Summer is officially here but that doesn’t mean the Tubbs community stops doing what they do best; getting outside! This month we’d like to highlight our amazing ambassadors, who donate their time, equipment, money, or support to helping their outdoor community.
Read from our ambassadors about how they act as models of service in their area!
From Tim, Backcountry Ambassador
JT’s Bikes for Kids, working with Volunteers of America-Minnesota case managers, has provided new bikes, helmets and locks for kids who may otherwise go without. “It’s a means for children to gain greater independence and self-reliance, foster a sense of inclusion and reach a higher level of physical and emotional well being,” said Tim Taylor, who founded JT’s Bikes for Kids, along with his wife Trina. The organization is a memorial to Tim’s father John Taylor, who died in 2008 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2016 with the help of many selecting the right size, color and style we delivered 20 bikes to children for Christmas, including one special needs adult tricycle.
https://www.givemn.org/project/jts-bikes-for-kids56e96c5080e65
From Sheila, Day Hiking Ambassador
I am on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Green River reservoir, a volunteer organization that has the mission of protecting the wilderness-like character and wildlife habitat of Green River Reservoir State Park; in this capacity, I am involved in Loon Monitoring and Loon Counts, making observations and submitting data to eBird.org and iNaturalist.org, community education on Leave No Trace while paddling and camping, and am also responsible for the membership renewal database. The photos are of me at Green River, my favorite summer place!
I am also on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Waterbury Reservoir, a similar, though newer, organization. I am secretary for this group, and participate in Green Up Day ( litter clean up) activities on and around the water, and work on public education and social media communications.
I have volunteered for the North American Safe Boating Campaign, conducting surveys,and promoting the use of PFDs. I share this message during our presentations at the New England Paddlesports show, where my husband and I give seminars on safe paddling with your dog, and on responsible canoe camping with your dog.
I am an active member of the Green Mountain Club; Northeast Kingdom section, as well as of the Catamount Trail Association. For those organizations, I help out with trail maintenance and monitoring.
From Kathy, Day Hiking Ambassador
I love the outdoors and try to spend as much time as possible backpacking, hiking/snowshoeing, camping and fishing. I know safety and enjoyment of the outdoors depends partly on the gear I use and I depend on other people’s opinions and reviews when buying new gear.
To that end, my husband and I run a volunteer organization called BackpackGearTest.org (BGT) where 30 to 45 people all over the United States, Canada and (a couple in) Australia, use, evaluate and publish very, very detailed reports on products from socks and boots to sleeping bags and tents. Since we accept no advertising, our reports are unbiased – we report the good, the bad and the ugly!
Twice a year, our Outdoor Retailer (OR) Show team travels to the nation’s largest outdoor trade show to meet with manufacturers to solicit everything new and improved for BGTers to try out.
It’s a lot of work, managing BGT but I love when I get an e-mail from someone who thanks BGT for providing this service.
From Jen, Kids/Family Ambassador
My wife Kendra is the advisor to the Outdoor Adventure Club at an inner-city high school outside of Boston. I started the club in 2011, and Kendra took over in 2014. There are over 180 members of this awesomely diverse club. We partner with the Appalachian Mountain Club for gear and support, though between the two of us, Kendra and I have created an incredible gear closet for the club. We have taken the kids on day hikes, overnight snowshoeing trips, canoeing, orienteering, adventure park excursions, and more! Tubbs has helped us out more than once by lending snowshoes for our winter trip!
Do you have an outdoor project you’d like to show off? Tell us on social media (@tubbssnowshoes) and we’ll give you a shout-out!