Optimism Leads the Way :: The Women's Wilderness Institute 2008 Annual Report
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2009 - Optimism Leads the Way
It's been a challenging year for our community, yet I feel infused with optimism looking ahead to 2009. As you read through this annual report, you'll see some declines and indeed this new electronic electronic Annual Report on our website is one way we are economizing and focusing our resources. In the coming year, we will distill down to our core values, discern needs versus wants, de-clutter, streamline, simplify and innovate - while continuing to deliver exceptional programs for girls and women.
I am optimistic that The Women's Wilderness Institute is a perfect solution to meet today's challenges; our organization's mission is to strengthen the courage and confidence and leadership of girls and women. We offer a unique learning opportunity combining wilderness and a research-based curriculum that teaches in the way girls and women learn. And, we will maintain our commitment to provide need-based financial aid and include every teenage girl who wishes to participate in the Girls' Wilderness and Community Programs.
Girls and women who take one of our courses come away with many learnings that have practical implications for today's challenges:
• Encouragement to take that next step
• Belief in themselves and that they can do hard things
• Feeling supported and knowing help does come when you need it
When women find that internally connected place of personal power, so too they find a source for optimism - these are essential tools for the year ahead. Thank you so much for your support; together we have impacted the lives of over 3,200 girls and women throughout the past 12 years. We are excited about 2009, as we are filled with optimism and delighted to introduce a selection of new courses carefully designed to meet the needs of girls and women in our changing world. Please join our journey in 2009 as we continue our mission of creating strong, resilient girls and women who will help build a better world!
Beth Davis, Executive Director
LEAN and Green!
Our Annual Report has a new look and feel, we've gone paperless! We, like many organizations, are looking for ways to streamline, innovate, and tread a bit easier on the environment.
We invested tremendously in our website in 2008, with the intention that a new and improved online presence could help us with promotion, communication, and honoring the efforts of all who support this wonderful organization.
This electronic Annual Report is one way to leverage the investment we made in our website, and to be environmentally conscious at the same time. Some of the highlights in this paperless Annual Report:
2008 Year in Review
2008 Program Highlights
Special Donors/Corporations for Single Mother/Child course in 2009
2008 Supporters and Volunteers
2008 Sponsors
Gear and Cheer 2008
Triple By Pass 2008 and 2009 - savor last year, get inspired for this year!
Girls' Wilderness Program video - watch and hear from the girls directly what your support means to them!
New Courses - carefully designed to meet the needs of women and girls in our changing world - Finance Rocks, Journaling Through Nature, and Adventure Days
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The Women's Wilderness Institute received accreditation from the Association for Experiential Education. Attaining accredited status through AEE is solid evidence of an organization's commitment to quality and safety, belief in professional standards, and allocation of resources toward continued excellence and improvement.
The Girls' Wilderness and Community Programs
• 117 girls ages 11-18 spent a combined total of 659 days in the backcountry
• 50% of the girls received scholarships
• 35% were Latina, African American or Asian-American
• First Girls on the Rise program launched at Manhattan Middle School
Women's Courses
• 40 courses served over 200 Women
• Next Steps with Katie Asmus and Sandra Gaskill a best seller!
• 91% of participants felt that their outdoor skills improved
• Top responses to why women choose our courses:
- similar skill level
- supportive environment
Custom Courses
• Participant days increased from 185 in 2007 to 317, up 71%!Angel Donors raise over $15,000 dedicated for a Single Moms/Children Custom Course!
• Popular Financial Planning/Rock Climbing course is now an open-enrollment course
• The Wilderness Society innovative course focused on Latina Leadership and Environmental Stewardship
• The Shining Mountain and Logan Schools commissioned wilderness experiences with themes of preparing for senior year - introspection building toward responsibility, and team-building for a sustainable future
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Corporations
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Individuals
Vivian Reil |
These special people and companies gave their financial support dedicated for Single Moms and Children. Their desire is for Single Mom's and their children to have an amazing, transformative experience in the wilderness. Course goals are:
*Expose Mom's/Children to the beauty of nature
*Create opportunities for relationship building
* Have fun and build confidence
The inspiration for this came from Board Member, Karen Blumenstein. Karen went on the Green River Yoga/Canoe course in September. She loved her wilderness adventure, and began to think about how she could raise money so that others could enjoy a similar experience. She created an e-appeal and sent it to her work associates, families and friends.
Karen reflected on her inspiration for this, "Thoreau said, ‘I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.' Everyone should have the chance to take that journey, to open their eyes to the possibilities. The single - mother child program will open many eyes and hopefully, create many possibilities."
