Friends of EcoTour Adventures,
Taylor Phillips, owner of EcoTour Adventures here, wishing you a Happy New Year from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As we begin 2021, I am so full of gratitude for the GYE, my family, our guests, and guides who overcame the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic.
Connecting people to the wildlife and wild places of the GYE is core to the mission of EcoTour Adventures. Like many businesses in the past year, EcoTour Adventures was faced with a unique challenge, and opportunity to do our part in reducing the spread of Covid-19 while keeping our doors open and supporting our amazing staff. Looking back at 2020 we have a lot to be thankful for:
- In March we launched our popular Wildlife Wednesday Weekly Round-up, a weekly video program on Facebook featuring recent wildlife sightings and interpretation from our skilled naturalist guides. This series, which premieres live each Wednesday at 5:30pm MST has been viewed by tens of thousands of people across the globe.
- We also launched a webstore featuring products from our guides and local artists, directing 100% of sales to cover health insurance costs. We thank all of our customers for your support.
- As the National Parks reopened for the summer we returned to guiding, leading private only trips and taking additional precautions to keep guests and guides safe while reducing the spread of Covid-19.
- In May, 24-year old Grizzly 399 emerged with an incredible 4 cubs in tow! We excitedly observed this family of bruins throughout the year and are excited to share that as of December 31st 2020, they have returned to a den for a well deserved slumber.
- We enjoyed a great summer sharing diverse wildlife with guests, including amazing views of wolves in Yellowstone throughout the 25th year since successful reintroduction in 1995.
- EcoTour Adventures surpassed $100,000 in donations to conservation organizations working to keep the GYE wild via our Dollars for Conservation program.
- As snows began to fill the Jackson Hole Valley in November we resumed our winter Wildlife, Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Tours of Grand Teton National Park.
As a small family owned business, EcoTour Adventures and our staff are forever grateful to our guests and customers who have supported us in 2020 and into 2021. We’re thankful to be healthy and operating under protocols to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 including masks, private only tours, and enhanced sanitation of vehicles and equipment.
We are also indebted to the wildlife and wild landscapes of the GYE and look forward to continuing to grow our commitment to conservation in 2021.
On behalf of my family and the team at EcoTour Adventures we thank you for your continued support during these interesting times. We wish you a happy new year and hope to see you in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem soon.
Take Care,
Taylor Phillips and the EcoTour Adventures Team.
