Amy Freeman is a wilderness guide, explorer and author. Amy and her husband Dave have traveled over 50,000 miles by kayak, canoe, sailboat and dogsled through some of the world’s wildest places, from the Amazon to the Arctic. The Freemans run The Wilderness Classroom Organization and share their expeditions online with school groups. They were named Adventurers of the Year by National Geographic in 2014. |
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Dear John,
You may remember me and my “adventure advocacy” expeditions. In 2013, my husband Dave and I were working as wilderness guides – canoeing in the summer and dogsledding in the winter. We were appalled to learn about proposed sulfide-ore copper mines upstream from our beloved Boundary Waters and knew we needed to do something to help protect Canoe Country.
Dave and I aren’t lawyers, or scientists, or lobbyists, we couldn’t afford to donate thousands of dollars, so how could we help? But we knew we could travel by canoe, we could camp, and had the know-how to share the experience online - so we found a way to put our skills and passions to use. We volunteered to paddle the first petition-canoe, covered in signatures, to Washington, D.C.
This grassroots movement to protect the Boundary Waters needs everyone. Can you donate to support this broad, people-powered movement to protect the Boundary Waters forever? All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar until midnight on December 31. There’s no time to lose - rush a gift now.
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I realize now that in those early years, we were a bit naïve about the immense effort and time it would take to save the Wilderness from sulfide ore copper mining. As it sunk in that there was more work to be done, we offered up a grander plan — spend a whole year in the Boundary Waters and broadcast the experience in as many ways as possible to keep it on people’s minds year round through blog posts, interviews, a podcast, and social media. During our Year in the Wilderness eight years ago, we shared this place we love with the world.
We’re proud to be part of an amazing community of Boundary Waters protectors. Whether you give monetarily, with your time, by bringing other people to the Boundary Waters, frequenting Wilderness-edge businesses, or telling other people about the cause. The movement needs all of us AND more of us, to grow & sustain and protect this place forever.
Over 80% of the gifts to Save the Boundary Waters come from individual donors giving $100 or less. Whether you can give $5, $50, or $500, every gift matters and adds up to protect this special place. Take advantage of the matching gift challenge and rush your tax-deductible gift before December 31.
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Thank you for being part of this movement for adventure and conservation. |
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| For the Wilderness, Amy Freeman
Guide, explorer, author, and Director of Development for The Wilderness Classroom, and board member for Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and Save the Boundary Waters |
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