The WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.

“Doubletree’s Community Drive to Fight World Hunger is educating students on the hunger needs of their neighbors and then extending that awareness to other regions of the world,” said Mary Beth Parks, vice president-brand marketing for Doubletree Hotels.

As an integral part of Doubletree’s award-winning “Teaching Kids to CARE” community outreach program, “Community Drive to Fight World Hunger” hopes to raise awareness on key social and environmental issues through educational activities.

Food drive collection activities will take place at participating Doubletree hotels in more than 125 cities worldwide between now and December 18th.

“Our hope is that participants will gain a sense of the scope of the hunger crisis and their role in addressing it through hands-on donation and fundraising efforts,” added Parks. “Students will also learn ways to impact this worldwide challenge by making enlightened changes in their own lives, like cutting down on food waste during meals or donating regularly to a local food bank.”

‘Teaching Kids to CARE’ this holiday season

The Teaching Kids to Care campaign works to educate students on the impact hunger has on both a local and global level by highlighting the critical importance of food donations during the holiday season.

Founded in 2002, “Teaching Kids to CARE is a community-based outreach initiative that has connected local Doubletree hotels with more than 150,000 students in local elementary schools and youth organizations. Teaching Kids to CARE educates children about the importance of making environmentally and socially conscious decisions for their community and their world at the earliest ages.

As part of the campaign, students across the country are filling self-decorated food collection containers and organizing “Great Community Food Collection” drives, encouraging family, friends and fellow citizens to feed their hungry neighbors through non-perishable food donations.

All collected non-perishable food items will be presented to a variety of nonprofit community outreach organizations including local food banks, rescue missions, mobile meal delivery programs and more—directly connecting students to the hunger needs present in their own communities.

Doubletree commits to hunger relief

Taking part in the giving-spirit of the season, Doubletree Hotels has committed to contributing $0.05 for every non-perishable food item donated to Friends of the World Food Program (Friends of WFP), a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that builds support for WFP operations. Funds will be donated exclusively to WFP’s school meals program, which provides meals to more than 20 million of the world’s poorest schoolchildren each year.

Research from the WFP has found that supplying meals to students at school significantly increases enrollment, attendance and academic performance—especially for girls. This reinforces Doubletree’s mission of supporting and enhancing educational efforts for youth worldwide and engaging Teachings Kids to CARE participants in actively supporting academic aspirations through the power of community outreach.

“WFP seeks partnerships that, in addition to monetary donations, are committed to creating lasting change and addressing the core of the hunger epidemic worldwide,” said Friends of WFP President and CEO, Karen Sendelback. “Doubletree’s youth-focused program ensures that future generations of leaders are aware of this issue and are able to take proactive steps to help eradicate world hunger.”

For more information or to find out how you can contribute, follow the campaign via Twitter at www.twitter.com/doubletreehtls.

A countless number of hotels have successfully instituted energy-use reduction and water conservation programs, as well as resource re-use and recycling. Linen and towel reuse policies, low-flow showers and toilets, programmable on/off light sensors, and occupancy sensor controls are just some advances in the “going green” arena.

However, a new study suggests that there is a significant difference in how people’s attitudes toward “green” lifestyles effect their actual travel purchases and behavior.

The study, conducted by a team of tourism and hospitality graduate students at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, found that people who actively practice an eco-friendly lifestyle at home behave entirely different when “on the road” at a hotel.

Researchers tend to agree that the hospitality industry itself has the ability to educate consumers to develop a greater level of understanding and concern about their environmental impact as hotel guests. With more and more hotels increasingly adopting “green” business practices, no one has really delved into whether or not such initiatives truly effect consumer knowledge, attitudes and behavior.

Supervised by tourism management professor Pamela Weaver, two master’s students – Melissa Baker and Eric Davis – set out to find the answer.

“It has been argued that if individuals became more knowledgeable about environmental issues, they would become more aware of the problems and be more motivated to act in responsible ways,” they said. “Prior research, however, has not shown this assumption to be true.”

