04.17.2013
BUFFALO, N.Y. (April 17, 2013) – Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is celebrating Earth Day 2013 with a variety of events at each location. From state park and beach cleanups to baking organic snacks to recycling contests, employees are encouraging environmental stewardship in the Special Places™ in which we operate.
Since its inception in 1992, Delaware North’s corporate environmental management system,GreenPath®, has developed into an innovative stewardship initiative that also encompasses interpretation and education programs, facility and artifact care, community involvement, and ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility.
”Earth Day is a time to celebrate what Delaware North Parks & Resorts does every day through GreenPath - protecting resources and leading by example,” said Parks & Resorts President Rick Abramson. “Delaware North employees at every location across the world can celebrate Earth Day knowing that their contributions make a difference every day.”
2013 Earth Day Events
Delaware North’s Corporate Headquarters are located in Buffalo, N.Y. President and CEO of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Thomas Herrera-Mishler, will speak to employees about the not-for-profit’s work on the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed space. Delaware North's first contract for canoe concessions was at the Olmsted-designed Delaware Park in Buffalo. In 2012, the Jacobs family received the first-ever national Olmsted Preservation Award for their efforts in environmental stewardship of Olmsted landscapes. In addition, the company will hand out saplings to associates purchased through Arbor Day Foundation.
Fresno Reservations is Delaware North’s central reservations office in Fresno, Calif. For Earth Day, employees will compete in an organic food cooking competition and a recycling competition. Employees learn how to make their own laundry detergent, body scrub and bar soaps.
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is located in Geneva, Ohio.This 109-room conference and event facility is located in the heart of northeast Ohio’s wine country. Delaware North employees from The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake will celebrate Earth Day on April 27 with a cleanup of Geneva State Park. The team will work with local scout troops and community members. Prior to the cleanup, volunteers will enjoy refreshments accompanied by a presentation about Earth Day and the Lodge’s efforts to work toward a green world.
Gideon Putnam Resort is located in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This 120-room conference and event space is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Earth Day 2013 will mark Gideon’s 6th annual event celebrated with St. Mary’s School. Fourth grade students will join employees to clean up the park and plant a tree. A New York State Parks educator will teach students about indigenous trees during a nature hike followed by lunch at the resort provided by Delaware North.
Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona. Delaware North provides retail and grocery services in the park and in nearby Tusayan, a gateway community to the park. Earth Day plans include providing guests with samples of organic and environmentally-friendly products sold in the stores. The Chico “Plastic Bag Monster” will make a visit to inform guests about paper versus plastic bag usage, and encourage reuse. Employees will use Earth Day trivia to engage guests and offer prizes. Delaware North employees will also participate in the park’s Earth Day celebration at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center with the U.S. National Park Service and park partners.
Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa is located in British Columbia, Canada. This 337-room conference and event resort will celebrate Earth Day with area 5th grade students. They’ll work together to clean up the resort’s beachfront. Employees and students will work together to plant shrubs and flowers. Students will also enjoy milk and cookies while learning about Earth Day, how to lead environmentally-friendly lives and Delaware North’s green efforts.
Kalaloch Lodge is located in Forks, Wash. Set high on an Olympic Peninsula promontory overlooking a wild stretch of Pacific Northwest coast, Kalaloch Lodge is a classic seaside retreat with full access to the pristine wilderness and recreation of Olympic National Park. Employees from Kalaloch will celebrate Earth Day with three days of events. The events will kick off with the Lodge’s annual Pacific Coast beach cleanup and picnic. The event is done in conjunction with the National Park Service and Coast Savers, a local non-profit. Lodge employees will join local high school students to clean an adopted 2-mile stretch of highway through the Adopt-a-Road program. On Earth Day, volunteers will enjoy tree planting at a local school.
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center (KSCVC) is located in Florida. Employees and volunteers will spend two days collecting and recycling electronic waste for all NASA and contractor employees. Also planned is a Sustainability Fair with 15 vendors, including Brevard County Solid Waste, NASA Transportation, and Kenney Space Center Natural Resources Group. In addition, KSCVC is a major sponsor of Keep Brevard Beautiful.
Niagara Falls State Park is located in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Delaware North provides visitor services including concessions and retail. Earth Day will be celebrated in partnership with New York State Parks. Area 6th-grade students will be provided with an overview of Earth Day and actions they can take to help the environment. Students will enjoy interpretive tours of the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, Schoelkopf Overlook and the Niagara Gorge. They will also learn about the solar panels on the Discovery Center and plant a native tree species in the park.
