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This page was last updated June 20, 2008
Support CESD
The Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit public charity, and our work is entirely funded by donations and grants. To make a secure, tax-deductible donation to CESD, please click here. 
Ecotourism Charter Club
About the Ecotourism Charter Club
We believe that ecotourism, when done well, provides a vacation experience superior to conventional and mass tourism.
In September 2006, we began the first Ecotourism Study tour with a visit to Costa Rica, a model for today's Charter Club trips. The visit was designed to demonstrate firsthand how ecolodges provide tangible benefits through environmental innovation, education, and community engagement. Moreover, the trip was intended to convey the principles of ecotourism through a mix of field outings, presentations, and interactive discussions.
We viewed that first tour as a step towards building a solid foundation of individuals and institutions who understand the ecotourism “model” and are committed to helping support it through the work of CESD and other similar organizations involved in the sustainable travel industry.
Upcoming Charter Club Trip:
Our next CESD-sponsored ecotourism adventure will be in Tanzania, December 6-12, 2008, where we will take our Charter Club members on safari with CC Africa, one of the world's premier safari companies. This trip will include wildlife viewing in some of Tanzania's famous game parks, visits to community projects and the Olduvai Gorge archaeological site, stays in luxury ecolodges, and talks by scientists, naturalist guides, ecotourism experts, and Maasai elders and activists.
The trip is designed to complement our 2008 Travelers' Philanthropy conference, which will take place in Arusha, Tanzania, December 3-5. Click for more information on the trip.
To learn more about the conference, please visit: http://travelersphilanthropyconference.org.
Past Ecotourism Study Trips:
January 2008: Bahamas
On our most recent Charter Club trip, participants had the chance to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of South Andros Islands' unspoiled paradise, while learning about local ecology, conservation challenges, and the business model of ecotourism. Like both of our past study tours, this trip included a mix of outdoor activities, engaging presentations, good food and good company, as well as time to relax, and interactive discussions about the state of the sustainable travel industry.
For an inside look at the setting of Tiamo Resort, please visit their website: www.tiamoresorts.com
August 2007: Montana
Roger and Cindy Lang, Co-owners of The Lodge at Sun Ranch, showed us their historic and innovative ranch located just 40 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. Roger and Cindy and their staff granted us a behind-the-scenes look at their work in sustainable cattle ranching, resource conservation, community engagement, and culinary innovation. Although just 6 years old, the lodge has won numerous prestigious awards for excellence, including the 2005 Conde Nast Traveler’s “Green List” honoree for “preserving natural surroundings, contributing to the local culture, and providing a rich guest experience" and the National Geographic Traveler’s exclusive “A-List Deals.” While there, we engaged in discussions of CESD's work and the broader concepts of ecotourism and sustainable travel, and we benefitted greatly from the wise input of Charter Club participants.
September 2006: Costa Rica
CESD led our inaugural trip to the luxurious and environmentally responsible Lapa Rios Ecolodge in Costa Rica. The trip began with presentations on the status of ecotourism in Costa Rica, by Carlos Roesch (ex-Minister of Tourism for Costa Rica), Lawrence Pratt (Associate Director at INCAE Business School), and Ronald Sanabria (Sustainable Tourism Manager of Rainforest Alliance). Ecolodge owners Glenn Jampol and Karen Lewis then demonstrated how environmental and community-focused principles are put in practice at their sites through behind-the-scenes sustainable practices and philanthropic community involvement.
Yale professor Michael Conroy shared his insights on the potential for social change through international ecotourism certification, after which Martha Honey and William Durham discussed the role that CESD and others have in maintaining and transforming international ecotourism.
About Participating
These programs are designed for a small group of select individuals with a passion for high quality travel that provides benefits to the environment and host communities. For more information on how to be included on a future invitation list, please contact Whitney Cooper, wcooper@ecotourismcesd.org.