Last week WeNeedaVacation.com sponsored the 3rd annual CARE for the Cape Day. CARE for the Cape & Islands is an organization that promotes travelers’ philanthropy and responsible travel. As stated in their mission statement, CARE seeks to encourage, support, and create opportunities for visitors to donate their “time, talent, and treasure” to help preserve and protect the very things they travel here to see and enjoy: exquisite natural beauty, plant and wildlife habitats, Cape & Islands culture and history.
WeNeedaVacation.com has supported CARE over the last few years with financial contributions and by sharing their literature to our homeowners. I sat on the board for two years from 2014 to 2016.
CARE for the Cape Day was held at the Museum of Natural History in Brewster, where about 35 volunteers gathered to participate in activities including planting the new Pollinator 
Path, one of CARE’s 2016 support projects, and planting for the museum’s upcoming plant sale. The cold weather didn’t stop us from playing in the dirt, shoveling, planting, weeding, and enjoying each other’s company.
The highlight of the day was our lunch meeting where CARE presented 9 grants to local environmental initiatives. Each recipient spoke about their passion and their efforts toward improving the Cape and Islands in some meaningful way. I was inspired by this powerful event and presentations.
Below is a list of the grant recipients that represent the CARE sponsors’ unique projects throughout the Cape.
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Cape Cod CAN! |
Natural Wonders Mural – Art for Cape Codders with disabilities |
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Cape Cool |
Earth Day Songs and Seeds – Planting seeds to creatively slow climate change |
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Cape Cod Museum of Natural History (BWT Grant) |
Pollinator Path – Building a butterfly house |
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Center for Coastal Studies (BWT Grant) |
Cape Cod Whale Trail |
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Coastal Community Capital |
Maritime Themed Cape-wide Itinerary Development |
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Falmouth Farmers Market and Compost With Me |
Food Scrap Collection & Composting Education Project |
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Harwich Conservation Trust |
Walking Trail Video Development |
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Nauset Middle School (BWT Grant) |
“Charms for Change” 3D Recycled Printing Project for Cape teens |
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Yarmouth New Church |
Connecting Yarmouth Walking Trail Development |
To learn more about CARE, please visit the Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/CareForTheCapeAndIslands/
Website – http://careforthecapeandislands.org/
Blog post written by CARE founder, Jill Talladay, about how you can get involved – http://blog.weneedavacation.com/2013/06/19/promoting-responsible-travel-with-care-for-the-cape-islands/