Sequoia National Park is located in California. Wuksachi Lodge will host its annual Earth Day fair on April 20 at the Lodgepole Complex. Guests may enjoy educational displays, interpretive information, natural and organic snacks, souvenirs made from recycled materials, and other giveaways. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore Sequoia’s animal and plant world with local educators. Wuksachi Lodge will host a two-hour interactive family program. Throughout the weekend, guests will enjoy sustainable food options at The Peaks Restaurant.
Shenandoah National Park is located in Luray, Va. Delaware North operates lodging including Skyland Resort, Big Meadows Lodge and Lewis Mountain Cabins. It also operates Spottswood and Pollack Dining Rooms, concessions and several guest shops. To celebrate Delaware North’s first Earth Day in Shenandoah, employees will work with the National Park Service to pick up litter throughout the park, invite vendors to educate guests on recycling and waste reduction, and share environmental information about the park with guests via educational booths.
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is located in Fish Camp, Calif. This 297-room resort features meeting and event space, restaurants, shopping, and a destination spa. Tenaya’s Earth Day celebration for 2013 includes an evening of stargazing and hot chocolate on the terrace, a nature walk/trail cleanup, a “Create a Bug” workshop with the Tenaya Guest Recreation team, and an organic wine and cheese tasting. On Earth Day, the gift shop and spa gift shop will offer a 20 percent discount on all eco-friendly products. Additionally, the Sierra Restaurant and Jackalopes Bar & Grill will offer organic, sustainable menu specials.
Yellowstone National Park is located primarily in Wyoming. Delaware North operates the 12 Yellowstone General Stores, providing visitors with retail and food and beverage services while they visit the world’s first national park. Yellowstone General Stores will celebrate Earth Day by offering a free, reusable Yellowstone shopping bag to guests purchasing $22 or more in-store. Environmentally-friendly products and information will be shared throughout the stores.
Holiday Inn Yellowstone, Yellowstone Park Hotel, Gray Wolf Inn & Suites are three hotels owned and operated by Delaware North, and all are located in West Yellowstone, Mont. The Holiday Inn West Yellowstone will serve as the site for this year’s 4th annual Earth Day celebration April 26-27. Prior to the celebration, children will have the opportunity to submit designs for the city’s recycling bin/trash dumpster wrap contest and a reusable green bag design contest. Winners of both contests will be honored at the reception, along with community sustainability awards recipients. The reception will feature sustainable food and beverages. Guests can also learn about Yellowstone wilderness through interpretive bike rides, participate in recycling arts and crafts projects, and join in on a story hour. Yellowstone offers “Oh Elk,” a partnership among the National Park Service, Delaware North Parks & Resorts, the United States Forest Service, and Pinecone Playhouse.
Yosemite National Park is located in California. Delaware North handles virtually all guest services at Yosemite. This includes lodges, camps, restaurants, and recreational services under contract with the National Park Service. This year’s Earth Day theme at Yosemite is “Stand Up for What You Stand On.” Friday through Saturday, assortments of activities are planned for guests. Options will include an Earth Day bike ride through Yosemite Valley, family night and interpretive photo walk featuring the work of Ansel Adams. Guests can also participate in a volunteer restoration project and an Earth Day/Junior Ranger Village Celebration. The celebration will offer sustainable foods and beverages, a trash cleanup, an Earth-friendly product fair, and kid-friendly fun.
Since its inception in 1992, Delaware North’s corporate environmental management system,GreenPath®, has developed into an innovative stewardship initiative that also encompasses interpretation and education programs, facility and artifact care, community involvement, and ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility.
”Earth Day is a time to celebrate what Delaware North Parks & Resorts does every day through GreenPath - protecting resources and leading by example,” said Parks & Resorts President Rick Abramson. “Delaware North employees at every location across the world can celebrate Earth Day knowing that their contributions make a difference every day.”
2013 Earth Day Events
Delaware North’s Corporate Headquarters are located in Buffalo, N.Y. President and CEO of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Thomas Herrera-Mishler, will speak to employees about the not-for-profit’s work on the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed space. Delaware North's first contract for canoe concessions was at the Olmsted-designed Delaware Park in Buffalo. In 2012, the Jacobs family received the first-ever national Olmsted Preservation Award for their efforts in environmental stewardship of Olmsted landscapes. In addition, the company will hand out saplings to associates purchased through Arbor Day Foundation.
