1. Trail Mix -
Winter Members Party
Welcome to Trail Mix, a Zip-lock bagful of
VO-related fun facts, links and puzzlers, served up fresh with every
issue of Contours. Look for helpful information on everything outdoors
along with other interesting tidbits that enhance your awareness and
well-being (and your funny bone too).
Venture
Outdoors Members Winter Party
featuring the 4th Annual Camp Stove Cook-off
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Noon - 4:00 PM
Free event for Venture Outdoors Members!
Featuring:
cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, the ever-popular snowcreature-making competition, chair massages,
and art activities with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. We'll also
feature the annual Camp Stove Cook-off, which allows you to show off
your culinary skills by preparing your favorite dishes on an outdoor
stove. Venture Outdoors staff will be on hand to judge entries and
awards will be given for:
* best entrée *
* best appetizer *
* best dessert *
This event is open to all members and their friends and family. If you
would like to attend and are not yet a member, call today and join the
fun. Please bring a potluck dish to share (separate from the Cook-off).
Call the Venture Outdoors office to reserve your spot or to participate
in the Camp Stove Cook-off as a chef or judge. Please specify the
categories for which you are competing in the Cook-off when you
register. Special thanks to Wilderness Voyageurs for providing the
winter party site!
Cook-off entry deadline: Monday, February 5th
2. VO Staff Announcement
Allison Ruppert,
our current Membership
Manager, is moving on to a great opportunity with the Kelly-Strayhorn
Theater as the Director of Marketing. Named after East Liberty stars,
Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, the mission of the Kelly-Strayhorn
Theater is to provide a community theater facility and to encourage
diverse artistic, cultural and educational activities that will enrich
the community as well as the lives of individuals.
Allison remains committed to the mission and goals of Venture Outdoors
and will most likely run into you as a volunteer or on one of our many
programs and events throughout the year. Also known as "The Queen of
Free", we will miss Allison's unique personality in the office. Her last
day is at the Winter Member's Party, so please be sure to drop by and
offer your congratulations.
We actually have snow!!!
The group from the Laurel Summit Snowshoe on January 20.
3.
Job Opportunities with VO
We are still taking applications! Here's your chance to
work for a local non-profit that seeks to cultivate an outdoors culture
in western PA!
Call 412-255-0564 if you are interested in any of these positions or
click on the links below:
Membership Manager
Kayak Pittsburgh Manager
Membership Relations Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Also check out these opportunities:
MSA/Venture Outdoors Technology Intern
MSA and Venture Outdoors are looking for a computer-savvy intern to help them update
this Southwestern PA non-profit's technology. Online registration
anyone? For information systems majors, this is the dream job!
For more information click on the following link:
http://www.ventureoutdoors.org/docs/MSAintern.pdf
Please send applications to Erik Lingren, Executive Director:
elingren@ventureoutdoors.org
Whose UR MoJo? Logo Art Contest
Help VO create some snazzy new t-shirts! See how many variations
of "Jo Outdoors" you can invent!
4.
Venture Outdoors Membership Corner
Sign up for Membership today and
pledge your support to outdoor recreation!
Put yourself in the center of the action!
We make it easy for you to become a member with Venture Outdoors TODAY.
Members receive discounts on the hundreds of activities with Venture
Outdoors throughout the year, discounts from local merchants, priority
listing on activity waiting lists and subscriptions to Contours and
Adventure Times as well as providing support for the organization that
means so much to you. Read on for some of the great things that come
along with Venture Outdoors membership, and to join,
click here!
Become
a V.O. Member!
Discover the advantages of a Venture Outdoors membership...call
today!
412-255-0564, ext. 26
Or, click here.
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5. Outdoor
Announcements & Events
Get out your planners folks...
Special Events
Banff Mountain Film Festival - Save the Date!
Thursday, April 5 and Friday, April 6
7:00 PM
Byham Theater
For more information visit,
www.ventureoutdoors.org/banfffilmfest.asp
Craft Beer School
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will be holding craft beer schools. There will be a preview on February 20
at the Cabaret at Theater Square. Our friends from
Vecenie Distributing, who provides
the beer at our beer tasting hikes,
will be teaching the classes. The rest of the series will be:
March 20 - 101: Ales vs. Lagers
April 17 - 102: American Craft Beers
May 5 - 103: European Specialty Beers
June 19 - 104: Wheat Bier
Find out more about this series from
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. For tickets call 412-456-6666.
