Solid team, clear targets, and June on the horizon - NL #14
May 4, 2025
Hey everyone,
We’re picking up steam! It’s been incredible to watch our team solidify over the past few weeks. A lot is happening, so let’s break it down.
TLDR: Quick Highlights
We’ve got a tree planting budget to fundraise for.
A National Geographic videographer is joining our June trip.
Team leaders are elected, making us more efficient.
Preparations are moving full speed ahead.
Let’s hit the big items first, then celebrate some individual wins!
Budget & Fundraising: We’ve Got a Target!
Total budget: $6,270
Short-term goal: $4,000 (already raised $1,500!)
Big thanks to Brian and Remmy for pulling together the details. Key costs include a high-pressure pump, community events, equipment, and transport. The full budget is attached for your review.
As our board member John Porter wisely said, you need a target to aim for. Now we’ve got one! Let’s hit it together.
SKI CLUB PLANTING BUDGET 2025.pdf
Download
Team Structure: Roles Locked In
We’ve selected our core team leads to streamline our efforts:
Fundraising & Partnerships: Florian
US Operations: Morgan
Uganda Operations: Brian
Climate Research: Sarah & Dr. Bob (co-leads)
Sarah will handle project management and reporting, while Dr. Bob coordinates research activities in Uganda.
We still need leads for Communications/Social Media and Finance. If you or someone you know would be a great fit, reach out! Our structure is flexible and will evolve as more folks join, especially after June.
Exciting Partnership: National Geographic Explorer Stuart Tibaweswa Joins Us
Through a serendipitous connection, we’re thrilled to partner with Stuart Tibaweswa, a National Geographic Explorer.
Stuart is working on a story about the melting Rwenzori glaciers and how the local Bakonzo people are adapting with positive solutions. His focus aligns perfectly with ours, as he plans to spend time with locals, summit the glacier, and use a drone for 3D mapping.
Stuart and his team will join us for tree planting and the mountain trek in June. This collaboration will amplify our story and mission. For more on Stuart, check out his inspiring work on his website.
June Trip: Planning the Details
Tree Planting Dates: June 17–24
Itinerary: Brian is crafting an 8-day plan, covering tree planting, drama/poetry competitions, and community events. Stuart’s team will be there to capture it all on film.
Hiking & Skiing Dates: June 25-July 2
Logistics: It’s time to book with RTS! Rates differ for African and non-African participants. Check out the long-awaited packages RTS has prepared. I’ll be doing the full 19-day trip, and I hope you’ll join us for part or all of it!
19 DAYS TREE PLANTING AND SKI EXPEDITION KILEMBE COMMUNITY FULL EXPERIENCE.pdf
Download
13DAYS TREE PLANTING AND A FEEL OF THE RWENZORIS.pdf
Download
8 DAYS TREE PLANTING EXPERIENCE IN KILEMBE WITH SKI CLUB OF UGANDA.pdf
Download
Individual Wins: Shoutouts to Our Team
Klemen: He’s been doing fantastic outreach over social media to athletes and influencers.
Sarah & Dr. Bob: They’ve worked hard on the bureaucratic approval processes for doing research in Uganda.
Florian: I’m meeting with our partners at Middlebury College & volunteer travel agencies in May to lay the foundations for future trips.
Projects Stalled: A Quick Note
A couple of initiatives have hit a pause:
Merch: We have not heard from Magnus at LIFT-BORNE. Apparently we were close to publishing. We need to find out what happened.
Publish News Article: With all the other initiatives, this has taken a back seat. Peakvisor, a mountain magazine, has shown interest in publishing our article, but so far we have not had the bandwidth to finish this.
We’ll update you as soon as these get back on track.
Donate to Support Our Mission
We’re at an exciting point, but we need your help to reach our $4,000 short-term goal.
If you’re able to contribute, like our wonderful donors: Jotam Pasipanodya, Nubia Echevarria, Anne Dix, Nicole Dreon, Barbara Ritschel, Bjorn Knollmann, and John Porter, every donation helps us closer to planting trees, supporting research, and skiing the Rwenzori glacier. Please consider donating today via our link. Your support means the world to us!
Thank you everybody for being here. It’s an incredible journey.
Got questions, ideas, or want to get involved? Just reply to this email to let me know.
See you soon,
Florian & the Ski Club Uganda Team
Check out our previous newsletters on the website for more updates and stories. Your enthusiasm keeps us going!
From the top: Musabe, Lummi, and our UWA Ranger John in the tropical rainforest eco-zone.
