I feel BEYOND lucky & cannot thank Chevrolet Canada enough for their support.
7 days until departure. Holy moly!
Excitement.
xo
Picked up the keys to the 2011 Chevy Cruze today! It's an AMAZING vehicle with top-notch features - what an addition to the Roadtrip with Reason project. I feel BEYOND lucky & cannot thank Chevrolet Canada enough for their support. 7 days until departure. Holy moly! Excitement. xo
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Hi Friends, I am 19 days away from departure. Can you believe it?! There are so so so many little bits & pieces that I need to tie together, and that includes the announcement of some more non-profits. I am so grateful that I found out about this organization from Vancouver, BC and I can't wait to visit in October. I have a feeling that I am going to learn a lot... Recent grad - Lei Lei! What is the Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation? The Foundation was established in 2000 to support the Take a Hike program. In partnership with the Vancouver School Board, the Foundation provides the resources and funding for programs operations, therapists and outdoor activities. The Foundation has raised over $1 million in support of Vancouver's at-risk youth. What is the Take a Hike program? It's an alternative education program that engages at-risk youth through a unique combination of adventure-based learning, academics, counseling, and community involvement. Take a Hike guides and empowers these youth to blaze a trail, a positive path with positive outcomes. With Take a Hike's guidance, every youth will have an opportunity to blaze their own trail--one that is right for them, that empowers them, that gives them survival skills for life. Who participates in the program? Students in the Take a Hike program often struggle with issues that have inhibited their success in the mainstream school system such as drug and alcohol addiction, physical and mental abuse, criminal activity, low self-esteem, depression, and/or trauma. Most students are referred to the program by school counselors or social workers for an opportunity to make lasting change in their lives. How can we help? a) Volunteer - be a positive role model in the classroom & outdoors b) Donate - spare some "change" to help Take a Hike make change c) Spread the word - join their online community Klaus & Krystil - Staff Incredible, right?! I haven't even volunteered with them yet and I already feel inspired. Take a Hike has some similarities to a program that I took in Grade 11 called the Bronte Creek Project. It had such a positive affect on my life - an unforgettable experience. I am so glad that similar programs exist in other locations across Canada and I can only imagine how amazing the Take a Hike program and foundation are. I simply cannot wait to learn more about their program when I role into the Vancouver area in October. Take some time to read more about them. They are a special group to follow! Happy trails & travels! Warmly, Becky xo Every single Wednesday while on the Roadtrip with Reason, I will be completing a random act of kindess (or two) with the help of a Boom Boom! Card.
What IS a Boom Boom! card, you ask? It's a set of 26 cards that encourages a person to perform a "underground act of guerilla goodness" - 1 act per card - everything from buying a stranger a cup o' joe, sending someone a surprise "love" letter, being overly generous with a tip, or giving out 5 genuine compliments. Fun! Once you've completed your task, you can pass the card on to someone else with the intention that they will then do the random act as well. The super cool thing about these cards is that they are trackable online - after you complete the act, you can register the card and watch it's movement.... Starting on July 20th (and every Wednesday after that), I will announce what the random act of the day is and I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you all to jump on board as well. You will be given 24 hrs to complete the same task & send me a note (or picture or video) on my blog, twitter (using #randomactwed) or facebook to be eligible to win a PRIZE! You will also be provided with the tracking code number so that you can put it up on the Boom Boom! site. What do you think? Are you in for spreading a little random love across Canada? Eh? Can't wait to be a part of the Boom Boom! Revolution. I hope that you'll join me. xoxo In 1.5 weeks my contract will be officially finished with the Arts Council of Muskoka, and I will be moving back to Oakville in preparation for my Roadtrip with Reason. Insanity! I have been living in the lovely town of Bracebridge for an entire year but it feels like I just got here. As (ridiculously) excited as I am for my upcoming journey, I have mixed feelings about leaving this part of my life behind. My very first apartment and real job! It's such a special place to live and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to really get to know Muskoka. I sure hope I have the chance to return one day! The ACM board & other friends got together this afternoon to throw me a "Going Away" party! They even surprised me by inviting my parents up for the occasion. It was really quite lovely. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the cake. Haha! It was designed so perfectly - the red Chevy car, the Pepsi can, the "BC or Bust" sign, the moose - such a cute idea. It was tasty too. Bonus!!! Sigh. I still can't believe that my dream has turned into reality. This is really happening! I am really leaving!! Off I go to pack some boxes.....xo You are not seeing things.
Chevrolet Canada has stepped up to the plate as Roadtrip with Reason's official VEHICLE SPONSOR. Can you believe it?! I will be hitting the road with a 2011 Chevy Cruze. I could not feel more excited, grateful and lucky. More on this soon. Just wanted to let you know. LOVE! P.S. General Motors Canada happens to be the Automative Sponsor of the Vancouver Canucks. A sign?! I think so. GO CANUCKS GO! So excited about these little suckers! These are (very) special edition Roadtrip with Reason t-shirts.
