A coalition of outdoor businesses representing diverse corners of the outdoor recreation world, from mountain bikes to hunting firearms, has committed to band together in celebration of our uniquely wild American lands and, in turn, raise money for conservation non-profits. The project, dubbed the Common Wild Initiative, will create dedicated and much-needed funds for protecting wildlife and wild places via the sale of limited-edition merchandise.
The gear, including branded Nalgene bottles, enamel camp mugs and a classic trucker-style hat, were designed for wide appeal aming outdoor recreationalists, said the group. Products will be available starting December 3, with 100 percent of the net proceeds benefitting non-profits. A full list of participating companies, and where to buy the gear can be found at https://commonwild.org.
“We want to show Americans that conservation is fundamental to the $887 billion-dollar outdoor economy and that support for the protection of wildlife and wild places unites all outdoor recreation businesses,” said Ford Van Fossan, conservation manager at First Lite Hunting and creator of the campaign.
The release date after the presidential election was chosen to emphasize how conservation is a uniquely bipartisan issue. “With the passage of Great American Outdoors Act and recent Army Corps objections to the proposed mine at Bristol Bay, we’ve been reminded that conservation is not a Republican or Democratic issue. After a polarizing election, we are going to need to come together as a people around bipartisan ideas like conservation and celebrating our Common Wild will be a great way to start,” said Van Fossan.
