San Luis Obispo Tourism Board Grants $15K in Support of State Park Conservation
15 May 2012
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Volunteer Vacations Program to Convert Tourists into ‘Voluntourists’
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (May 8, 2012) –
The City of San Luis Obispo Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) board voted unanimously at its last meeting to approve a $15,000 grant to promote its new “Volunteer Vacations” program with The Nature Corps.
The Nature Corps, the oldest nonprofit organization whose sole objective is to engage volunteers in the stewardship of national and state parks, will collaborate with the 37 hotels of the City of San Luis Obispo to offer five-day, catered and guided “Volunteer Vacations” on the Central Coast, beginning in August of 2012. The program, which will focus on aiding Morro Bay State Park and the Hearst Castle National Historic Landmark, aims to provide enough volunteer support to deter the possibility of future park closures.
“With California facing the potential closure of 70 of its state parks this summer, including Morro Strand State Beach in our county, the TBID feels this program supports a worthy cause and is a valuable investment in helping to preserve the natural riches that make San Luis Obispo such a unique destination,” says TBID Chairman Clint Pearce. “Meanwhile, volunteer vacationers will have the benefit of leaving their mark on important state landmarks while participating in an unforgettable hands-on experience of San Luis Obispo’s open spaces, wine country and downtown community.”
Led by experienced Nature Corps guides, volunteers will help complete critical conservation projects at nearby state parks and take “behind the scenes” tours to explore California’s world-renowned Hearst Castle, the Elephant Seal rookeries in San Simeon and the National Estuary in Morro Bay. The five-day excursions will also include hiking, kayaking in Morro Bay, wine tasting, and attending special city-wide festivals as well as opportunities for biking, golfing, shopping in San Luis Obispo and sampling farm-fresh cuisine at Farmer’s Market.
In addition to providing volunteer opportunities for vacationers, proceeds from the program will be used to sponsor field trips and service learning projects so that students from throughout San Luis Obispo County can help on important conservation and maintenance projects in the state parks.
The TBID’s marketing agency of record, LEVEL Studios, will oversee the marketing campaign for the program.
Since 1987, Nature Corps volunteers have participated in award-winning volunteer vacations to create a multi-million dollar legacy of conservation in some California’s most magnificent parks. For more information, visit http://TheNatureCorps.org.
The City of San Luis Obispo, CA’s hotels provide a central home base for guests to make day trips and excursions to the surrounding pristine beaches, premier wine country, breathtaking state parks and one-of-a-kind attractions like Hearst Castle, Mission San Luis Obispo, and the world-famous Thursday Evening Farmer’s Market. For more details about hotel accommodations, events, and attractions in San Luis Obispo, CA, visit: www.sanluisobispovacations.com. Editors seeking additional information, a media visit, or images may contact Jamie Relth (jamie@thepressroom.com) at On the Horizon Communications, (805) 773-1000.
Public Contact: Mark Landon mlandon@thenaturecorps.org, 805) 434-0299
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