The Backroads Give Back Field Project (GBFP) program gives Field Staff the chance to strengthen our connection to the places we travel by volunteering their time for local conservation efforts. In 2025, teams around the world put this mission into action, from clearing trails in Alaska and Norway to cleaning coastlines in Iceland.
These hands-on projects not only improve the guest experience but also build meaningful relationships with the communities and ecosystems that make Backroads trips possible.
Alaska: Trail Maintenance in Kachemak Bay
For the second year in a row, Field Staff in Alaska teamed up with Friends of Kachemak Bay State Parks to maintain the Grewingk Glacier Trail, one of the most traveled paths on our trips. Over two days, ten leaders spent more than 100 combined hours bushwhacking, clearing corridors and improving the route for future hikers. The partnership continues to strengthen our ties with the local park service and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to responsible trail use in the region.
Norway: Trail Stewardship Near the Fjords
When trail conditions near Voss began to deteriorate, our Field Staff partnered with Voss Gondol, the company managing the land, to restore paths used by our Norway Multi-Adventure Trips. Five leaders volunteered ten hours each to rebuild and reinforce heavily used sections, improving both safety and sustainability. The project was an immediate, tangible way to support the local community while ensuring guests can continue to enjoy Norway’s iconic landscapes responsibly.
Canadian Rockies: Trail Maintenance with CAMBA
In Canmore, ten Field Staff joined forces with CAMBA, the Canmore & Area Mountain Biking Association, for a volunteer session focused on trail building and maintenance. The team spent a day improving hiking paths and strengthening Backroads’ long-standing relationship with the Canmore outdoor community. Backroads also contributed Can$2,500 to support CAMBA’s ongoing work to protect and enhance the region’s trail network.
Iceland: Beach Cleanups with Blue Army
On Iceland’s southern coast near Grindavík, sixteen Field Staff volunteered with Blue Army, a local nonprofit dedicated to environmental action. Together, they collected more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of waste from beaches affected by ocean debris. The cleanup not only supported Blue Army’s mission to safeguard Iceland’s fragile ecosystems but also brought our team closer to the community partners who share our passion for conservation.
From fjords to glaciers to volcanic shores, these projects show what’s possible when we put our values into practice. The 2025 Give Back Field Projects focused on protecting the natural spaces that define Backroads travel while reinforcing our commitment to People, Planet and Community.
By volunteering our time and partnering with local organizations, our Field Staff helps ensure that the trails we walk and the coastlines we visit remain places of beauty and belonging for the people who live there and the travelers who come to experience them.