Thanks to Karen and all these wonderful individuals and companies. Their generosity and desire to extend out and give a helping hand to others is truly inspiring!
2008 Individual Donors|
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Sharon O'Brien Marielle Oetjen Liliana Olivas Patricia Olson Kristi Ormsbee* Janelle McCallum Orozco Whitney Painter Maria Pruett Gail Reichert Kim & Rob Roberts* Steve Rosen Emily Rundell Diana Russell Kathi Schlegel Theodore & Kathryn Schlegel Jeannie Schuman Rebecca Schwartz Marni Siegal Patricia Slatt Patty & Steve Smith* Mindy Smolowitz Esther Starrels Jean Stuntz Jo Anne Tatham Debra-Ann Thomson Pilar & Olem Tiampo Mary Jo Tiampo-Oslearsson* Carol Tierney Kristy Tochihara Joan Torgow Elizabeth Torsch Wright Laura C. Tyson Marie Ursich Mimi Wang Natalie Ward Kirk Watson Seneca Webb Peggy Weiner* Rita Weiss Scott Whitehill Trudi Wilkes Mary Wright Benita Wulchin* Hui-Ming Yen Susan Zimmermann |
*Donations over $1,000
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Foundations
AEC Trust
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Corporations 28th Street Garage Bank of the West Daily Camera FeelingBold Fresh Produce Gift Fund Hedges Design Intentio Studios Kelty Medtronic Foundation Mountain Hardwear New Belgium Brewing Patagonia REI Sierra Designs SHiFT Team Evergreen Bicycle Club The Parks Group
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Volunteers help make our organization thrive!
Many Thanks to our 2008 Volunteers
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Aussie Adil |
Nira Duvan |
Denise Kaatz |
Lodi Siefer
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The vast majority of the amazing work that is accomplished at The Women's Widerness Institute happens thanks to our dedicated volunteers and now is a great time to join TWWI's volunteer family! Volunteering for TWWI provides an opportunity to be inspired and learn from other like-minded community members while knowing that you are contributing to the long-term success of a flourishing non-profit organization! There are a variety of ways in which to help us and share your talents. We're looking for volunteers on a regular, weekly basis as well as those who are interested in helping with special events like Gear and Cheer or staffing an informational table at events like the Triple ByPass, Canine Classic and Venus de Miles Bike Race. Here are some current ways to get involved:
Rock*Enroll Star! Help us during our busy summer season by becoming a Rock En*Roll Star! You will help to get participants enrolled in courses, send out enrollment packets and materials, and learn about the great places we travel and the cool things we do! As the summer season ends, you'll be able to help with different marketing and development projects for next season and learn the trades of a successful nonprofit organization!
Location: Women's Wilderness Office in Boulder
Time Requirements: Anytime Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm
Special Requirements: Enthusiasm, flexibility, able to work in a small office setting. Enjoys variety and can go-with-the-flow. Experience with Microsoft Office & Excel are necessary.
Street Team! Paint the town with TWWI! Be one of our creative street stompers helping distribute and promote TWWI information all over town. You'll cover our stomping grounds (outdoor stores, coffee shops, gyms, libraries) putting up posters and stocking catalogs to let folks know about our upcoming courses. Street Team is a very impactful way to help us spread the word about The Women's Wilderness Institute while becoming connected to your area of the community.
Location: your ‘hood
Time Requirements: Various--2-3 hours/per month
Special Requirements: Enthusiasm, transportation around your neighborhood (bike ok)
Special Events: Represent TWWI with your enthusiasm. We have numerous events throughout the year where volunteers have a blast spreading the good word about what we do. Check this spot for upcoming events like film festivals, holiday gift wrapping, community events, tabling at local businesses, fundraisers and more.
We are so fortunate to receive support and encouragement from both the outdoor industry and a wide range of local businesses.
Basecamp (Kelty) and Shelter (Sierra Designs) Sponsors
We are honored to continue our support of The Women's Wilderness Institute because of their dedication to educating women and girls about the outdoors and cultivating a new generation of adventure seekers. -Sue Edmiston, Marketing Director, Kelty and Sierra Designs
Outdoor Media Sponsor
Women's Adventure is all about thriving in the wild, and The Women's Wilderness Institute teaches the outdoor skills necessary for girls and women to thrive. Women's Adventure is a proud media sponsor of The Women's Wilderness Institute in 2009 and looks forward to continuing our support for many years to come. -Richard Rhinehart, Marketing Director, Women's Adventure magazine
Rope Sponsors
Trango & PMI
Sponsors
REI, Mountain Hardwear, Feeling Bold, Camera
2008 Gear & Cheer
Our sixth annual Gear & Cheer fundraiser was another wildly successful evening thanks to our many, many wonderful sponsors and volunteers. Being the optimistic adventurers that we are, we tried a few new things last year and we're happy to say the outcome was a hit! For starters, we hired a fantastic auctioneer and auction company to facilitate the organization and logistics of the live and silent auction. To add to the fun we also launched the VIP Sneak Peak Party hosted by Vodka 14 and Whole Foods. By registering as a VIP, attendees were treated to special entertainment, food, and drink and the opportunity to roam the auction floor.
