Three Yosemite-area resorts owned by Lee Zimmerman prioritize both ethical travel practices and the development of underserved youth. Featuring a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility, the resorts offer internships with full-time paid positions and comprehensive support programs.
It’s a new year, and ethical travel is more popular than ever. Three Yosemite-area resorts you can feel good about booking are connected to Oakland hills entrepreneur Lee Zimmerman. The historic Evergreen Lodge, its sister resort Rush Creek Lodge & Spa, and the newest property in the First Light Resorts portfolio — Firefall Ranch, Yosemite.
Each mountain retreat fits, almost seamlessly, in its natural surroundings — the vast expanses of mountain and pine created over thousands of years near a park known worldwide for its beauty. But there’s more than meets the eye at these extraordinary vacation spots. Each has a strong commitment to balance profits with social and environmental performance. Evergreen was actually a founder of the B Corporation movement in 2007 and Rush Creek followed soon after opening in 2016. Firefall Ranch, which opened late last year, is also on track to be a B corporation.What sets these destinations apart is their dedication to training underserved youth. Over 500 interns have lived and worked at Evergreen and Rush Creek lodges. Zimmerman says they get full-time, paid positions with extra support in their jobs while allowing them can take part in outdoor recreation programs. “They are also getting one-on-one support with anything that’s holding them back in life, and they’re getting training in job skills and other life skills — banking and other things that would help them be ready as they move into adulthood.” There’s been many success stories along the way, including one intern who went on to be a chef in Seattle and buy his own home. “He met a woman at the lodge and they ended up getting married. He eventually had his mother come live with him in the house. She’d never owned a house before. It was really a touching evolution,” says Zimmerman. Evergreen Lodge is the most storied of the three properties, all located near the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Par
ETHICAL TRAVEL YOSEMITE RESORTS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
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