Adapting to Travel Restrictions - #23
Hello Ski Club Uganda Community,
This month, our team met with partners from Penn State, Makerere University, and the Rwenzori Trekking Services (RTS) team to discuss the status of our June field program and the path forward for our tree planting, research, and community engagement efforts.
As many of you know, changing travel conditions and university travel restrictions have created uncertainty around our June plans. While some key decisions are still pending, one thing remains unchanged: our commitment to the people, schools, and landscapes of the Rwenzori Mountains.
1. June Trip Update
Several members of our international team have decided not to travel in June due to current travel restrictions and uncertainty. At the same time, Makerere University's field course is still awaiting a final decision on whether students will be permitted to participate.
Because that decision has not yet been made, we are taking a flexible approach.
If the Makerere field course proceeds, we may still move forward with a smaller June program focused on tree planting, school visits, and supporting student learning in the field.
If the course is canceled, we are prepared to postpone the larger trip (potentially until November) and reorganize our activities accordingly.
A final decision is expected in the coming week.
2. 8,000 Trees Ready to Be Planted
One major topic of discussion was the more than 8,000 bamboo seedlings that are already prepared for planting.
Our partners in Uganda emphasized that while postponement is possible, these seedlings ideally need to be planted sooner rather than later. If a June planting effort moves forward, it will help ensure the young trees establish successfully and avoid remaining too long in the nursery.
The encouraging news is that our RTS team is ready to adapt. If international travel becomes impossible, we are exploring ways to support a community-led planting effort, with local guides, community members, and schools taking a leading role.
As always, the goal remains the same: restoring degraded landscapes while creating long-term environmental and community benefits.
3. Schools Remain at the Heart of the Project
One theme emerged clearly during our meeting: local schools remain central to the future of Ski Club Uganda's conservation efforts.
Even if international participants cannot travel, our Ugandan partners emphasized the importance of continuing engagement with the schools that have already participated in our tree planting programs.
We are currently developing ideas that would allow students to take greater ownership of the trees they plant. One exciting concept involves students monitoring tree growth, studying environmental conditions around their trees, and presenting their findings to classmates. By combining environmental stewardship with hands-on science, students can learn not only how to plant trees, but how to help them thrive.
We are also exploring ways to involve students' families and communities by encouraging tree planting beyond school grounds, creating a broader culture of conservation throughout the region.
4. Skiing Continues in the Rwenzoris
On an uplifting note, we're excited to see RTS guides carrying on the tradition on their own time and sharing it with adventurous visitors to the mountains.
Recently, guide Basaja led a tourist ski outing on the Rwenzori glaciers. It's inspiring to see local guides keeping this unique piece of Ugandan mountain culture alive. Watch the short video below!
Thank you
Before we close, we'd like to celebrate a major milestone: thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we have officially reached our fundraising goal of $2,000 for this phase of the project.
Special thanks go to John Porter, Simonne Marvastian, and Christian Eihausen for their generous contributions and continued belief in Ski Club Uganda's mission. We'd also like to thank everyone who supported us through our recent merchandise sales. Every purchase helps turn ideas into action on the ground in Uganda.
These funds will directly support our ongoing conservation, education, and community engagement efforts, including tree planting activities, school partnerships, and future field programs. As our plans for June and November continue to take shape, these resources give us the flexibility to adapt while keeping the mission moving forward.
While uncertainty can be frustrating, we were encouraged by the flexibility, creativity, and commitment shown by our partners involved in this project.
Whether our next major activities happen in June, November, or both, Ski Club Uganda continues to move forward. Our mission remains unchanged:
Plant Trees. Research. Ski.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts, volunteered your time, and helped build this community. We look forward to sharing more updates as decisions are finalized in the coming week.
Talk soon,
The Ski Club Uganda Team
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