http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/ We love sports, and we love our communities. We have a hard time sitting still, and we have this crazy idea that we can change the world. Play City is a fusion of these two passions -- a hyperactive need to move and a genuine desire to make a difference. www.youthnoise.com/PlayCity en-us Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:18:54 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss playcity@youthnoise.org http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21885 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:18:54 GMT If you surf and live in Socal, you should come out to compete or enjoy the festivities this Saturday at S.A.L.S.A. Surfing Contest 2010!S.A.L.S.A. (Surfers Against Lou Gehrig's Disease Surfing Allilance) is a surf competition that helps raise money for the ALS Association. The ALS Association is a wonderful organization that researches cures for Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) and helps patients like my friend Megan Mishork live in the face of the disease that takes a life in the US every 90 minutes. The comp is at the South Side of the Huntington Beach Pier. Anyone can compete, and categories are divided by age, from under 14 to over 40. There are also categories for novices (never competed before) and longboards. Catherine Vasquez started this competition just last year and raised over $10,000. This year, she feels confident that we can raise even more. So not only could you win prizes from Hurley, Rainbow sandles, a sweet trophy or maybe a surfboard, eat some grub, and mingle with some good people, but you will be helping the ALS Association get one step closer to finding a cure. Tomorrow is the last day to register to compete! And even if you don't want to enter the competition, you can still come out and have fun at the beach and support a great cause. If you want to support, but don't feel like suiting up, you can always be a virtual surfer too. Check out the S.A.L.S.A. site for all the dirty details! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21885 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21861 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:25:17 GMT Ok, that sounds dramatic. What am I talking about? Here's the deal - last fall the US House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act which was a big leap towards working to stop global climate change (or at least acknowledge the scientific phenomenon and try to put less carbon into the atmosphere regardless). That legislation is now being voted on by the Senate, and there are 48 senators undecided. We'll need 30 to say YES to keep the Act. Check the Protect Our Winters time counter to see just how much time you have left... pic from JamSong on w commonsNot sure what climate change has to do with you? I've talked about the cool people at POW (Protect Our Winters) before, the sweet org behind pro-active campaigns to bring change by uniting skiiers and snowboarders and other snow enthusiasts together. Teton Gravity Research and POW got together with some funds from The North Face to make this cool short film "Generations" showcasing just exactly how climate change is affecting YOU:Check out the rest of the short film (about 17min) at their site. Jeremy Jones (one of the top American snowboarders and the founder of POW) and the rest of POW's cool crew took this short film to Washington DC two months ago and have been winning over legislators since then. Jeremy Jones on Capitol Hill!Here's the important part (what you can do): check out the map and send a quick and easy email to YOUR Senator whose job is listening to YOUR voice if he or she is still undecided!Calling all skiiers, snowboarders, sledders, and snowman makers - want to do something about the melting glaciers you see and the snow you don't? Keep ACES Act alive! Tell your Senator to listen to you!Check out the POW site for more info. And grab some popcorn and watch the rest of the (free) short film! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21861 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21846 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:59:37 GMT It's crazy that it makes headline news, but guess what? There aren't too many female football coaches, and actually Natalie Randolph is the FIRST woman to be the head coach of a varsity high school football team. She is a biology environmental sciences teacher and now the HEAD coach of Washington D.C.'s Coolidge Colts.She was a University of Virginia track star for six seasons, played as a receiver for the DC Divas of the National Woman's Football Ass. She has been an assistant coach before. You might expect that she'd get a little heckling, or that maybe she'll have to work a bit harder to gain some respect, but I would have NEVER expected the amount of backlash that people are giving her. Twitter messages that say "football is clearly a man's sport," and as you can see in the video above, a FOX news anchor talking like a complete pig. ugh. He makes me want to throw up. (When describing the woman's football team he says, "sadly, not nude")Luckily, Natalie does not let it get to her. She is focused on making the team great and that is exactly what she is doing. "I want these kids to be prepared for everything," she said. "Athletics is a means to an end. I want them to be complete young men." she told NPR http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21846 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21822 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:32:10 GMT There is proof that skate is a bonafide American cultural movement, and you can catch a glimps of it in the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica for Skateboard: Art Evolution in California!Skateboarding has been around awhile (it's true, I saw some reaaaaaaalllllllly old school boards made of wood and clay in the museum!). But in the 50s when it was just another fad for kids, it's widespread popularity went the way of the Hula Hoop, descending into obscurity a short time after. old school boards!But a few kids here and there kept it alive, making improvements to the wood board/clay wheels and keeping it alive in an underground scene born out of none other than Socal, California. Get rid of clay wheels, rip off some bathtub mats for grips, enter the California draught, and add swimming pools as urban playgrounds, and there you have it, skate culture! (Ok, I left out a few details from '65 - 80, but you gotta go to the Museum and get the tour from Mike himself!)Original boards from anyone you can think of in the CA skate scene over 30 years...What is really cool about this exhibit is that there are 100's of skateboards from every decade, and you can see the evolution, not only in the improvements of the boards, but specifically of the art. As the exhibit is rightly titled, "Evolution and Art." Looking at each board from different years is a look into the creative expression of each skater, and collectively, the whole skate community. The early boards range from cheesy spaceship icons to pirates in the early 60s, but when you get to the 70s and especially 80s and 90s - woa! (Joey Lawrence style). Designs an graphics range from riffs on fastfood slogans to riffs of each other, to commens on being chased by cops, the KKK, the whitehouse, Madonna, sexual frustration, anti-heros, and various other controversial if real imagery and themes. It's pretty cool to look at but more than that, it's cool to see all this genuine creative expression coming out in text and image on these boards over time, whatever you think of the message. It's art, babe! So there, go check it out for yourself if you happen to live in the LA area, and see for yourself. SKATEBOARD: Evolution and Art, at the California Heritage Museum! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21822 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21764 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:21:43 GMT On Saturday I ran a workshop to get all of the competitors in Step It Up 2010 registered on PlayCity-- now that all of their profiles are online, it's time to VOTE! The first round of online voting has begun for Step It Up 2010! Check out competing teams' profiles now to find out where they're coming from and what social issues they will be addressing during the competition. Every team has chosen a political cause that they will be working to address through dance, online outreach, and community service during the competition-- and 30% of their final scores will be determined by online voting. Between now and April 9, PlayCity users will be able to vote for the team they'd like to see win based on their online presence, representing and discussing their causes on YouthNoise. Voting will be closed between April 9 and May 10 while teams produce public service announcement videos and complete public service projects, before opening back up on May 11 for one last round of voting before we crown a new team of Step It Up champs.So surf on over the our Meet the Teams page and look at our teams' profiles-- from homeless youth to stopping pollution, from Queens to Manhattan, we've got teams representing it all. Make your voice heard by leaving comments on their profiles and of course by voting! