This document summarizes feedback from the 2012 Lake Tahoe Expo. It includes positive comments from participants about guided tours that helped them learn about the local environment and conservation efforts. Suggestions for improving future Expos include increasing awareness of the event and better explaining how activities relate to the mission of sustainable tourism. The Expo brought together over 60 organizations in a collaborative model to showcase the local geography through tours while promoting environmental stewardship.

1. 2012TahoeExpo Report
“This was our first visit to Lake Tahoe, and we were glad we experienced it the
"right" way. The tour opened our eyes to birds we never encountered before and
bear tracks we would never have spotted on our own, and it made us aware of
the nature and importance of conservation efforts. We live too far away to come
every year, but if we ever get near Lake Tahoe again, we'll certainly look for more
activities/exhibitions etc. by Sustainable Lake Tahoe. We wish you well for Tahoe
Expo 2013!” Jens and Jenny Happe, New Westminster, B.C.
Additional Expo participant feedback from survey:
RE: Green Home – Growing Dome
GREEN “About Scott Terrel's green home, it gives us all an incentive to reduce our foot print
and he offered to help answer any questions along the way. The growing dome was
awesome, great that it provides food for Project Mana, and I am encouraged to have my
own dome.”
RE: Fly Fishing
“We learned about the catch and release program in the Tahoe Basin.
Also the fundamentals of fly fishing. I had a fly rod and reel and now my wife is
hooked.”
Participant Feedback highlights from 2012 Expo:
1) Adventures 90% found the Tracks informative, 66% thought fun 33% exciting and 33% a bargain!
2) Lunch! People really enjoyed and appreciated a lunch that was organic, healthy, local and tasty. (but
maybe include a few extra gluten-free meals)
3) Guides! Adventure track guides were on many people's "Expo favorites" list.
4) Adventure Track Themes/Variety! Wildlife viewing and Green Home Growing Dome - esp. popular.
 Most People generally didn't come to Tahoe specifically for the Expo.
 Age ranged from 19-68 years.
 All respondents are planning to attend Expo 2013 if the conditions are right.
 Most popular ideas for 2013 Adventure Tracks: River Rafting, Top to Tunnel, Medicine Plant Crawl.
 Request for more "green" technology’ homes to inspire more carbon reduction.
Suggestions to improve for Expo 2013:
1) Create more Expo awareness: Most people found out about the Expo coincidentally (Oakland
newspaper, word-of-mouth, on the web while looking for a weekend activity)
2) Promoting ST's mission. People weren't sure how the adventure tracks were relevant to ST's mission.
3) Better scout and rate the hikes. Some felt bear and river hike too strenuous to be a "moderate" hike.
4) Add in more aspects of wildlife.
Sustainable Tahoe PO 3206 Incline Village NV 89450 775 846-1715

2. 2012TahoeExpo Report
63 NGO’s, Agencies and Business (plus 45 volunteers) collaborated to host, support and sponsor a 150-mile
geotourism showcase (from South Lake to Pyramid Lake), demonstrating a prosperity model for the entire
Tahoe/Reno region.
.org (non-profit NGO’s)
1. Bear League .com (business)
2. Explore Tahoe
3. Growing Dome 1. Adrift Tahoe
4. Maritime Museum 2. Barton Health
5. Mustang Preservation League 3. Bike the West
6. Nation Conservancy 4. Crystal Range Assoc
7. No Bear Hunt 5. Embassy Suites
8. Paiute Tribe 6. Envirorents
9. Parasol Foundation 7. Eventbrite
10. Shakespeare 8. Farmers Insurance
11. Sugar Pine Foundation 9. Fly Fishing S Lake Tahoe
12. Tahoe Env. Resource Ctr 10. Full Moon Cafe
13. Tahoe Inst. Natural Science 11. Grass Roots
14. Tahoe Resource Cnsv Dist 12. Guitarfish
15. Undersea Voyager Project 13. JMA Properties
14. Horizon Hotel
.gov (Agencies/Edu) 15. In Your Face Printing
1. CA Parks 16. Kahle Productions
2. CA Tahoe Conservation 17. Kayak Tahoe
3. City South Lake Tahoe 18. Obexers Marina
4. NV Parks 19. Obexers Market
5. Tahoe City Marina 20. Olympic Bike Shop
6. Tahoe Regional Cnsv Dist 21. PDQ Market
7. Tahoe Regional Plan Agency 22. Pet Projekt
8. Tahoe Transportation District 23. Recreational Equipment
9. Truckee Pubic School 24. Redwood Printing
10. UC Davis 25. Reno Limo
11. United States Forest Service 26. Sanctuary NYC.com
12. Tahoe City Public Utility Dist. 27. Sand Harbor Sports
28. Solar times
29. Sonny Boys Tours
30. South Tahoe SUP
31. Svadhyaya Yoga
32. Tahoe City Kayak
33. Tahoe Paddle and Oar
34. Tahoe Quarterly
35. US Bank
Sustainable Tahoe PO 3206 Incline Village NV 89450 775 846-1715

3. 2012TahoeExpo Report
“Adventure Track“ example of TriNomic TM collaboration:
2012 ‘Marsh to Meadow’ geotourism Adventure Track
Each agency, organization and business contributed to this geotourism
Adventure Track. The guided Track increased visitors connection and
understanding of the critical stewardship work being done by local orgs and
agencies + local business who lead by example, all while reducing their carbon
impact !
1) .Org: Tahoe Conservation Resource District guides the kayakers into upper Truckee River
2) .Org: Tahoe Conservancy provides access to rim of marsh
3) .Gov: USFS provided access and guides to a meadow restoration
4) .Com: Kayak Tahoe provided equipment (kayaks)
5) .Com: Reno Tahoe Limo provided transit (shuttle - reducing VMT’s )
6) .Com: Grassroots provided local organic lunch (used local produce and compostable wrapping).
.gov / agencies allow access to sensitive areas if guided by .org
stewards to ensure protections, while .com businesses provide
equipment (shuttles, kayaks, lunch, etc). This builds
stewardship while giving visitors more reasons to:
 Stay longer
 Return sooner
 Migrate stories that increase demand for the area
The Expo demonstrates a TriNomic TM model (diagram to
right) of collaboration to create, motivate and ensure: 21st
century tourism menu where restoration efforts are
successful and sustainable.
Sustainable Tahoe PO 3206 Incline Village NV 89450 775 846-1715