CAMPGIRLZ.COM

During the recent Campgirlz.com photo contest, I received an entry from Sara who lives in Shiraz, Iran & teaches English. I love learning about other cultures, so I asked Sara a few questions about camping in Iran. It is amazing to me that through the internet we can communicate with people from all over the world! Her interview is very interesting, so I hope you will check it out & look at her beautiful photos!

Below is a picture of Sara and her friends hiking

The following are the comments from Sara:

People here go camping a lot & mostly during Norooz (our new year) that’s ending tomorrow with a great camping tradition all over the country. There are lots of beautiful campgrounds around the city & people choose where to go depending on the season. In the summer they choose cool places and travel north to SEPIDAN, GHALAT ,CHELLEGAH, BEHESHT GOMSHODE (which means THE LOST PARADISE in English), … & in the winter the warmer places or the snowy parts are the two selections people make. But spring is the best season for camping. You won’t get enough of it.

People mostly prefer to camp out of tents unless they are going to stay overnights. In that case they’ll put up tents to spend the night outdoors. Women usually go camping with their families or friends, in large groups or
small ones, but all in all they try to make the best use of their time. It is the same about our group. We are all English teachers and we make it to
campgrounds anytime we are free in a group of 20 or more colleagues.

When we feel exhausted by overworking, we decide on a camping. Sometimes we take lunch from home, some other times however we go to the restaurants in the place. They mostly serve delicious foods. Our favorite is KEBAB that is served with rice, salad and cool drinks. We take our favorite music CDs and we just enjoy ourselves a lot.

Thank you for sharing your camping story, Sara! 

On Saturday, campgirlz.com set up a table at a local Gander Mountain & passed out pencils & information.  It was great to meet everyone & the winning number for the door prize was 6! If you have the winning number, email me at campgirlz777@gmail.com.

While attending Canoecopia, I visited the booth of TEAMSurvivor Madison. This very important group is a resource for women who have been affected by cancer and part of a national organization. Please read the following interview with board member, Teresa Sprecher.

How did TEAMSurvivor begin?

TEAMSurvivor Madison, Inc. is an affiliate of the TEAMSurvivor national organization. TEAMSurvivor Madison, Inc. formed in January 2003 as an organization to provide fitness activities and events for women affected by cancer. We provide free or low cost fitness activities and health education programs for women with a past or present diagnosis of cancer. Our fun and supportive programs offer women the opportunity to reclaim their fitness, gain a sense of accomplishment, build a social support system and achieve renewed comfort with their bodies and their health. TEAMSurvivor Madison, Inc. is organized as a not-for-profit (501) (c) (3) corporation.

Do you believe the natural world has a healing quality?

I grew up camping with my family and was a camp counselor in my early twenties. I have a place in northern Wisconsin that’s tucked into the woods and is on a small lake. The woods have always had a nurturing/healing quality for me. After my cancer diagnosis and treatment I spent a lot of time watching the birds and red squirrels, paddling around a lake and watching the loons helps me to regain by “center”.

What has been one of your favorite memories with the group?

I joined TSM because I was intrigued with the dragon boating portion of the program. I love the sense of team when we’re racing in the festival and the comradeship on the bus when we’re traveling out of town. I’m not a triathlete, but I’ve cheered on my teammates that are. Watching someone (that didn’t think they would make it) cross the finish line is inspiring.

Dragon Boat

What impact has the group had on you personally?

I believe in the organization and the mission. I believe in it enough that I became a member of the board. I find inspiration from my fellow members and teammates – their personal stories, their strength and their courage. As our cheer goes, “Who are we? TEAMSurvivor! What do we do? Have fun!”

Thank you, Teresa! 

www.teamsurvivormadison.org

“Together, Women with Cancer

Achieving the Extraordinary”

First of all, I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who entered. I will be showing all the photos that were entered over the next few months. They were all fantastic & we had a hard time deciding. We spent a lot of time debating, but we finally picked the photo below.

We are happy to announce the winner of the “Camping Fun” photo contest!

Lauren & her Polly Pockets

Lauren Sarauer, 4 years old, on a canoe camping trip with family.  This photo was taken by Dad, Bryan,  while paddling across Kingsmere Lake in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan.  Lauren will be receiving our hat & bandanna prize!

Details of the trip:  http://pawistik.blogspot.com/2009/09/family-paddling-on-kinsgmere.html

Our runner up for the contest was the following photo:

Lana & Benny, canoe camping in Temagami

Submitted by Mom, Robbie Orosz.

This is what Robbie had to say about the photo:  “Thought I’d send you a few of pics from me and my daughter’s (now 25 yrs. old) trip we took last summer to Blueberry Lake in Temagami.   We hadn’t tripped together for maybe ten years and Lana wanted to brush up on camp skills as she is now planning on taking the activity up again in her adult life.  We also took our dog, Benny along for his first time too.  We really enjoyed the trip and time together again as just Mom and Daughter.  Lana is now planning for a trip to BC to kayak with orcas.

Congratulations!