Vamos Outdoors Project Fundraiser Auction

Welcome to the Vamos Outdoors Project Fundraising Auction. Vamos Outdoors Project (VOP) builds community by creating access to environmental education. This fundraiser provides funds for us to send Latinx and English Language Learner youth on summer backpacking trips in the Cascades. Proceeds from this auction also support our mountain biking program in partnership with WMBC, our swimming program with the YMCA, and our climbing program at VITAL climbing gym. The Latinx population is underserved in outdoor programming, especially the migrant farmworker community, and this fundraiser goes a long way to provide empowering experiences for youth in Whatcom County.

For this auction, we are thrilled to offer dozens of gift certificates, gear, artwork, activities, services, toys, food and more, supplied almost exclusively by local business owners! Below is a little information about the auction itself:
- Items are listed with a current/starting bid price, as well as a Buy-It-Now price. The value of the item is also listed.
- A few items have multiple duplicate items available. In those cases, there is simply a Buy-It-Now price.
- If an item gets a new high bid in the final moments of the auction, bidding time will be extended for 3 minutes, repeating for each additional bid. Max 30 minute extension.

If you aren't interested in bidding on an item, there is a link for direct donations, or you can sponsor students through scholarships. Look for "Vamos Scholarships" in the categories.

Thanks to all of our donors for supporting Vamos Outdoors Project!

Vamos Outdoors Project works with Latinx, migrant, and English Language Learner youth and families to reduce barriers to access to the outdoors, recreation, and environmental education. Vamos offers direct service through our programs, as well as partners with schools and outdoor organizations to help participants engage in the partner organization's programs. Vamos incorporated in 2018, and grew from running summer backpacking trips to providing year round activities for public school aged (K-8) youth.

This year, Vamos has increased program capacity to be able to connect more Latinx youth and families to the outdoors through creating new programs while also maintaining previous ones. New programs include:

-Viviendo Bien serving youth and families living in agricultural housing sites in Whatcom County providing outdoor place-based activities

-Backpacking trips for youth in Skagit county as well as Whatcom (this is the first year Vamos will have the capacity to offer backpacking to Skagit youth)

-Weekly Walks (new program offering youth the opportunity to walk with Vamos to the park and interact with peers in a COVID safe environment, reducing social isolation)

-Snowboarding lessons at Mount Baker (Vamos offered a pilot program with Mount Baker Ski Area to provide snowboarding lessons. Building upon the successes of the pilot program, Vamos plans to offer more snowboarding days next year!)

-Summer Migrant programs with Skagit County school districts

In addition to the new programs, Vamos continues to provide past programming which includes mountain biking, climbing (both indoor and outdoor), swimming, Summer Migrant Program with Bellingham School District, backpacking, and weekend park activities program with Burlington-Edison School District.

Vamos is a volunteer dependent organization, our work depends on the long term commitment of volunteers to help run programming and build positive relationships with the youth. If you know a Vamos volunteer, give them a big thanks!

Vamos is based out of Bellingham, Washington.