Environmental
Traveling
Companions
accessible outdoor adventures for people with special needs
www.etctrips.org
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Dear ETC Friends:
I am writing this note from the banks of the ETC River Camp. After over 40 amazing river adventures...we have now finished the season just in time for Indian Summer!
Huge kudos go to Davido and his terrific river team for another magical season. One of our groups, Home Away From Homelessness, even made it on a far flung adventure to the Green River in Utah. Dialo, a staff member from Home Away shares:
"It hard to convey the rejuvenating effect that being surrounded by untouched nature has on our kids. Floating down the river cradled in the other worldly majesty of the red-rock canyons transformed our youth from kids who defend themselves from the world with combative or blasé attitudes into simple, bright-eyed whooping children. Braving the rapids, knowing that only the cooperation of the group would deliver them safely down the river, created a non-competitive challenge that brought all of us closer and made the world a wilder and more wondrous place. The ETC Green River trip was truly a gift to our kids!"
Props go to Allison and her amazing volunteers and interns for guiding our participants on exciting salty paddling adventures all summer, with many more trips to come this fall. We are thrilled that ETC has moved west and is piloting a program on Tomales Bay thanks to PRNSA and the State and National Park Service.
And of course it would not be a complete ETC summer without our three 12-24 day Youth LEAD adventures lead by Cheyenne and her fantastic crew, including YLP alumni Reily White and Ali Lino. You know that a mission is truly working when it's graduates return to lead the program. Students on our 24-day course made a great journey from kayaking Tomales Bay to picking peaches on the Good Humus Farm, on to paddling the rapids of the Klammath River and finally backpacking in the Trinity Alps. A graduate of the course shares this:
 "My name is Lily and I am 15 years old. Our family came here from China two years ago, looking for a better education for me. Before I came to the ETC trip I felt I can't complete my dream but this trip changed me. In the past 24 days I experienced things that many people have never done in their whole life. I loved everything. I built self-confidence kayaking on the beautiful sea. For days without a shower or mirror I no longer cared what I looked like as I came into nature. This is the first time that I stepped up to be a leader. Backpacking was the hardest part for me but I am getting stronger. So easy to give up before this trip but now I'll never give up easy again. I think this trip is so important to me and young people like me. All they know are school, computer games...life becomes boring and they start to lose themselves, drinking alcohol or even kill themselves with drugs. They don't know the worth of life. But when you come to nature, you'll realize how lucky you are to stand here as a complete person and to breathe the air. We have so much more power than we thought. Thank you to those who make this trip possible, make our life, our dream possible!"
It's fall, so it must be time for the Regatta and Paddle-a-thon. October 24th is the date and we hope to see you on the beach, paddling on the water and chowin' down on some great barbeque. We would love for you to participate in the Paddle-a-thon and get pledges for your paddling miles. This is a very effective way to spread the ETC word and let your friends and family know about our important work. And, if you rasie $3,000 you will receive a FREE Baja Kayak Trip. If you can't join us for paddling fun, you can still participate by volunteering or buying raffle tickets at: www.etctrips.org/website/images_site/raffletickets09.pdf or you can sponsor our Youth LEAD Fellows as they paddle their hearts out by contacting Cheyenne at: YLP@etctrips.org.
The ETC Family would not be complete without our generous foundation partners and individual donors who keep our mission and programs afloat and growing ever stronger. It was great to see ETC's Board Members and friends at our recent Take Me to the River Fundraiser. Hat's off to Keith and Rai for volunteering as our five star chefs and to everyone else who helped out and gave folks a fantastic time on the river.
I will close with a favorite quote of the late Bob Derzon, a stellar ETC Board Member and giant of a human being: "Don't mistake action for getting something done."
Thank you to all the ETC volunteers, staff, participants and donors for GETTING SOMETHING DONE....something pretty amazing, we call ETC!
With admiration,
Diane
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Regatta 2009: Fundraise your way to Baja!
Sausalito | Saturday, October 24
Join us for the most exciting sea kayaking event on the West Coast - Sea Trek's Regatta and Paddle-a-thon.
Earn
GREAT gifts including advanced paddling clinics, and a
gourmet dinner paddle to FISH restaurant. And, this year, EVERYBODY
who raises $3000 receives their choice of a week-long kayak adventure in
Baja, or a four-day rafting trip on the Rogue
River.
The Regatta and Paddle-a-thon is perfect for paddlers looking to race competitively or for those who are just looking for a spirited paddling event to support a great cause! Paddlers of all abilities are encouraged to recruit family, friends and colleagues to sponsor their paddle and in turn support accessible adventures for people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth.
All event proceeds go to support ETC's outdoor adventures for people with disabilities and disadvantaged youth.
Event registration: www.paddleathon.org
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Winter Volunteer Training
What makes ETC winter trips so special?
The glistening snow on the trees, watching goofy falls on the practice hill, playing games and sipping hot chocolate in the cabin, or the towering majesty of the massive Sequoias in Calaveras Big Trees State Park? We think all of these things are what make our trips a memorable experience for groups and guides alike. And it's ETC's awesome volunteers who make it all possible.
Volunteer Training will be January
7-10, 2010, and we're starting our interviews now. Please tell your
friends & co-workers what a great experience volunteering with ETC
is and to send us their applications today.
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 Trips & Expeditions
- Yuba River Salmon Journey call for Oct-Nov dates, 2009 $65 adult; $50 children ages 7-12
- Day Paddle on Drakes Estero Oct 11
- Gourmet Storytelling Paddle & Angel Island Overnight Nov 7-8 $285 adults,$250 youth ages 10-15
- Moonlight Dinner Paddle 31 $130, includes dinner at Sam's in Tiburon
- Baja Sea Kayak Expedition April 3-10, 2010
$1400 - Yosemite Glacier Point X-Country Ski Expedition March 19-21, 2010 $400
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