As a relatively young charity that’s working hard to get as many kids out on wilderness river trips as we possible can, the two things we long for most are funding and awareness.  It seems that we’re constantly brainstorming innovative ways to generate both, while concurrently being bombarded with television, radio, magazine, and other large-scale attempts to bring support and awareness to charities whose names and missions are familiar to most people who don’t live under a rock.  While I recognize that the work being done by organizations like the American Red Cross, The Sierra Club, The American Cancer Society, etc. is indescribably valuable and certainly no less important than the programs being offered by GOALS – if I’m being honest, it’s very frustrating to be “the little man.”

You see, it often seems in the charity world that until the masses recognize your name/logo and can recite your mission statement in their sleep, it’s tough to attract the large-scale funding needed to expand program offerings.  At the same time, until you expand the number of programs you’re sending out, people aren’t going to recognize your name/logo or or spit out the mission statement.  It’s a maddening game of “chicken-or-the-egg”…or at least it was.

Fast-forward to a recent afternoon standing in the checkout line at my local Safeway grocery store.  After making my way through the check-out line, I was asked to round up my total purchase price to help fight multiple sclerosis.  The shopping trip prior, it might have been breast cancer or homeless pets.  Either way, Safeway had gotten me to a) think about the mission of these organizations and b) cough up some change to help them accomplish it.  Bingo!  This strategy lead me to a moment of epiphany-ish bliss in the grocery store parking lot.  GOALS should be making use of the same strategy – but rather than approaching Safeway with such a proposal, we ought to put careful consideration into the business(es) we’d ask to promote our mission to their loyal customers.

Today, I’m incredibly appreciative of the 3 local businesses who are supporting GOALS by asking their customers to add just $1 to their purchase in support of outdoor education.  All 3 of the businesses, when approached, needed no time to consider the proposal.  They couldn’t wait to do anything in their power to support us, and I hope that you’ll return the favor by doing everything in your power to support these respected local businesses.

Two Brothers Delicatessen is a favorite among both locals and tourists passing through the I-70 corridor on their way to/from the mountains.  The knowledgeable, friendly staff makes sure that a quality meal will be placed in your hands in minutes- and once it hits your mouth you’ll already be planning your return visit.   The atmosphere is friendly and upbeat, and the consistency and service are unmatched.  Stop in to Two Brothers to enjoy a quick meal, or to relax all morning or afternoon while enjoying their free Wi-Fi.  Located across from Tommyknockers Brewery in historic downtown Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Golden River Sports is a locally owned fly fishing and kayak retail shop located in historic downtown Golden, since 2004.  Their prime location is just minutes away from the Golden’s kayak play park and the “Golden Mile” fishing habitat on Clear Creek.  The friendly staff members are all fly fishing experts and kayakers themselves who take pride in sharing the knowledge they’ve gained from experience and helping you with all your equipment needs.  Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned river enthusiast, Golden River Sports can help prepare you for your adventure whether you are off to some extraordinary destination or headed down the street to play.   They  live, eat, breathe and play on the rivers- therefore they know the time you spend on the rivers and in the hills of the Rockies is a magical time.  They’ll do everything in their power to share the wonders of these places with you through their knowledge and experience.  Whether you’re interested in demos, rentals, repairs, upgrades, instruction or guided trips, stop in to Golden River Sports!

Boone Mountain Sports opened in downtown Evergreen, Colorado in 1985, and has been offering their customers the personal knowledge and quality product lines that come only from a lifetime of outdoor mountain pursuits.  With a well-rounded merchandise selection that Boone Mountain Sports feels is essential for a well-rounded life in Colorado, Boone shoppers are enticed by items ranging from outdoor products for skiers, runners, and yogis to unique gifts including local music selections, jewelry, and artwork produced by regional artisans.  Located in the Elk Meadow Center along Evergreen Parkway.

We can’t express enough gratitude to these businesses – who are themselves, in many ways, viewed as “the little man.”  After all, they’re helping this “little man” organization to help little men and women get outdoors and learn something.   The next time you find yourself in Golden, Evergreen, or Idaho Springs please stop in and spend a few of your hard-earned dollars on some new river gear, a unique piece of jewelry from a local outdoor-minded artisan, or the best chicken salad wrap you’ve ever experienced.  Then add a dollar to your purchase, and know that you’re buying something whose value can’t ever truly be assessed.  Not for yourself, but for a kid in a canyon next year.