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21764 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21731 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:22:51 GMT You may remember Part 1 of the Jacob Havens interview from a little over a week ago. We found out where hes from and how he got into skateboarding. Part 2 features more insight on what the public's perception of skateboarders are, as well as what life would be like if he never started skating. You'll also find a little bit of bonus footage at the end of the video so make sure you don't turn it off when it fades to black.Skateboarders like Jacob are who we're backing up here at YouthNoise Play City and we're trying to make sure that we break down any negative stereotypes about skateboarders and skateboarding. Thanks for your time Jacob! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21731 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21689 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:29:47 GMT Remember Katie Spotz? You know, the young athlete who swam the 352-mile Allegheny River, won first place in her age category for a half iron-man, ran 150 miles across the Mojave and Colorado desert, and vowed to row solo across the Atlantic ocean from Africa to South America? Some of you may have thought she was nuts to even suggest attempting such a thing. When you saw Debbie's interview with Katie in March of 2009, you may have rolled your eyes in disbelief. Well, you can stop rolling your eyes now. Katie has landed safely in Guyana.According the the New York Times, Katie was both the youngest person and the first American to row solo across an ocean. At the age of 22, a 2,817-mile solo trip from continent to continent is nothing short of impressive. But here's the part I really love: Katie completed the trip to raise money for Blue Planet Run, an organization that funds clean water projects in communities across the globe. Blue Planet Run sanitation projects provide a lifetime supply of clean drinking water at a cost of about $30 per person. With Katie's trip fundraising amounting to $72,615 and counting, roughly 2,421 people will gain access to safe drinking water. Her goal is to raise $84,510 the equivalent of bringing clean drinking water to one person per mile rowed. (Help give that number a boost by clicking here to donate.)Katie began her trip on January 3rd, and spent a total of 70 days on the water. Through sun, blisters, inclement weather, and 5,000 calorie days of dehydrated foods and sprouts, she accomplished a truly incredible feat. Congratulations, Katie. Thank you so much for dedicating your time and energy to complete this journey and bring safe drinking water to those in need.You can read more about Katie's trip on her website, Row for Water. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21689 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21667 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:06:32 GMT Luckily enough this week I was able to get an interview with the Skateboard President of my High School. His name is Joseph and he is a extremely dedicated skater; he does not go a day without touching his skateboard. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21667 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21644 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:36:21 GMT "I am for bikes. I'm for long rides and short rides. I'm for commuting to work, weekend rides, racing, riding to school, or just a quick spin around the block. I believe that no matter how I ride, biking makes me happy and is great for my health, my community and the environment we all share. That is why I am pledging my name in support of a better future for bicycling one that is safe and fun for everyone. By uniting my voice with a million others, I believe that we can make our world a better place to ride."This is the pledge that PeopleforBikes.org is trying to get one million people to sign so that together, one million cyclists can have one powerful voice with enough clout to influence our leaders, the media, and the public to make biking safer and more convenient for everyone in this country. In only two days since they launched this movement at the National Bike Summit in D.C., they already have 1,500 signatures... and counting... "Every six years, the federal government allocates billions of dollars to expand and improve our country s transportation infrastructure. Peopleforbikes.org will use our powerful, united voice to urge U.S Senators and Congressmen to make new, cost-effective investments in bicycling facilities and programs that will benefit us now and well into the future."SIGN THE PLEDGE! (it only takes a minute - and their site is pretty cool too!) Biking makes me happy! Why do you ride? http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21644 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21630 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:18 GMT Your cycling dreams have been answered! Right now the National Bike Summit is taking place in Washington D.C. Almost 1,000 participants from all across the nation have gathered to "help Congress see that the solution to climate change, health care and energy independence is right in front of them!"Sponsored by the League of American Bicylists, The National Bike Summit has been happening annually for the past 10 years. The league's mission is to "To promote bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and work through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America."This year's summit is already full of excitement as Google announced that their maps now provide bike routes for over 150 Cities in the US!!!!! Something that was only available in (maybe) TWO cities. The directions are programed to avoids freeways, intersections, busy roads and incorporate as many bike paths, bike lanes, and bike-friendly streets as possible. Also - it routes around hills, when it can. If more people can find safe routes, more people will ride. Surely, there will be some kinks to work out for a little while, sooooo if you use it, make sure to provide some feedback since that will be what shapes the program as it develops. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21630 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21629 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:14:28 GMT On Monday I had the opportunity to attend the Man Up conference at Dash Gallery in NYC. Man Up's Co-Founder and Executive Director, Jimmie Briggs MC'd the event and introduced us to the campaign's Young Leaders to Stop Violence Against Women. Jimmie BriggsAmong the young leaders on the panel were:Asia Minor - Hip hop choreographer and actress.Marcus Gignon - Social activist who advocates for indigenous rights.Chris Kazi Rolle - Social entrepreneur and creator of The Hip Hop Project.Norma Ramos - Public interest attorney and social justice activist. She is also an eco-feminist who links the worldwide inequality and destruction of women to the destruction of the environment.Erika P. - Social activist who uses sports and play to encourage and help build self-esteem in young girls. (ZING!)Also in attendance was Karen Robinson Cloete, co-founder and managing director of Man Up, and Maureen "Ma Dukes" Yancey, founder and CEO of the J Dilla Foundation, a non-profit organization established in memory of her son, the late (and great), music producer, James "Jay Dee aka J Dilla" Yancey. Karen Robinson CloeteMaureen "Ma Dukes" YanceyOverall, the event was uplifting and positive. However, I did take issue with some of the remarks from a panelist who seemed to be idealizing womanhood for the sake of advocating for non-violence. Comments such as "Women are creators of life" struck a nerve, since it's my personal belief that not all women are/should be/have to be "creators of life." I think this type of rhetoric reinforces oppressive and repressive cultural memes, and, as some may argue, is subversively violent.Another panelist discussed prostitution, stating that she "envisions a world free of prostitution" and that "prostitution is violence against women." Indeed, prostitution can lead to women being abused and even killed. But some may argue from a pro-sex worker perspective that women and men can find agency through prostitution. Certainly, if systems weren't set up for bodies (particularity female bodies) to be consumed, prostitution wouldn't have to exist. Yet, sex-positive feminists might take issue with this stance and insist that said speaker also acknowledge the nuances of an age-old profession that, for some women (and men), is the best choice.Along these same lines, I was hoping that the panelists would have acknowledged LGBT communities, especially in the context of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA). I understand that Man Up is an organization that specifically focuses on fighting against violence toward women, but it seems like we're ignoring so many victims who too need allies in the fight against DV and SA. Who defines what a "woman" is, anyway? Can a cis woman, womyn, or transgendered woman be "the woman" we're fighting for as well? In my book, yes. With that said, again, I think Man Up is doing amazing work locally and globally. We need more organizations fighting the good fight. We also need these same organizations to fight for all victims of DV and SA, because in the end, we have to be in the fight together. Which reminds me of a little quote I came across yesterday on Twitter:"I Am Because We Are; and Since We Are, Therefore, I Am." (via @drgoddess)Seems appropriate. Dope artwork. