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Crooked Trails 

Description

Crooked Trails was founded in 1998 by Christine Mackay and Tammy Leland on the premise that tourism does not have to threaten the cultures and environments of popular tourist destinations and fragile regions.

Our aim is to create more environmentally and culturally sensitive travel opportunities that hold long-term sustainability for host communities, as well as to educate travelers with guidelines and methods for making responsible travel choices.

We believe that together we can improve cultural, ecological, and economic conditions around the world by changing the way people travel.

Mission Statement
Crooked Trails is an educational non-profit fighting the negative cultural and environmental impacts of travel on host countries and local communities and helping people broaden their understanding of the planet and its diverse cultures 
through educational outreach and campaigns and sustainable travel programs.

We are based in Seattle, WA. in the USA.  We work in partnership with over 15 countries to ensure that tourism always benefits local people.  
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Crooked Trails
PO Box 94034 
Seattle 
WA
98124 
206-383-9828 

Tammy Leland 
Co-Founder and International Program Director 

Programs

Crooked Trails Programs

ONLINE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR TRAVELERS--Our website is being designed to provide easy, accessible tips for traveling sustainably.  Concerned travelers can learn about ethical guidelines for each country, find locally owned services that support local economies, read sustainable travel product reviews and access our sustainable travel programs.

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL PROGRAMS--These are travel programs open to the general public which participate 100% in Sustainable Travel  Practices.  We offer programs to Central and South America, Asia, Africa and North America

EDUCATION CAMPAIGN--TOURIST INDUSTRY EXPLOITATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.--It has been our goal since 1998 to offer free educational talks, workshops and events to inform people about the cultural, environmental and economic negative impacts of tourism.  We also work with local communities giving them the voice to say "NO" to tourism or helping them gain the skills and financing they need to participate.

EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN--BUILDING SMOKELESS OVENS--Crooked Trails works to raise funds, hire local engineers and provide friendship and support for building smokeless ovens in highland Andean communities in Peru

EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN--SUPPORTING THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL SLAVERY
--Crooked Trails offers yearly educational programs in the Seattle to inform people about the communities where we travel and the issues they face such as Child Sexual Slavery.  We raise funds in support of Maiti Nepal to help rescue young children from sexual slavery.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

SUCCESSES

COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM PROGRAMS
--Over the years Crooked Trails has worked directly with communities in India, Thailand, Bhutan and Peru helping them gain the financing and education they need to develop their own community based tourism programs within their communities.

PERU VILLAGE NUTRITION AND HEALTH PROGRAM--Through 2 programs developed and managed by Crooked Trails we have been able to bring cows and smokeless ovens to  five communities in the Chinchero region. 

ONLINE SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR TRAVELERS--Launching on April 27th, our new website and sustainable travel portal will provide easy, accessible tips for traveling sustainably.  Concerned travelers can learn bout ethical guidelines for each country, find locally owned services that support local economies, read sustainable travel product reviews and access our sustainable travel programs.

NEEDS


1. Continued support to provide online educational resources for travelers on sustainable travel.  This is an ongoing educational site.  As information changes, so do we.

2. Funding of a Community Based Tourism Latin American Summit. 

3. Funding for continued educational campaign on the exploitation of indigenous people with goals to reach more Western travelers and helping them to make informed decisions about sustainable travel. 

4. Training programs for local residents in the countries and communities where we work to continue to support local jobs.

5. Updating country ethical guidelines.

6.  Training of local women for management roles in the tourism industry.

Evaluation

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
There are no recent grants awarded to this organization.

Financials

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