T

Many sunsets and literally thousands of river miles ago, Cataract Canyon of the Colorado River was the setting for my very first multi-day river trip.  I knew nothing about what to bring or how to pack, had never spent a minute of time on the oars, and was awe-struck by the unique Canyonlands environment – the sheer size of the canyon walls, the power of the big volume desert river, etc.  Between then and now, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to prepare for desert multi-days and earned more than my share of blisters delivered by oar grips, but that same sense of wonder and sense of awe exists deep within my soul- emerging as I lay back on my boat and look up at the passing formations etched in stone over the course of hundreds of millions of years.
This GOALS program positioned me in a leadership role that was slightly different than the one I find myself in when leading the students whom I teach into the canyon.  This time around, my traveling partners were high school students from Medford, Oregon.  The kids were under the direction of a full-time teacher with a great deal of experience and resulting expertise in designing and facilitating outdoor education programs  – and I was simply along to introduce Alan and his crew of kids to the ideologies of a GOALS wilderness river program and aid in the delivery of our unique GOALS curriculum.  As a result, I found that I was much more able to reflect upon my own growth – both in the here and now AND since the last time I ran Cataract Canyon – rather than my typical focus on helping the students I know so well obtain and recognize growth of their own.

There were several times during this expedition that I was reminded of the ways that canyons have helped to mold me into the person that I am today.  River canyons have truly altered my very soul – they’ve forged a bond into the very inter-workings of who I am down deep in a manner that’s not dissimilar to the way that rivers have carved their way through the very canyons that I love exploring.  Throughout this Cataract program, I gained a clear sense of two powerful gifts that wilderness canyons have bestowed upon me, the most pertinent at this point of my life being:

1.  A sense of connectedness to the land.
It’s no secret that I love to be outdoors.  I like the sense of curiosity that exploring new areas – the urge to turn over leaves and rocks to encounter what might live underneath; to climb atop a peak or paddle around the next bend simply to discover what’s on the other side.  Doing so stimulates me both physically and mentally and turns on the “young boy” inside and returns me to a simple time during my youth when my to-do-list included only these types of tasks.
Canyon environments, however, take this sense of exploration to an entirely different level – a level of mental and physical IMMERSION.
From a mental standpoint, there’s no need to seek out the leaves or tiny stones – it isn’t required that you find a bend to peer around.  The very nature of river canyon exploration presents unending opportunities for one’s mind to remain in a constant state of “wonder.”  I wonder about the past, present, and future about canyons – often in the same moment.  Questioning the canyon’s past, it’s almost incomprehensible to wrap my mind around the events that have occurred to shape the canyon over hundreds of millions of years.  The various layers are apparent to our eyes as changes in color and varying depths in the bands of rock, but their creation continues to boggle me.  In terms of the “present”, I’m always interested in the reasons that boulders the size of cars – even homes – have precariously placed themselves on ledges without continuing to roll off down and come down to the river level.  I’m curious about the sediment that flash floods have deposited into the river, creating the rapids that excite and challenge us as river runners.  I marvel in the seasonal deposition and removal of enormous quantities of sand that create the beaches on which we sleep – in some ways, their presence is predictable based on the river’s currents and hydrology, and yet by the same token their appearance is so greatly affected by the magnitude of just how much snow melts and drains from the mountains hundreds of miles from the beach itself.  Regarding the future, river canyons present us with a never-ending game of “what might be around the next bend.”  Sometimes we’re offered clues – in the form of a slowly growing roar of whitewater or a description in a guidebook, but even in such instances the sense of wonder isn’t satisfied until my own eyes fall upon the new landscape.  In fact, that distant roar or guidebook write-up only serve the heighten that natural sense of anticipation.

Physically, though, the sense of connectedness is most apparent.  I sense that my body wants to connect with the canyon in a physical manner.  I want to swim in the river, to lay on the rocks, and to sleep on the beaches as the gentle lap of waves hitting the shore rocks me off to sleep.  I often awaken during the night, laying in the sand, and feel an urge to just lay silently and stare up at the incredibly desert star display.  I think that this connection stems from something more than just a sense of comfort that has grown over time in this environment.  Rather, I believe that the re-charge I feel when I spend some time in desert canyons is a direct result of acknowledging that they have been shaped by natural elements like wind and water – and have been made stronger over time by exposing and eliminating their weak points.  The same can be said for the power that exists in each of us who take the time to explore ourselves while exploring the canyon landscape.

