Hello friends!
We are instructors for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. This fall, we received the first annual Miles Turner Expedition Fund from the school.
Miles was a beloved member of our community who dedicated much of his life to outdoor education, impacting hundreds of students. He modeled how the responsibility of a shared adventure can be a path to living more compassionately, resiliently, and courageously.
To honor his impact, we are embarking on a 22 day sailing trip aboard a 30ft “sharpie” sailboat this January 30th, beginning in Big Pine Key, Florida. We’ll be exploring, honing sailing skills, and completing a service project in the same area that Miles instructed multiple semesters on the same style boat.
As we sail, we’re fundraising for the benefit of two organizations that share similar values and missions to Miles: Futaleufú River Keeper and World Central Kitchen.
Miles had a strong connection to the Futaleufú river valley, where he paddled many times. Futaleufú RiverKeeper is an NGO based in Chile whose mission is “to contribute to the free flow of Patagonia’s rivers and inspire conservation awareness, foster harmonious coexistence among all beings that inhabit the Futaleufú basin, and become a support organization for strengthening communities and individuals.”
Among their projects is water quality testing, river bank monitoring, and education initiatives. Their program Chicas Al Agua teaches local girls to kayak while developing leadership skills, teamwork, self-esteem, and active participation in the conservation of free and wild rivers.
World Central Kitchen is a nonprofit organization that provides fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises, because “ a nourishing meal in a time of crisis is so much more than a plate of food—it’s hope, it’s dignity, and it’s a sign that someone cares.”
Among his kind actions, Miles is remembered fondly for making large meals for his communities, especially in moments when he knew it would lighten the load for others. WCK responds around the globe when people are in urgent need of food, and their current activities include relief for humanitarian crises in Ukraine and Gaza, wildfire damage in Chile and Los Angeles, and hurricane aftermath in Haiti.
You can support our efforts by pledging a donation per mile of our expedition, or donating a fixed sum to one or both of these organizations!
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