Environmental Traveling Companions

San Francisco-based Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) opens up the beauty and challenge of outdoor adventures to people with special needs, believing that everyone, regardless of physical or financial limitations, should have the opportunity to experience nature. Each year, ETC takes more than 2,000 people with special needs kayaking on the Bay, rafting down the American River, or cross-country skiing in the Sierra. It also sponsors occasional benefit trips on the Sea of Cortez, the Colorado and Yampa rivers, and San Francisco Bay. These trips give outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to have an exciting adventure themselves while supporting ETC’s programs for disabled and disadvantaged participants. A few upcoming benefit trips include “Full Moon Dinner Paddles” on Richardson Bay on July 20 and October 19 and a river rafting trip on the Trinity River in early August. Of special interest to Bay Nature readers is an overnight kayak trip to Angel Island with ETC and Bay Nature publisher Malcolm Margolin on November 2-3. For more information, contact ETC at (415) 474-7662 or visit www.etctrips.org.