2.  The notion that if we paddle hard, brace from time to time, and accept that we just might flip…we can get through anything.
Cataract Canyon – just like most river in the western United States – reached flows this summer that were significantly larger than they are in a “typical” year.  Huge snow totals, warm spring temperatures, and an early monsoon rain season swelled rivers to levels that haven’t been observed in decades.
The rapids which comprise the heart of Cataract Canyon are known for a unique challenge created by the combination of very high volume, multiple features which are each capable of flipping rafts and creating terrifying swims, and tricky currents which cause boatmen to think on their toes when the river takes them off the line that they wanted to be on and hopefully move the few-thousand-pound-boat that they’re rowing away from the feature they’re now headed toward.  These features, whose infamous names alone (“Little Niagara”, “The Claw”, and “Satan’s Gut” for example) cause river runners to lose sleep as they head downstream, are stacked upon each other in a manner that few other stretches of rapids can boast.

This is a significant change from the creek I’m accustomed to guiding – a creek whose steep and technical nature presents its’ own unique set of challenges.  Leading up to the “Big Drops”, I was among those losing sleep to the incredibly daunting idea of an unpleasant swim through the previously mentioned features.  I’ve heard horror stories of the river taking swimmers deep enough to damage their ear drums, of boats being de-rigged and dismantled while getting chundered in the holes- even though the oarsmen felt that they were right on their line.  There were 3 boats on our trip and 4 qualified guides – more than once I considered offering my boat to the 4th guide to row through this section.  I doubted my abilities, and let fear get the best of me.
Throughout the hikes we did leading up to this section, I thought a great deal about values that I work hard to instill in the kids in our programs…ideals like pushing themselves to step out of their comfort zone and take healthy risks.  I’ve published quotes in their curriculum books like “Do one thing every day that scares you” or “Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone” – and giving up the oars through the heart of Cataract Canyon would therefore be hypocritical.
I had good lines through the “Mile-Long” rapids that lead into the “Big Drops” – the most challenging set of rapids in the canyon and arguable some of the most difficult in North America.  I felt like I was moving the boat well and looked forward to the challenge of guiding my crew under the marker rock, past the Ledge Wave, just under Little Niagra, right of the Claw, and avoiding Purgatory and the Frog Pond.  At that point, I knew I’d have just a moment to catch my breath and pull hard on the oars to thread the needle between Satan’s Get and the Brahma wave.  Then we scouted from the shore next to those features.
The fear which might typically have caused me to want to bow out of my rowing responsibilities instead further motivated me.  I didn’t want to flip- that’s for certain…but I also didn’t want to run a “decent” line – I wanted to run the Big Drops perfectly.  I sought the same satisfaction that comes from a high five at the bottom of this class V whitewater mayhem that my students find when they navigate their duckies through the first class III that they’ve ever experienced.  And I found it.
Just as is the case with our lives outside the canyon walls, rapids are calmer is some sections than they are in others.  There are dangers that are forseeable and some that aren’t.  The current moves at different speeds, and sometimes a well-laid plan doesn’t pan out just the way we expect, or hope, that it would.  But if we paddle hard, brace from time to time, and accept that we just might flip…we can get through anything – and that high five on the other side is worth the risk it took to get there.  We can’t let the fear of flipping or swimming from time to time prevent us the incredible sense of accomplishment that doing something we didn’t think we could delivers.

In the end, for me this trip represented a great deal of PERSONAL GROWTH.  Perhaps it was brought about by the group, and my reduced sense of responsibility for the individual kids compared to what I feel when I launch with students from my own school.  My responsibility on this trip was more to the group as a whole than it was to a set of individuals – and therefore the individual I focused on most was myself.  Perhaps it was the canyon, and the idea that Cataract pushed me and my abilities far more than most other canyons typically do.
Whatever the reason, these five days days in the canyon taught me more than any other river trip has about myself.

I can only hope that the kids pictured above, who are arriving back in Medford, OR this evening, are enjoying the same introspective sense of satisfaction.

On May 20th, a group of 10 girls, their 2 dedicated chaperones, and GOALS board member Jody Erikson braved high flows and an initial day of cool, wet weather to take on the Colorado River through Ruby, Horsethief, and Westwater Canyons.

