The Arctic Fox Initiative

Thankfully, a series of initiatives supporting the efforts to save the arctic fox have been in the works on for a long time at Fjällräven in cooperation with Stockholm University. Thanks to supplementary feeding, but also the continuous inventory of environmental and demographic data to evaluate the effects of the conservation effort, the population has recovered a lot. Today Fjällräven has an international following, reaching people all across the world. So it made sense to take the next step and widen the scope of this collaborative effort to make a difference and also the scope of engagement among Fjällräven’s followers. The Arctic Fox Initiative was launched this year to support projects and ideas that aim to protect nature and inspire more people to spend time outdoors – on an international scale.  

An update on the Arctic Fox Initiative 2019
In the inaugural year for the Arctic Fox Initiative global fund - the three winning participants were selected by our team as organisations we know are already doing incredible work. The three winning participants for 2019 were The Beach Clean Network Limited, Leave No Trace and Hej Främling! All three are incredible non-profit organisations with the goal to protect and educate people about nature and inspire them to spend more time outdoors.

The Beach Clean Network
The Beach Clean Network Limited is a UK based non-profit organisation, set up to encourage beach cleaning. It is responsible for the #2minutebeachclean, #2minutelitterpick and #2minutestreetclean initiatives. The idea behind the project is very simple: you pick up litter for 2 minutes each time you go to the beach (or anywhere) and put it in a designated litter station. The money from the fund will be used to install additional litter picking stations on beaches across the UK and also hire “#2minute Board Guardian Angels” in the UK, who will act as overseers of the stations in these areas and and as a support network for the local community. Martin Dorey, founder of the Two Minute Beach Clean says, “We are absolutely thrilled to receive a grant through the Arctic Fox Initiative. We have been working hard over the last 5 years to build up a network of beach cleaning stations and this grant will enable us to create a network of Guardian Angels to look after them, make sure they are always working properly, gather materials for recycling and work with the community to keep our beaches cleaner than ever. It is a dream come true for us to be able to do this, and to start getting more done in the next stage of our development. Thank you Fjällräven!” Read more about this project here.

Leave no Trace
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the outdoors by teaching people to enjoy it responsibly. Leave No Trace provides cutting-edge research, education, and initiatives so that every person who ventures outside can learn how to protect and enjoy our world responsibly. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is putting the Arctic Fox grant to use, expanding their targeted education efforts with a focus on teaching outdoor visitors how to respect wildlife and afford them the space needed to protect their health and wellbeing. “Thanks to the Arctic Fox grant monies, we have created new wildlife-focused videos and online content – as well as conducting in-person trainings – that give outdoor enthusiasts specific, easily understood guidance about the skills needed to enjoy nature without disrupting the animals that live there”, says Mark Eller, Director of Foundations and New Business of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

Hej främling!
Hej främling! is a Swedish non-governmental organization offering health boosting activities free of charge and open for everyone. The organization was founded in 2013 and has developed an integration method that thousands of refugees and local citizens have taken part in throughout the years. People in the outskirts of society are often materially supported by the government or municipality. But in order to grow as an individual and become self sufficient you need a meaningful life. This is often forgotten in the wheel of bureaucracy. The money received from the Arctic Fox Initiative will be put to use in providing activities such as running classes, mountain trips, skiing lessons, hiking, football, yoga, etc. for people in need in eight different counties across Sweden. ”We are proud to receive this essential support to our organization. It makes it possible for us to provide 180 health boosting activities to more than 3.000 participants – and every activity makes a difference for each participant – that is truly fantastic!” says Emma Arnesson, Director of Hej främling! Read more about this project here.

How to apply to the Arctic Fox Initiative in 2020
For the Arctic Fox Initiative in 2020 applications will be open on the Fjällräven website for everyone! Anyone can apply with a project that fulfils certain criteria, listed below: