GPO = H2O Give Back

There are six essentials for human life - protein, carbs, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.  Water is considered the number one essential.  This is not surprising considering we are made up of roughly 70% water at birth and 50% (women) to 60% (men) in adulthood.  In other words, water is essential to our very existence.

Even though the earth is 71% water, 97% of it is saltwater.  Of the 3% that is fresh water, roughly 69% of it is inaccessible, being locked in glaciers, ice caps, permanent snow, and deep aquafers.  With 99% of our fresh water being either inaccessible or unusable (polluted), what remains is less than 1% of our fresh water or approximately 0.003% of total global water available for human consumption.

So here begins the Go Play Outside story.  Being born in the late 1940's and early 1950's, an early appreciation for the fields, streams, and critters that occupied them was formed. This was most frequently due to the common parental directive of "Go Play Outside".  That foundation instilled a love of the outdoors that led to our opening Shank's Mare Outfitters in 1978.  Over the next 45 years, we taught, guided trips, and equipped outdoor enthusiasts in backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, x-c skiing, windsurfing, mountain biking, and paddleboarding.  We led groups exploring New England to The Chesapeake Bay, the Outer Banks and Florida mangroves in the East to Mt. Rainier and the Sierra Nevada mountains out West.  

Our proudest accomplishment of our 45 year career is the establishment of a student field trip program.  From elementary to college age students, we introduced them to kayaking on the Susquehanna River and stream studies on our local creeks emphasizing their relationship to the Chesapeake Bay.  During 25 years of our career offering this educational opportunity, we introduced over 35,000 kids to local waterways in the hopes  they become better stewards of rivers, streams and the outdoor environment.

In an effort to support other organizations continuing our educational mission, we are initiating GPO=H2O, a give back program donating 2% of GPO and GPO/Susquehanna sales to those efforts.  Currently GPO/Susquehanna donations will go to The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association who continues our school field trip program and tirelessly fights for a clean Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay.  2% of general GPO sales will be donated to various clean water projects to be selected. 

Wear your GPO and GPO/Susquehanna gear with the knowledge that you are supporting clean water efforts for ourselves and the world in which we live.   

Go Play Outside!