The following day, 2 separate groups launched into Desolation Canyon of the Green River for 5-day adventures. One of these groups was from Blevins Middle School in Fort Collins and the other was from Clear Creek Middle School in Evergreen. Flows in “Deso” were pushing 30,000 cfs, but the guides from Sheri Griffith Expeditions and fantastic chaperones kept kids safe while delivering an incredibly meaningful experience to all participants.

Need proof?? Here it is…
On the last night of their 5-day Desolation Canyon program, the 8th graders from Clear Creek Middle School wrote thank-you notes to the canyon. Enjoy these excerpts:

“Dear Desolation Canyon-
Thank you for helping me in so many ways. Your canyon is so beautiful from all of your mountain beauts (buttes) to your swift moving water – almost everything is perfect. You have also helped me figure out myself alot. You gave me time to think about my life and what I want to do later in my life. I also love just looking at your mountains at sunset – it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

“Dear Desolation Canyon-
I would like to thank you for donating your beautiful walls, fearless rapids, and unforgettable views to give me an experience that I will take with me wherever I may go. This trip has been able to teach me about overcoming my fears and living in an environment that is nothing close to the one I see every day. Although the weather you gave me is not exactly ideal, it has pushed my raft group and me to see the importance of teamwork and a positive mental attitude.
Because of you, I have been able to live in a different world for the past 4 days. My road has been transformed into a river, my ceiling has been replaced by the starring night sky, and the canyon is now my home. Your raging raids have pushed me to overcome fears and realize the importance that going past your comfort zone is what makes life interesting. I will never forget this experience you have allowed me to have. Because of your generosity, I have learned life-long lessons that will change who I am forever. Thank you.”

“Desolation Canyon-
Thank you for one of the best weeks of my life. It was great to paddle and look up at your walls. Your history was like a good book that is read over and over, but you still get something new every time. I also thank you for a good get away. It is really easy to forget there is a world out there! The silence is something I have come to appreciate. Thanks for everything.”

“Dear Desolation Canyon-
You have taught me many things while I was on my trip. First, you have taught me to be patient. You have to wait for big rapids or you have to wait for the beautiful sunset. You have also taught me to act like a team with my peers. You have to help others in need. You have also taught me discipline. Your huge rapids would teach anybody discipline. Thank you Deso for all of your teachings and thank you for all the beautiful sceneries. You have definitely taught me that life is more than just T.V. and video games. It is about friends and relationships.”

“Dear Desolation Canyon-
Thank you for all of the incredible experiences you have given me these past couple of days. You have taught me SO much about my environment, friends, and myself. I now realize just how much water I waste and misuse. It would be such a shame to see this beautiful river dry up from the selfishness of humans.
I also found out so much about my friends – this canyon really showed their true personalities. I realized just how lucky I am to have them. I also became friends with people I never would have expected to.
Finally, I learned a lot about myself. Desolation Canyon, you have opened my eyes to the beauty of being natural. So what if I have a layer of dirt of my skin, or my hair is dried up and gross. I love myself just the same, and and that’s what’s called “river elegance.” I love you Deso!”


And finally…my FAVORITE!!
“Dear Desolation Canyon-
During these few days on your river I have learned so much about myself. I have learned about my personal limits not only physically, but also mentally. Lately, I have lost my grip on who I am and what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. Floating on your waters gave me time to talk my way through issues in my life. I not only had the time of my life but also got closer to myself.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful river, sunsets, rain, rapids, sound, wildlife, and amazing love with me. I had so much fun with you. This is an experience that I will never forget. I got closer to my friends and we became a family. A family put together by an amazing canyon. I am going to miss your beauty and your water. You gave me memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you so much Deso. I could never repay you for the confidence that you gave me. I will miss you.”

This is why we do what we do. Thanks, kids – for summing it up so well!

