Sustainability

  Stanley joined The Conservation Alliance in 2007 to help protect the wild places we love and combat the impacts of climate change. One of the projects we’re especially passionate about is the Wild Olympics Campaign, which is seeking to protect more than 126,000 acres of forest and 464 miles of river on the Olympic Peninsula in our home state. In honor of this campaign, we created a limited-edition GO Bottle in partnership with artist Gretchen Leggit. Stanley is proud to donate $5 of every purchase to The Conservation Alliance in support of the Wild Olympics Campaign and other important projects. (Another way you can help is to sign the petition in support of the Wild Olympics Campaign.) HOORAY FOR THESE WILD PLACES Here are just some the latest Conservation Alliance success stories, made possible with grants and advocacy: Steamboat Creek, Oregon –  99,653 acres protected Holy Boulders, Illinois – A climbing area and 46 acres protected   Moon Rocks at Yellow Creek, West Virginia ­– 866 acres protected Rocky Mountain Front, Montana ­– 442 acres protected Thaidene Nëné Protected Area, Canada – 6,517,651 acres protected ABOUT THE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE Since inception in 1989, Conservation Alliance funding has helped save more than 73 million acres of wildlands; protect 3,575 miles of rivers; stop or remove 35 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase 17 climbing areas.     ABOUT STANLEY The Stanley brand has a rich 100+ year history. Born from inventor William Stanley Jr. who forever changed the way hot drinks were consumed, in 1913 he fused vacuum insulation and the strength of steel in one portable bottle, inventing the all-steel vacuum bottle we know and love today.

Elizabeth Lillard is one of the founders and Program Manager with Women in Conservation Leadership through the National Wildlife Federation. Women In Conservation Leadership is a diverse, inclusive, national community and a catalyst to elevate and embolden all women in advancing conservation. Women in Conservation Leadership (WCL) was started four years ago by myself and a group of dedicated National Wildlife Federation (NWF) staff members. WCL originally began as a small gathering at the National Wildlife Federation’s Annual meeting. I had the opportunity to attend one of these gatherings at the 2016 Annual meeting, where I realized there was a real need for spaces like this and for women in the conservation movement to connect specifically around leadership and professional growth. After doing more research, I learned that despite the large percentage of women employees in environmental and conservation organizations (more than 50 percent), very few women are in high-level positions, and even fewer are women of color. Armed with this information, I approached two senior-level women who organized the Annual Meeting gatherings, and proposed a multi-day retreat focusing on empowerment and leadership skill building for any woman or female-identifying person at the National Wildlife Federation. While both women liked the idea, they were skeptical it could happen quickly given the logistics and cost. However, I kept pushing the issue, setting up meetings and phone calls with various staff at NWF to gain momentum. A few months later, we had a Women in Conservation Leadership Summit planning group, full support of the Board, the CEO and every office across the country. The first WCL Summit was held in March 2017 at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV and we hosted 160 women representing NWF staff, board members and affiliate organizations. We brought in leadership coaches who facilitated discussions around strengthening and building women’s leadership, exploring diversity and intersectionality and understanding women’s personal and organizational realities. At the end of the Summit, attendees raved about their experience: “I am so grateful to the outstanding organizers/leaders who brought us together,” “I hope you know that this weekend has already changed me and NWF.” While we originally developed WCL for NWF staff, after the 2017 Summit women from other organizations asked to be invited after seeing social media posts describing the event. So, our team got to work organizing the 2018 Summit to include any woman interested in conservation leadership development. For 2018, we wanted to build on the work we had accomplished in 2017, while also focusing on growing the community beyond NWF. We decided to focus content around giving attendees leadership tools to take back to their organizations, including coaching, active listening, and network mapping. We were a little unsure how many participants to plan for because we were opening up beyond just NWF. We ended up with over 330 participants representing 120 organizations which was double from the year before! From the beginning, WCL has been a volunteer initiative with our whole planning group working on this in addition to our full-time jobs. After the 2018 Summit, we realized we needed a strategic vision, an implementation plan and some full-time staff to continue this work. So, we spent 2019 doing just that and as of September 2019 I officially became the Women in Conservation Leadership Program Manager! Since officially starting in this role, I have been working hard to prepare for the 2020 WCL Summit. This year’s theme is “Weaving Change: