Tuesday, January 27, 2009
5 Days and Counting...
Just a reminder: the WV Photo Contest will end this Saturday, January 31st. We've received over two dozen submissions and the prizes are still up for grabs. Check out the competition in the WV Gallery, and send your top 4 photos to mrleonard89@gmail.com. Thanks!
Monday, January 26, 2009
WV in Salt Lake Tribune
Dave Pacheco, Wilderness Volunteers' Program Manager, represented WV at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City this past weekend. He spoke with industry representatives, retailers who were buying gear for their shows, and other nonprofits getting their message out at the show. Along the way, he was interviewed by a reporter for the SLC Tribune. You can read the article at this link.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Trails and Recreation
The Washington Trails Association has a post discussing what place Trails and Recreation have in the new Stimulus plans of the incoming Administration. While it's somewhat Washington State-centric, the ideas in it apply to the nation as a whole. So it might not be a bad idea, wherever you are, to let your local congressperson know how you feel about the Forest Service and National Parks (as well as non-profits) getting a piece of the Stimulus Pie.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Lend a Hand
The LA Times travel Blog has a post about WV . Not really any new info to anyone familiar with us doesn't already know, but good to see new articles being put out there.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Montana Time
Two years ago, a good friend of mine visited Montana and returned with some music by a folk singer named David Walburn. Apparently, he sang songs about mountains, Big Sky Country, a cabin, the American West, fishin', and bears - needless to say, a few of my favorite things and perhaps yours as well. I tossed it in the CD player and, simply put, was hooked. Since I always enjoy hearing new music and a good story, I'm passing this along.
As the story goes, after graduating from college and tiring of the 9 to 5 grind, Walburn and three friends set out from Georgia and traveled 4000 miles west to the Alaskan wilderness to build the cabin of their dreams. And they did that just that, using only hand tools, the WV way. (These guys could swing a Pulaski and saw logs with the best of 'em!) Here's the story and the song:
Looking to nature to simplify life, Walburn finds the inspiration for his music in the wilderness, and now travels the country performing at schools and venues, telling the story of Lewis and Clark's famous wilderness expedition, and encouraging young people to follow their dreams, as he has his, having worked "every job imaginable" in the process to support his music career. He's also a regular during the summer at the Many Glacier Park Hotel in Glacier National Park; if you're in the area, you may want to check him out.
As the story goes, after graduating from college and tiring of the 9 to 5 grind, Walburn and three friends set out from Georgia and traveled 4000 miles west to the Alaskan wilderness to build the cabin of their dreams. And they did that just that, using only hand tools, the WV way. (These guys could swing a Pulaski and saw logs with the best of 'em!) Here's the story and the song:
Looking to nature to simplify life, Walburn finds the inspiration for his music in the wilderness, and now travels the country performing at schools and venues, telling the story of Lewis and Clark's famous wilderness expedition, and encouraging young people to follow their dreams, as he has his, having worked "every job imaginable" in the process to support his music career. He's also a regular during the summer at the Many Glacier Park Hotel in Glacier National Park; if you're in the area, you may want to check him out.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Calling All Photographers...
We started this blog in the fall with a contest inspired by author Michael Pollan and the New York Times "Well Blog." The goal: to capture the spirit of a Wilderness Volunteers work project in words, seven to be exact. And our creative and dedicated wordsmiths have done just that, articulating the perils of volunteering amidst quicksand and Russian "invaders," the peace-inducing effects of Pulaski swinging and trail building, and the forging of friendships and timeless memories in the backcountry. The judges are weighing in, and the winner of WV's Seven Words of Wisdom contest will be announced shortly.
Which brings us, of course, to our next contest. It's been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words," which is a lot more than seven. Speaking in 1911 before the Syracuse Advertising Men's Club, newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane, in one of the earliest usages of this oft-repeated maxim, urged his audience:
"Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words."
Heeding Brisbane's wisdom, Wilderness Volunteers intends to do just that. We've captured the spirit of a WV work project in seven words; it's now time to capture it in a thousand - in a picture!
It's simple. We're looking for photos of folks working, hiking, hanging out - doing whatever you feel demonstrates the best of Wilderness Volunteers. Select up to four photos from any WV trips you've participated in, include the name and date of the project, as well as a brief caption describing the photo (humor appreciated), and email your entries to Mike Leonard at mrleonard89@gmail.com. Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions (one prize per entrant), and the contest will run until January 31st. First place wins a 27 oz. stainless-steel WV Klean Kanteen, second place a WV cap, and third place a WV bandanna. All entries will be posted and viewable online in the WV Photo Gallery.
Here's mine, taken before I understood the finer (err, basic...) points of photography:
And one more, taken when I realized the rest of us didn't either:
Which brings us, of course, to our next contest. It's been said that "a picture is worth a thousand words," which is a lot more than seven. Speaking in 1911 before the Syracuse Advertising Men's Club, newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane, in one of the earliest usages of this oft-repeated maxim, urged his audience:
"Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words."
Heeding Brisbane's wisdom, Wilderness Volunteers intends to do just that. We've captured the spirit of a WV work project in seven words; it's now time to capture it in a thousand - in a picture!
It's simple. We're looking for photos of folks working, hiking, hanging out - doing whatever you feel demonstrates the best of Wilderness Volunteers. Select up to four photos from any WV trips you've participated in, include the name and date of the project, as well as a brief caption describing the photo (humor appreciated), and email your entries to Mike Leonard at mrleonard89@gmail.com. Prizes will be awarded for the top three submissions (one prize per entrant), and the contest will run until January 31st. First place wins a 27 oz. stainless-steel WV Klean Kanteen, second place a WV cap, and third place a WV bandanna. All entries will be posted and viewable online in the WV Photo Gallery.
Here's mine, taken before I understood the finer (err, basic...) points of photography:
"Tall grass in crisp focus with three blurry bull elk in background."
And one more, taken when I realized the rest of us didn't either:
"How do I work this thing again?"
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Volunteering for Mother Nature
According to recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, folks who volunteer on an environmental project are three times more likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity than those who don't. The training necessary to be in shape to maintain trails, remove fencing, erradicate invasive plants or backpack into a remote setting and spend a week doing manual labor is beneficial to your everyday life.
Personal health: Physical activity can control weight, control high blood pressure, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, prevent osteoporosis, improve balance and circulation, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack and colon cancer, and increase your overall sense of health and well-being. The social interaction and teamwork during the project will increase your sense of empowerment and self-worth.
Environmental health: The physical effort during the project improves the condition of the environment by addressing the detrimental impacts of overuse, erosion, littering, etc. and creates a safer environment for the larger community.
A reporter once characterized a Wilderness Volunteers trips as a fantasy camp for anyone who ever dreamed of being park ranger or naturalist but found themselves working indoors instead.
Sign up for a trip, and then spend the time to be in great shape for it; you'll be glad you did!
John Moeller training for backpacking.
Personal health: Physical activity can control weight, control high blood pressure, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, prevent osteoporosis, improve balance and circulation, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attack and colon cancer, and increase your overall sense of health and well-being. The social interaction and teamwork during the project will increase your sense of empowerment and self-worth.
Environmental health: The physical effort during the project improves the condition of the environment by addressing the detrimental impacts of overuse, erosion, littering, etc. and creates a safer environment for the larger community.
A reporter once characterized a Wilderness Volunteers trips as a fantasy camp for anyone who ever dreamed of being park ranger or naturalist but found themselves working indoors instead.
Sign up for a trip, and then spend the time to be in great shape for it; you'll be glad you did!
John Moeller training for backpacking.
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