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21629 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21616 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:17:23 GMT Sports create a lot of waste. An avid skateboarder can tear up a new pair of shoes every six months, easy. Runners are the same way. I know I'm not the only person with a pile of worn out sneakers and ripped up pants hidden somewhere in their house, because they "might come in handy one day" or "it'd be a shame to see them go to waste". Here in New York, storage space isn't easy to come by. That's why we're so lucky to have the NYC GreenMarkets' Clothing and Textile Recycling program fanning out across the city right now. Starting in 2007, a partnership between NYC Green Markets and the nonprofit Wearable Collections has been bringing textile collection booths to parks in Manhattan and Brooklyn, for people to drop off their worn out clothes. I stopped by the booth in Union Square to drop off some of my own textile waste today, and I got a chance to find out more about where my clothes end up. After the clothes are donated, they're sorted into 'usable' and 'un-usable'. The usables are sent to various countries in Latin America. The un-usables are shredded down into thread, then sold to clothing companies. 25% of the money raised by selling raw textile material is then donated to charities. There's (almost) nothing I love more than knowing my trash is being put to good use, instead of piling up in a landfill. If you live in NYC, you should check the collection times and locations to see if you can get rid of that pile of chlorine-burned swimsuits and filthy white t-shirts stashed at the bottom of your closet. If there isn't a collection site that works for you, you can even request a collection bin for your apartment building. Perhaps most exciting of all, however, is the 40-College Clothing Collection Drive that Wearable Collections is currently organizing. If you attend a college anywhere in the Northeast, you can register your campus in a collection drive taking place this April. The school who collects the most clothes will get to send 25% of their clothing's gross resale value to their favorite charity. And keep their clothes out of the landfill. And get rid of that funny smell in their dorms. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21616 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21612 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:45:49 GMT We've been talking a lot about skate culture lately, and we've been hearing from different people in the skate community in the blogs. One interesting theme that keeps showing up is how much people hate skateboarders. And by people, I mean people who make the laws in this state. While we're trying to win the cultural battle to give skateboarding a legitimate position, right there in black and white text it legally affirms that we're wrong. When we* say skateboarding is a creative expression and healthy activity that keeps people away from deviant activities in the big urban jungle, the state and subsequent counties all over LA say (in legally binding terms) that it's a menace to society.From Aaron Pruzaniec's flick* when I say "we" I don't mean I'm out there shredding concrete, but I mean "we" in the collective sense of young people expressing themselves regardless of who "gets it"Here are some highlights of CA and LA laws regarding skateboarding as compiled by the radicool Eric Muss-Barnes or LTRS of the Longboard Skateboarding Community (also the same dude who put up the free how-to vids on learntorideaskateboard.com):STATE OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODEDIVISION 11: RULES OF THE ROAD
CHAPTER 5: PEDESTRIANS' RIGHTS AND DUTIESSECTION 21967: SKATEBOARDS: PROHIBITIONS Except as provided in Section 21968, a local authority may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution prohibiting or restricting persons from riding or propelling skateboards on highways, sidewalks, or roadways.Amended Ch. 1184, Stats. 1987. Effective January 1, 1988.How do local authorities choose to "adopt rules and regulations"? Here's how:1) CITY OF BURBANK MUNICIPAL CODE
TITLE 6
ARTICLE 276-1-2701: PURPOSE:
The Council finds that use of skateboards in roadways are a danger to the public safety. The Council further finds that the unregulated use of skateboards upon sidewalks is a danger to the public safety. [Added by Ord. No. 3033; formerly numbered Section 29-196; renumbered by Ord. No. 3058, eff. 2/21/87.]2) CITY OF GLENDALE MUNICIPAL CODE
TITLE 10
CHAPTER 10.64: MISCELLANEOUS TRAFFIC REGULATIONS10.64.080: SKATING OR COASTING DEVICES IN CERTAIN AREAS.A. No person shall operate or use any skating or coasting device while:
 1. Upon any public roadway, alley or sidewalk in any business district within the city;
 2. In any public park, playground or recreation area, except where the city has posted signs permitting the use of the device;
 3. Upon any city-owned or operated parking facility;
 4. Upon the civic center complex.B. For the purpose of this section, the term "skating or coasting device" means and includes any skateboard, roller skate, scooter, coaster or other rolling or wheeled device self-propelled by human, motor or wind power.C. The prohibitions of this section shall not apply to a wheelchair or bicycle. (Prior code 27-33)Notice that you can ride a bicycle in a parking lot, but not a skateboard.LOS ANGELES COUNTY CODE
TITLE 15: VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC 
CHAPTER 15.54: SKATEBOARDS AND ROLLER SKATES15.54.010: SKATEBOARDS - PROHIBITED ON GREATER THAN THREE-PERCENT GRADE. No person shall ride on or propel any skateboard, as defined in Section 15.08.185, on any county road, street, highway, lane or alley which has a grade in excess of three percent, nor shall any person ride on or propel any skateboard on any county road, street, highway, lane or alley in excess of 10 miles per hour. (Ord. 12259 2, 1980: Ord. 6544 Ch. 1 Art. 4 1404.1, 1954.)No skating on over 3% grade? Ha! So much for the downhill skating association...4) CITY OF LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODECHAPTER V: PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROTECTIONSECTION 85.07: REGULATION OF ROLLER-SKATING, SKATEBOARDING AND BICYCLING.(Added by Ord. No. 166,526, Eff. 1/27/91.)(a) The Department of Transportation is hereby authorized to install any traffic control devices it determines necessary to regulate roller-skating, skateboarding and bicycling on sidewalks and roadways in order to improve vehicular or pedestrian movement, reduce congestion or diminish accident potential. Such determinations shall be made only on the basis of traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations. When such determinations have been made, the Department is authorized to install signs giving notice as to the nature of the regulation as well as signs that provide such safety warnings as it determines will assist those engaged in the regulated activities.Oh great, does this mean traffic cameras for skateboarders? Will skaters need to get mini license plates and wear them on their helmets so they can be made to pay infractions?5) CITY OF PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE 
TITLE 3 10.61.040 REGULATION OF SKATEBOARDS, ROLLER SKATES, SCOOTERS AND EPAMD. Based on demonstrated pedestrian traffic safety needs, the chief of police may regulate and/or prohibit the use of skateboards, roller skates, scooters and /or EPAMD upon the roadways, sidewalks, business districts, pedestrian malls, or public buildings in any part of the city and shall so designate by posting such area wherein their use is regulated and/or prohibited.Exception - The regulation and/or prohibition on the use of EPAMD authorized in this section shall not apply to the use of EPAMD by any governmental agency, public utility on the U.S. Postal Service or to any disabled person (as that term is defined in Vehicle Code Section 295.5(a)(c)) who displays a state-issued disabled placard. (Ord. 6948 5, 2003: Ord. 6544 1 (part), 1993)Well, at least they go so far as to say this rule is "based on demonstrated pedestrian traffic safety needs." But $500 and no chance at appeal? Read below - TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 1.24 GENERAL PENALTY
