AGA Certified Businesses: Gold Level

At Alaska Wildland Adventures everyone walks to work. But that's only the beginning. Their vehicles are clean burning, their facilities are green, their guests contribute to conservation, and the whole organization supports the local communities they visit. But the most important thing they do to make their business sustainable is to train their staff... and they have a lot of them. Training takes place over a four week period and staff are paid to participate. The result is guides who know the facts and relate to the guests from an informed position.

After watching melting of glacial ice, concern over the introduction of never-before-seen pathogens in shellfish, and the loss of critical wildlife habitat, Discovery Voyages looked at how their business affects these problems. Recognizing that wilderness cruises require the consumption of fossil fuel they took responsibility for their actions by being as energy efficient as possible, and partnership with NativeEnergy to offset carbon use and to enable its customers to contribute to energy independence and clean emissions.

Harry and Brigid Dodge specialize in minimal-impact hiking and bear viewing trips based out of their wilderness lodge on Kodiak Island.  They attribute their program's sustainability  to their connection to the local community, their small group design, and innovative features such as solar-powered electicity, a banya for bathing and relaxing, and a rain-water catch system to capitalize on Kodiak's maritime climate. Kodiak Treks' program features a strong educational component, which includes Kodiak Island natural history, the local Alutiiq culture, and the history, life cycle, and habitat of the Kodiak bear and local wildlife.