If you are attending this series please contact Rob Walters at
412-255-0564, ext. 28 or
rwalters@ventureoutdoors.org.
Audubon Society Benefit Concert
February 24th, 7:00 PM
Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve Auditorium
Jack Knight and the 3kR Band are delighted to let you know about Audubon
Society's upcoming One Earth Concert. Songs will include a selection of
various original songs focused on Earth, Peace, Love and Hope. Children
(of all ages) are welcome!
Venture Outdoors is one of the sponsors of this event. For more
information, and to buy tickets, please visit
http://jackknightmusic.com/events/
Hurry! Tickets are going fast!
Fly Tying Nights
by
Wilderness Voyageurs
What?: Join Dale Kotowski for Fly Tying Nights. We have some supplies,
but feel free to bring your own. Share patterns and tips or learn new
ones.
When?: Beginning November 1st, every other Wednesday
night at 6:30 PM
Where?: Falls City Restaurant and Pub
For more information: Contact Wilderness Voyageurs at
724-329-8336.
Environment/Health/Community
5,000,000 Steps for a Cure
Starting March 17, 2006, Mark Shaffer will be attempting a thru hike of
the Appalachian Trail in memory of his nephew Eric, who lost his battle
to leukemia a year before. His goal is to raise $20 for each mile
walked. If you would like to support Mark's endeavor to raise funds for
the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, visit his website:
www.fivemillionsteps.org. You can also track Mark's progress on the AT
through his blog at
http://fivemillionsteps.org/trailjournal/
Venture Outdoors Member Joins Climb For Hope
Laura Willumsen of Pittsburgh has joined the Climb for Hope expedition
which is raising money for breast cancer research by climbing Cotopaxi,
the highest active volcano in Ecuador (19,500'), to raise funds that
will be directed toward a vaccine being developed at Johns Hopkins
University.
Thanks to all who donated! Laura has already raised $10,000 in two
months: more than double the amount required! Continue to make donations
and find out more about Laura's expedition:
www.climbforhope.org
Changes in Fall Musky Stocking
Waterways around PA will see an increase in
musky stockings in the near future. The PA Fish and Boating Commission
would like input from anglers about the changes. You can take the survey
here, or for more information, please visit
www.fishandboat.com.
Clean-Up/Trails
Great Allegheny Passage
The trail from Pittsburgh to DC is now complete!
Click here for the Pop City article.
6. Call for Volunteers
We need a little help here!
Calling all Database Dynamos and Office Oficianos
Do you have some time to spare during the week?
If so, we would be happy to include you in our ever-growing family of
volunteers. Venture Outdoors staff is in need of volunteers for data
entry, mailings and premium shipments as well as various office
assistance during regular business hours
(9 – 5 PM, Monday – Friday). Shifts are flexible.
Please contact Allison Ruppert at 412-255-0564, ext. 26 or
aruppert@ventureoutdoors.org
today.
7. Support VO
Do
your online shopping through iGive
and support Venture Outdoors!
That's right, go head and buy something for yourself
or a friend – a new CD, the latest bestseller, essentials like
toothpaste or vitamins, even a computer. But first join at
www.iGive.com/VentureOutdoors.
Every time you shop at one of the over 600 name-brand stores
in the Mall at iGive.com, we'll receive a donation of up
to 26% of each purchase you make, at no cost to you.
Membership is free and your privacy is guaranteed.
Contact Allison with any questions about this great program:
aruppert@ventureoutdoors.org
Thanks for supporting Venture Outdoors!
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An Announcement about
Risk Waivers
Due to a change in our
insurance policy, ALL trip participants must fill
out a risk waiver on EACH trip they attend.
The past policy has been that once a person has
filled out a risk waiver, they were covered for the
year. This is not the case anymore, so we
appreciate your help in adjusting to the change.
Your safety is of utmost importance to us at Venture
Outdoors!
I. The Venture Outdoors
Activity Spotlight
Here are some trips that you'll really enjoy.
Check out the new Winter/Spring 2007 schedule!
Featuring: Lower Member Prices!
Thursday, February 1
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Avoid cabin fever and stay fit with a fast paced,
fitness oriented hike in or near our city. Be
prepared for varying conditions with weather and
trails, and an (optional) stop to refuel and
socialize at a local restaurant. We will cover about
6 miles of interesting, but seldom seen territory.
