Bayside Adventure Sports is unique in so many ways and one major way is our “Protect It” focus.  Our motto is “God created the Earth…ride it climb it catch it explore it protect it."  We’re serious about protecting the Earth so we have a team of amazing people who are inspiring many others to get involved in a variety of ways.  

First and foremost is educating our community about our responsibility to protect God’s Creation. Many Christian churches don’t talk much about God’s directive to take care of His creation. We would love to change that by inspiring churches around the country to dream big, start small, and grow slowly and build their own team to “Protect It”.  

We are working to get every one of the active BAS divisions to adopt at least one annual project. This might be the cleanup of a trail, river area, lakeside, or park. It might be helping to pull out invasive species, it might be reforestation projects, or it may be educational seminars and postings.  
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We have become annual participants in the Yosemite FaceLift week.  We bring down a group and camp and serve and then take some time to hike Half Dome while there. We have a regular impact on Sequoia National Park through one of our team members.  We support and have partnered with a Haiti project through another leader. We encourage people to take the “Plastic Challenge” to help them recognize how much plastic we all use.  
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BAS also donates 1% of proceeds from our Summer Yosemite Trip to the Yosemite Conservancy. We enjoy God's gift of Yosemite and want to be sure it is protected for future generations to enjoy!

We are small but we hope to, through modeling and challenging other organizations, expand our reach.  How about you?  Can you help?  Please connect with us and let’s talk about it!
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Contact us protectit@baysideadventuresports.com 
Upcoming Events:
September 2020: Yosemite FaceLift
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Protect It Team

Partnership with WJU in Haiti

The stated mission of Bayside Adventure Sports is God Created the Earth, ride it, climb it, catch it, explore, PROTECT IT. 

We entered this year with an increased conviction and focus on PROTECTING IT, and we have taken some great steps to care for the Creation we enjoy so much. This year we have formed a Protect It Team, introduced Protect It events such as trail clean-ups, presented three environmentally-focused talks at Bayside's Thrive Conference, and hosted an Earth Day event. BAS members are joining local organizations already doing restorative work to help make a difference. 

Today, June 8th is World Oceans Day, a day of celebration, awareness and action. Over 70% of the earth's surface is ocean, and environmental crises like coral bleaching, ocean acidification, overfishing and plastic pollution impact us all. So this World Oceans Day, BAS is paying attention and raising awareness and action among our ocean-loving people.

This past month BAS worked with William Jessup University and other partners to take action in Haiti. Haiti has some amazing tropical, blue waters, but generations of poor resource management, significant social and political challenges, and devastating natural disasters have led to widespread poverty and environmental crisis throughout the nation. So how is BAS working to Protect It? Here are five ways:
  1. Supporting Education. BAS supported William Jessup University researchers and students conducting scientific studies on Haiti's coral reefs and fish populations.
  2. Sending Volunteers. BAS sent two volunteer divers to be a part of the scientific research. We also sent GoPro video cameras that were used to record biodiversity on reefs. This footage will enable scientists to continue monitoring impacts into the future.
  3. Sending Gear. Not only did BAS send their GoPros, but they geared up the team with BAS "Protect It" t-shirts (see all the blue shirts in pics below.) But perhaps most impactful were the paddleboards that BAS sent. BAS volunteer, Nanhee Kim, spent days teaching young Haitian kids to paddleboard, and we've left two boards in Haiti for continued use and instruction! BAS Paddleboard division is now a global ministry!
  4. Doing the work of Restoration. BAS SCUBA division has joined efforts with the Amiga Island Ecological Foundation as they grow endangered corals to be planted out on reefs.
  5. Loving Kids. BAS paddleboarding and SCUBA spent loads of time with kids, teaching them the sports that we love. Check out the smiles as kids paddleboard and snorkel!
BAS is making a very tangible difference this World Oceans Day. We want to invite you to be a part. BAS has pledged $3,000 to the work in Haiti, and we want you to be a part of supporting this work. Give a small donation this World Oceans Day by visiting our giving page. Be part of protecting it!

John Richert, PhD
Bayside Adventure Sports, Scuba Leader & PIT Member
WJU Biology Professor
johnr@baysideadventuresports.com
http://www.baysideadventuresports.com/scuba.html
oceansdeclare.com
www.bluewatermissions.org/blog/
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Protect It Sponsors

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Thank you, ​Gaines Insurance, for your desire to honor God and assist us in protecting our Earth through your generous donation and sponsorship!
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​Lowe's has generously proved supplies for our driftwood cleanup days.