WILD

OK -- so a new "side" to the website is starting to evolve...

In addition to documenting our WILD adventures, I have decided to start trying to capture on a map many of our local adventuring possibilities for kids. I'll tie in reviews and all later.

Remember -- I am only starting and will continue to add more -- but for now here is the shell of a Google Map with points of interest on it.

**Coming soon** -- I will add links to reviews and photos and trip planners to help folks decide if they want to get the kids outside.

Oh -- if there are any real web designers/developers out there who would be prepared to spend a wee bit of time helping me out with some of this (that is -- to help it become more of a real community), please drop me a mail at wildportland [AT] gmail.com
THANKS!

Posted by ronanmc at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

A photo taken on our adventure in the forest today with Portland Impact.

We scrambled around creek beds, climbed over logs, sought out salamanders and had plain, old fun.

 Oh... and we got our good shoes dirty too.

Posted by ronanmc at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Summer Equinox saw WILD lead a bunch of "Devilish Pirates" on a treasure hunting mission around Mount Tabor.

We climbed over logs, slid down hills, whacked through some bushes and generally had a great time.

We managed to find three geocaches too!! The kids were all fantastic -- they took to the fun really quickly, worked well as a team and were not afraid (at all) of slipping and sliding in the dirt.
All in the name of treasure!
Here is the merry band of "Devilish Pirates":

Posted by ronanmc at 03:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nope -- we haven't vanished.... There have in fact, been many things keeping us occupied... As a brief overview -- here are some photos of a recent adventure out the gorge....

Posted by ronanmc at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So we had a great adventure up around the Hoyt Arboretum and the magnolia tree grove. The trees had progressed a little from our last visit there -- but there still is a wonderful amount of blossoms to come!

A great group of us from NCCDC ventured up amidst the rain and clouds to dash around the magnolia grove for a treasure hunt, followed by a hike along the muddied Wildwood trail down to the playground down by the Rose garden.

The kids had a blast searching amidst the trees for the "magic yellow grass" around the trees which held a treasure. Look closely now! 

 Even someone else out for a stroll with her father managed to find one and take one home!

After this the kids tore off down the muds of Wildwood, past the Japanese Gardens, past the trilliums in full bloom and down to a picnic beside the playground. A great day for Portland's Young Adventurers!

Posted by ronanmc at 08:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

In preparation for our planned treasure hunt next week (see our calendar for details), I took a visit to check on our old friends the magnolia trees up at the Arboretum in Washington Park.

And they are just ready to come out in full bloom (should be a fun adventure):

Posted by ronanmc at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK -- so now we have a website that is at least somewhat functional (I'll do some stuff with the donate links later on, I promise).. at least now I can start to focus on other areas of setting this up.

So where to form here?

At this point there are three main areas of focus:

1. Get the word out there and start planning adventures. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events -- although at this early stage (embryonic in fact), I'd imagine a lot of our early events will be kept to invitation only because of the overwhelming demand.
   There is, also, a little issue of insurance -- which is expensive. That leads me right to bullet number two.
2. Start meeting with folks in the Portland business and non-profit community who can maybe help me with contacts and potentially help me identify where I can raise some initial funding to help get WILD to the next stage. Funding would be used for legal fees, marketing and branding, equipment and, of course, insurance.
3. I need to start working on grants too.

Watch out world -- here comes WILD!

Posted by ronanmc at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)