…One campsite at a time
There’s a well-known anxiety that comes from sitting at your computer, continually refreshing the page as you wait for the ticketing to open. Because you know once it does, you’ll be in a virtual lineup with thousands of other superfans, vying for one of the highly coveted spots.
And no. We’re not talking about getting tickets to the next Taylor Swift concert! We’re talking about getting a reservation at a beloved national, provincial or state-run campground.
Camping has surged in popularity, with around 25 per cent more households camping today than just five years ago. Studies show 2025 saw the second-highest total number of campers at around 82.4 million across the US and Canada.
The pressure to find prime camping spots is pushing more people onto private land throughout the Yellowstone to Yukon region.
Enter Hipcamp, a platform that connects outdoor lovers with private landowners who open their properties for camping. Think of it as AirBnB for wild experiences. From a meadow with a fire pit in Montana to a treehouse tucked into the B.C. mountains, Hipcamp offers unique, uncrowded alternatives to the reservation roulette.
But here’s the thing about camping on private land in the Yellowstone to Yukon region: you’re often in prime grizzly bear country. And not all Hipcamp hosts — or guests — are prepared for that.
These aren’t official campgrounds with bear-proof bins or conservation officers. They’re private properties, where hosts may not yet have the knowledge or resources to manage wildlife attractants safely.
We recently partnered with Hipcamp to reach the 700+ hosts who offer camping experiences within the Yellowstone to Yukon region.
Our goal is to provide best practices for hosting in wilderness areas, safely sharing space with wildlife, and get ahead of any bear problems before they start.
The partnership has two components:
- Y2Y delivers a webinar for Hipcamp hosts to introduce wildsmart and bearsmart practices.
- Hipcamp hosts in the Yellowstone to Yukon region can apply for up to $500 in funding to make bearsmart improvements to their properties, like bear-resistant food storage, electric fencing for chicken coops, or educational signage for guests.
Caitlin Jacobs, Y2Y’s Wildlife Coexistence Coordinator, explains that the goal is awareness. Many hosts don’t think much about bear safety simply because they haven’t had an incident yet. The webinar and grant get them thinking and planning ahead.
Beyond the grants, Caitlin connects Hipcamp hosts with local organizations and resources they weren’t aware of, who can provide further guidance, support and funding.
One host near Bozeman, Montana, used his grant to cover wildlife fencing costs. By combining Y2Y’s contribution with a fencing program run by Defenders of Wildlife, his entire fence was paid for. Another proactive and bear-aware host in Golden, B.C. used the funding to top up her electric fencing supplies.
This proactive work matters, especially as grizzly bear populations expand and bears return to their historic habitat. A bear that gets into garbage, the chicken coop, or a camper’s cooler isn’t just a dangerous situation, it often leads to a habituated bear that has to be destroyed.
As a Y2Y donor, you’re funding smart, community-level coexistence programs across the region, to make sure that doesn’t happen.
With the camping season just around the corner, bears and outdoor lovers will stay safe. They may not know that your donation makes this work possible, but we do. Thank you.
Avoid the campsite reservation stress and explore a unique Hipcamp location near you: Hipcamp.com
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