offer grant money for projects. Find a place in your area that needs a little TLC, get a team together, and get to work. Actions speak louder than words.

The last step is probably the hardest and the most uncomfortable for a lot of people. That is to hold each other accountable. No one wants to be “that guy” around the campfire, but someone has to speak up and say things like, “hey, don’t throw that plastic bottle into the campfire” or “hey, let’s stick to the train and not bushwhack around this puddle.” The only way things are going to get better is if we are all out there not just doing our own part, but also holding each other accountable to do their part too. Does that mean holding people at gun-point to cough up money for the cause, no. At least not yet. It also doesn’t mean we have to shackle people in irons and start off-road chain-gangs. Although, if I’m honest, I’m sure there is some prison labor that would enjoy the time outside. Again, I digress.

In short, all I’m asking, all I’m hoping, is that you’ll take the next step to doing more and helping the greater good when it comes to protecting out public lands. This isn’t just selfish for our own sake. This is about protecting public land access for everyone and for the generations yet to come. It’s easy to stand back and watch mile by mile and acre by acre disappear. Let’s collectively step up and do more!

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, opinions, ramblings, off-handed jokes, sarcasm, and witless banter belong solely to the author. No endorsement of this article by any mentioned organization is expressed or implied. Simply put, don’t take anything said here as the gospel for any of these organizations. We’re just here to help promote the cause.

Photo Credit: All photos provided by Overland Expo Foundation and the Overland Expo media team.