Caroline Boulom

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Reconnect. Explore. Wake up. Integrate. Learn. Discover. Inspire. Nature.

We’re currently building our booking website REWILDIN connecting adventure-seekers and nature-lovers. 

We want to:

• Make it easy to find hidden gems where you can pitch your tent and immerse yourself in the Australian wilderness in just a few clicks
• Help land owners get the most of their land by hosting travellers while making additional income and preserving the land
• Make it easy to find nature-related workshops in one place
• Help people who are overwhelmed with the noise of the city to look inwards and reconnect with themselves and nature
• Inspire people to experience wild getaways with their tribe 
• Gather like-minded people so they can swap stories, share skills and support each other to build resilient communities in a positive, connected way

The problems we're facing

During our road trips with our van, we lacked simple things that could have improved our experience:

• We noticed that campgrounds are often overcrowded or even booked out.
• To find peaceful campsites, you have to go to places that are either remote and hard to access.
• Sharing a space doesn't guarantee that your experience will be what you planned, whether you want to party hard with your crew or prefer to simply contemplate nature.
• We found it hard to find information on the Internet about beautiful spots off the beaten track to camp. 
• Information and bookings for workshops are scattered across the web. We couldn't find any website that gathers all nature-related workshops in one place.

We want to solve these problems by creating a shared economy booking platform REWILDIN combining accommodation and workshops into one magical experience for all budgets. 

The website will:

• list PRIVATE LANDS that offer CAMPSITES / GLAMPING to extend the existing camping offer and allow you to enjoy your very own special moment. We celebrated Caroline's 30th birthday on a private land and had the time of our lives.
• list ECOLODGES for those who need more comfort or even luxury while enjoying a nature getaway.
• more than just staying in unique accommodation in unspoilt territories, you will be offered to participate in nature-related WORKSHOPS and learn new skills with your host. Organic gardening, permaculture, natural building, mushroom foraging, basket-weaving, or natural soap making are only examples! 

Information for travellers and listing for hosts will be offered on the platform as a free service. 

Our income will come from bookings and be commission-based.

True facts

• Australians have a wonderful tradition of camping getaways, 85% of Aussies having enjoyed an adventure under the stars at least once (1)

• A falling Australian dollar has seen a resurgence in back-to-nature getaways, road tripping around Australia is seeing a strong revival, and the popularity of caravanning and camping has been climbing for at least a decade (2)

• There's definitively a rise of ‘glamping’ (camping with a little luxury) (3)

• Research shows campers are more happy, energised, fit, optimistic and satisfied than non-campers (4) 

• NSW records 22% growth in caravan and camping visitor nights - 15/09/2016 (5)

• As the fastest growing commercial accommodation type outside of private rental accommodation, caravanning and camping are expected to grow at a greater rate than other accommodation types for domestic travel (6) 

• “We are witnessing a new and robust era in domestic tourism that has the potential to introduce new consumers to the caravan and camping experience”, says Stuart Lamont, CEO of Caravan Industry association of Australia (7)

Sources:

(1) http://www.caravanindustry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MEDIA-RELEASE-State-Tourism-Bodies-recognise-excellence-in-caravanning-and-camping.pdf

(2) http://www.orionfg.com.au/outdoors-groove-back/

(3) http://www.orionfg.com.au/outdoors-groove-back/

(4) http://www.financialfoundations.com.au/2015/09/15/happy-campers/

(5) http://australia.etbtravelnews.com/300583/nsw-records-twenty-two-percent-growth-in-caravan-and-camping-visitor-nights/

(6) http://www.caravanindustry.com.au/tourism-research-australia-forecast-supports-road-tripping-revival

(7) http://www.caravanindustry.com.au/tourism-research-australia-forecast-supports-road-tripping-revival

So how will it work?

We've already started building our user-friendly booking website with a strong focus on user experience and accurate filtering in order to deliver a highly customised service. Access the great outdoors at the click of your mouse.

* You're a traveller:

Choose your perfect excursion through a series of filters and pick:

- your place / region / near you & dates

- the type of accommodation: private land (campsite, glamping), ecolodge (cabin, treehouse, etc.)

- your price range and other filters (toilets, shower, power, kayak, lakefront, etc.)

Then you will find information about the spots / hosts: photos, map, amenities, reviews, workshops, etc.

- pick your spot

- request to book

- get confirmed by your host

- pay

- pack!

