| I am a great believer in volunteer work
| |
| | was to raise about $10,000 with this
|
| and dedicating time and effort to the
| |
| | skydiving charity event, but from initial
|
| greater good. Corporate responsibility
| |
| | tallies the total funds raised would be
|
| embodies this spirit on the business
| |
| | much closer to $15,000. As far as future
|
| side. In our modern cities and developed
| |
| | fundraising projects are concerned, she
|
| nations we often don't realize how lucky
| |
| | mentioned the "Night of 100 Adventures",
|
| we are and that there are millions of
| |
| | a gala dinner to be held in October of
|
| people who have it nowhere near as good
| |
| | 2006 that will feature entertainment and
|
| as we do.
| |
| | food from all over the world. 50 trips
|
| One organization that is very aware of
| |
| | will be given away by G.A.P Adventures.
|
| the conditions of people around the world
| |
| | Of course I also wanted to know more
|
| is G.A.P Adventures, Canada's largest
| |
| | about skydiving itself, so I asked to
|
| adventure travel company. With hundreds
| |
| | meet an expert on this high-adrenaline
|
| of adventure travel offerings to
| |
| | activity. Tony Cooke, a sales supervisor
|
| continents like Latin America, Asia and
| |
| | with G.A.P Adventures, has been on the
|
| Africa, the people at G.A.P are very
| |
| | Board of Directors of SWOOP, which is a
|
| informed about the situation of
| |
| | non-profit member-owned skydiving club.
|
| communities in many countries. G.A.P
| |
| | At present there are about 60 to 70
|
| Adventures' founder, Bruce Poon Tip, went
| |
| | members, and all funds generated from
|
| as far as setting up a special non-profit
| |
| | non-members are rolled back into the club
|
| organization, Planeterra, to address some
| |
| | to cover operating expenses and equipment
|
| of these needs and make a difference in
| |
| | maintenance.
|
| the lives of people and communities
| |
| | SWOOP is the closest drop zone to Toronto
|
| around the world.
| |
| | and is one of the oldest member-run
|
| Today Planeterra operates community
| |
| | skydiving club in all of Canada. Tony
|
| projects in countries such as Mexico,
| |
| | explained that SWOOP offers three
|
| Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Bolivia,
| |
| | different types of first jump
|
| Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Chile and
| |
| | experiences:
|
| Cuba. These projects include indigenous
| |
| | - P.F.F.: the "Progressive Free Fall" is
|
| learning centres, literacy and computer
| |
| | a training intensive jump and the first
|
| training programs, weaving projects to
| |
| | jump is actually level 1 of a Seven Level
|
| teach indigenous women valuable
| |
| | freefall training program, leading to a
|
| marketable skills, homes for abandoned
| |
| | full license as a skydiver.
|
| children and many more. G.A.P Adventures
| |
| | - I.A.D. is the traditional way of making
|
| pays all administration fees for these
| |
| | a first jump which involves 5 hours of
|
| projects and has made a commitment to
| |
| | ground training and a solo jump from 3500
|
| matching all donations dollar-for-dollar,
| |
| | feet.
|
| so all funds are going to these important
| |
| | - Tandem jumps are some of the most
|
| causes and the money donated is in fact
| |
| | popular ways of jumping for the first
|
| doubled.
| |
| | time. Ground training only takes about 30
|
| G.A.P uses all sorts of creative ways to
| |
| | minutes, and students jump with a highly
|
| generate funds for these humanitarian
| |
| | skilled and certified Jumpmaster. The
|
| projects and just this past May I had a
| |
| | jump starts at 10,500 feet and includes
|
| chance to attend a very entertaining
| |
| | 35 seconds of freefall at speeds of more
|
| fundraising event: "Ignite the Night", an
| |
| | than 120 miles per hour.
|
| evening full of astounding performances
| |
| | Tony explained that every parachute has a
|
| and acrobatics. The performers from Zero
| |
| | pilot chute which acts as a deployment
|
| Gravity Circus put on a magnificent
| |
| | system for the parachute and drags out
|
| spectacle for an enthusiastic crowd of
| |
| | the main canopy. SWOOP uses fully
|
| almost 500 people. In total about $20,000
| |
| | steerable canopies that actually resemble
|
| were raised in this one event alone.
