Redefining Wilderness Discussion Forum

Being able to share rides when you go on trips to parks or wilderness was acclaimed as a great idea by many people at the conference, but we probably do not yet have the people to get the wheels rolling. This is something a few people could make happen, we're still waiting to have those people before much time gets invested in the project.

How/Who/What?

Envisioning an online database that allows:
* Plan a quick hike, meet a neighbor and go. Would work across a variety of needs: you might have an exact time or place planned, you might just be looking for a ride anyplace nice whenever you can get one.
* Create connections for more serious, possibly repeated expeditions.
* Have your existing group use the system to set up carpools only among members: a scout troop, or Sierra hiking chapter.

Tech: Designing this system is likely to be a reasonable endeavor.
It's getting the initial organization and relatively small funding, and then the cooperation of environmental organizations with the ability to get large memberships on board, that are the key.

Outreach.

The low budget path is to get Parks and environmental organizations to get their visitors and members to start carpooling. A direct marketing budget (such as TV ads) would be vastly more expensive and change the nature of the project.

This could be a green business venture or a nonprofit project.

What's next?

1. Founders. People to help generate enthusiasm, organize, etc...
2. One or more nonprofits that would like to make this project theirs or be a fiscal sponsor.
3. Wilderness recreation advisors.
4. Wilderness education/activism advisors (how do we get this to be useful for getting activists educating neighbors who like the outdoors.)