Community Integration Project: Info night for those who want to help (4/26/2007)

If you read this month's newsletter, you will have seen a small description of TOC's community integration project. It's called "Blue Lakes and Rocky Shores" and it's an opportunity for the TOC to give back to the community. I wanted to give refugees a chance to experience "Canada" in all it's stereotypical glory - trees, lakes, rocks, moose, canoes, beavers, loons...etc.

The trip will occur the weekend after the long weekend in July. Our plan is to rent two campsites on one easy access lake - North Tea lake, for example - and we'll "park" there for two days. We'll sing camp songs, do the smore things and get up early in the morning and paddle quietly out to look for moose and wildlife. We will take 9 refugees and 9 volunteers, so that we can share the experience together ; this project is about celebrating diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism, a core belief of the TOC.

I know that many of you would like to be able to join us on the trip however the volunteer team has already been chosen. They were handpicked by myself and Jenn M according to several factors: their experience with canoeing and outdoor camping, their sensitivity with working with people, many who have been victims of torture or have left their family behind and/or have cultural sensitivies, their experience with being from another country and knowing a second language, and their fantastic and enthusiastic commitment to the TOC over the past year.

There were certainly a lot of qualified persons to choose from and some of you have emailed me to ask what you can do to help. Although the trip this year is full, there are plenty of opportunities available - from planning fundraising activities, to collecting donations, to helping out at a kick off/BBQ/learn to canoe event, date to be announced. We'll need donations of money and clothing and equipment and work on creating a webpage that will explain the project. We'll need creative people and active people, and people who have connections - to media, to refugee organizations, to outdoor stores and suppliers. My ultimate goal is for this to be a Toronto Outdoor Club yearly event, something that grows with the club. And if you didn't get to go this year, just by being involved will put you first in line for next year!

If community involvement and helping others inspires you, then sign up for this info night where we'll make some plans, set some dates and find out where you can fit in. If you can't make this date, no fears, you can reach me at pres@torontooutdoorclub.com and let me know you are interested in helping out!!