2011 Walk for the Wild Duncan
The pictures are online!!! Please go to the following address and enjoy the pictures, maybe you find yourself in a picture! You can also download the pictures for personal use. Thank you very much for your contribution to save wilderness locally at the Sansum Point!
Pictures: 
http://gallery.me.com/wildernessi/100267
http://gallery.me.com/wildernessi/100267
Protect Wilderness – Preserve Life!
Wilderness International would like to again welcome the Cowichan Valley community to the 2nd annual “Take a Walk for the Wild” fun run and walk. The event takes place at the Cowichan Sportsplex in Duncan on Wednesday, May 25th starting at 9:00am and finishing at 1:00pm.
Anyone is welcome to participate! Students from area schools are running, walking and wheeling around the track to raise funds to help protect ‘wild’ areas within the Cowichan Valley. The students start at 9:00 and finish at 11:00. The final two hours is open to the general public to participate. You can participate by making a donation directly, by supporting the students, by participating/volunteering at the event, or any combination of or all of the above. Please contact Hwiemtun (Fred Roland) at 250-710-5384 for sponsorship forms, to arrange a donation or to help with volunteering.
This year Wilderness International is excited to join with The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC), the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and the Cowichan Land Trust to save Sansum point!
Thanks to work and effort of the TLC and their partnerships with the CVRD and the Cowichan Land Trust, plus generous donations and pledges from concerned citizens, TLC members and donors, there is only $595,000 left to raise by June 30, 2011 to cover the overall acquisition cost from the original purchase price of $1.85 million. Wilderness International is thrilled to participate in working toward protecting such a beautiful and vital part of the Cowichan Valley.
Each year students, parents, and businesses within the Cowichan Valley come together to participate with the like-minded in Germany to help protect endangered and threatened areas in Canada as part of our mission. The other is to educate youth on the need to protect our remaining wilderness and its unique biodiversity. By hosting the “Take a Walk for the Wild” events and through our student exchange and education programs, we help to inspire and empower the students with the means and the will to act!
Q&A “Take a Walk for the Wild”
When? Monday, May 25th 2011, 9am–11am
Location? Cowichan Sportsplex, Chesterfield Ave., Duncan, BC
Timetable Arrival at the track 09:00 am, Tzinquaw Dancers 09:20 am
Start of run 9:50 am
Who can participate? Any and all students within the CowichanValley are welcome to participate. Parents and sponsors are welcome to come support the participants.
What do I get as a student? You get a t-shirt, drinks, snacks and the chance to win great prizes! Prizes will be awarded to those students who collect the most sponsorship money in various categories! Awards include iPods, backpacks, etc. Also, you are helping to protect endangered old growth trees in the Sansum Narrows.
How do I find sponsors? Its easy! Talk to your relatives, friends and local businesses about this nature-conservation project and the sponsored run! Politely request their support! This is an exciting project for an excellent cause!! The more enthusiasm you show the easier it will be to sign sponsors! (Remember the focus of this event is to help protect endangered wilderness areas but, it doesn’t hurt to maybe win a prize and have some fun while doing it!)
How do I fill out the Sponsor Sign Up Sheet? Together with your sponsor complete Part 1 of the form and both you and your sponsor sign it. (Remember you are both making a commitment. You to complete as many laps as you can and your sponsor to give you the amount pledged for those laps.) After getting as many sponsors as you can and before the event, fill out all the other parts of the form to make it easier on the day of the event. Bring all the sponsor sheets from all of your sponsors to the event on June 21st. (You should have one sponsor sheet for each sponsor. You can ask for more forms if you need them.) At the event, ask your teacher or a supervisor to confirm the number of laps you completed with his or her signature. (Remember to always be honest!)
After the “Take a Walk for the Wild” event, finish all your sponsor sheets and cut off the bottom part (Part 3). Give your teacher or supervisor the upper half of the sponsor sheet (Parts 1 and 2)and take the lower half of the form (Part 3) back to your sponsor so he or she can give you the amount they pledged for the number of laps you completed!
What happens with the funds raised? The funds raised will go toward conservation and education projects designed in conjunction with students, volunteers, the staff at Wilderness International and local community organizations. The land you will help protect provides a home to cedar trees, ancient fir trees, eagles, orchids, cougars, wolves, deer and medicinal plants.
How long do I have to complete my laps and how many can I do? You can run laps for up to 1 hour (60 minutes), including breaks. You can run or walk as many as you want and/or are able to! It is important to work hard and enjoy yourself but you must also remember to be safe and not to push yourself beyond what you are capable of doing. If you have any questions or concerns it is important to talk with your teacher or a supervisor right away. If necessary it may be required that you consult with your doctor. If you do have any health concerns or conditions it is important that you notify a supervisor prior to the event. Your health and safety are much more important!! There are always other ways to contribute!!
Main objectives of the run: Wilderness International will use 50 percent of the funds raised from this event to purchase and/or protect pristine areas in the Cowichan Valley. This guarantees that we will work toward immediate and sustainable protection from clearcut-logging, mining and other forms of environmental destruction that threaten ecologically sensitive areas. Wilderness International commits the remaining 50 percent to development and implementation of regional and international conservationoriented education and environmental projects for interested and motivated students! Wilderness International, schools and students in partnership with the Cowichan Tribes will endeavor to become stewards/protectors of these lands for all our futures!!