If you’re on the list, you’ll be contacted shortly to pick your prize from the following list:
1 1 month of unlimited workouts with Michelle Spadafora / Faithful Workouts
2 Volcom Sweatshirt
3 1 year family pass for Clear Creek Athletics from the Booster Club
4 12-month subscription to Relish
5 1 pair of adult-sized Habervision ski goggles with “eliminator” anti-fog kit
6 1 pair of Habervision Carbolite glasses (will fit woman or child)
7 $50 resturant/bar gift certificate to Tommyknocker Brewery
8 2-hour snowmobile tour with Good Times Snowmobile Tours in Summit County
9 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
10 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
11 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
12 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
13 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
14 1/2 day raft trip gift certificates on Clear Creek with All American Adventures
15 $20 gift certificate to Moosejaw Outdoor Gear and Clothing Co.
16 Four $5 gift certificates to Georgetown Candy Company
17 A $25 gift certificate to Tuscany Tavern in Evergreen
18 A $25 gift certificate to King Soopers
19 $25 – gift certificates to BeauJo’s Pizza in Idaho Springs
20 $25 – gift certificates to BeauJo’s Pizza in Idaho Springs
21 $25 PetSmart gift certificate
22 Eagle Creek Harmonium backpack with built-in sound system (valued over $200!)
23 3-month pass to the Clear Creek Recreation Center
24 A bag of items from Dogma including toys and all natural treats for your (value $80)
25 $35 gift certificate for a hair cut at Raffaele’s Hair Studio in Wheat Ridge
26 $25 gift certificate and a t-shirt from the Wildfire Restaurant in Idaho Springs
27 TWO $10 gift certificates from The Smiling Moose Deli in Evergreen
28 A basket of soaps and lotions from The Soap Shop in Idaho Springs
29 A 1-hr Swedish or Deep Tissue massage from U. A Salon & Spa on Miner Street in Idaho Springs
30 An assorted gift basket from Margie’s Place in Idaho Springs
31 A CB-radio and wool blanket from the Dumont Conoco Station
32 A tubing session for 4 individuals at Copper Mountain valid for the 2011/12 season.
33 A $25 gift certificate to Mangia
34 A $25 gift certificate to Mangia
35 A coupon for 5 classes to The Four Elements Yoga Studio in Evergreen, Value $75

GOALS and FLAIK made a great team!

When the GOALS Board of Directors designed the 1st annual “Get Up & Get Down to Get Kids Out” Vertical Challenge event, we set out to accomplish three objectives. The missions of the event were to:
1. Raise the funds we need to support our river programs for kids.
2. Generate awareness of the young organization and our offerings in various canyons.
3. Promote healthy, outdoor, active lifestyles.
In the end, this inaugural event raised almost $20,000 from donors in 32 states (as well as Canada and Argentina), while 40 skiers/riders logged a cumulative total of over 655,000 vertical feet!
Tough to argue that all three objectives were accomplished, as expectations were not only met, but far surpassed in all three areas!!

There are a number of individuals and companies who deserve praise and thanks for their efforts in helping to make the event a success. First and foremost, we owe a big thanks to Loveland Ski Area. We feel very fortunate to have been able to host this event at a location who not only ALLOWED us, but WELCOMED everyone associated with the event, even on a prime Saturday in March. Loveland’s event staff went out of their way to make sure that we had all we needed to make the event go off without a hitch – and even donated a 2011/12 season pass to be used in a drawing that went back to a participant who had worked hard to raise money for GOALS. We’re very thankful for the opportunities that Loveland allowed us.

Vertical Challenge participants stop in to the tent to check their real-time progress.

We’d like to thank FLAIK, a Boulder-based company whose tracking devices were the gears that made the event turn. Their staff was well-organized and supportive, and their devices were very simple to use. Participants LOVED the ability to check-in at our tent and monitor their real-time progress in vertical feet, total distance, and top speed throughout the day. Now, even after the event, they can have fun “re-living their day” and sharing with others!

Zach Bass reacts after winning the Icelantic skis drawing!

Additionally, we’re thankful for the donations that came from Icelantic Skis and Never Summer Snowboards. These companies are both Colorado-based, and respected as companies on the leading edge of creating the best skis and snowboards available anywhere. By donating product, they motivated participants to fund raise aggressively in the hopes of being entered into prize drawings, and ultimately allowed GOALS to thank people by handing them an incredible pair of skis or a snowboard in recognition of their efforts. We’d also like to thank Cloudveil for their support in supplying outerwear for the board of directors and event staff, and Moosejaw for prize donations.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least, GOALS wants to offer a sincere thanks to ALL participants. This event would have gone nowhere without the dedication of those who registered, raised funds, and skied or rode as hard as they did. While we’re appreciative of everyone’s efforts, and hope that they’ll all return with a team of friends for the event next year, we’d be remiss if not to mention the efforts of 6 people whose fund raising totaled more than 50% of the total amount raised. There aren’t enough high fives, hugs, or handshakes out there to properly thank Topher Brewer, Zach Bass, Sandy Rich, Kristin Hochmuth, Zach Blickenstaff, and Kevin Zegan for their efforts. Together, these 6 dedicated individuals generated $11,210 for GOALS – enough for us to sponsor 186 kid-in-a-canyon days!!