Fresno Reservations is Delaware North’s central reservations office in Fresno, Calif. For Earth Day, employees will compete in an organic food cooking competition and a recycling competition. Employees learn how to make their own laundry detergent, body scrub and bar soaps.
The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake is located in Geneva, Ohio.This 109-room conference and event facility is located in the heart of northeast Ohio’s wine country. Delaware North employees from The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake will celebrate Earth Day on April 27 with a cleanup of Geneva State Park. The team will work with local scout troops and community members. Prior to the cleanup, volunteers will enjoy refreshments accompanied by a presentation about Earth Day and the Lodge’s efforts to work toward a green world.
Gideon Putnam Resort is located in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This 120-room conference and event space is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Earth Day 2013 will mark Gideon’s 6th annual event celebrated with St. Mary’s School. Fourth grade students will join employees to clean up the park and plant a tree. A New York State Parks educator will teach students about indigenous trees during a nature hike followed by lunch at the resort provided by Delaware North.
Grand Canyon National Park is located in Arizona. Delaware North provides retail and grocery services in the park and in nearby Tusayan, a gateway community to the park. Earth Day plans include providing guests with samples of organic and environmentally-friendly products sold in the stores. The Chico “Plastic Bag Monster” will make a visit to inform guests about paper versus plastic bag usage, and encourage reuse. Employees will use Earth Day trivia to engage guests and offer prizes. Delaware North employees will also participate in the park’s Earth Day celebration at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center with the U.S. National Park Service and park partners.
Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa is located in British Columbia, Canada. This 337-room conference and event resort will celebrate Earth Day with area 5th grade students. They’ll work together to clean up the resort’s beachfront. Employees and students will work together to plant shrubs and flowers. Students will also enjoy milk and cookies while learning about Earth Day, how to lead environmentally-friendly lives and Delaware North’s green efforts.
Kalaloch Lodge is located in Forks, Wash. Set high on an Olympic Peninsula promontory overlooking a wild stretch of Pacific Northwest coast, Kalaloch Lodge is a classic seaside retreat with full access to the pristine wilderness and recreation of Olympic National Park. Employees from Kalaloch will celebrate Earth Day with three days of events. The events will kick off with the Lodge’s annual Pacific Coast beach cleanup and picnic. The event is done in conjunction with the National Park Service and Coast Savers, a local non-profit. Lodge employees will join local high school students to clean an adopted 2-mile stretch of highway through the Adopt-a-Road program. On Earth Day, volunteers will enjoy tree planting at a local school.
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center (KSCVC) is located in Florida. Employees and volunteers will spend two days collecting and recycling electronic waste for all NASA and contractor employees. Also planned is a Sustainability Fair with 15 vendors, including Brevard County Solid Waste, NASA Transportation, and Kenney Space Center Natural Resources Group. In addition, KSCVC is a major sponsor of Keep Brevard Beautiful.
Niagara Falls State Park is located in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Delaware North provides visitor services including concessions and retail. Earth Day will be celebrated in partnership with New York State Parks. Area 6th-grade students will be provided with an overview of Earth Day and actions they can take to help the environment. Students will enjoy interpretive tours of the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, Schoelkopf Overlook and the Niagara Gorge. They will also learn about the solar panels on the Discovery Center and plant a native tree species in the park.
Sequoia National Park is located in California. Wuksachi Lodge will host its annual Earth Day fair on April 20 at the Lodgepole Complex. Guests may enjoy educational displays, interpretive information, natural and organic snacks, souvenirs made from recycled materials, and other giveaways. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore Sequoia’s animal and plant world with local educators. Wuksachi Lodge will host a two-hour interactive family program. Throughout the weekend, guests will enjoy sustainable food options at The Peaks Restaurant.
Shenandoah National Park is located in Luray, Va. Delaware North operates lodging including Skyland Resort, Big Meadows Lodge and Lewis Mountain Cabins. It also operates Spottswood and Pollack Dining Rooms, concessions and several guest shops. To celebrate Delaware North’s first Earth Day in Shenandoah, employees will work with the National Park Service to pick up litter throughout the park, invite vendors to educate guests on recycling and waste reduction, and share environmental information about the park with guests via educational booths.
