Momentum in 2025 - NL #9
January 6, 2025
Hello Everyone!
Can’t believe we’re already at 10 newsletters…
Wow.
So! As it happens, we have exciting news to share.
TLDR:
we’re planning a pilot tree planting project in June + second ski trip up the mountain
Lucas Decrinis is doing an excellent job with merch. We should have gear soon!
Pauli & I have kicked off our social media marketing campaign, and our latest video reached 1500 viewers.
In more detail…
I spoke with Edson Kuloe (RTS guide leading the local tree nursery project) to find out what the community wants.
They’re already planting 5-10,000 Eucalyptus trees this spring. And, getting ready to plant bamboo on the riverbanks this summer.
I also spoke with Dr. Ivory. She’s willing to come with 3 students from Penn State in June to help with the tree planting & community outreach. Dr. Bob has already promised to bring students from Makerere, so American & Ugandan students can work side-by-side.
I’ve received lots of interest for a second ski trip, from a professional drone pilot, members of our non-profit team, and friends who’ve heard our story.
I’ve also spoken with a Swedish volunteer travel agency. They would be happy to sell this experience of tree planting with the locals… but they need more information & programming.
Basically, we need a pilot project to find out exactly what would-be volunteers might expect.
These volunteers would pay for their own travel & lodging, and would pay extra for the experience. That money would go to more seedlings & local labor for planting/monitoring.
Now it seems this pilot project is coming together!
Here’s the thought:
1. We spend two weeks helping Edson, Hannington & their team plant 10,000 bamboo trees along the rivers & do community outreach about tree planting.
2. Then we go back up the mountain for another ski trip!
We’ll have a bigger group of academics, adventurers, and all round excellent people. This time, we bring a drone and real film equipment, do more interviews, and get more footage for our documentary.
We expect our 501c3 approval this spring.
Which means we could solicit donations for extra ski & climbing gear from corporations like Black Diamond before we go. With this extra gear..
We can make it our goal to have the first Ugandan ski in Uganda.
This would have national significance.
If you’d like to have a wonderful time joining a bigger party to help the local community, and go on a once-in-a-lifetime ski trip… send me an email!
We’re aiming for the second half of June.
In other news…
Lucas Decrinis is working with Magnus Liljeblad from LIFT-BORNE to create Ski Club Uganda merch. Magnus will share our story & merch with their newsletter of 2000 ski racers. All sales will go to funding the tree nursery.
Pauli Riener and the whole team battled fiercely to keep our Wikipedia page alive, after on Christmas morning a random Wikipedian moved to delete our page for lacking ‘relevance’. We’ve taken our page down, and will make edits before re-uploading it.
Pauli Riener and I have started our social media campaign, with frequent posts and video content. So far we’re getting lots of views! Our goal is ultimately to inspire new Ski Club Uganda members and sell merch online to cover costs.
Ricky has added a “How to Join” page to our website! It gives curious visitors more info about our trip, and costs. Still needs some tweaks.. they’re coming soon.
What else is coming in early 2025:
More interviews for the documentary with Max (look out for emails)
Dr. Bob & Dr. Ivory designing the tree planting / research options in detail
Morgan, Pauli, Klemen, & I telling the world about our movement
fundraisers!
If you’d like to support Ski Club Uganda like our favorite humans Dr. Jotam Pasiponodya, Nubia Eschevarria, Anne Dix, and of course, Nicole Dreon...
please donate via the link below!
Your donations go a long way to keep us alive. They are very much appreciated!
Much love to start the year,
Florian
Ski Club Uganda ‘24
Day 3, enjoying the short break on the boardwalk