You came, you danced, you bid big and as a result we raised more than $29,000 for our women's and girl's programs and for that we'd like to say "Thank You!" Please be sure to mark your calendars for Gear & Cheer 2009, April 23rd at Rembrandt Yard in Boulder. See you there!
Thank you to our 2008 Gear and Cheer Sponsors:
28th Street Garage * All Digital Photo & Video All Elements * Yoga Alpha Balance Center * Athleta * Backpacker magazine * Bark Busters * Be Present * Bea & Chris Wray * Bead for Life * Becoming Mothers * Big Red F Restaurants * Big Stone Publishing * Black Diamond * Blue Skies * BolderBoulder * BornFit * Boulder Cycle Sport * Boulder Mountaineering * Boulder Philharmonic * Boulder Tri Babes * Cabot Cheese * Café of Life * Café Sole * Carrabba's * Clear Channel * Clif/Luna Bar * Cocoon by Design Salt * Colorado Music Festival * Crescent Moon * Crocs * Deb & Judith Kleinman * eConscious Market * Ellen Gager * E-Town * Fast Forward Sports * Feeling Bold * Gaiam * GoLite * Granger * Greenbriar Inn * H2O audio * Ikebana * Inov * Kahtoola * Katie Asmus* Kelty * Kiva Designs * Kristi Ormsbee * Krystle Brandt Jewelry * La Cavasita * LaraBar * Lauren Sigman * Leatherman * Louis Garneau * Lucy * Mariott Vacation Club * Merrell * Momentum * Montbell * Morra Designs * Moving Comfort * Moxie Moms * Munchies * Neptune's * Ocean First Divers * Odell * Om Time * Orikaso * Osprey Packs * Outdoor Divas * Ozo * Panda Express * Pick Up Sticks Marimba * Pixie Mate * Redstone Meadery * Ride The Rockies * Ride the Rockies * Roarking Fork Club * Robin Stolp * Rock'n & Jam'n * Rocky Mountain Anglers * Sally Kink * Sandra Gaskill * Slipstream Sports * Southern/Mountain Sun * Splitz Bowling * SportHill * Sports Garage * Steamboat Springs Resort * Strawberry Hot Springs * Suzanne Lee * The Cheesecake Factory * The Hotel Telluride * The Spot Gym * The Yoga Workshop * Therm-a-rest * Venus de Miles * Wallaroo Hat Co. * West End * Wine Shop * Whole Body Balance * Wigwam Socks * Wild Ride Beef Jerky * Wildflower * Mountain Biking * Wolf Creek Ski Resort * Women's Adventure Magazine * YMCA * Z-breeze Designs
2008 Triple Bypass Fundraiser cycles to success!
On July 12, over 20 amazing volunteers and Board Members headed to the hills to support the 2008 Triple Bypass event, sponsored by Team Evergreen. Staffing the Summit County aid station, volunteers fed, hydrated and cheered-on 3,500 riders who had completed two of the three challenging summits. In exchange for providing our "wo"manpower, Team Evergreen made a generous donation of $6,500 to TWWI - a true Win-Win for both organizations. If you would like to be a part of the 2009 TWWI Triple Bypass volunteer team, please contact Patty Smith for more information.
2009 Courses for Girls and Women!Girls' Wilderness Grows!On a sunny day in June, 6 girls gathered to not only reminisce about their Girls' Wilderness experience, but to also show a new crop of girls what it means to be strong and confident. Working together as they set-up a tent, practiced their knot tying and belay techniques, memories of making macaroni and cheese beneath the canopy of ponderosa pines, sharing laughs and stories with new friends into the night, and feeling the warmth of their sleeping bag as they drifted to sleep under the starry sky came flooding back. Throughout the day, the girls remembered what their course meant to them as they each shared their story and what going on a Girls' Wilderness course meant to them.
See the girls in action, as they stretch themselves to reach the top of the climb, build bonds that will last a lifetime and laugh and play in the beautiful backcountry. Listen as they tell share their story, their laughter and smiles and hopefully it will inspire you!
Girls' Wilderness Program from Women's Wilderness Institute on Vimeo.
Checkout what's new with The Girls' Wilderness Program!
