The Overland Expo Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of Overland Expo. Established in 2020, the Overland Expo Foundation raises funds during the event series that go directly toward grants for trail cleanups, public land access defense, educational programs, and more within the overlanding community.
Anthony Sicola is a co-founder and current Board Officer of the Overland Expo Foundation. He’s also the founder of Feral Soul Collective, a strategy and brand agency dedicated to authentic outdoor and overland storytelling. His specialty is helping founder-led brands grow while staying rooted in their communities.
Anthony spent over a decade with Overland Expo, wearing hats across marketing, content, and sales leadership. He holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and has dedicated his career to combining his passion for outdoor adventure with mission-driven community impact.
When he isn’t working with outdoor brands or supporting public land conservation, Anthony can be found exploring backroads across the Pacific Northwest, hanging out with his wife, Astrid, and dog, Fergus Benedict, and wrenching on his 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Anthony Sicola Interview
Overland Expo (OE): What does overlanding mean to you, beyond the vehicle and the destination?
Anthony Sicola (AS): To me, overlanding is about self-reliance, community, and human connection. It’s about exploring places you’ve never been and meeting people you may never see again. Some of my favorite trips have been through Mexico (both mainland and Baja) and connecting with people…it’s a shared culture of stewardship and mutual support.
Overlanding isn’t about owning a $350,000 turnkey rig or having the flashiest accessories; it’s about the DIY spirit of solving problems on the trail, sitting around a campfire with good people, and taking responsibility for the places we travel.
OE: Tell us a little about your own path into overlanding and the outdoor community. How did you find your way into vehicle-based adventure, what keeps you connected to this community, and how have your personal experiences shaped your interests in joining the Overland Expo Foundation board?
AS: I basically grew up in the back of a Jeep (J-3000) Pickup with a slide-in camper, traveling the US and Canada with my parents.
As a teenager, I used my vehicles to search for surf breaks, mountain bike trails, and places to snowboard. I’ve traveled Forest Service backroads for as long as I can remember (and way before it was called overlanding). I’ve always had a respect for wild places and how they change you.
My background in nonprofit leadership pulled me toward work that engages the community, which eventually intersected with overlanding during my 11 years at Overland Expo. Seeing how deeply this enthusiast group cares about the places they explore inspired me to help co-found the Overland Expo Foundation in 2020, ensuring we have a permanent way to give back to public lands and local groups.
Read More: Don’t Miss the Overland Expo Foundation Charity Dinner
OE: What’s one thing you’d like readers to take away from your story and your work with the Foundation?
AS: I want everyone to realize that access is a shared responsibility. When you buy a raffle ticket at an event, participate in an auction, or give your time to repair or clean up a trail, you are directly funding conservation, restoration, and remediation.
We all have a role to play in keeping public lands open and thriving, and that can be as simple as recreating responsibly, leaving campsites better than you found them, and getting involved with local stewardship projects.
OE: What do you wish more people understood about the Foundation’s role in the community?
AS: I wish more people knew about the good work the Overland Expo Foundation is doing. That we’re an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose funding goes straight into action. 100% of the proceeds from our event raffles and Ultimate Vehicle Build auctions go directly toward community grantmaking, and ultimately making public lands better for everyone.
OE: Can you share an example of a project, initiative, grant, partnership, or behind-the-scenes effort that you are particularly proud of?
AS: I’m immensely proud of the Foundation’s annual Ultimate Vehicle Build program, which turns overland and outdoor industry collaboration into direct conservation funding, as well as our grant support for amazing nonprofit groups around the U.S. (and the world) that engage hundreds of volunteers to conserve, protect, and restore public lands and organizations that are doing incredible work with Veterans and First Responders.
OE: How can members of the overlanding community be better stewards of the places they explore?
AS: I think stewardship comes down to really practical actions: following Leave No Trace principles, airing down appropriately to protect trail surfaces from erosion, packing out more garbage than you bring in, and respecting closures and local trail guidance.
Being a steward is as easy as seeing a problem on the trail and taking the initiative to be part of the solution rather than passing it by. Just this past weekend, I filled a trash bag with garbage left at camp by others and trucked it out of our pristine spaces.