The 1st annual GOALS Vertical Challenge - cause for celebration!!

In the end, while GOALS was likely the “biggest winner” at the end of this event, the following participants should be recognized for their incredible efforts:
- Most Vertical Feet: 38,388 by Patrick Whitesel
- Greatest Linear Distance Skied: 33.34 miles by Patrick Whitesel.
- Top Speed: 55.2 mph by Kyle Knaeble
For a full list of event statistics, click here.

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the event at any level. We hope to see you all at the 2nd annual Get Up & Get Down to Get Kids Out Vertical Challenge event in 2012!!

It is no secret that the single greatest barrier standing between GOALS and getting as many kids as we can into wilderness river canyons throughout 2011 is fund raising. I’m continually asking individuals and corporations for financial support, and have recently hosted a few small events aimed at generating awareness of our mission and the funds necessary to accomplish it. I can’t express enough gratitude to those of you who have been involved in these events or have supported us with your own finances.

The leadership of GOALS has come to realize that the best way to make the masses aware of what we’re all about – and raise a large sum of money at the same time – is to sponsor events that appeal to the masses. We’ve created the “Get Up, Get Down, Get Out” vertical challenge in the hopes of doing just that. Participants will pledge to ski or ride at least 10,000 vertical feet at Loveland Ski Area on Saturday, March 19th, 2011. Prior to doing so, they’ll ask friends, family members, and anyone else who recognizes the need for programs that take kids away from screen and into the great outdoors. Pledges can be generated online and are based on the number of vertical feet skied. Sponsors can make pledges at:

- One cent per vertical foot skied/ridden ($100 pledge)
- One cent per 2 vertical feet skied/ridden ($50 pledge)
- One cent per 5 vertical feet skied/ridden ($20 pledge)
or in any other amount that they feel comfortable with.

Event participants are asked to generate a minimum of $100 in pledges, and can become eligible for some amazing prizes (including a 2011-2012 Loveland Season Pass and a pair of Icelantic skis) as the amount of pledges they gather increases.

This promises to be an exciting, fun event amid great spring skiing conditions. Live leader boards at the base area will show every participant’s real-time stats, including total vertical feet and total distance covered, average and top speed, etc. At the end of the day, regardless of your “stats”, you’ll drive away from the resort knowing that you just did your part to change a kid’s life through a week in a wilderness river canyon.

I hope that you’ll be a part of this event- either as a skier/rider or as a supporter of someone else who is skiing/riding. I’ll make it very easy for you:

Register for the event here – OR – Sponsor an event participant here.

If you have any questions about the event or how to be involved, please contact me at brett@goals4youth.org.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/16333408

G.O.A.L.S Inspiration through Exploration from christo johnson on Vimeo.

They’re symbiotic, and mutually beneficial – which is “7^th grade Life Science teacher talk” meaning that their association makes each of them better than they’d be in the other’s absence.  Kinda like peanut butter and chocolate, or ketchup and tater tots.

This fall has been full of momentum and pride at GOALS, and both continue to grow each day.  We’ve brought some very passionate people on board who are helping to generate awareness and funding for our mission, and who hosted a social event this week that generated a great deal of each.  Back to that symbiosis, it seems…funding and awareness are mutually beneficial as well.

The following evening, I presented to a cafeteria full of interested parents and youth interested in a Desolation Canyon program next May.  The presentation took place at a middle school in Fort Collins, the first place I lived in Colorado while working on a Masters degree in wildlife biology.  That degree was merely a stepping stone to a veterinary school admission- something I had dreamed about since the time I was a young boy.  However, during my time in Fort Collins, I learned that what made me happiest was being outdoors exploring- often on the Poudre River.  The exposure to nature that I had been given as a kid – and the unique combination of comfort and curiosity that results from such experiences- was now flourishing in a novel environment with incredible outdoor recreational opportunities unlike those I had access to in Chicago.  There’s no doubt that relocating to Colorado caused me to re-focus my career priorities- but I don’t that such re-focusing could have occurred if the people who gave me a chance to spend so much time exploring wild areas as a kid hadn’t done so.