1.24.025 INFRACTIONS A. An infraction is not punishable by imprisonment. A person charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to a trial by jury. A person charged with an infraction shall not be entitled to have the public defender or other counsel appointed at public expense to represent him unless he is arrested and not released on his written promise to appear, his own recognizance, or a deposit of bail.C. Every violation determined to be an infraction is punishable by (1) a fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation of any section of the same chapter of the Pasadena Municipal Code or same ordinance, if uncodified; (2) a fine not exceeding $200.00 for a second violation of any section of the same chapter of the Pasadena Municipal Code or same ordinance, if uncodified, within one year; (3) a fine not exceeding $500.00 for each additional violation of any section of the same chapter of the Pasadena Municipal Code or same ordinance, if uncodified, within one year. (Ord. 6087 3, 1984) At least you can't get arrested. Yet. Hopefully LA won't adopt the San Diego law enforcement strategy. Chris "The Wild Samoan" Yandall, a G S teamrider from the 1970's and pillar of the skate society in San Diego, was arrested for skateboarding to the beach in 2008. Read about it here. You can also read the entire document of laws compiled last year by Eric Muss Barnes here. And this has NOT been a recent development. As you can see, some of these laws were made in the 70s, some in the 2000's. Check this Forum anecdote from IGSA-1 on the 3% grade law:"We always called this the "Roger Hickey Law". It was written specifically to stop skateboarding on Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) in 1980. I remember getting busted skating on GMR in 1979 and the sheriff's couldn't figure out what to cite us with. Eventually they wrote us a ticket for "Pedestrian in roadway (skateboarding)". Since I was only 14 at the time I had to go to court with my dad and the judge thretened me with all sorts of things. It put an end to my skating on GMR for awhile..."In some ways I can see that a few of these laws are probably just meant to keep kids from hurting themselves (and the city out of lawsuits.) But to what extent are many of these laws there to "protect" citizens who simply had louder voices than skaters? (I think seeing a huge billboard for the Lap Band weight loss right outside my apt window is an infraction of my peace, but no law would ever get passed to prevent it from being there. Is the livelihood of a company that staples stomachs more important than 1,000s of LA youth?) How exactly did skateboarding lose so big?Should skateboarding be illegal?Should these laws be updated, or given a public forum to distinguish between the majority of creative skaters of all ages and the fraction of miscreants? Even if the government at large won't see skateboarding as a positive cultural activity? And how could that last part be attempted?What do you think? http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21612 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21593 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:31:04 GMT March is Florida Bicycle Month and a LOT of exciting things are happening!While I am really hoping that all of last year's bicycle initiatives will still be in effect now that we have a new Mayor, it seems like the bicycle community here in Miami is more active than ever! The City of Miami is expanding their bicycle safety public service ad campaign, which will be featured on bus shelters and full size billboards! This is SO great.. Last month's terrible bicycle accident brought to the surface an extreme need for more bicycle and motorist safety education.Here are some of the ads:Below are just SOME of the great bicycle events happening in Miami this month: Today! March 7: Tour de Cure This ride is to support the American Diabetes Association's mission to "To prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes." There are more than 23.6 million Americans with diabetes, and thousands of cyclists from 43 states participate in this meaningful event. Check out their WEBSITE and sponsor a rider! There are a few different options: A 10 mile fun ride through C.B. Smith Park's interior roads, a 35 Mile Ride, a 62 Mile Metric Century, and a 100 mile century. "Participants enjoy all the splendors of Spring in South Florida as they ride past palm trees swaying in the balmy breeze. "March 13: Miami Critical Mass March Meetup: Florida City Ridemeets at 9am at Dadeland South Metro-Rail Station"In celebration of Bike Month, we'll be meeting up at the Dadeland South Metro-Rail Station. From there we'll be riding around the to Florida City, yes Florida City. This is a long ride and you'll need ample water and suncreen. The ride goes south on the Bike Lanes that run parallel to the Bus Lane, and it's a straight shot. We'll stop at Robert is Here and hit up super good super cheap Mexican restaurant before the return trip. Fortunately for those that may not be able to make the return trip you can always jump on the bus and ride back to Dadeland South. Looking forward to this trek with you all."March 19: Bike PromMeets at 9pm at Goverment Center"We are planning a Bike Prom for Bike Month, so dress fancy, or if you have a tuxedo t-shirt you can wear that too. ..we'll ride around Downtown and Brickell, Wynwood, stop at Bayfront Park, the ride along the river. The ride will end at Vagabond, free entry and cheap drinks till midnight. Also, secure bike parking at Bar right next door."Green mobility Network presents:March 20: Coral Gables Tweed Ridemeets at 9am at University Metro-Rail Station"We shall sally forth from University Metrorail Station for a leisurely ride through Historic Coral Gables. Ride will depart promptly at 9 a.m. and shall be narrated by Professor David Rifkind, School of Architecture at Florida International University. Of course, Tweed-style is not only about tweed. A proper cyclist looks good from head to toe: from the dashing cap, to the silk scarf, ascot, or bow tie accenting the neck, to the snappy knickers or skirts, and argyle socks! Prizes shall be furnished to the most dapper chap, the most snappy lass, the best real moustache, the best fake moustache, and the best vintage/antique steed."March 26: Miami Critical Massmeets at 6:30pm at Government CenterThis is a monthly ride where the biggest number of people come together - making the statement that we are not causing traffic, we ARE traffic! Brought to you by the Miami Bike Scene BlogEverglades Bicycle Club presents:March 28: Annual Snowbird Century RideCheck out the website to register for more details!And for even more rides in Florida, check out the Florida Bicycle Association's Touring Calendar!Three Cheers for SPRING! Happy Riding.... http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21593 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21592 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:45:35 GMT There's a new site on the scene for young people that want to help their peers protect and appreciate the beauty of the great outdoors-- it's called Outdoor Nation. Once you're a member on the Outdoor Nation website, you can earn points toward free outdoor gear just for speaking your mind on issues that affect young people trying to stay healthy and preserve the environment. I got a chance to talk to one of Outdoor Nation's ambassadors, a young woman named Sage Donnelly who's been skiing, climbing rocks, and kayaking since she was two years old. Sage was born to rock outdoors, and she's gotten involved with Outdoor Nation because she wants to help other kids her age get out onto rivers and mountains. It's a noble endeavor, because every young person who learns to appreciate the beauty of nature is a voice that will speak up to defend it against development and pollution. So without further ado... How did you get involved with outdoor sports? Did you grow up in a place with easy to access to rivers, mountains, and trees? Yes-- I grew up in Carson City, NV near Lake Tahoe where we have access to lots of rivers, ski resorts, mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing. I became involved in outdoor sports because it was part of our lifestyle, we were always going somewhere to have fun! What is it about climbing, kayaking, and skiing that makes them special to you? Has being involved with these sports benefitted you personally? Climbing, kayaking and skiing are special to me because they are all very fun and I get to be with my family and friends while we participate in them. I have greatly benefited from these sports because they keep me strong and healthy and help me control my diabetes. I have also met people all over the country involved in my sports that I now consider good friends. These sports have also made me focus on my abilities and