Who we support, and how

Obviously, we take pride in giving something back, but not because we’re trying to make people think we’re impressive, but because we just think it’s the right thing to do.  We hope that everyone who hears about the work of our partners will feel motivated to do their part too.

In the last year, Go Ape in the UK has donated over $100k in cash and gift certificates to good causes, and our total fundraising contributions rise to over $160k when other activities are taken into account.

Go Ape here in the USA will do the same, so although we have our own ideas about the best things to do to support local charities to support, we'd love to hear from you about any ideas you have.  As a start, we have recently partnered with City Kids Wilderness Project in Washington DC and we will be giving 450 free tickets (per course) to local disadvantaged kids and families for 2010 and every year after.

Here is a sampling of who our charitable partners are here and in the UK (and to give you ideas of the type of groups that we will look to partner with).  If you represent a charitable organization in the Washington D.C., Maryland or anywhere in the United States and would like to discuss partnership opportunities, please contact us.

Gift Certificates

We are giving away $5,500 worth of Go Ape gift certificates in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area to organizations that can sell the tickets for fundraising auctions and raffles.  If you’d like to apply, please click here, but please don’t apply if you’re a school or project working with children under 10.  Because Go Ape has a minimum age of 10, we have a policy of supporting only projects and charities that meet the needs of children over 10.

City Kids Wilderness Project

City Kids is a fantastic organization that helps bring underserved and at-risk kids out of the inner-city environment and into the outdoors, many for the first time.  Throughout the year, we will be working with City Kids to provide challenging and rewarding outdoor adventures at Go Ape.

Global Canopy Programme

Global Canopy Programme is a great bunch who has put together the forest educational boards dotted around our sites.  We provide them with a donation of $8,000 a year to help fund their work in forest canopy research, education and conservation.

Gorilla Organization

We’re one of the official sponsors of this annual London-based run.  In 2008, 108 Go Ape staff and customers dressed up as gorillas and ran through the capital, raising $56,000 for the Gorilla Organization.  Click here to see Go Ape in action at the Great Gorilla Run 2008 or Click here to sign up and see how you can get involved.

Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust is a magnificent organization, and we’re doing what we can to support their mission to help launch young people into well ordered careers.  In 2008, we partnered with the trust to launch ‘Million Makers’ providing the perfect venue for 400 participants to bond while swinging in the trees.

Jubilee Sailing Trust

We’re always looking for ways to make our outdoor adventures more accessible, and we love the JST because it brings able-bodied and disabled people together on tallship voyages.  We supply an annual gift of $8,000 that helps the financially disadvantaged take part, and send our staff to make up the numbers when the ships are short on crew.

‘Thanks a Million’

In 2008, we celebrated our one millionth customer by giving each Go Ape center $2,000 to donate to a charity of their choice.  Charities chosen included; East Anglian Air Ambulance, Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, Acorns Children’s Hospice and the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death.

Watch video footage of the day here.

Sponsored events

We’re often approached to hold charitable events at our sites, and where possible, we try and sort something out.  Please feel free to email us about your event.