crooked trails MISSION

Crooked Trails is a non-profit, community-based travel organization helping people broaden their understanding of the planet and its diverse cultures through education, community development and responsible travel.

WHO WE ARE

Crooked Trails was founded in 1998 by Christine Mackay and Tammy Leland. Their aim was to create more environmentally and culturally sensitive travel in areas where the negative impacts of tourism were threatening the cultures and environments of popular tourist destinations or fragile regions. In addition, Chris and Tammy wanted to bring the ideas of responsible travel to the forefront of people’s minds. For the past several years, Crooked Trails, in cooperation with other non-governmental organizations, has conducted a series of travel programs in support of the indigenous peoples of Thailand, Nepal, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, India and Kenya. Our programs allow local communities the opportunity to develop and administrate cultural exchange programs that help support their efforts to preserve and protect their environments and to confront the challenges of their rapidly changing surroundings.

what we do

Crooked Trails has 4 branches to its work: 1) International Travel programs, 2) Educational Outreach,  3) Community Development, and 4) Exploration Seminars for schools and Universities. Each of these four branches is integral to the mission of Crooked Trails. Currently most of what we are known for is our travel programs. However in 2006 we will be raising awareness and funds for the other three branches of our work.

International Travel Programs	Educational Outreach	Community Development Projects	Exploration Seminars
Crooked Trails is well known for the travel programs it offers abroad. We work in Peru, Nepal, China, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand and India. These programs are the backbone of our organization and create an astonishing learning environment for the travelers.	Crooked Trails educates travelers and tour companies on ways to travel more respectfully and how to lessen the negative environmental and cultural impacts on the places they visit. We have developed education materials and offer slide shows to the public, area universities and clubs on responsible travel. Presentations also help to expand awareness about other cultures.	Over the years Crooked Trails has been involved in man sustainable development projects in the communities with whom we work.  The projects are chosen by the communities and partner NGO’s.  In addition to actual projects; Crooked Trails supports community members through a variety of programs including our sponsorship and scholarships programs.	Since 2003 Crooked Trails has brought secondary schools and university classes abroad. Crooked Trails’ staff work closely with professors and teachers to design curriculum that will allow students to achieve their academic goals while traveling in a distant land.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL PROGRAMS

Crooked Trails offers programs in countries around the world including: Kenya, Mali, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, Mexico and China. Our focus on community-based eco-travel and capacity building in indigenous communities for the past 10 years has allowed Crooked Trails to immerge as a leader in the field of community eco-tourism.  All our travel programs involve home-stays and most involve service projects. For our university and school programs they often involve service and study projects in country as well as homestays.

What makes our work so rich and meaningful for our clients and partners rests squarely upon the strong relationships and trust we have gained in the communities where we work. Crooked Trails believes tourism and community development should not happen to a community, but with them.  In order to do this we spend a great deal of time in the communities and rely strongly on our extensive network of partner NGO’s in country.

educational outreach

Since 1999 Crooked Trails’ co-founders have offered free talks, slide shows and events that focus on responsible travel and the issues that face the communities we work with.  We will continue to reach out and bring the message of responsible travel to more people. In addition to the presentations, we have offered our services to many individuals and organizations looking at starting community based tourism programs of their own. We continue to be a source of information for others and look to expand our role as a leader in the field.

Presentations & Slide Shows

Western Washington University

Huxley College

REI Flagship Store

Redmond  REI

World Wide Books and Maps

North Seattle Community College

Discover U

Hostelling International

Marco Polo Books

Third Place Books

Appearances and Articles

El Comercio of Peru

SOMOS Magazine

Institute for Traditional Studies Journal

The New Roadmap Foundation Newsletter

Responsible Travel News Website

Westcoast Backpackers News

Transitions Abroad Magazine (2x)

Costco’s Connection

Co-op America Green Pages Newsletter

Seattle Times NWSource

NPR’s Weekday (3x)

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Our service projects have ranged from film making to school building. Below is a sample of some of the projects Crooked Trails has been involved in.

