Explore Whitefish releases 'Be a friend of the fish' campaign

The Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, known as Explore Whitefish, has released a “Be a Friend of The Fish” sustainable tourism campaign for the busy summer visitor season.

One part of the effort is the “Be a Friend of The Fish” community values based on the sustainable tourism management plan recently adopted by the City of Whitefish and Explore Whitefish.

The storyline behind the values can be found online at WanderLightlyWhitefish.com. The six main tenants of the community values are: “1. Take it Slow. Enjoy the Ride. 2. Show Respect and Kindness. 3. Recreate Responsibly. 4. Be a Steward of the Land. 5. Fuel our Local Businesses. 6. Help us Stay Healthy.”

The second piece of the program is a 20-minute online training session in sustainable tourism, designed to equip local service industry professionals with knowledge to promote destination stewardship among visitors and recommend responsible activities.

“This training is all about recognizing that we all have a role in being stewards of our community and environment,” said Dylan Boyle, executive director of Explore Whitefish. “We are excited to support front-line workers who interact with visitors every day, playing a key role in education.”

Viewers will also have access to a tool kit filled with resources to aid conversations around timely topics such as the Going-to-the-Sun Road ticketed entry system, city of Whitefish Climate Action Plan, and car rental shortages. Anyone can access the free online training by visiting the “Be a Friend of The Fish” Business Resources page on Explorewhitefish.com/members.

Explore Whitefish also debuted a checklist to help visitors embody the community values.

The checklist includes suggestions such as: “Put out your campfire completely: douse, stir, douse and feel;” “Bring a bag for TP and trash. Don’t be gross. Leave No Trace;” “Ignite inclusive conversations and show mutual respect for all people;” “Be extra kind to our workers. They are the backbone of this town.”

The full checklist will be distributed ahead of peak summer visitation to local businesses, and included in reservation confirmations, in an effort to arm visitors with a tool that gives tangible suggestions to enhance both social and environmental sustainability during their stay.

For more information, visit WanderLightlyWhitefish.com and the “Be a Friend of The Fish” Business Resources page on ExploreWhitefish.com/members.