| |
| | semi-rigid aircrafts. The club has three
|
| Well, the creativity of the fundraisers
| |
| | small airplanes to take jumpers up to the
|
| at Planeterra is virtually unlimited and
| |
| | right altitude and it has one of the best
|
| this past Saturday, July 8, they held a
| |
| | safety records in the world. As a matter
|
| rather interesting event to raise money:
| |
| | of fact, Tony emphasized that safety is
|
| the 3rd Annual Skydive Event. 40 people
| |
| | number one at SWOOP, evidenced by the
|
| who collected pledges in excess of $250
| |
| | fact that the club has never had a
|
| got to experience skydiving and G.A.P
| |
| | fatality. Its mandate is to promote the
|
| Adventures paid for the jump fees. A
| |
| | sport of skydiving, all the while giving
|
| barbecue and bonfire were also included.
| |
| | top priority to safety.
|
| This was an event I wanted to see, so I
| |
| | My next conversation partner was Danielle
|
| drove out into the country town of
| |
| | Weiss, who is in charge of the Planeterra
|
| Dundas, about 45 minutes west of Toronto.
| |
| | Foundation. She said that these days she
|
| By the time I got there mid-morning the
| |
| | focuses mostly on Planeterra and on
|
| skydiving activities were in full swing.
| |
| | planning new volunteer tours. In addition
|
| I was really curious about what skydiving
| |
| | to two existing volunteer tours to Peru
|
| is like so I approached one of the
| |
| | and Guatemala, ten additional
|
| skydivers to tell me about their
| |
| | destinations will be available in the
|
| experience. Fresh off the landing area I
| |
| | upcoming year, including volunteer trips
|
| caught up with Andy Zimmerman, who is in
| |
| | to Patagonia, Costa Rica and Zambia. In
|
| charge of promotions and marketing at
| |
| | several of these tours the participants
|
| Y108, Hamilton's country music radio
| |
| | will pay for their own tour and fundraise
|
| station.
| |
| | $1000 for Planeterra. After the trekking
|
| Andy shared with me that training for his
| |
| | experience the tour participants will
|
| tandem jump started at 8 am. All the
| |
| | visit an actual Planeterra project to see
|
| students had to watch a training video
| |
| | first-hand where some of their funds are
|
| and then to practice exiting the plane in
| |
| | going.
|
| a mock-up of a plane cabin where the exit
| |
| | Danielle is also currently working on a
|
| procedure was rehearsed. He commented
| |
| | partnership with Habitat for Humanity
|
| that as he left the plane strapped on to
| |
| | which may have G.A.P staff participate in
|
| his instructor Ahmed a thought was
| |
| | a day-long charity build in Toronto while
|
| flashing through his mind: "What am I
| |
| | G.A.P travellers may have the opportunity
|
| doing here?" That thought was quickly
| |
| | to help build homes for needy families in
|
| replaced by exhilaration as he
| |
| | international destinations. Recently
|
| experienced about 45 seconds of free
| |
| | Danielle came back from a month-long trip
|
| falling which he describes as an awesome,
| |
| | to South America including Mexico,
|
| surreal experience. He said the plane
| |
| | Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. For the
|
| took about 20 minutes to reach 10,000
| |
| | first part of the trip she led a
|
| feet and you could even see Buffalo, New
| |
| | volunteer tour in Guatemala where they
|
| York, from the air! He said he would do
| |
| | were working on a well drilling project
|
| it again, any time, it was just a
| |
| | to supply water to the local community.
|
| fantastic experience.
| |
| | The G.A.P travelers also helped build and
|
| Next I caught up with a female jumper,
| |
| | paint a school. The travel group included
|
| Britt Buchalle, who indicated that this
| |
| | a medical team which provided a two-day
|
| was her first jump ever and that she was
| |
| | health clinic to local residents.
|
| quite calm during the experience although
| |
| | Danielle is now assisted by Elinor, who
|
| she felt a little light-headed towards
| |
| | handles fundraising, and a new team
|
| the end. She had never been on a small
| |
| | member: Liz Manning is the sustainable
|
| airplane and the ride was actually better
| |
| | tourism assistant. I had a brief chat
|
| than expected. Once in the air she really
| |
| | with Liz and as a graduate of the
|
| enjoyed the scenery and the feeling of
| |
| | International Development Program at
|
| weightlessness. Britt also mentioned that
| |
| | Dalhousie University, Liz herself has a
|
| she is originally from Germany and has
| |
| | great interest in community development.
|
| only been in Toronto for a short while.