Truth in numbers

In an online survey of 881 students in four Virginia Tech classes, questions were crafted to carefully gauge knowledge and personal attitudes about eco-friendly travel as compared to home behavior. 322 responses (36.5%) were gathered and analyzed.

While over half of the respondents agreed that being environmentally conscious while in a hotel will have long-term environmental benefits, only 35% stated they would prefer to stay in a green hotel instead of a non-green hotel.

Nearly 75% stated that hotels should use energy-efficient or automatic lights, while 50% felt that automatic sink faucets should be installed to conserve water.

As for their home-versus-hotel behavior, 60% of respondents recycle paper products at home, but only 30% recycle them while at a hotel. And while 60% of respondents conserve water at home, less than 40% do so while at a hotel. 80% of respondents take measures to conserve energy at home, only 40% do so while at a hotel.

“Individuals might feel more obliged to behave in an environmentally friendly manner in their local community as opposed to the tourist destination,” say Baker and Davis.

While some hotels may perhaps lack the necessary infrastructure to be “green,” engaging in green behavior may detract from the whole experience of being a hotel guest.

The research by Baker and Davis cites a “a strong trade-off between participation and the sacrifice of comfort and luxury.”

17-year-old Khanh Nguyen of Lawndale, CA, who has actively volunteered at a non-profit coastal environmental education facility, and 16 year-old Delphine Slotten of Mendham, NJ, who started the first recycling program in her county, will embark on a Lindblad Expeditions’ voyage to the Galápagos Islands in July.

Accompanied by skilled scientists, naturalists, and  researchers, the Scholarship winners will explore the unique ecosystem of the Galápagos archipelago, observing and studying the distinct wildlife that calls it home.

Since 2007, the Kalpana Chawla Ocean Journey Scholarship is awarded in honor of Kalpana Chawla, an astronaut who perished aboard the Columbia Space Shuttle in 2003. Her abiding love of the ocean and her interest in the work of Blue Ocean President and Co-Founder, Dr. Carl Safina, led her to bring Safina’s acclaimed book, Song for the Blue Ocean, on her final mission.

A year after her death, her family and friends established the Kalpana Chawla Spirit of Columbia Fund at Blue Ocean, which supports the Ocean Journey Scholarship. In honor of Chawla’s profound connection with the ocean and concern for its conservation, the scholarship is designed to introduce students who are passionate about the oceans to wonderful marine habitats they would otherwise not have the opportunity to visit.

“You can’t really become an expert unless you experience what you’re studying,” said Dr. Carl Safina, Co-Founder of Blue Ocean Institute. “For young people with dreams of entering the world of science, being in it for real is vital. With this scholarship, we are happy to give them this chance and to honor Kalpana’s adventurous, courageous spirit.”

Nguyen and Slotten will journey to the Galápagos island chain, which is located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in mid-July. In addition to observing the island’s famous inhabitants – blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, marine iguanas, tortoise, penguins and sea lions – they’ll also have an opportunity to swim, snorkel and hike through the land of Darwin.

“It’s a great pleasure to introduce young people to the world and the notion of exploration,” said Sven Lindblad, President and Founder of Lindblad Expeditions. “My own life was strongly influenced by a mentor who introduced me to the importance of conservation and I look forward to learning how this experience shapes the winners’ lives.”

Nguyen, who begins her senior year at the California Academy of Mathematics and Science this fall, is a nature lover who lives in urban Los Angeles. She volunteers at the SEA Lab, a small marine center in the area where she takes care of the marine life and gives tours of the facilities.

In addition, Nguyen runs her school’s an environmental club.

Slotten, who recently completed 10th grade at the Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey, has an active interest in conservation. She is actively involved in community service at a local nature preserve where she contributes to visitor education, cares for animals and conducts research on areas of the preserve

Throughout the voyage, Nguyen and Slotten will keep journals to record their daily observations, experiences, and personal thoughts. Samples of their writing will be posted on the Blue Ocean Institute website later this year.

The festival will run from Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23, 2009 at the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve, where audiences can gather to experience the work of fantastic local Canadian musical performers and artists against a stunning wilderness backdrop of tranquil lakes and unspoiled forest.

