Building community in nature

Last year, I had the privilege to spend three days on the Achiever with the Raincoast team and three incredible groups of women. 

How it happened

Following conversations with my good friends and mentors, Jill Earthy and Carolynn Beaty, I realized I was craving a deeper connection with nature and science. Nature is all around in Vancouver and access is easy. However, finding unique ways to connect with scientists and the big challenges of our direct environment, and what can be done about it, is not that easy. 

On the recommendation of Carolynn, I reached out to Raincoast’s executive director Chris Genovali and shared my vision of taking a group of impact investors into nature for a day. This is how I found out about Raincoast’s Sailing Vessel Achiever. 

What a beauty! It was love at first sight. After a few discussions with Achiever captain, Drew, and mate, Hilary, we figured out the best format: destination, supporting crew, and logistics. The team is so smart and efficient, I felt like we were a team right away. 

And we were off! 

Putting a group together was a no brainer. We spent the day onboard, learning about whales and the impact industrial sounds have on their welfare. We all need to learn about this, and the positive responses from my network was overwhelming. From a single trip, we went straight to two and then three separate days on the water.  

The main takeaways

• Science does not need to be abstract, it can be a lived experience if we are willing to commit the little extra time it requires to go out there. 
• Learning as a group makes it even more powerful as we build ties differently and learn from each other’s perspectives.
• Building an expedition with a group of people can be simple. You just need to find aligned partners and lean into trust.
• Supporting your community by building new bridges is incredibly rewarding. I had a blast, learnt a ton and felt so proud of this work.

Some of us saw whales, others saw colonies of wild birds. We all took a big breath of fresh air, had time to pause and reflect,and came out fuelled with energy for the months ahead. 

Thank you Drew, Hilary, Nicole, Chris, for making this such a special moment for all of us. Achiever is true to its name. I can’t wait to see who gets the same fantastic experiences aboard.