Silver Creek Travel Journal

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PROOF EYEWEAR The NATURE CONSERVANCY About The Project: As part of our commitment to sustainability and giving back, we teamed up with​T​he Nature Conservancy​to celebrate healthy outdoor lifestyles and educate the importance of conservation. For the entire month of June, 100% of the proceeds from ​t​he sale of special edition sunglasses was donated to The Nature Conservancy in Idaho totaling over $12,000.

The design of the shades was inspired by our love of nature. It features a salmon silhouette as a shout out to water and conservation in the West. The inside arm is inscribed with the words “Get lost in nature and find yourself.”

We full heartedly believe in the lasting differences TNC makes to our lands here in Idaho and all around the world.

The project shed light on the importance of conservation efforts to a younger generation and we were honored to be included in the process.

About The Nature Conservancy: The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. In Idaho the Conservancy has conserved and protected nearly 400,000 acres of iconic landscapes and habitat for people and nature since the purchase of the flagship preserve, Silver Creek, in 1976.

About Proof: Proof was founded in 2010 by 3 brothers in Idaho, but its roots can be traced back to 1954 when their grandfather, Bud Dame, started a sawmill. The brothers grew up with sawdust in their veins working in the family mill and exploring the Idaho outdoors. The start-up provides products handcrafted from sustainable materials including FSC-certified wood, cotton-based acetate, and repurposed skateboard decks. Proof stands firm on three principles: heritage, sustainability, and giving back. The bird logo represents the belief, “Everyone has wings to fly, some just need a little help.”

SILVER CREE

EK PRESERVE

SILVER CREEK PRESERVE Each year, the preserve draws visitors from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries.

The fly fishing is legendary, of course, but the preserve offers many other outdoor activities.

Flowing at the base of the Picabo Hills, this high-desert spring-fed creek attracts an abundance of wildlife including eagles, hawks, songbirds, waterfowl, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, deer and elk. Silver Creek’s globally unique aquatic ecosystem features one of the highest densities of stream insects in North America, which supports the world-class fishery.

As many as 150 species of birds have been identified along the self-guided nature trail, which begins at the preserve visitor center. The Conservancy owns 851 acres along Silver Creek and has protected more than 12,600 acres through conservation easements, making this one of the most successful private stream conservation efforts ever undertaken for public benefit.

It’s a scene people have enjoyed for many decades. In fact, Silver Creek began drawing visitors in the 1930’s, when celebrities who hunted and fished along the creek gave the area a boost of publicity.

SEED BOMBING Seed bombing or aerial reforestation is a technique of introducing vegetation to land by throwing or dropping compressed bundles of soil containing live vegetation. The earliest records of aerial reforestation date back from 1930. In this period, planes were used to distribute seeds over certain inaccessible mountains in Honolulu after forest fires.

During our stay on the preserve, we ran into beavers, moose, muskrats, and the comforting sound of rattlesnakes. The full project itself raised over $12,000 and was donated TNC restoration efforts. The donation is a microcosm of the seed bombing technique - it’s something that the eco-system, nature, animals, and people included, will continue to benefit from for generations to come.

www.iwantproof.com www.nature.org/Idaho