The Forest Festival is just one of many unique outdoor experiences offered through the year by Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve, Canada’s first sustainable forest. Held each year, the festival offers unique outdoor concerts and musical performances that compliment the beauty of the surrounding wilderness.

This year’s festival will showcase six performances, including four evening concerts and two matinees, beginning on Thursday night with a concert by Porkbelly Futures featuring Paul Quarrington – a wildly popular, roots/blues band known for its unusual songs dedicated to fundamental folk, roots and blues.

This concert will also feature a “Wolf Howl” at intermission with the pack of captive Western Timber Wolves at the Forest’s Wolf Center. Porkbelly Futures and Paul Quarrington will also perform a matinee presentation of “Words & Music” on Saturday afternoon, where Mr. Quarrington will offer readings from some of his very popular novels prior to the concert.

Come Friday night, Anne Lindsay will join forces with guitar maestro Jason Fowler for a lakeside concert performance not to be missed. With a reputation as one of the most engaging and multitalented instrumentalists in Canada, Ms. Lindsay has worked with numerous musical luminaries including Blue Rodeo and John McDermott. She is also a member of the very popular Jim Cuddy Band.

Jason Fowler is one of Canada’s most gifted guitarists. An accomplished musician of amazing versatility, Mr. Fowler performs musical styles from folk, country and bluegrass, to blues, rock, jazz and classical. Mr. Fowler is John McDermott’s musical Director.

Having made their debut at The Forest Festival in 2007, The Forest Festival Brass is an ensemble of talented principal musicians from major Canadian orchestras who never fail to delight audiences with a varied selection of music, from Handel (Water Music) to Gershwin and R. Murray Schafer. Lead by former Canadian Brass trumpeter Stuart Laughton, The Forest Festival Brass, is slated for evening shows on Saturday and Sunday at the stunning Bone Lake Amphitheatre.

On Sunday afternoon, Anne Lindsay will return to the Bone Lake Amphitheatre with her amazing one-woman show, ‘String Sound Poetry’. In this concert, Ms. Lindsay plays a variety of musical instruments including the multi-stringed Scandinavian Nyckelharpa, the instrument she played as a cast member of the stage production of “The Lord of the Rings” in Toronto. A “not to be missed” performance by this extraordinarily talented violinist/fiddler.

Concert tickets are just $25 for adults, $20 for students, or $80 for all six concerts. For more information, visit www.theforestfestival.com.

The trip brings together eighty teachers, students, corporate leaders, and environmental experts from around the world will come together to gain first hand knowledge of Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems.

From July 2 through September 4, 2009, teachers or professors at an accredited public or private elementary, middle or high school, college or university in the U.S. or Canada can visit the www.antarctica2041.com/teacherscontest website and submit an essay of 500 words of less, titled: “Why I want to visit Antarctica this November, and how I plan to bring the skills I learn back to my classroom.”

One Grand Prize Winner, chosen by October 1, 2009, will win free passage aboard the 2041 IATE, roundtrip airfare to Ushuaia, Argentina, and a signed copy of Swan’s forthcoming book, the environmental call to action ANTARTICA 2041: My Quest to Save the World’s Last Wilderness, to be published by Broadway Books on October 27.

Travelers aboard the ship will cruise along the Antarctic’s spectacular ice cliffs or follow whales while they’re feeding, camp overnight on the Antarctic ice, visit one of the largest gatherings of Gentoo Penguins on the continent, and sail past the infamous Cape Horn, among countless other once in a lifetime experiences.

NativeEnergy will also provide carbon offsets to cover the winner’s trip related emissions, and a personal carbon footprint consultation.

“Decisions made by today’s youth will impact our entire planet’s ecosystem and the future of life on earth,” said Robert Swan. “Through this contest, we hope to further our mission of informing, engaging, and inspiring the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, to be sustainable, and to know that now is the time for action in policy development, business generation, and future technologies to combat climate change and continue to protect the last remaining unspoiled wilderness on Earth.”