believe in myself. I train hard and try to follow directions well, but sometimes I get scared of the size of a hole in the river or a big ski jump. My parents just talk to me about my abilities and skills but still leave it up to me to try it. 99% of the time I talk myself into it. My parents are the first ones to tell me no or not yet, and I trust them. What advice would you give to kids who haven't experienced any outdoor sports, either because their parents aren't involved, or because they live somewhere without huge mountains and rivers? I would tell them to join local clubs, either through school, scouts, club sports or non profit organizations like the Sierra Club to help them get knowledge and experience about the outdoors and the sports you can do. They should also find out if any of their friends are involved in sports or the outdoors and try to join them when they go. I read in your bio at Outdoor Nation's web site that you have Diabetes and Celiac Disease-- does it ever make you avoid certain sports? What advice would you give to other young athletes with health issues? My diabetes and celiac disease do not stop me from doing any sports. I always carry my glucometer and insulin as well as Cliffblocks and snacks to keep my sugar under control. My advice to other kids with health issues is to always be prepared when you go out, and tell everyone you go with about your condition so they can keep an eye on you and help if needed. A few years ago I was able to kayak and raft the Grand Canyon section of the Colorado River, where we spent 16 days on the river without any contact to the outside world. I kept my insulin in the cooler and carried an extra glucometer, batteries and strips just incase anything happened. We also had a satellite phone in case of emergency. Everyone on the trip knew I was a diabetic and were comfortable with me being there. I had a great time and can't wait to do it again! I also climbed Snake Dike on Half Dome in Yosemite this summer. It is an 8 pitch 5.7 route that is very popular and crowded. It ended up being a 23 hour day! Luckily I had lots of water, salty nuts and fruit rolls to get me to the top and hike out. The only time diabetes can be a hassle is when I am skiing and my glucometer gets cold. I have to take the battery out, warm it up and reset the computer before I can check my blood sugar, but it is not enough of a pain to make me stop! How did you get involved with Outdoor Nation? My friend Emily Jackson, who is the world's best woman freestyle kayaker, became an ambassador and was sending me the information. It looked like a lot of fun and I wanted to share my experiences with others. For our readers who aren't sure, what exactly *is* Outdoor Nation, and how can they get involved? Sign up at Outdoornation.com and get involved with the discussions and forums and find groups to join. I am in the rock climbing and kayaking groups and will join the skiing goup as soon as it forms. Then try and connect to others in your area and make plans. We are hoping to start a kids paddling day every few weeks in California and Nevada and hopefully get more kids involved. Is there anyone you'd like to thank before wrapping up? Any parting words? I would like to thank everyone who has supported and sponsored me, including Outdoor Nation, Jackson Kayak, Snap Dragon Spray Skirts, Astral Bouyancy and the Truckee River Foundation. I also want to thank Ruth Gordan and Michelle Kvanli for taking the time to train me in freestyle kayaking and slalom racing. I would especially like to thank Emily Jackson for introducing me to this great group and I look forward to meeting lots of other outdoor enthusiasts this year on my travels this summer. Thanks so much for this opportunity. If you think that Outdoor Nation is something that you'd like to be a part of, you can check them out on Facebook or at their website, www.outdoornation.org. Big thanks to Sage for making time to do an interview! http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21592 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21589 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:48:48 GMT Nitish Nag is not your average college student. Among other achievements, Nitish is a mountain bike racer, a nutrition/biology/biochem researcher, an Outdoor Idol, a youth leader, a coach, a NOLS certified Backcountry Backpacking Trip Leader, and a Leave No Trace instructor. He also serves as an ambassador for Outdoor Nation an organization that empowers young people to reclaim, redefine, and rediscover the outdoors.I recently had the chance to catch up with Nitish to ask him about biking, developing youth projects, outdoor sustainability, and the future. Check it out:TC: How did you first get into cycling? NN: My father and I used to go for short rides on the bike path when I was in elementary school. Since he had a busy work schedule, he would not be able to go with me very often. One Friday, he promised to come home early from work to ride with me, but flaked at the last minute. I was a very rebellious kid and decided to just go off on my own, not caring whether I got in trouble or not. I was 10 years old. Exploring the trails on my own was a true sense of freedom that I felt. I moved on to more technical and challenging trails that I would never get to go on with my parents. From then on I was hooked. TC: You've been involved in several projects to make cycling more accessible to youth. What are these projects?NN: I am the Founder and President of the NRL Racing Development Cycling Team. NRL Racing is a Junior U18 and U23 development cycling team, fueling enthusiastic bicycle racers from the San Francisco Bay Area. The team focuses on bringing the best mountain bikers to the start line in endurance events such as the cross country, short track and super D competitions. We also compete in Road races, Downhill, Slalom and other types of bike races. All levels are welcome to join on the condition that they dedicate themselves to bringing the best out of their potential; we do not discriminate based on skill level. NRL is a completely non-profit team. We also do volunteer work to help the cycling community, such as trail building and bike commuting.I was also involved with helping the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League get started (which has evolved into a national League). The NorCal High School Mountain Bike League works to establish and maintain safe, high-quality high school mountain bike programs, provide coaching and racing opportunities for high school students, and develop healthy and responsible community members of the future.There are many other activities that I am involved in that help the youth, such as the Outdoor Nation program, several high school mountain bike teams, and outdoor activity guiding.TC: What do you like about working with youth?NN: The satisfaction received from giving opportunity to others goes above and beyond any personal achievement. It s like planting a flower and watching it bloom. Although the flower is beautiful, it s the planter that enjoys that beauty the most. Promoting a healthy, active, and fun future for our world is a top priority for me. Many of the problems we face can be solved in this manner. Obesity, diabetes, depression, heart disease, environmental issues and much more all have a solution. It just needs to be implemented and I love facilitating that.TC: You've also spent a lot of time backpacking and engaging in several outdoor activities beyond cycling. Tell us a bit about your outdoor experience.NN: My family used to go on small car camping trips when I was little. This was a big inspiration for me when I was in my early years (before 10 years old). I loved the exploration and adventure. Since then I have slowly expanded my love of the outdoors through various activities such as rock climbing, backpacking, and much more. Each activity gives me a fresh and distinct perspective on enjoying nature, challenging myself, and inspiring great thought. TC: What is Leave No Trace? Do you find that most people understand and appreciate Leave No Trace practices, or is there a need for more education?NN: The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide. Basically, when you are enjoying the purity and peacefulness of the outdoors, you want others to have the same opportunity to enjoy what you did. For those that are already avid outdoors folk, they understand the value of LNT, because they actually use the outdoors a lot to recreate and thus want it to stay beautiful. For those that only occasionally head out into the outdoors, they do not grasp the fact that LNT practice is very important. There is a strong cultural value for properly disposing of trash in the city (such as throwing away your soda bottle in the recycling bin and NOT on the street). This cultural trend is slowly growing for the outdoors, but is not at the optimal level yet.TC: I hear that you're studying Nutritional Science, Biochemistry and Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley. How