Connecting Women for Action”. We see the WCL network like a tapestry – made of individual threads. Each thread is unique and intrinsically important. When woven together the threads create a larger tapestry, providing durability, utility and beauty. Through the Summit, we continue to connect women and weave a larger network for change and impact. The 2020 WCL Summit was originally scheduled for March 16-19, 2020 but due to COVID-19 we have postponed to October 13-16, 2020. For the 2020 Summit, we have almost 600 registrants from over 10 different countries, which is our first time with any international representation! It has been really exciting and empowering to see this idea grow from a small, side meeting to a huge event with a global reach in just 4 years. I am very proud of our planning group and of the National Wildlife Federation for recognizing the needs of women in the environmental movement and making space for us to gather, heal and learn. We believe that stronger conservation is possible through women leaders of all ethnicities, races and cultures. Head to our website to find out more information

A Stanley Brand Ambassador Jennifer, is a professional angler specializing in catching unique species, chasing world records, and hosting interactive workshops for the public. On The Influence Conservation Has In Her Day-To-Day. I believe I have a responsibility to help ensure the outdoor resources I enjoy are around for future generations. One of the steps I take to help conserve these resources include participating in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Marine Game Fish Tagging program. This program helps anglers understand the impacts our actions have on marine resource conservation and management, and promotes the positive impacts of catch and release fishing. The tagging program provides vital information to SCDNR biologists to help understand the breeding, population, and migratory patterns of some of the most popular and iconic fish species here in South Carolina, and this information proves critical in making rules and regulations to properly manage our fisheries. For example, the recent data collected on the southern flounder through the tagging program shows that their population is declining, and this will help South Carolina determine the actions needed to improve the southern flounder population. Tagging a fish is easy and does not cause harm to the fish when it is released, and also provides a reward to anyone who recaptures that fish! Instructions are printed on the tag on how to report the tagged fish, and the angler who originally tagged that fish receives a report that summarizes the new data received for that fish. It is always fun to receive a report to see how far a fish has traveled, and how much it has grown since it was first tagged. Another way I support fishing conservation efforts is by being a SCDNR Certified Fishing Instructor. Through my training in this program, I am able to educate others about angler ethics, how to properly use and maintain fishing gear, the benefits of catch-and-release fishing, and how to properly harvest fish. I volunteer at fishing clinics throughout the year aimed at introducing beginners to fishing, and it is so rewarding to help kids and adults catch their first fish and get them "hooked" on fishing! Her Favorite Causes. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), and the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) are the major conservation organizations that I support. These three organizations impact local, regional, and national conservation efforts for our fisheries and industry as a whole. They have programs that target not only conservation, but education, legislation, and industry trends to help inform the public and fishing community on current topics and ways to make a positive impact. How Individuals Make An Impact. There are many conservation issues that impact fishing but the good news is that there are several ways anglers can make an individual impact. One such issue is responsible harvesting. It is vital to the future of our fisheries to be aware of catch limits and laws in any area where you fish, and to not keep more fish than you need (especially if there are no limits on a species you are targeting). And in other cases, there may be directives to harvest invasive species to prevent them from taking over habitats. For example, the SCDNR is encouraging anglers to kill the northern snakehead fish if caught in the state because its predatory nature threatens native species. It is so important for anglers to educate themselves about the species they are targeting and the areas where they fish to understand how their actions can directly impact the conservation of the fisheries they enjoy. As an angler, there are many opportunities to get involved in conservation efforts, especially in the local community. Look for groups in your area that you can join, or sign up for specific events like waterway cleanups, oyster shell recycling, fishing outings for veterans, or kids fishing clinics. One of the easiest things you can do to support conservation and make a difference is to keep garbage bags in your car or tackle box so you can properly dispose of any waste you generate or find. Every one of us has the ability to make a positive impact to our environment to leave things better than we found them for future generations. 

