The UIAA Respect the Mountains series, partnered by KEEN, will take place throughout the summer of 2016, with nine events held across eight countries in some of Europe’s most popular and beautiful mountain tourist destinations - from the lush green valleys of North Wales to the alluring, vibrant Black Forest to sunkissed Tenerife and the imposing might of Mount Kazbek. With over 100 million visitors travelling to these areas each year, the environmental impact is considerable and the need to raise awareness about mountain protection greater than ever.
Two of the UIAA Respect the Mountains events will take place in the Rhône-Alpes, the first of which will be held in Samoëns on Thursday 11 August 2016, the second in Tignes on Friday 26 August.
All of the events unite clean-up initiatives, adventure and a chance for volunteers to share their appreciation of mountains. This is a genuine ‘grass roots’ concept welcoming all types of mountain visitors – tourists, local volunteers, sport enthusiasts and businesses to come together and foster their own mountain community. The event programmes are designed for all ages and a wide demographic, with an emphasis on team spirit and a mutual appreciation of mountains.
The events in Samoëns will start at 10:00 and in Tignes at 09:00, with local guides providing a full briefing before distributing the participants in groups with the cleaning equipment. Volunteers will spend the morning collecting waste from the hiking trails (and admiring the vistas at the same time!).
After a few hours of rewarding work, participants will then have the possibility to socialize around a BBQ provided to all volunteers. In the afternoon the focus switches to enjoying one of the many types of activity the Rhône-Alpes has to offer. This includes mountain biking and rafting in Samoëns and beach volleyball and tennis in Tignes.
Throughout the day, participants will need a keen eye as the volunteer discovering the most original piece of garbage will be awarded a prize from the KEEN product range. The events finish at 16:00.
The event in Samoëns is organized in conjunction with Alp Adventures and the local FFCAM branch. In Tignes the event is organized by Tignes Développement.
Further Reading:
theuiaa.org/uiaarespectthemountains.html
http://keenfootwear.com/respectthemountains
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Times
Samoëns: 10:00-16:00, Thursday 11 August
Tignes: 09:00-16:00, Friday 26 August
Location
Les Lacs aux Dames
Base de Loisirs
L’Espace du Bois aux Dames
74340 Samoëns
France
Maison de Tignes le Lac
73320 Tignes
France
Equipment Required
• Robust, comfortable footwear is recommended (even better if a pair of KEENs…)
• Drinking water
• Sunscreen
• All weather jacket
Please note children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Cleaning equipment will be provided by the local organiser.
REGISTRATION
To volunteer, please register via the dedicated online form for Samoëns or Tignes.
Samoëns: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11gmMxXY5NHYAiKpfnPlJKcvCltM6tW03bd9vuXhfr2Y/viewform?c=0&w=1
Tignes: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KSp9UAvxXVx7Bw-0zT_m9Vs9fzTABctAHYPcZDXEKhA/viewform
CONTACT
UIAA
E: mountainprotection@theuiaa.org
T: +41 (0)31 370 1828
www.theuiaa.org
EVENT CALENDAR
Are you interested in attending another UIAA Respect the Mountains event ? Or on holiday in Europe during the summer ?
26 June, United Kingdom
Gogledd Cymru, Llanberis, North Wales – UK
3 July, Italy
Civitella Alfedena National Park - Abruzzo-Lazio-Molise
10 July, Germany
Freiburg, Schwarzwald
20 July, Austria
Tirol, Mayrhofen-Hippach
11 August, France
Samoëns
19-20 August, Russia
Mount Kazbek
26 August, France
Tignes
17-18 September, Romania
Piatra Craiului National Park, Carpathians
To register please access the dedicated event calendar page:
http://www.theuiaa.org/uiaarespectthemountainsevents.html