does this tie into your life as an athlete?NN: Studying these subjects allows me to work on problems from two sides. One is the athletic performance side where we are trying to see the limits of human perfection. On the other hand we study these subjects to see how we can better understand and treat disease for those that are not able to perform optimally. As an athlete I can both understand the theory and the application of these sciences. As a scientist who works in these fields, I enjoy seeing brilliant ideas in the lab applied to everyday life scenarios, such as for an athlete or for someone with diabetes. Being well educated about this material also allows me to give my athletes cutting edge information on science for performance, while cutting out the myths and hype of popular training trends.TC: What are some of your goals for the future?NN: I am on track to graduate from University of California Berkeley with my triple major. Following this I will go to do an MD / PhD program where I will continue to do research in the above fields. At the same time I will be racing professionally on my mountain bike, still coaching youth athletes and inspiring others. TC: Anything else you'd like to share?NN: Get out, have fun, stay healthy and active. Be awesome!Thanks, Nitish! Best of luck in both your sports and your studies.Also - Check out Debbie's interview with Outdoor Nation Ambassador Emily Harrington on Play City. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21589 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21581 Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:03:44 GMT On March 27th, 2010 Jordan Dibb will be embarking on an 1,800 mile journey starting in Minneapolis, Minnesota and ending in Miami, Florida. He will be raising money and awareness for the people of Haiti who have just suffered one of the worst earthquakes ever recorded. The journey will span across 8 different states and will be completed in under a 100 days. I Walk For Love, the organization Jordan has created for this walk, has teamed up with ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, a nonprofit organization aimed at saving the lives of malnourished children and their families while ensuring access to safe water and sustainable solutions to hunger. Together, they have created the goal of raising at least $100,000 for the people of Haiti. Jordan hopes to not only raise donations, but help bring people from all over the world together using our one common connection - Love. This walk is about creating the difference you want to see in the world. I had a chance to interview Jordan and asked him about beef jerky, free hugs, and why walking to Miami is better than grabbing a Cinnabon at the Mall of America. Check it out. Ethan Austin: Tell us in your own words, how did this all come about? Jordan Dibb: Long story short, I had sent out over 1,200 resumes/applications to potential employers since I graduated from college last May and I was continually being told I didn't have enough experience for the job positions. Then the earthquake in Haiti hit and I decided I wanted to volunteer my energy and services that way. Again, I was told I didn't have enough experience (this time in "natural disaster volunteering"). After being denied a volunteer application, I asked the representative on the other end of the line how I could get down to Haiti to help and she simply replied, "You can always walk." and hung up. That's when I decided that I was going to do the one thing I was experienced enough to do, walk. I was really sick of being told I didn't know how to do this or I can't do that, so I took things into my own hands and now I'm just really excited that I have some purpose in my life... For a few months anyways. EA: Your walk is called I Walk For Love and you are trying to raise money for Haiti Relief. Have you ever thought about giving out free hugs along the way? Or perhaps you could offer the freemium version and then ask people if they want to upgrade to expensive hugs for $5 a piece. JD: Well, that's just a given. My hugs normally go for about $20, but for a limited of time only during the walk, I'm offering hugs for the great new price of $5! Or for free. Take your pick. I also give great high fives, handshakes, and fist pumps EA: The walk is going to be 1800 miles long and take 100 days. Why did you choose to go all the way to Miami? Couldn't you just have done like two laps around the Mall of America and it would have been pretty much the same distance? JD: I suppose I could have just done a few laps around the MOA and grabbed a Cinnabon when I finish... But, I really wanted to do something big. Something that took energy, time, determination, and all that jazz. Something I had never even come close to doing before. I grew up reading stories of Will Steger's expedition to the North Pole and always dreamed of doing something like that. While this walk isn't on the same level as that, it's a journey I've always wanted to make and now I'm very excited I have the opportunity to do it and for such a great cause as well. Miami is as close to Haiti as I can get by walking, plain and simple. EA: Okay, fair enough. But getting your butt out of Minnesota during the winter had to play into it just a little bit, right? JD: Well, I'll be the first to say I'm not the biggest fan of Minnesota Winter. The minute I graduated college last year I grabbed my stuff and moved out to San Diego, CA and loved it. Unfortunately, the job market was no better there and had to move back to Minnesnowta. Don't get me wrong, Minnesota is a great state and I love living here. But when the snow is falling, I keep finding myself asking, "Why do I live here?!" But, I am walking to Miami because it is as close to Haiti as I can walk. It s just a pleasant perk that it happens to be so nice and warm. EA: So what are you doing to train for this great walk-a-thon? JD: Walking. EA: Yeah, that makes sense. EA: Whenever I go on a road trip, I eat lots of beef jerky. This is kind of like a road trip. Are you bringing beef jerky? JD: This is kind of a road trip, I suppose. And like you, I always eat beef jerky on road trips. But I don't know about you, but for me, beef jerky never seems to sit so well in the ol' belly, so I may steer clear of the processed meet strips on my walk. Especially since I won't always have a restroom nearby. EA: You would if you did it in the Mall of America. EA: Why did you ask people to send you music on your website? What is the best song someone has sent you so far? JD: I'm going to be averaging 20 miles a day, which takes about 8 hours each day to complete. That's a lot of time to my own thoughts and I think having music with me will make it go by faster and keep me sane. I have always felt that music is great support system and it definitely pumps me up and keeps me moving. So, yeah, I'm asking people to suggest music for me to listen to. So far, the best song someone has recommended is "The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate" by mewithoutYou. It s a funny little song that will definitely give me something to think about while I walk. I'm game for any kind of music. If it gets your foot tapping, you can move mountains. EA: Are there any cities or sites along the way you are particularly looking forward to seeing? JD: I'm really excited to see the small towns that I'll be walking through. I grew up in a fairly small town and I really dig that kind of atmosphere. Where everybody knows your name. Isn't there a show about that? Anyways, I'm really jazzed for that. A few that I'm particularly looking forward to are Trempealeau, WI, downtown Chicago, Chattanooga, TN and every little beach town I walk through as I follow Florida's eastern coast. EA: Any last shoutouts to your peeps? JD: There are so many! I'm so blown away by the amount of support people are giving and I can't thank everyone enough for that! Just a few that have been very influential for the walk have been the local Rotary clubs, Action Against Hunger, Lord of Life church, my Facebook fans, and of course, my family and friends who have helped my little idea turn into reality. And of course Play City. Thanks guys! EA: Awesome, well I wish you the best of luck, amigo. *** You can folllow Jordan, suggest some music for his journey or send him a virtual high five at www.iwalkforlove.com http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21581 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21571 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:14:55 GMT While I was in Utah a few months ago, I discovered a very cool org called SOS Outreach that is all about "building character in youth through outdoor adventure..."SOS Outreach teaches youth about core values while they learn activities that they probably wouldn't be able to do/afford otherwise, ranging from snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, wilderness trips, summiting a mountain peak, teams ropes courses, and, hopefully for the first time this summer, mountain biking.