Tessa is an angler and photographer living in Alaska, and a Stanley Brand Ambassador. I think it’s safe to say that we all care about our planet and all that inhabit it, at least I hope I’m speaking for everyone! Living in Alaska, I could not imagine being unable to look out my window to see a moose munching happily on endless amounts of tree branches, bushes and berries; or walking through a field of fireweed to the river only to discover the absence of thousands of bright red salmon in their spawn. It’s become an expectation of where I live, something I have come to count on and deeply hope to remain. As not only a person who loves to hunt, fish, camp, and do anything outdoors, but also as a person who lives in this place that gives me all those opportunities and more, I truly care about conservation and our environment. Conservation is a large, sometimes complicated, and most of all important issue that we face as human beings. I believe that, sadly, we are a major cause of the environmental issues we face and we have a responsibility to recognize that and work toward rectifying it for the sake of our planet and our future generations that will inherit it. I used to think that it was difficult to contribute to conservation. I observe people like Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, who focus huge efforts toward environmental issues through use of solar panels, electric cars, and planting countless trees. I am humbled by his generosity and feel intimidated by his impact in comparison to mine. Granted, he is a billionaire and I am not. So, when I was a college student on a budget and didn’t have the funds to donate to the organizations I wanted to support, it left me feeling like I wasn’t doing enough. Something I learned though, through this experience, is that you don’t need loads of money to donate to organizations or groups (though it can greatly help), but rather that conscious effort to implement conservation as a mindset and incorporate it into daily routines, is just as valuable. I realized that even seemingly small acts of being aware of what you are doing, the choices you are making, the actions you are taking and the views you are sharing, all make a bigger difference than you might originally think. Personally, I work hard to make sure I recycle, buy recycled and reusable products when I can, support purposeful organizations in any way I am able to, and simply make conservation into a lifestyle. For example, I made the switch to using a Stanley water bottle rather than plastic water bottles years ago. I also bought some reusable shopping bags so I don’t have to use plastic grocery bags. Those changes may seem small and simple, but I know have large impacts, one person at a time. I also strongly take conservation into mind when I’m hunting and fishing. I know it sounds silly, and I’ve had this conversation many times before, but believe it or not, those who hunt and fish are some of the largest supporters of conservation. In some respects, it may seem ironic, but it’s more than true. In terms of myself, I try to do my part by practicing catch and release when I am fly-fishing. Even down to using barbless hooks (or smashing the barbs on my hooks) and limiting the time of the fight to lessen the stress and create an ease of release for the fish. Practicing these kinds of techniques help keep the fish population thriving. Having said that, I do on occasion catch certain salmon to keep as food, and I know many friends and family members who rely on those salmon every year to fill their freezers. I firmly believe that if we didn’t have conservation efforts in place, it would greatly affect the lifestyles of many people. There are so many who rely on subsistence hunting and fishing to support them and their families. I believe also that conservation efforts support the research and education that keep our fish and wildlife populations high, and provide safety and proper hunting and fishing techniques so others can do their part to contribute to the land and species. An example of this is the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s Division of Wildlife Conservation that is focused solely on conservation efforts and research. It is through this program that myself and many others have taken the hunter’s education course, it is a great source for learning about Alaska’s fish and wildlife species. Being that the programs are offered through the state’s Department of Fish and Game, it is so easy to access and participate in them. If you have a moment, I recommend researching your own state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to see what kind of conservation programs they may have to offer. There are many, many, many other conservation organizations and groups that I love and support. One that I strongly support is Save Bristol Bay. The Pebble Mine has been a controversial conflict in my home state of Alaska for years now. I’m the type of person who likes to see both sides of things, where yes, the Pebble Mine could benefit in terms of available jobs and the income for the state. But, and there’s a huge “but” here, it would be at the cost of rivers, streams, and land that encompass the livelihoods of all sorts of people, creatures, fisheries and jobs that are already in place. Many people who disagree with the Pebble Mine, such as myself, have signed the petition to help deny the Pebble Mine permit, and it took me less than a minute to participate in that conservation effort! I’m not here to get political, but I would like to offer this as another example of how you can make an impact, and how easy it really is to contribute to conservation. Conservation is all about the big picture. As humans, we see ourselves at the top of the food chain. Which, sure, in some cases is true. Yet, as beings on this shared planet, we are equal to everyone and every creature that inhabit it, as our home, their home and all living beings' birthright. However, we are the ones most capable and able to take action to conserve and protect it.