Root Values

From beginning to end, every detail that goes into a Root Adventures trip is intentional. Our goal is to create a space where people can show up as they are and truly slow down and reflect. We want to guide people outside their comfort zone so they learn the skills necessary to feel every moment with deep intentionality, living life through a less-filtered lens.

Community is created through shared experiences and the formation of relationships. Relationships can act as a mirror and have the potential to spark joy or be triggering, but either way they foster growth. Through delving into the relationship with one’s self, others and the places we visit, Root Adventures experiences foster a rich sense of community and belonging.

Travel comes with a high barrier to entry and we strive to create safe spaces around the world for people of all body types, backgrounds and physical abilities. Our trips are expensive but we believe in fair pay for employees and only working with partners in our destinations who share our values and operate responsibly. Giving back is a big focus of each trip and we are committed to providing experiences for members of BIPOC communities through our scholarship programs.

Travel is an inherently carbon intensive activity and while sustainable business practices are always top of mind, our goal is to get to the root of the problem and not just put a band-aid on it. True change will be affected for generations to come by showing people how fragile and beautiful our natural ecosystems are. We can learn from other communities how to live in harmony with the natural balance of the land.

Values Implementation

Root Adventures subscribes to the industry’s best practices in terms of maximizing local benefit while reducing environmental harm throughout all aspects of our operations. Unfortunately, international travel will continue to be an inherently carbon intensive activity for the foreseeable future.

In lieu of focusing all our efforts and limited resources on making incremental reductions to our carbon emissions, an exercise in diminishing returns, we passionately strive to maximize the benefits! The benefits of flight carbon offsets are minimal (and often dubious, unfortunately), particularly compared to the potentially limitless impact of one of our clients having a profound experience on a trip. The industry often talks about travelers being transformed by the incredible vistas or even from experiencing first hand the impact of climate change or environmental destruction in their destination. Unfortunately, this idea is little more than wishful thinking.

At Root Adventure, we believe environmental awareness is only impactful when coupled with a true personal mindful awakening. A guided and intimate forest bathing, or a facilitated session exploring the depths of a persons’ relationship to consumptive lifestyles, create the opportunity for the true impactful change the world needs.

We choose to be abundance oriented in our approach to sustainability. It is too late for incremental progress. True transformation is the only adequate solution.

Equity & Inclusion is one of our Four Pillars. To serve, we must first understand. To best understand the needs of underserved communities, we intentionally seek out and employ Tour Leaders from marginalized communities and historically unrepresented groups in Adventure travel, such as Black, LGBTQIA+ and Latinx backgrounds.

First, we let our Tour Leaders tell us where they want to go. Surprisingly, we encourage them to select a destination that they’ve never been to! This arrangement is very intentional. We want our Tour Leaders’ enthusiasm and curiosity to be contagious. But also, we work hand-in-hand with them to understand their concerns and fears and together make the trip approachable and welcoming for them, and thereby eliminating similar hurdles for our clients. We then let our tour leaders define the community engagement and communication plan as we support and enable their vision. This arrangement ensures continual learning and growth as a company as we listen to and work hand-in-hand with those we seek to serve.

Our tour leaders are integral in ideating and nurturing our trip design, instrumental in the pre-trip onboarding of clients, and ultimately enable the transformative experiences while in the destination. Our Tour Leader team proudly represent BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, 25-70yo groups, female, amongst others, and are skilled in creating inclusive environments for all.