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is located in Fish Camp, Calif. This 297-room resort features meeting and event space, restaurants, shopping, and a destination spa. Tenaya’s Earth Day celebration for 2013 includes an evening of stargazing and hot chocolate on the terrace, a nature walk/trail cleanup, a “Create a Bug” workshop with the Tenaya Guest Recreation team, and an organic wine and cheese tasting. On Earth Day, the gift shop and spa gift shop will offer a 20 percent discount on all eco-friendly products. Additionally, the Sierra Restaurant and Jackalopes Bar & Grill will offer organic, sustainable menu specials.
Yellowstone National Park is located primarily in Wyoming. Delaware North operates the 12 Yellowstone General Stores, providing visitors with retail and food and beverage services while they visit the world’s first national park. Yellowstone General Stores will celebrate Earth Day by offering a free, reusable Yellowstone shopping bag to guests purchasing $22 or more in-store. Environmentally-friendly products and information will be shared throughout the stores.
Holiday Inn Yellowstone, Yellowstone Park Hotel, Gray Wolf Inn & Suites are three hotels owned and operated by Delaware North, and all are located in West Yellowstone, Mont. The Holiday Inn West Yellowstone will serve as the site for this year’s 4th annual Earth Day celebration April 26-27. Prior to the celebration, children will have the opportunity to submit designs for the city’s recycling bin/trash dumpster wrap contest and a reusable green bag design contest. Winners of both contests will be honored at the reception, along with community sustainability awards recipients. The reception will feature sustainable food and beverages. Guests can also learn about Yellowstone wilderness through interpretive bike rides, participate in recycling arts and crafts projects, and join in on a story hour. Yellowstone offers “Oh Elk,” a partnership among the National Park Service, Delaware North Parks & Resorts, the United States Forest Service, and Pinecone Playhouse.
Yosemite National Park is located in California. Delaware North handles virtually all guest services at Yosemite. This includes lodges, camps, restaurants, and recreational services under contract with the National Park Service. This year’s Earth Day theme at Yosemite is “Stand Up for What You Stand On.” Friday through Saturday, assortments of activities are planned for guests. Options will include an Earth Day bike ride through Yosemite Valley, family night and interpretive photo walk featuring the work of Ansel Adams. Guests can also participate in a volunteer restoration project and an Earth Day/Junior Ranger Village Celebration. The celebration will offer sustainable foods and beverages, a trash cleanup, an Earth-friendly product fair, and kid-friendly fun.
About Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is an industry leader, providing Stewardship and Hospitality in Special PlacesSMwith hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations at historic and scenic properties in North America and Australia. The company operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida; in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Olympic (Kalaloch Lodge), Shenandoah and Yosemite national parks, including The Ahwahnee and other Yosemite lodges; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia; Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and in Niagara Falls State Park. The company also owns and operates Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; the Park Gate Lodges at Yellowstone, which are the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn, Gray Wolf Inn and Suites and Yellowstone Park Hotel, all in West Yellowstone, Mont.; and five luxury resorts in Australia: Lizard Island Resort, Heron Island Resort, Wilson Island Resort, Kings Canyon Resort and El Questro Homestead and Wilderness Park. To learn more about Delaware North Companies’ hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.
Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts is an industry leader, providing Stewardship and Hospitality in Special PlacesSMwith hotel, retail, food service, recreation and transportation operations at historic and scenic properties in North America and Australia. The company operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida; in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Sequoia, Olympic (Kalaloch Lodge), Shenandoah and Yosemite national parks, including The Ahwahnee and other Yosemite lodges; The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio; Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa in British Columbia; Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; and in Niagara Falls State Park. The company also owns and operates Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite; the Park Gate Lodges at Yellowstone, which are the West Yellowstone Holiday Inn, Gray Wolf Inn and Suites and Yellowstone Park Hotel, all in West Yellowstone, Mont.; and five luxury resorts in Australia: Lizard Island Resort, Heron Island Resort, Wilson Island Resort, Kings Canyon Resort and El Questro Homestead and Wilderness Park. To learn more about Delaware North Companies’ hospitality management expertise, visit http://www.delawarenorth.com/parks-and-resorts-home.aspx.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned by the Jacobs family for nearly 100 years, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden. Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $2.6 billion annually and 55,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.