As a result, it made me very PROUD to feel the MOMENTUM building behind GOALS last week- especially in Fort Collins, Colorado.  This town had a profound effect in my becoming who I am today- on my own- outdoors.  To think that I have the chance to provide the opportunities for these kids in Fort Collins that adults gave me while growing up to build a foundation of appreciation, excitement, comfort, and respect for the outdoors in very gratifying.

I’m starting to see the results of lots of hard work paying off, and it’s incredibly fulfilling.  Much more so than peanut butter and chocolate.

As schools get back in session, we’re communicating with teachers throughout the western United States and offering the permits that our outfitters have shared with us to the kids at their school.  There are several “irons in the fire”, and we’re working hard to get as many kids from as many schools into as many canyons as we possibly can between May and October of next year.

Our fund raising efforts are encouraging, and the list of monthly donors in our 2010 drive continues to grow.  We’re encouraged by those who recognize the value of our mission, and appreciate their financial support that allow us to expand it as far as possible.  However, in order to support the maximum number of potential G.O.A.L.S. programs throughout the coming year, we need to do more to attract private, individual donations- and we’ve come up with a creative, unique way to do so.

It has become increasingly apparent that donors today seek a return on their investment- either in the form of a tangible product or emotional fulfillment.  Our newest fund raising initiative offers G.O.A.L.S. supporters both of these returns!

You see, we’ve come to the realization that those who are most passionately supportive of G.O.A.L.S. programs are those who have been involved in one.  The people who have left the canyon with first-hand knowledge of the history and science lessons that exist within its’ walls; those who have experienced the nervous excitement that comes with paddling an inflatable kayak toward the lip of a rapid that they just scouted from shore,  and accompanying confidence boost that arrives after successfully navigating it; those who have found the peace that comes with watching the sun set on the canyon walls and the renewed energy that arrives in the morning when the same sun graces the walls on the opposite side of the river.  Unfortunately, most of those people are in their early teens- and thus can’t offer G.O.A.L.S. the financial support needed to share these experience with other kids their age.

That’s where YOU come in.

We’re VERY excited to announce the 1st annual “G.O.A.L.S. MOST VALUABLE FUND RAISER” program.  This initiative offers ADULTS a chance to go through the same experiences as the kids that we work with in one of North America’s most spectacular desert river canyons.  We’ll be pushing off from Loma, Colorado and spending 3 days exploring Ruby, Horsethief, and Westwater Canyons of the Colorado River next August.  Along the way, we’ll dine on hearty meals prepared by our professional guides, tackle whitewater rated up to class IV in a beautiful and deep desert river canyon, enjoy the crackling sound and the company of friends around an evening campfire, sleep under an incredible blanket of desert stars, and then wake up the next morning and do it all over again!  We’re excited to make these opportunities available to potential funders whose income is generated through sources more substantial than babysitting and mowing lawns- but more importantly we’re anxious to make more adults aware of the value of a few days in the canyon for today’s youth.

We anticipate a strong response by those who want to participate, and therefore it’s important to know that there are some qualifiers to be eligible for this trip.   To qualify, you must generate no less than $1000 of donations to G.O.A.L.S. through your network of friends, family members, co-workers, etc.  This may sound like a large amount of money initially, but when broken down over the 10 months you have to raise it and approached with our simple and effective fund raising plan, it’s truly a small price to pay.  Remember, your fund raising efforts will not only make this experience possible for you- it will do the same for some deserving kids.

It’s very simple to take part in this program.  Details are posted on the G.O.A.L.S. website.   If you check it out and are interested in reserving one of the 25 spots that are available for the first annual G.O.A.L.S. Most Valuable Fund Raiser River Trip. you should simply go to www.active.com/donate/goalsMVFR and sign up to become a Fundraiser.  Then, email the details of this initiative to anyone in your list of contacts who might support you in your efforts to travel through Westwater.

So…who do YOU know that would be likely to support you in your efforts to get into one of the Colorado River’s most beautiful and sought after canyons with a tax-deductible donation?  Can you surpass the $1000 requirement??  I won’t promise you that doing so will be easy- but I am assuring you that it’ll be worth every penny you raise.