Location: North Park Boathouse
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member, $14.00 non-member
Friday, February 2
Full Moon Snowshoeing
Join us for an evening of snowshoeing and exploration. See how the view and experience
of a trail can change completely as the sun goes down and the nocturnal animals come out.
Under the full moon, we will enjoy the tranquility of the evening, the observation of the
stars in the clear winter sky, the critters that come out at night and their tracks through the snow!
Location: Deer Lakes Park
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Cost: $15.00 member, $25.00 non-member
Saturday, February 17
Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Weekend
We'll ski and snowshoe across the lodge area sheltered by magnificent hardwoods and secluded pines at the Wilderness
Lodge southeast of Erie. The Lodge grooms for both traditional striding and skating techniques and some areas are
reserved for those who "just want to go exploring" in the fresh, unbroken snow. Trail passes and Saturday night
lodging at a local motel (double occupancy) included in registration fee.
Location: Wilderness Lodge, near Erie
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $90.00 member, $110.00 non-member
II.
V.O. in the News
Check
out the latest about Venture Outdoors in the news. See more press on our website.
Venturing Outdoors
My Generation
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Magazine
-Wednesday, January 24, 2007
SCA and Venture Outdoors
Commemorate Dr. King's Legacy
with Fifth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Park
Venture Outdoors
-Monday, January 15, 2007
Downtown Rises to the Occasion
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
-Monday, January 1, 2007
Cultural Events in the City
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
-Saturday, December 30, 2006
'Adventure City'
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
-Thursday, December 28, 2006
III. Venture
Outdoors Activities
For more information
on any of our activities visit our website
www.ventureoutdoors.org.
Thursday, February 1
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
*Spotlight Activity*
Friday, February 2
Full Moon Snowshoeing
*Spotlight Activity*
Saturday, February 3 Activities
Snowshoeing - Lite
Location: Roaring Run
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $18.00 member, $30.00 non-member
Beer Tasting Hikes *Almost Sold Out*
Minimum age 21.
Location: Hartwood Acres
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cost: $25.00 member, $30.00 non-member
Thursday, February 15
All Terrain Night Hikes - Winter Series
Location: Washington's Landing
Time: 5:45 PM - 8:30 PM
Cost: $10.00 member, $14.00 non-member
Saturday, February 17 Activities
Day Treks
Location: Allegheny Gorge, Kennerdell
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member, $10.00 non-member
Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Weekend
*Spotlight Activity*
Family Snowshoeing
Location: Bear Run
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $18.00 member, $25.00 non-member
IV. Words of Inspiration
Things that make you go, "Hmmmm..."
New Snow: Crab Apples
http://venture-outdoors.blogspot.com
Sharon F. McDermott is a poet and an administrator
at the Center for Environmental Oncology of UPCI. In
2005, her chapbook, Alley Scatting, inspired by the
alleyways of Pittsburgh, was published by Parallel
Press, University of Wisconsin,
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu/about.shtml
V. What's Goin' On?
More action-packed activities from groups all
around the region. If you or your organization wants
to contribute an event to this section of Contours,
email
tchicka@ventureoutdoors.org for more
information.
Wednesday, January 31
Now that you got it, How do you use it &
How do you maintain it???
Location: REI Pittsburgh
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Cost: free
Organization:
R.E.I.
Wednesday, February 7
Three Rivers Birding Club Meeting
Location: Phipps Garden Club, Shadyside
Time: 7:30 PM
Cost: free
Organization:
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Saturday, February 10
Adult Eco Series
Location: Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Time: 10:00 AM - 12 noon
Cost: $4 member, $5 non-member
Organization:
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Sunday, February 11 Activities
Family Walkabout
Location: Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cost: $3 member, $4 non-member
Organization:
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Geology Tour
RSVP by calling 412-371-8779 or emailing
jessy@ninemilerun.org.
Location: Biddle parking lot on Braddock Ave
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Cost: $2
Organization:
Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
Saturday, February 17
Three Rivers Birding Club Outing
Location: Cook Forest/Piney Tract
Time: 9:00 AM
Cost: free
Organization:
Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania
Complete Listings at www.ventureoutdoors.org
Questions?
Call us 412-255-0564
Contours is an e-newsletter of
Venture Outdoors and is published every two
weeks.
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