PERU­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_________________________________________________________________

Documentary Film on the Impacts of Tourism-

In July 2005, Crooked trails in partnership with a Peruvian film crew began the filming of  30-minute documentary examining the positive and negative effects of tourism in the indigenous communities of the Peruvian Andeans and the power of community based tourism for improving environmental conservation and community well-being. We still need funding to finish the editing.

Yachaqui Wayi Responsible Travel Center-            

The Yachaqui Wayi Responsible Travel Center, a community owned and operated educational resource center, was developed in 2004 to provide much-needed information about the real costs of tourism; the negative and positive impacts and to provide educational materials that help tourists travel in a more respectful and responsible way.  Crooked Trails provided initial funding and support to develop the center and continues to assist the communities of Vicos, Huamachuco and Huaripampa.

Minka Chinchero Weavers Co-op and Homestay-

Crooked trails has partnered with families in Chinchero, Peru to help develop and support a weaver’s homestay project.  Here tourist can live and study traditional Inca weaving while living with a Chinchero family and participating in their daily lives. 

Sies Vacas Para Peru

In August of 2008 we began raising money to buy cows for the village of Usabamba. The project is based on the idea of the heifer foundation. Families must attend a workshop and take ongoing classes to learn how to care for their cow. The community has taken a great deal of interest and power in this project and it has garnered a great deal of interest from media in the US.

Smokeless Stoves

In 2009, Crooked Trails began working with the communities in the Usabamba region in the southern Andes to bring smokeless oven to community homes in 6 villages.  This is an ongoing project.

Soccer for Change

In 2009, school children traveled to the small community of Cachora in southern Peru to build a new soccer field for the community and to create understanding between cultures.

KENYA________________________________________________________________

Returning to Maasai Education-

Over the past 5 years Crooked Trails and is clients have been instrumental in building a secondary school, a water system and a clinic in the village of Merrueshi . The school is completely run by Maasai for Maasai and in the language of Maasai.

THAILAND_____________________________________________________________

Hilltribe Community Building Projects-

Over the years Crooked Trails participants have constructed a community school cantina, a community center and foot bridge for the Lahu and Lisu people of hilltribe villages outside of Chaing Rai.  In the future we will be working on a missing person locator, combating trafficking of women and children and Thai citizenship issues. Crooked Trails rose over $6000 for Tsunami relief and supported 6 volunteers to travel to Thailand and live in Kuraburi and the island of Koh Phra Thong. There they helped in the re-construction of an entire village: rebuilding the school, clinic, piers and water systems.  

NEPAL________________________________________________________________

Community Schools Construction Projects-           

Crooked Trail participants have worked on development projects on 5 different school in Nepal and is currently have raised funds for schools in 2008 and 2009 and are currently raising funds to build a school in the Katmandu Valley in 2010.

EXPLORATION SEMINARS

We live in an increasingly interconnected world. Business operates in a global market; environmental issues do not recognize political boundaries. It is critical to have a global perspective in order to function in today's world. With this in mind, Crooked Trails has brought university students as well as secondary school youth abroad for their international study programs since 2003. We have worked with the University of Delaware, Western Washington University and the University of Washington as well as Seattle area middle and high schools. We are currently working with other colleges and universities to help them meet their educational goals abroad. We have created programs centered on the curriculum requirements of the professors with whom we work in departments including: Business, Recreation, Anthropology, Environmental Studies and Latin American Studies. We have developed programs on Sustainable Business Practices, Corporate Responsibility, and Eco-Tourism. 

Several characteristics make exploration seminars invaluable to the students and faculty who participate.  When we create the seminars we work with faculty to ensure that academic requirements are met and simultaneously we maintain that the key objectives for this kind of travel are never compromised. 

• Students and faculty are given the opportunity to explore issues of their chosen discipline in another country, context and culture.  Being removed from what is familiar to us often gives rise to new insights and discoveries that provide new lenses with which to look at the old and familiar.  The impact is lasting.

• Seminars are scheduled in length from 2 to 6 weeks and are designed to fit and enhance academic requirements and objectives.
  