Here is Nathan Rodriguez, the SOS Community Relations Manager sitting down to explain SOS Outreach to us:- Tell us a little about S0S Outreach and what you're all about.SOS Outreach engages youth through outdoor and winter sports. This year, SOS Outreach will serve 4,500 youth in nine states, as well as Canada and New Zealand. We work closely with schools, teachers and youth agencies, which identify and register youth who will benefit most from our programs. A central component of SOS Outreach is a core value-based curriculum, and we offer single day, multi-day, and multi-year programs, the latter of which require participants to complete leadership training seminars and community service projects.

 - How did S0S Outreach start? What's the backstory?SOS Outreach was founded as the Snowboard Outreach Society by Arn Menconi and Ray Sforzo in Vail, Colorado, in December 1993. In the first year, with a budget of $40,000, 40 youth went snowboarding at Vail. The program expanded from that point to include skiing, and began programs at other mountains. As the program offerings expanded, the organization formally changed its name to SOS Outreach. In January 2009, SOS Outreach merged with Meet the Wilderness, a youth nonprofit that specialized in outdoor sports for four decades, and SOS Outreach now serves more than 1,500 youth in outdoor sports during the summer months, in addition to 3,000 youth through traditional winter sports programs.- How do youth get involved? As in, what kinds of kids and where?We work with teachers, schools and youth agencies to identify youth who will benefit most from our core value-based curriculum. The vast majority (approximately two-thirds) of our students otherwise would not be able to afford a similar experience. 


- What would a typical single day S0S outreach look like?While there are certain basic elements of all SOS Outreach programs, it is difficult to provide a singular example of a typical day. Our single-day and multi-day programs involve mostly on-hill activities, and youth will gather in a circle ( Circle of Love ) at the beginning and end of the day to discuss what the core value of the day means to them, and they often use examples they witnessed that day. Our multi-year University program involves similar components but adds a great deal of off-hill days in which students will research an issue troubling their community, and create a project that addresses that issue. They also participate in leadership seminars and service days where students perform community service work as a group.


Read Drew Vesey's SOS blog entry on his definitions of the core values of a five day program to get an idea (Day 1: Courage, Day 2: Discipline, Day 3: Integrity, Day 4: Wisdom, Day 5: Compassion) - How would you say S0S helps/inspires youth to make positive
decisions in their lives?The ratio of students to adult mentors is approximately 3.5 to 1 (or better) across all our programs. This ensures youth have close interactions with their adult mentor. Further, many SOS Outreach programs are multi-day and multi-year, and youth always have the same mentor in the multi-day programs, and many times will have the same adult mentor for the duration of the multi-year programs. Many participants have a dearth of positive adult role models in their daily life, so the exhilaration of outdoor and winter sports in a positive, nurturing environment proves to be a life-changing experience for a great number of participants. As students progress through the curriculum from a single-day experience, to the multi-day program, to the University program, they transition from receiving services to providing them for others. They learn the value of giving back to the community, and dozens of SOS Outreach graduates have chosen to return as junior mentors for younger students in the program.