New! Adventure Days 4 days 5th - 6th grades.
Explore the wilderness one day at a time on our first ever summer adventure for girls age 9-11! Modeled after our popular wilderness courses, Adventure Days combines outdoor fun with the comfort of sleeping in your own bed each night.
Adventure Camp 6 days. 7th - 8th grades
Wilderness Expeditions 8 days. 9th -12th grades
Wild Voices 6 days 8th-11th grades
Wild Moves 6 days 8th-llth grades
Wild Art 6 days 8th-11th grades
Rock Camp 4 days. 9th-12 grades
Latina Girls Course 6 days. 8th-11th grades
Leadership Course 12 days 10th-12th grades
Parent-Daughter Adventures One Day. For ages 8+
Generous Scholarships available!
Slideshows for interested girls and their parents from 6-7 p.m. on April 20,
May 6, and May 28 at the Boulder REI store, 1789 29th St.
Girls Community Programs
Girls on the Rise This seven-month program designed for 8th grade girls making the transition to high school is an exploration of issues important to teen girls like body image, expression, gender and culture. Weekly activites include hip-hop dance, rock climbing, self-defense, yoga, art, and fasion projects. Plus there is an optional summer wilderness adventure.
Custom Courses
Inspired to create your own wilderness adventure? The Women's Wilderness Institute can make it happen! A key part of our mission is teaching people in their own style, on their own terms. Let us help plan a stimulating retreat with close friends or business partners, a skill-building individual lesson, a unique family vacation, or an energizing wilderness workshop for students, peers or co-workers. Bring together your own group, choose the activities, level of challenge, length, location, and we'll center the experience around the issues and themes of your choosing.
Women's Courses
Our women's courses are inspiring, supportive and tons of fun! Hike, bike, climb, fish, stretch and create your way You'll learn new skills to take with you on your own adventures while providing funds for girls to enjoy a similar experience. Your participation will also help support a low-income girl in the Girls' Wilderness Program.
New! Journaling Through Nature
Nurture your creative self. Draw inspiration and insight from the natural world on a four-day canoeing and expressive arts course designed to spark self-discovery through multi-media journaling and other forms of art in nature. Daily creative projects will celebrate and incorporate the environment through which we travel, including day-hikes in stunning Dominguez Canyon, visits to petroglyph/pictograph sites, and plenty of time to simply soak in the diverse and amazing Gunnison River ecosystem.
June 11-14 (4 days)
Gunnison River, CO
$650
New! Finance Rocks
Feel Secure. Because women play so many different roles over their lifetime including single professional, mother, spouse, and elder caregiver, they need specific financial solutions tailored to each stage of their life. This unique course uses rock climbing as a metaphor for gaining confidence to make wise financial decisions. You will learn practical strategies for spending less and saving more, figuring out the IRA/401k/403b alphabet soup, and investing with confidence for your retirement. Throughout the day, we'll intersperse climbing techniques and financial planning exercises to hep you find solid footing on the rock an din your wallet, checkbook, and investments.
Guest teacher Lauren Sigman is a Certified Financial Planner, Harvard Business School grad, Wall Street investment banker, and avid rock climber with 30 years of experience in finance; and she specializes in advising women about investment strategies.
August 16
Boulder Area
$135
The Women's Wilderness Institute's Office Staff
Beth Davis, Executive Director
Jody Radtke, Program Director
Jessica Walton Dyer, Marketing Director
Lindsay Miller, Community Director
Lori Mathews, Office-Enrollment-Volunteer Coordinator
Kristi Ormsbee, Bookkeeper
Courtney Allen, Marketing Intern
45 Fabulous Field Staff!
Board of Directors
Rose Kauffman, Board Chair
Barbara Frank, Vice Chair
Gary Gomulinski, Treasurer
Whitney Painter, Secretary
Karen Blumenstein
Edie Busam
Linda Duhon
Ellen Gager
Peter Gowen
Erin D. Howe
Dita Zapata Hutchinson
Connie McArthur
Carol Neslund
Patty Smith
Peggy Weiner
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce Street, Boulder
5:30-6:30pm Sneak Peak Preview / 6:30-9:30pm Gear & Cheer$35 in advance, $45 at the door, $100 Sneak Peak ticket Featuring live music from the Pick Up Sticks, live and silent auctions, beer & wine tasting, and delicious food!Register online now!
Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce Street, Boulder
5:30-6:30pm Sneak Peak Preview / 6:30-9:30pm Gear & Cheer$35 in advance, $45 at the door, $100 Sneak Peak ticket Featuring live music from the Pick Up Sticks, live and silent auctions, beer & wine tasting, and delicious food!Register online now!