  
• Students are able to study other languages, learn about other cultures through daily interactions, and to explore arts, business, science and history experientially.  .Experiential learning is one of the most impactful and long lasting learning methods can be employed. 
  
  

The experience of exploring a foreign culture and adapting to alternative methods of living greatly contribute to personal growth. While traveling abroad, students learn almost as much about themselves and their own culture as they do about their host culture. They discover their strengths and weaknesses, how to approach and overcome challenges, and how to be flexible in the face of difference and sensitive to various perspectives.

PARTNERSHIPS

Crooked Trails cannot and does not do this work alone. In every country we visit we rely on our partnerships with non-governmental organizations. Currently, we work with 24 communities and the following NGO’s. 

The Mountain Institute- Peru

Katmandu EE Network- Nepal

Lingshed Area Project- India

Andaman Discoveries - Thailand

Rainforest Expeditions- Peru

Maasai Association- Kenya

 

 

CRT-002 Client Responses

1. As a non-profit please describe what exactly you provide in terms of services.


Crooked Trails is a 501 c 3 educational nonprofit. Our goals are to educate people about the world and its diverse cultures through responsible travel, educational outreach and community development projects. I have attached a document the tells you a ;little more about how we do this.


2. Why is it called Crooked Trails?

Some people believe we choose the name Crooked Trails because of Edward Abby’s quote "May all your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view...where something strange and more beautiful and full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you."

However, the truth is that we wanted something that suggested traveling in a different way, not the straight path. Suggesting your travels may take you to unexpected places—like Abby says. When we had someone design our logo we want the logo to suggest a Crooked Trail but to be clear that others had been there before. Not just the environment with a trail but that another culture may live there. Unfortunately, we don’t like the logo and it would be exciting to see what you can do with that idea.



3. Do you have repeat participants?

Absolutely! We have many people who return to take another trip with us and even sometimes to the same place as the connections are pretty strong.

4. Tell me a little about what the target audience is for your services: who takes your trips? (gender, age, income level, personal interests, is their a common theme to the participants) ex. They may all be young adults interested in environmental issues globally.

EVERYONE! It is really hard to pin down a target audience. When we began in 1999, we had mostly 20-30 year old hard core backpackers. At that time, these were the only people who thought they could do our programs. Over the years, many more people have come to understand that you don’t have to “ROUGH IT” to have a deep cultural exchange. Our average age now is 35-60 and we get MANY families who participate. This does not include our high school and university programs. We run about 70% women to men and the income level is now higher than it use to be. Most people come to us one, because they want something different out of their travel experience, they want to connect with people in the country and they want to travel to give back. Families want to introduce their kids to a world where other are not as fortunate as we.

5. Could you describe a Crooked Trails experience in 10 words:

We like to say it is like a “mini-peace corps experience” I say EXCHANGE, EDUCATION, SERVICE

6. As a non-profit what percentage of trip cost goes back to the organization?

Approximately 20% goes to Crooked Trails administration.

7. If I were to take one of your trips would I be eligible for a tax deduction?

Yes, roughly 30% of all trip fees are tax deductible.

8. Why did your start the organization and what drives you to keep Crooked Trails open?

It first began as a desire to help indigenous people who were being exploited by the tourist industry. We want to to give them a voice to say NO. We wanted to help them gain the skills and financing to get involved if they wanted to. We wanted to give travelers an alternative to negative and destructive MASS TOURISM. Ecotourism already existed but nobody was considering how the cultures of host countries were being affected.

I am driven to continue with our work because of the families I have made partners with in other communities. Because of the testimonials from our participants and because of the enormous need for CULTURAL UNDERSTANING by the whole world.

CRT-002 Client Emails R1

Hello Tammy,

We spoke earlier today, 8/30 around 12:30 this afternoon. A little bit about myself I am a Senior Graphic Design Marketing Major at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. I am planning on graduating this upcoming December. I am currently finishing my degree and one of the required classes to graduate requires us to work hand in hand with a non-profit organization. For the class we are required to re-brand or brand the non-profit of our choice. This entails a new logo, website, promotional poster, brochure and/or short informational video, and an open project that best suits the client/ non-profits needs.