Robert Swan was the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. He has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy, and sustainability to combat climate change.

Swan founded 2041, an organization dedicated to working towards the continuing protection of the Antarctic Treaty, which is scheduled to expire in 2041.

Visit www.antarctica2041.com/teacherscontest to enter the contest and www.2041.com for more information about Robert Swan, and ANTARTICA 2041: My Quest to Save the World’s Last Wilderness.

Dartmouth’s Big Green Bus – a coach bus specially-converted to run on waste vegetable oil – is a veritable mobile classroom for sustainable living, suited for the more than 40 educational stops planned across the country. 

Now in its fifth year with over 45,000 miles traveled and 5,500 gallons of waste vegetable oil used in place of diesel, the Big Green Bus team will make its first stop in New York City on Wednesday, June 17 in front of the Timberland store in Soho at 474 Broadway from 8a.m. to 10 a.m.

Using renewable energy to power wi-fi on the bus, anyone can interact with the students in real time and participate online in the summer tour at www.changents.com/biggreenbus where the crew will file regular story updates from the road such as blogs, podcasts, photos galleries, videos, Tweets, action opportunities and more.Dart

“This year, the Bus interior will resemble a ‘green’ living room,” said Merritt Jenkins, a member of Dartmouth’s Class of 2010 and co-general manager of the Big Green Bus. “We hope to connect with homeowners by presenting environmental and economic issues facing our society today, and how individual action can help mitigate these problems.”

“From New York to San Francisco, we will be traveling the country helping Americans make energy conscious choices.”

Green science fair on wheels

Equipped with a specially-modified engine, solar panels, an interior completely constructed of sustainable materials, and a host of other innovative technologies, the bus is a virtual exhibit for sustainable practices. With five key educational pillars in mind, the bus and its drivers will focus on promoting:

• Reduction of consumption and recycling
• Energy efficiency
• Clean and renewable energy
• Wise food choices
• Personal action through voting

“I’m excited about putting to use all the new teaching tools we have this year to help the public learn about the energy issues facing our society,” said Marissa Knodel, a 2009 Dartmouth graduate and the Big Green Bus’s education director.

The Big Green Bus leaves the Dartmouth College campus on June 16th and will travel more than 12,000 miles through 40 states from New Hampshire to California and back again, educating Americans of all ages about how to green their homes and their country.

Eco-conscious travel students also get an eco-friendly "departure package", including reusable "must haves" when traveling the world – reusable, recyclable bags and water bottles.

"GlobaLinks is pleased to make a contribution to the Colorado Carbon Fund for each student evaluation form received," said Cynthia Banks, GlobaLinks Executive Director. "To date, we’ve donated $634 and are pleased to help support innovative new clean-energy projects in our home state."

Offsetting kept local makes good sense

International air travel by study-abroad students has a huge impact on the environment. One ton of carbon dioxide is released when you travel 5000 miles in an airplane – that’s 5% of the average American’s impact for the entire year in just one round trip flight from NYC to LA. By purchasing carbon offsets, students help to fund a project that reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

All of the clean energy offsetting projects sponsored by GlobaLinks will be developed in Colorado, making the company’s partnership with the Colorado Carbon Fund a no-brainer. The projects will be monitored and audited by a third-party – Climate Trust, based out of Portland, Oregon

Clean energy projects included in the partnership will include methane capture at farms or solar water heating for recreation centers.

"Young people are engaged with the risks associated with global warming, and this partnership with GlobaLinks gives them yet another tool to help address greenhouse gas emissions, particularly the significant emissions tied to air travel," said Tom Plant, director of the GEO.

Education for good across the world

With almost 20 years of experience, GlobaLinks , the parent company of AustraLearn, AsiaLearn, and EuroLearn, offers educational programs for university/college students across the globe. The company provides comprehensive services to prepare students for a successful abroad experience, including cultural as well as environmental stewardship training, with semester and year abroad, summer, internships for academic credit, and degree programs in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Asia, and Europe.

The company’s partnership with the Colorado Carbon Fund provides carbon offset options to students as a way to support new energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.