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2007 OSU's Austin Family Business
of the Year Award
For developing a new business concept, helping people connect with the natural world. The Excellence in Family Business Awards Program, presented yearly by Oregon State University's Austin Family Business Program, was founded in 1988 to applaud the accomplishments and contributions of family businesses for their innovation, entrepreneurship, commitment, and heart.
Gene Leo Memorial Award Recipient 2005
Established in 1994 to honor the late Gene Leo, this award recognizes outstanding contributions and efforts for a tourism-related activity or attraction in Oregon that specifically focuses on the state's natural beauty or outdoor recreation.
The award, presented by the Oregon Tourism Commission, was presented for a theme of "Carpe Noctem" (seize the night), which highlighted Wanderlust Tours’ various innovative evening tours, including Moonlight Canoe and Snowshoe Tours, Dinner Canoe Under the Stars events, and Bonfire on the Snow snowshoe evenings.
Governor's Tourism Award 2000
David & Aleta Nissen, owners Wanderlust Tours
Presented by Governor John Kitzhaber -"In recognition of your leadership, cooperation and support for building sustainable tourism in Oregon."
Statesman Journal, Salem April 12, 2000
Kitzhaber Lauds Tourism
by Suzanne Marta (Excerpt)
For about 300 days of the year, David Nissen guides small groups hiking through the forests of Deschutes County and paddling canoes along its rivers.Through his Bend-based company Wanderlust Tours, Nissen promotes Oregon's natural beauty, while teaching visitors about its environmental tenets.
Wanderlust Tours is one of many Oregon companies that, according to Gov. John Kitzhaber, will keep the state's tourism industry viable. For Nissen and his wife Aleta, promoting Oregon's natural beauty has become a matter of protecting their region's viability as a tourist destination. Over the last decade, the Bend area has been one of the state's fastest growing."We worry that when people drive through Bend and see the Costco and Target, they're not going to know what's special about Bend," David Nissen said. "We're trying to preserve our natural environment through sustainable tourism."
The Nissens grapple with growth even within their business. In its first year, the company guided 87 people on its tours. Now, the company often serves that many in one day -- a change that calls for careful consideration, Aleta Nissen said. "We need to be creative to keep taking people out while minimizing the impact on the area."
• Since receiving the Governor's Tourism Award, Wanderlust Tours was also invited to work with the Oregon Tourism Commission on Governor Kitzhaber's Sustainable Oregon Initiative.
• Wanderlust Tours was recognized for its contributions to sustainable tourism in Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine in a January 2001 article called, "Leaders of the Pack – 20 young(ish) Oregonians who are making things happen."
• Wanderlust Tours has been featured three separate times on PBS, including two Oregon Field Guide segments featuring the volcanic activity of Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the regrowth of the Smith Rock area after 1996’s wildfire there, and on a feature called "The Oregon Story" highlighting ecotourism in Oregon.
• Wanderlust Tours was featured as the model tourism company in the Oregon Tourism Commission’s publication, "The Ecotourism Market".
Wanderlust Tours supports or holds memberships with the following local and national organizations:
Central Oregon Environmental Center
The Nature Conservancy of Oregon
The High Desert Museum
Deschutes Basin Land Trust
Winter Wildlands Alliance
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An eco-pitch Spring 2009 - Sisters, Oregon
2008 September, The Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, An eco-pitch
Fun Winter Weekend in Bend, Oregon
2008 February, Sunset Magazine, It's better in Bend - PDF download
Canoeing
2008 July KTVZ, Boris' Big Adventure: A canoe tour at Elk Lake
Cave Exploration
2008 May KTVZ, Boris' Big Adventure: Exploring lava caves
Cave Exploration
2007 June, Central Oregonian (Prineville, OR), Exploring central Oregon Down Under
Snowshoeing
2006 November, Mount Bachelor Village, Girls Go Bend Weekend
Snowshoeing
2006 November-December, AAA Via, The Go List
Snowshoeing
2006 November, Statemen Journal (Salem, OR), Snowshoe tours include night stroll
Snowshoeing
2001 June, Southern LIving magazine, Adventure 2001
2001 Winter, The Source newspaper (Bend,OR), Walking on Water
Canoeing
2006 July, The Los Angeles Times, Up a lazy river to bustling Bend
2004 July, The Oregonian newspaper (Portland, OR), Ripples of moonlight, with canoe
2001 June, Sunset Magazine, Bend 3-day weekend
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2008 September, The Bulletin, For Love of the natural world
2007 February, New West magazine, A Bend Man's Life And Career In The Outdoors
2005 December,Cascade Discovery magazine, Wanderlust Tours First Hand Greeting with Nature
2005 Summer, Bend Living, A Touch of Wanderlust
2005 May, Sunset Magazine, Working Wanderlust
2004 Fall-Winter, Travel Oregon magazine, Oregon Dreams
2004 July, Oregon Business magazine, Off the Beaten Path
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