I have done hours of research selecting my non-profit and I would love to work with Crooked Trails. This non-profit has hit a soft spot for me because I am planning on leaving for an 8-month long travels adventure this December. A group of friends and I will be traveling to India, South East Asia, Egypt, and Eastern Europe. Our trip will include a lot of sight seeing as well a large amount of volunteer work. So when it came time to select a non-profit for my Graphic Design Senior Studio class I was delighted to find Crooked Trails.

I understand that it might not be a good time for you all to rebrand your look, however I would really appreciate your assistance in helping me learn more about what Crooked Trail does. I have gathered a lot from your website however I still have a few questions.


1. As a non-profit please describe what exactly you provide in terms of services.

2. Why is it called Crooked Trails?

3. Do you have repeat participants?

4. Tell me a little about what the target audience is for your services: who takes your trips? (gender, age, income level, personal interests, is their a common theme to the participants) ex. They may all be young adults interested in environmental issues globally.

5. Could you describe a Crooked Trails experience in 10 words:

6. As a non-profit what percentage of trip cost goes back to the organization?

7. If I were to take one of your trips would I be eligible for a tax deduction?

8. Why did your start the organization and what drives you to keep Crooked Trails open?

Thank you for your time, and if you are interesting in working with me more I would be glad to show you my work throughout the creative process.

Have a good day!
Rebecca Peterson
Petersonrma@gmail.com
704-654-2051

CRT-001 Design Breif V1

1. Company Profile: Crooked Trails: Travel with a Purpose

http://www.crookedtrails.com/

Crooked Trails is a non-profit, community-based travel organization
helping people broaden their understanding of the planet and its diverse cultures through education, community development, and responsible travel.

“Who in this world do you want to be?”

Crooked Trails was founded on the premise that tourism does not have to threaten the cultures and environments of popular destinations and fragile regions.

As an educational non-profit organization, they create true cultural exchanges that make positive contributions to host communities and have lasting effects on travelers. Crooked Trails participants return home having learned ways to incorporate lessons from these exchanges into their own lives and communities.

They only work in communities that have invited them and on community development projects chosen by the people they visit. Crooked Trails commitment to community empowerment supports the efforts of indigenous people to preserve and protect their environments and confront the challenges of their rapidly changing surroundings.

In cooperation with other non-governmental organizations, they operate travel programs in support of indigenous peoples in Peru, Thailand, Nepal, India, Ecuador, Kenya, and other destinations. All of their programs teach the ethics of responsible travel and ways to minimize the environmental and cultural impacts of tourism. They also educate tour operators, both at home and abroad, about how to incorporate those ethics into their programs.

“We believe that we, and you, can improve cultural, ecological, and economic conditions around the world by changing the way people travel.” – Crooked Trails

 

3. Target Audience:

Crooked Trails participants are usually active travelers between the ages of 25 and 60 who are craving a vacation experience that goes beyond traditional tourism. They have a desire to learn about and truly understand the country they are visiting. Most importantly, they are interested in full cultural immersion and look forward to entering our hosts’ homes with openness and respect.

Crooked Trails has different program categories that all target different audience. The following are the list of the target audiences for the different programs:

1. Programs for Families

2. Organizations

3. Schools/ Universities

4. Teachers needing credits for international programs

5. Programs for young and formerly young individuals.

The program rates vary, ranging from $1,895 to $4,000, depending on destination and length of stay.

Most individuals who participate are in a transitional period in their lives, where taking off an extended period of time is easier.

 

5. Competative Audits:

Other similar Companies:

Traveler Conservation Trust, Global Volunteers, Global Roots, Gap Force, Common Treadz, Center for Cultural interchange, Alternative Spring Break Programs, Peace Corps, STA travel, Lonely Planet, Hands up Holidays, Voluntourism, I to I

Voluntourism: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/18/voluntourism.pros.and.cons/index.html