Pio's Purpose

From Wonder to Wander

Pio is dedicated to making nature more accessible, more appreciated, and more advocated for by friends, families, children, and students.

Pio the Pioneering Penguin exists to inspire the next generation of nature lovers. Our purpose is to spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and build a lifelong love for the planet—especially among families, students, and children. We believe that through story, adventure, and play, people of all ages can find a deeper connection to the outdoors and a stronger desire to protect it.

Pio's Mission

Make lasting contributions to the planet through education, conservation, and community.

Since day one, Pio has commited a portion of our revenue to supporting conservation efforts and protecting the environment. But we’re just getting started. Every adventure Pio takes is rooted in a mission to support real-world change: championing environmental nonprofits, creating tools that inspire eco-consciousness, and helping people—especially kids—build habits of stewardship and care.

We’re here to make environmental action a daily, joyful part of life. Whether it’s a bedtime story that teaches about national parks or a plush companion that turns hikes into imagination-fueled journeys, everything Pio does points back to one mission: a healthier, more hopeful planet.

Pio's mission extends to our products

Pio isn't just about being the cutest plush on the market, its about being a gateway to the outdoors.

  • Right Angle View of the Pio the Pioneering Penguin Plush

    The Pio Plush

    Soft, sustainable, and adventure-ready, the Pio plush is made with organic cotton and crafted to be loved—and lugged—on any expedition. It’s not just a toy. It’s a gateway to wonder, a conversation starter, and a nudge to go explore together.

    Shop Pio Plush 
  • Folded T-Shirt of SSOTS-CLP

    Pio Apparel

    Every shirt and pin you wear spreads the mission. Designed with comfort and meaning in mind, Pio’s apparel encourages outdoor play, environmental care, and joyful advocacy. Plus, your purchase supports planet-friendly causes and education efforts.

    Shop Pio 
  • National Park Pin - Pio The Pioneering Penguin

    Pio's Impact

    Every Pio product gives back. A portion of every sale goes to organizations that protect wild places and support accessibility in nature for all people. Everyone deserves a chance to experience nature!

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Pio looking out to Half Dome in Yosemite

Join the Adventure

Whether you’re gifting Pio to a child, taking him on your next hike, or just spreading joy through a t-shirt, you’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a mission to bring more care, wonder, and wildness into the world.

The #AdventuresWithPio campaign is just the start of getting fellow adventurers connected in making one large collaborative story together through their mutual friend Pio.

Experience Pio's Big Map

Kickstarter

Pio the Pioneering Penguin has been investor-free from the start. This business was not built on the money of people who will obligate us to purely seek a profit. Instead, Pio is made possible through the pledges and purchases of customers like you who care about the world around us and shop like our money was a ballot.

It is the climate-caring, adventure-hungry, risk-taking people like you who make Pio possible. Thank you.