- What is the role of the "sherpa"? Who is the sherpa? SOS Outreach has Sherpas as well as Junior Sherpas. Sherpas are the adult mentors for the program. Junior Sherpas are older students who are given leadership responsibilities for a group, and work directly with Sherpas. The Junior Sherpas have proven to be a tremendous asset for our programs, as younger students are able to look up to them for guidance, and all Junior Sherpas have had the experience of being new to the program, and can offer unique insight and inspiration to younger participants.- If a young person wants to get involved, what do they do?Have a parent or teacher contact SOS Outreach about organizing a trip. We operate at 40 mountains across the United States, as well as Canada and New Zealand, and may either have a program up and running, or would need to clear a few obstacles to make it happen. - If a person is really into a particular outdoor sport, is there a
way for him/her to be involved with what S0S does? What about how the rest of us can help?SOS Outreach is always looking for volunteers and donations. Approximately 1,000 people will volunteer for us each year, and this ranges from on-hill program days to specific community service projects. Of course, if someone has gently-used equipment or clothing they d like to donate to an SOS Outreach program, it s tax deductible, and goes directly to help us support and expand our programs. Individuals can email us at sos@sosoutreach.org or call 970.926.9292.We re always looking for volunteers and donations. You can also help us spread the love by hopping on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube tell your friends about us. Thanks Nathan! A great org that has great programs for youth that help them learn to more than just how to snowboard, but how to make positive decisions with their lives.You can read all about SOS on their site and corresponding blog with very cool entries from youth participants, or look them up on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21571 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21538 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:41:15 GMT Outdoor Nation is a network for outdoor lovers to come together, share their experiences, and take action! It is a movement to celebrate the love for the outdoors, and to encourage more people to get out.Emily Harrington, an Ambassador for Outdoor Nation, has been climbing for 10 years. She was the 2nd female American to climb 5.14b. (I had to look up what that meant and learned that "as of 2008, the hardest climbing routes IN THE WORLD are grade 5.15b" wiki). She was the 2006 Female Climber of the Year, and is the ONLY American (male or female) placing in the top five on the World Cup circuit!! I got a chance to interview her and find out a little about what drives her and how we can all work together to become an Outdoor Nation.Photo by John EvansTell me about Outdoor Nation and what they are doing to encourage a passion for the outdoors in young people....Outdoor National is an active community of youth ambassadors and outdoor organizations dedicated to inspiring and motivating this nation's youth to get outside and take advantage of the outdoor environment. Outdoor Nation's goal is to mobilize the youth, and they are doing this by reaching out in several ways: Hosting Youth Summit events, working closely with Outdoor companies on their impact within the younger demographic, and speaking out in Washington to influence federal and state outdoor programs are a few of the main initiatives Outdoor Nation has already put into motion in order to inspire and motivate today's young people. How did you become an Outdoor Nation Ambassador and what does it entail?I was recommended by one of my sponsors, The North Face (one of the coalition partners of Outdoor Nation), and I gladly accepted the challenge. Our mission is to represent and promote the outdoor community and share our experiences with young people, so that they can relate to us and be inspired to take some action of their own. We attend events to help promote the organization and represent the youth; we help come up with strategies to create a stronger foundation and community; and participate in social networking to spread the word (i.e. Facebook, the Outdoor Nation website, etc). From reading your bio, you started climbing really young! Were your parents big outdoors enthusiasts?? Yes, from an early age my parents took me to the mountains to ski and hike. I was also always into climbing: trees, buildings, playground apparatuses, etc. They finally took me to a climbing gym to harness all that energy in a safer way (I fell out of a tree and broke my arm when I was 7). Things just took off from there. It seems that, these days, not too many people are lucky enough to be born into families that encourage love for the outdoors. How can we, as a community of activists, hope to change that? Outdoor Nation is a great start and a huge step toward influencing both children and their parents to take charge and be active participants in the outdoors. We need to instill a certain set of values within the youth of today that are currently absent and encourage parents to teach their children these values as well. Love and appreciation for the outdoors, respect and concern for the state of the environment, and a healthy lifestyle image are all key ingredients to creating a true "Outdoor Nation". Female Climber of the Year, Outdoor Idol, the 2nd female American to climb 5.14b, and the only American placing top five on the World Cup circuit!!!! (among many other impressive achievements) wow! What drives you??I love climbing. I always have, but I would be lying if I said I am always motivated and driven to climb hard and train all the time. I DO get tired and frustrated and unmotivated. The key to succeeding in anything is to know when you are close to burning out and to take a step back and try to balance yourself. It is impossible to go nonstop and be the best all the time. There are peaks and valleys with everything and in order to achieve long-term success, you need to learn to embrace the entire journey. Also, It is important to never lose sight of why you loved something in the beginning. We all get wrapped up in our own goals and the idea of success, but it's why you start that is the most important thing to remember. I try to not forget these things, and it helps me stay balanced and be OK with not always being at the top. What keeps you going? I have found something that enjoy immensely and allows me to express myself physically and emotionally. Climbing has become who I am as a person. It inspires me and allows me to work harder and push myself further. I also read in yr bio that you graduated with an International Affairs degree (Magna Cum Laude!) What are you planning to do next? I am currently traveling and climbing all over the world. This is enough for me for right now and I hope to continue this lifestyle for as long as I can. I want to continue to push myself and to inspire others along the way. Thanks so much for your time! and for setting such a great example!Find out more at www.outdoornation.org/ http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21538 http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21479 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:37:36 GMT As you might have heard by now, Canada beat the USA after overtime in the final Olympic competition of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics - in Hockey. The Olympics are now over. One piece of headline news has eclipsed the Olympics - on a more sobering note, we've all probably heard by now, and are starting to see images pouring in of Chile, having just suffered a massive level 8.8 earthquake. While bigger quakes don't necessarily mean bigger damage (depends on other factors too, like underwater topography for example) the damage has still taken over 100 lives and millions of dollars in damage, leaving thousands homeless. (I'm not exactly sure what the toll is, as no official number has come from the Chilean government thusfar).Right: Quake epicenter from CIA world factbookChile sent three atheletes to the Olympics this year: Jorge Mandru, Maui Gayme, and Noelle Barahona. Noelle, perhaps the most promising new athlete, finished number 28 in the super-combined Alpine skiing category. Barahona is from Santiago, the closest of the Olympians to the epicenter of the earthquake (some 200 miles away). All three were anxious to get home, and therefore had planned to skip the closing ceremonies:When they couldn't get flights back to Chile, Jorge and Maui both opted to leave for France and Seattle. Noelle decided to stay in Vancouver and represent Chile in the Closing Ceremonies, inspiring many Chileans in Vancouver to cheer for their athlete and feel united in a time of relative crisis. While I'm still not exactly sure why Jorge and Maui did not stay, I am so glad that Barahona stayed to walk with her country's flag in the Closing Ceremonies. Noelle on giant slalom - AP photoHere's an interesting transcript of Barahona with Larry King on CNN:BARAHONA: Our flight right now is scheduled for March 4th. So the closing ceremony is tomorrow, so I will be walking behind the flag tomorrow. KING: Have you heard from family and friends in Chile? BARAHONA: My family, my parents are here right now, because they came to watch my races. So thank God they're all right. The rest of my family is fine. My house is still standing with some minor damage. My family home, the roof fell. And some walls are on the floor, too, because it was a really old house. But there were no injured in my family, thank God. KING: Have you experienced an earthquake? BARAHONA: I was in Chile during the 2005 earthquake that hit the north of Chile. It wasn't half as bad as this one. There was eight dead people. So I have heard that this one was very, very strong and it was felt very hard. KING: But, Noelle, you are telling us that the Chilean Olympic team will be in the parade tomorrow night in the final ceremony? BARAHONA: The two boys that were here for alpine skiing as well have already left. One went to France and the other went to Canada with his family. I am going to be the only athlete walking in the closing ceremony. And my coach is going to be there as well, and the president of the team. In addition to the Closing Ceremonies being much more positive than the Opening, I was moved to watch Barahona in the crowd with the Chilean flag. As Chilean Olympic spokesman Luis Alberto Santa Cruz said, "The solidarity we have felt right away has made a great impression." And I think he's right. By the way, if you feel like doing something for Chileans suffering from the massive quake, you can always donate to the Chilean Red Cross (@CruzRojainforma on twitter), Habitat for Humanity who are helping create temp homes there, or the Salvation Army's 100% direct Chile Earthquake Relief Fund. It's hard to raise money for something in the wake of a massive campaign like the one for Haiti, but we'll see what happens. http://www.youthnoise.com/playcity/blog/view/21479