Author: Carol Kline & Cadence JagodzinskI
Published: October 21, 2026
ESTIMATED READING TIME: 2 MINUTES
When we plan a trip, we often think about where we’ll go, what we’ll do, and the memories we’ll make. But how often do we think about the animals our travels may affect? That’s the idea behind Animal Travel Clubs, a new way to bring people together to talk about travel from the animals’ perspective. You don’t need to be a travel expert or have all the answers. An Animal Travel Club is simply a group of people who want to talk, learn, and share ideas about animal-friendly travel.
Your club could be you and a friend chatting over coffee, a few classmates getting together for dinner, or a larger group in your community. There’s no minimum number of people (OK, maybe two!), and there’s no set schedule. Meet when it’s convenient for you and make each gathering fit your group.
Starting a club is easy
Sign up through the Get Involved section of the Where Animals Matter website, and you’ll receive an Animal Travel Clubs toolkit to help you get started. And while you’re there, sign the Travel Pledge, too! The toolkit includes ideas for hosting a meeting, conversation starters, and fun recipes you can make or share together. You’ll also receive stickers for your club!
You don’t need to be an expert or have every meeting planned in advance. We’ll share new prompts to give your club fresh topics to explore. Use those prompts, come up with your own, or let the conversation go wherever your group is curious to take it. You might talk about wildlife experiences, food choices while traveling, souvenirs, animal-friendly places to visit, or something you noticed on a recent trip. Every conversation is a chance to hear another perspective and discover something new.
Travel. Talk. Learn. Share.
We hope these clubs make it easier to build a community around a shared interest in animals and travel. When you get together—even for a short time—you can swap travel stories, ask questions, and encourage each other to make more thoughtful choices. And it doesn’t have to be serious all the time. An Animal Travel Club gathering might be as simple as sharing a recipe, talking about where you’d love to go next, or swapping stories about the best (or most questionable!) animal encounter you’ve had while traveling.
We’d love to see your club in action, too! Take photos of your gatherings and share them with Where Animals Matter for a chance to be featured on our Instagram. Whether your club has two people or twenty, we want to celebrate the community you’re building.
Ready to start your own Animal Travel Club?
Visit our Get Involved page to sign up. We can’t wait to see where your conversations take you!