| |
| | She has travelled with her parents since
|
| She really loves the city and its
| |
| | she was a child and participated in the
|
| multicultural flair. Britt actually works
| |
| | General Assembly of the United Nations as
|
| for G.A.P Adventures in their Global
| |
| | part of the 1991 World Children's
|
| Connections subsidiary which provides
| |
| | Committee. Liz has also volunteered on
|
| airline tickets for individual travelers
| |
| | the island of Nevis and spent an intense
|
| and G.A.P tour participants at greatly
| |
| | summer program at the University of
|
| discounted prices.
| |
| | Havana, studying Cuba's history, culture
|
| Since I wanted to find out what is new at
| |
| | and socio-political system. In Malawi in
|
| G.A.P Adventures I connected with Kira
| |
| | South-East Africa Liz studied community
|
| Zack who handles marketing and
| |
| | based orphan care.
|
| communications for G.A.P. She informed me
| |
| | Since starting with G.A.P Adventures Liz'
|
| that Bruce Poon Tip is currently in
| |
| | responsibilities include greening the
|
| Quito, Ecuador, where he has been
| |
| | office, i.e. sourcing environmentally
|
| participating at the inaugural United
| |
| | friendly products including natural hand
|
| Nations World Tourism Organization
| |
| | and dish soaps, as well as finding ways
|
| Seminar on Ethics in Tourism in Quito,
| |
| | of reducing paper consumption around the
|
| Ecuador. Buce had been invited to
| |
| | office. This has meant moving away as
|
| participate as a guest of the Prince of
| |
| | much as possible from faxes to email. In
|
| Wales International Business Leaders'
| |
| | addition, G.A.P is now buying its
|
| Forum, founded in 1990 by Prince Charles
| |
| | electricity from Bullfrog Power,
|
| to generate long-term awareness about
| |
| | Ontario's first green energy company.
|
| corporate responsibility and
| |
| | Bullfrog customers pay more money in
|
| sustainability. Conference participants
| |
| | order to purchase electricity from green
|
| included representatives from national
| |
| | sources. Staff will also be educated with
|
| and local governments, industry and
| |
| | regard to green power and environmentally
|
| tourism associations and various NGOs.
| |
| | sustainable decision making.
|
| Just recently, G.A.P Adventures received
| |
| | Marine tourism is another one of Liz'
|
| the 2006 Global Traders Market Expansion
| |
| | responsibilities. She works with the crew
|
| Award, which honours the most innovative
| |
| | of the Explorer cruise ship on an
|
| and successful small and medium-sized
| |
| | environmental education program. This
|
| Ontario business leaders and exporters.
| |
| | includes an open house at departure time
|
| Kira also pointed out that G.A.P
| |
| | as well as fair trade products in G.A.P's
|
| Adventures is sponsoring the Toronto
| |
| | on-ship store. Many of the products for
|
| International Circus Festival which will
| |
| | sale are made by members of the community
|
| be held from July 14 to 16 at Toronto's
| |
| | programs that G.A.P supports through its
|
| historic Distillery District. Admission
| |
| | Planeterra non-profit organization.
|
| at the festival will be free of charge,
| |
| | I left the SWOOP skydiving location at
|
| but attendees will have a chance to make
| |
| | about 1 pm to head back to Toronto.
|
| a donation to Planeterra.
| |
| | Skydiving was in full swing and everyone
|
| I also caught up with Elinor Schwob, the
| |
| | was having a ton of fun.Burgers were
|
| fundraising coordinator at Planeterra.
| |
| | sizzling on the grill, puppies were
|
| Elinor had also done a skydive earlier
| |
| | playing in the grass, and later on there
|
| this morning, actually she was the first
| |
| | would be a big barbecue and a campfire
|
| jumper out of the plane! She admitted she
| |
| | for the folks that would be staying
|
| also asked herself "What am I doing?"
| |
| | overnight in tents. This is a great
|
| Elinor mentioned that during the free
| |
| | example of combining charity work with
|
| fall it is actually quite hard to breathe
| |
| | having fun for organizers, volunteers and
|
| since the air whizzes by so quickly and
| |
| | participants alike. That's how a
|
| she describes the free fall as more of a
| |
| | fundraising event becomes a win-win
|
| floating feeling than a dropping feeling.
| |
| | situation for everyone involved.
|
| She also indicated that Planeterra's goal
| |
| |
|
