Paul Thompson's 40th Birkebeiner Ski Marathon
From his days as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysian Borneo (1971-73) teaching biology and health science, to his work with hunger and poverty elimination and climate solutions, being fit and active has been Paul’s passion. Skiing the Birkie has been a yearly ritual for over 4 decades. Despite warming winters and two cancellations, this year marks another milestone.
Donate – Take an Action – Spread the Word
To celebrate 40 years of Paul skiing the Birkie, we have lots of fours in the theme. First. we have a goal to raise $40,000 to be shared among 4 amazing organizations. Donate now.
- Start Line – $14
- Track Setter – $40
- Trail Groomer – $140
- Trail Blazer – $440
- Uber Groomer – $1040
- Finish Line – $2040
Take an Action
- Watch the documentary Saving Snow – the documentary that includes a segment with Paul Thompson at the Birkie in 2017. And start with these Simple Steps.
Braver Angels:
- Join the movement of depolarizing our political system by taking one or more of the BA workshops listed in the Calendar of Events.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby:
- Join over 200,000 citizens creating the “political will to solve our climate crisis” and sign up for the monthly calling campaign here.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for Environmental Action:
- Join the group (even if you were never in the Peace Corps!) and invite RPCVs that you know to get involved. Talk to your neighbors and legislators. Take action locally and globally. Share your Climate Story. Together we are stronger…for the planet.
Spread the Word
Tell four friends about the campaign! Send them to skiers.coolplanetmn.org
Paul’s 40 Birkies
Cool Planet Co-founder, Paul Thompson is skiing his 40th American Birkebeiner (Birkie) Cross-Country Ski Marathon in February 2021. Paul has utilized his four decades of skiing the Birkie to raise awareness and funds for numerous non-profits over the years, initially for hunger and poverty solutions and more recently (with the creation of Cool Planet Skiers) toward solving our climate predicament. Read the abridged history here.
To celebrate Paul’s 40th Birkie, Cool Planet Skiers are expanding their collaborations with other organizations.
This year, things will look different for the Birkie – not a surprise. Birkie 2021 will be spread over 5 days, no in person events inside, even a virtual ski option and many health-related measures. So the Cool Planet Skier experience will look a little different too, but we still invite you to join in. And we will be a part of the virtual Expo.
The Four Recipient Organizations
We have two new collaborations this year:
Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America.
The RPCV4EA (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for Environmental Action) are heading up a movement to engage the Peace Corps community of nearly 230,000 former volunteers and staff to address climate solutions.
We continue these important collaborations from previous years:
Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is hopeful that their bi-partisan legislation (Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act) will finally take center stage in Congress as Republicans and Democrats come to the light that nothing lasts without bi-partisan agreement. CCL is educating and empowering citizens to use democracy as a powerful tool to seek solutions.
Cool Planet Skiers is creating “conversations for climate action” and “saving winter for future generations” while we collaborate with other organizations to move forward together to create an environmentally sustainable world through sound bi-partisan policies, respectful conversations and community actions.
Cool Planet Skiers meets the Green House game
Donate $40+ to request the online / printable Green House game as our gift.
Donate $140+ to request the physical Green House game as our gift.
This year we will not only be raising funds for four outstanding organizations, but we will be putting direct solutions to climate change in the hands of many of our donors.
Green House is a cooperative card game, a climate change simulator, a conversation starter, and an educational journey all rolled into one. Team up to stop climate change and restore our Green House – in a game, and then in real life. Win by playing real world solutions in the face of climateevents that just keep coming at us. Avoid bankruptcy, hopelessness, or over-pollution. Each card is a real-life climate solution with a way to get inspired and take action.
Green House was developed by our Birkie 40 project manager Alix Dvorak and her partner Adam Lupu.
Calendar of Events
| Event | Date | Host |
| Skills for Bridging the Divide – Burnsville, MN | Saturday, January 30 | Braver Angels |
| Bridges to Coalition: CCL Regional Conference | Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, January 31 | Citizens’ Climate Lobby |
| Birkie Virtual Expo | Thursday, February 4 – Friday, February 5 | American Birkebeiner |
| Saving Snow Viewing Party | Friday, February 5 | Cool Planet Skiers |
| Birkie 40 Zoom Celebration | Friday, February 19 | Birkie 40 Team |
| Birkie Races | Wed, February 24 – Sunday, February 28 | American Birkebeiner |
| Depolarizing Within Workshop – Burnsville, MN | Saturday, February 27 | Braver Angels |
Thank You to our Donors
Trail Blazers ($440+)
Lane Ayres and Marion McNurlen
Uber Groomers ($1040+)
Lee and Vicki Morgan
Michelle and Dave Horan
Finish Line ($2040+)
Melissa Raphan and Tom Rock Charitable Fund
Linda and Bob Herscher
Thank you to the Edina Community Foundation, the Birkie 40 Fiscal Agent and Community Partner.
