At 4F we believe that small steps of many people lead to big changes. That’s why we encourage everyone, with no exceptions, to take action for the environment. We are glad to support various initiatives, and the “Wolontariat dla Tatr” campaign definitely aligns with our philosophy. 4F Change strategy covers numerous areas. In 2020, we created the movement of Changemakers consisting of employees from various departments. They are people who want to have an impact on what happens in the company and who seek ideas for more sustainable actions in their private lives, while inspiring others to do the same. We aspire for everyone to be a Changemaker: not only OTCF S.A. employees, but also our clients, ambassadors and partners. We’re proud that we can support the volunteers in the Tatra National Park with the 4F Change project. The ‘Volunteers for the Tatra Mountains’ campaign has been running for 15 years. The volunteers help the employees of the Tatra National Park mainly in keeping the Tatra Mountains clean. Every year it’s considerable support for the Park’s employees, especially during summer, when thousands of tourists hike the mountain trails.

The mountains give me a freedom I cannot find anywhere else. They provide challenges that make me push my own limits. They teach respect and humility. And they soothe my soul like no other place. To give back for everything they give me, I volunteer for the Tatra National Park. I want to take care of my place on earth so that future generations can enjoy this area in the condition we see it now, or perhaps even slightly better…? that’s how Daria Skrzypek, a volunteer in the Tatra National Park, describes her participation in the project.

The Tatra Mountains are the only alpine mountain range in Poland. As one of the most beautiful places in Poland, it has been attracting thousands of tourists for years, also those from abroad. Every year around 4 million hikers hit the trails in the Tatras, which makes it one of the most frequently visited places in the country. With an area of 21,197 hectares, Tatra National Park is the fifth largest national park in Poland. The highest peak is Rysy (2,499 metres above sea level). High biodiversity is a prominent feature of the Tatra National Park. About 1,000 species of vascular plants can be found here, of which nearly two hundred that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. As for animals, relict high mountain species are of especially valuable, groundhog and chamois, as well as large carnivores: wolves, lynx and bears. There are 275 kilometres of marked hiking trails available to tourists. In winter, one can also use them for ski touring. Alpine skiing, mountaineering and caving can also be enjoyed in the National Park.

Here’s what the Tatra National Park says about its mission: „We protect and help understand the nature and culture of the Tatra Mountains to let present and future generations experience them.” Volunteers help in making this important mission come true. „Volunteers for the Tatra Mountains”, the largest volunteering program in Polish National Parks, has been organised by the Tatra National Park since 2007. It came into being thanks to the collaboration between the Tatra National Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park, where a popular campaign „Volunteers in Parks” has been held for many years. Within a few years, „Volunteers for the Tatra Mountains” evolved from a small-scale, seasonal project into a large, year-round program. From the outset, over 4,000 individual volunteers and a few dozen organised groups participated in the program. Among them were people from all over Poland, but also from abroad, including Slovakia, Germany, Italy and Spain. It’s mostly young people who participate in volunteering efforts during their university years, but there are many seniors too. Most volunteers are female.

„This collaboration is a source of joy for us, especially given that the idea of protecting the environment is important to 4F. It makes us even happier to know that it’s not only handing over functional outdoor clothing for volunteers and that we’ll hike the Tatra trails together to clean them up. We hope that the direct experience of volunteers’ hard work will strengthen our environmentally friendly attitude and bring us more allies in urging to keep the Tatra Mountains clean,” says Dariusz Giś, program coordinator of „Volunteers for the Tatra Mountains” at the Tatra National Park.