Only 12 of them are being printed. They are TEAM shirts. Receiving one of these means that you are not only a friend of the Roadtrip with Reason project, you are family. Part of the team! We are TEAM ROADIE! A few of these will be given to some of the folks who have made this project possible. The rest will be used as prizes for some of our fun contests that are coming up. Wooooot! A SPECIAL THANKS goes to my dear friend (and designer), Sara Farnell. She is responsible for the beauty of the shirt. An EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS goes out to Classic Embroidery from Winfield, Alberta. They reached out to me via Pepsi Refresh and have provided these shirts.....just because they are lovely folks! Who does that?! They do! I heart them. Stay tuned for the official Roadtrip with Reason t-shirt. Coming soooon! Much Love! Hi Friends, It's no secret that I am a lover of all things artistic. The majority of my "adult" life has revolved around studying, supporting, promoting and respecting the arts community. After finalizing my Ottawa dates for the roadtrip (August 25th - 29th), I discovered that a major volunteer-run music festival was taking place at the exact same time. Fate!! Folk Festival? Are they even a non-profit?! You betcha! The Ottawa Folk Festival is a non-profit, volunteer-based community organization that was formed in 1994. What is it? "Set amidst the natural beauty of Hog's Back Park, the Ottawa Folk Festival is a four-day celebration of music, dance, visual arts and community featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances on two evening and five daytime stages, plus participatory music workshops, special children's and family performances, wellness activities, beer gardens, artisan and craft vendors, and much, much more. We are family-friendly, community-focused, culturally diverse and committed to sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, boy! I am so very excited to be able to experience the festival scene as a volunteer. Canada is known for their GREAT musical festivals - I think it's safe to say that they're an important part of the summer culture all across the country. So many of them rely on their volunteers to have a successful event, and the Ottawa Folk Festival is no different. This is going to be a really unique opportunity because we will be able to experience many different volunteer options over the course of one weekend.....plus the amazing tunes and local arts community! Psyched! Interested in volunteering at the Folk Festival too? Click HERE. Happy trails & travels! Warmly, Becky xo P.S. Check out a great video HERE about the festival's GREEN initiatives! So awesome! NORTH OAKVILLE TODAY --- It’s official. Becky Conlon and her ultimate goodwill, cross-country adventure, Roadtrip with Reason, is the winner of a $5,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Project. It came down to the wire but when voting closed on the Pepsi Refresh Project website April 30, Roadtrip with Reason was in fourth place and eligible for the coveted grant. “It’s overwhelming and extremely exciting,” said Conlon, a North Oakville native. “It’s really amazing now that it’s official.” The Pepsi Refresh Project was looking for amazing projects that refresh the world and Roadtrip with Reason falls under that description. Roadtrip with Reason is a solo cross-Canada, goodwill journey, where Conlon will travel from coast to coast volunteering with non-profit organizations along the way. The purpose of her trip is to raise the profile of smaller charitable organizations, bring attention to issues affecting other communities and promote volunteerism across the country. She plans to shoot video features profiling the non-profits along the way and posting them on the Roadtrip with Reason website. “I definitely would not be here without everyone’s support,” said Conlon, “because, as I said from the beginning, every vote counts and it really did count up until the last vote.” Conlon sets off from Oakville on July 18 and travels out to St. John’s, Newfoundland where she will begin her “Roadtrip.” She expects to park her wheels in Victoria, British Columbia in late October. For more information, visit www.roadtripwithreason.ca It's OFFICIAL!
We are funded! Grant recipient! Much love to PEPSI! Much love to YOU! I am SO excited. That is all for today. Back to work... xoxo The blues on Halloween. I am not exactly sure what I am doing. Okay, that's not entirely true. If you happen to be a potential sponsor or participant, don't sound the alarm bells just yet. Hear me out! I began mapping out this project in my head sometime in the early fall of 2010. Soon after, I told a friend about it and then my parents and before I knew it I was pulling an all-nighter to create the first version of this very website. Fast forward 7-ish months and here I am only 60 days away from my departure date. Holy CRAP! It has been an absolute whirlwind and the panic is starting to set in. Is this normal?! My brain is completely consumed with all of the "what ifs" and even though I am a pretty positive person, the thoughts ain't too pretty...especially at 1:00a.m (now). It's the 1:00a.m. blues. There is no question that I am and always have been a dreamer. I think big and that has both its advantages and disadvantages. In this moment it's a disadvantage. My Roadtrip with Reason project is not where I had dreamed it would be. It's not that I am (too) disorganized, it's just that I haven't mastered a skill yet. The most important skill, of course! ENGAGEMENT! I am not sure how to engage as many people as I want to, and that seriously bothers me. Yes, it's just a project and i know it's not going to change the world and blah blah blah....but I want to inspire! I want to make some kind of difference, big or small. I can't do that without at least engaging the people around me. Don't get me wrong, I have an audience. I look at my stats! Hundreds of peeps visit here daily (like you, maybe) but typically leave without saying anything. Why are you so shy?! Hah. To try and make myself feel better, I remind myself that I do it too. Since I have joined the Twitter world and have been introduced to hundreds of incredible travel bloggers, I find myself reading blog post after blog post and I don't always leave a comment either. I guess it's just human nature? I think what it comes down to is that I (sometimes) feel inadequate. I don't have a niche! I am not a travel blogger (though I sure wish I could get in on their awesome inner circle). I am not a journalist (it's obvious, eh?). I am not a videographer. I am not a non-profit guru. I am definitely not Volunteer of the year. I have no idea where I fit in. I know there are always hiccups along the way but tonight I am definitely feeling like the nerdy younger sister that no one wants to play with. I look at other projects similar to mine and can't help but feel entirely envious. What magical powder are they taking?! Where do I get it?! Note: This is not my subtle way of seeking out a drug dealer. Please leave that kind of magical powder at home. Haha. I know when I wake up tomorrow things will feel better. Something exciting will happen and I will scratch another thing off of my 'To Do' list and the day will move on... I DO know what I am doing. I can do it! I will. I just hope that the 1:00 a.m. panic eventually turns into the 1:00 a.m quality sleep. Sweet dreams. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! |
What is this?Welcome! My name is Becky. I took a roadtrip across Canada, from July to November 2011. This roadtrip was a special one though, because it had reason! Tweet. Tweet.Archives
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