* You're a host:

- Create your free profile

- List your land / accomodation / workshop by providing all the details, photos and info for filters. 

- Struggling or lacking idea? Contact us and we'll think of improvements on your settings with you

- Submit your spot. After a quick review it will be up and running

- Swing the billy and get ready to welcome your guests!

CAROLINE'S STORY

I left France & Yahoo where I was working to travel all around Australia. Here, my life changed from selling digital advertising / shopping / partying to learning how to drive a tractor and feed joeys. Before Australia, I always felt that something was missing in my life and these experiences in nature have helped me to find what it was. After 8 years of digital marketing experience in France & Australia, including team leading in Sydney, I needed a new in career life and an exciting challenge for my thirties.

DIMITRI'S STORY

Six years ago, I flew to Sydney to start my PhD in astrophysics at Macquarie University. But discovering the Australian outback was my real motive. Enjoying the city lifestyle as a student is challenging, so I decided to save on rent and live in a tent in the bush for a while. After I obtained my PhD in 2014 I focused my activity into sharing astronomy with the public at Sydney Observatory. Beyond science, I started growing a business in personal development and coaching, while shifting my astronomical career into an ethnological focus on Aboriginal astronomy. 

Our FRENCH KISS

We met when Dimitri gave me my first surf lesson at Manly Beach (I was bluffing).

Right after, we bought a van and lived and travelled in it for 2 years. We travelled all around NSW and beyond, and discovered the magnificient nature that was just around us. 

Meanwhile, we discovered permaculture, a worldwide movement born in Australia in the 70's. Our lives changed forever as we learned permaculture's life principles. We both started a course, co-organised workshops and the joined the permaculture community. Since then, we have embraced the slow life that lies in line with our values and we are keen to gather like-minded people who are contributing to a more sustainable world.

After pondering for a year, we gave up our 9-5 jobs for our dream project REWILDIN.

                                                                                                   ~~~

                                                  When was the last time you did something for the first time? 

                                             It’s time to be a child again and make something with your hands.

                                           To immerse yourself in meaningful experiences and rediscover who you are

                                                                          To go back to simple things.

                                    We are part of something big. Being in nature is so simple, yet powerful. It is essential. 

                                                      It's time to meet those people and places we want to connect to.

                                                                                It's time to awaken away.

                                                                                                   ~~~

We need you

We have already started to build the website and to prospect new spots. To continue developping this booking platform and make this dream come true, we need your support and we’re asking you to pledge what you can to help us in our venture.

By funding our project, your donations will also serve Rhino Horn Coffee, a beautiful cause whose 100% profits help rangers defending rhinos from extinction in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. 

Thanks a million for your contribution to our project!  

As the website is being developed, we are aiming at launching at the end of January 2017.

And if we raise more than our goal, we can go nuts and maximise our chances to deliver the best experience with:

- 1 Nomad Guru - Photographer Prospecting New Private Lands

- 1 Nomad Guru - Photographer Prospecting New Ecolodges

- 1 Nomad Guru - Photographer Prospecting New Workshops

- 1 Web Designer 

- 1 Web Developer

- 1 Digital Advertising Manager

- 1 Customer Service Manager

- 1 Community Manager

- 1 New Camera (For kick-ass photos)

- A Mobile App

We are working hard on establishing solid partnerships with emerging local, ethical and eco-friendly startups. 

Giving up the corporate world was very exhilirating but realistically, savings are not unlimited and there are only so many flavours to noodles.

Our beloved van didn’t survive a snow storm in the Snowy Mountains last winter and we have found another one that we need to finance right now.

On the legal side, there are a few points to clarify. Landowners who organise workshops have usually opted for their own insurance policy. We'll have to look into the case of those landowners are not so well covered. The need for toilet amenities on private lands is another H&S issue to look into. Besides land renting obeys specific council specific regulations to be accounted for. 

Credits:

All our videos are 100% owned and homemade from our last 3 years of adventure.

Camera Crew: Caroline, Dimitri

Graphic content, Video Editing & Music: Dimitri 

Thank you: 

- Solene for shooting the chooks and the harmonica scenes 

- Starring Survival team Tobias, Roberto, Daniel, Lachlan, Dimitri

- Fanily for providing the computer and software

- Irene Kim for the photo below

- Original graphics Freepik

- Rhino Horn Coffee and Shannon for the awesome cause they defend 

Any Questions?

Shoot us an email at [email protected]!

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