Hello kind krafters!
Hope you are all enjoying the summer and making time for rest, relaxation, and fun! This past long weekend I headed off to Cape Breton Highlands National Park for a three-day camping trip. One big thing on my bucket list is to visit every Canadian National Park by the time I turn 30. At 21, I still have many to go, but Cape Breton was certainly one of my favorites so far. 

The trip almost never happened, primarily because with no friends or family able or interested in going, I was faced with the option of go alone or not at all. The idea of camping alone was a little daunting, for myself and my concerned family. But, I didn’t want the fear of being alone to stop me from doing something exciting. So, I spent a few days planning and prepping, making sure I had everything I would need to be well fed, warm, and safe. And you know what? It was an awesome trip! Being alone meant I could do what I wanted when I wanted, which lead to a lot of early morning back to back hikes, and late afternoon reading breaks. I was prepared with pocket knifes for protection, and opted out of hikes through coyote territory where I felt unsafe all by myself. I even brought my little dog Molly along with me as a companion. All in all the trip was enjoyable and eye opening as to what I am capable of and reality that saying no to an opportunity because no one else will go or do it with you, doesn’t have to be the only option. Below are 15 things I learned camping alone in the highlands, with a few tips I’d like to pass along to all of you kind krafters!

1.     You can start a fire, it might be slow and you’ll might use a lot of matches, but yes you can do it. Kindly neighbours with lighter fluid are also helpful.
2.    Most of your portable chargers will probably die before you actually need them to sustain your google maps guided homeward drive. Remember your car charger.
3.      Dogs make good companions, but will demand to sample all of your human foods.
4.    You will likely never regret bringing a toque and baselayers, you might even wear    them to bed under piles of fleece, your mummy sleeping bag, and two blankets. 

5.     Don't forget dish soap. You can probably forget a bathing suit and shorts.
6.     Dogs make good heat packs at 5am in the morning.
7.     Audiobooks make great driving companions, but make sure your chargers work.
8.     Always have a knife in your pocket. Your Mom will be thankful. Mini machete sized                              saw optional.
9.     Packable coffee French press thermos. I think this one speaks for itself.
10.   It’s not weird to camp alone, don’t let anyone tell you that. 

11.    Eggs scrambled in butter on top of biscuits is the best camp breakfast.
12.    Always bring a tarp, some rope, and lots of bungee cords. They’ll keep you and your tent dry.
13.   Collect your kindling, twigs, firewood, and rocks to keep your tent corners weighted down when it’s still light out.
14.   Always pack a headlamp, they’re helpful in most situations.
15.  You are always much more capable and much stronger than you think. Don’t sell yourself short, trust in your abilities and preparation. 

Seriously, kind krafters, you can do anything you set your mind to, and being alone doesn’t have to stop you. I challenge you all to trust more in yourselves, in your strengths and abilities. Find something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t. Prepare, research, plan appropriately and do it! I believe in you all, and hope you’ll share some of your fearless experiences with me!
 
Stay Kind,
Niki 💙

Hello kind krafters!
 
Are you making time for your free time?!
 
Working full time is definitely keeping me busy, so much so that I try to pack my evenings full of new adventures and activities to ensure I am still getting my daily dose of leisure!  I am not sure if you folks are feeling the same way, but sometimes it feels like there is not enough hours in the day! Although it can be challenging at times, it is so important to make time for yourself! There are so many health benefits that come from taking the time to do what you like and like what you do! I try to schedule at least 1hr of “me time” into each day to do an activity that brings me joy. I encourage you to try it- I found it made such a great difference in my day.

My free time is working towards my future professional tool kit!
​
Since studying therapeutic recreation, I realized how important it is to be well practiced in a number of different leisure activities. By expanding the number of activities I am knowledgeable in, I will one day be able to deliver treatment that is meaningful and tailored to a client’s leisure preference, no matter what that may be. 

Meet Dan!

This year my boyfriend, Dan introduced me to skateboarding culture. He taught me about the history, the style, and the mechanics of skateboarding. His passion for skateboarding is intriguing. I had always thought of skateboarding as a means of transportation, until Dan showed me that there is so much more to skateboarding. When Dan speaks about skateboarding his face lights up and now I can see why. This blog is inspired by Dan’s kindness and patience in teaching me how to skateboard, and the friendly community he has introduced me to.

Learning something new- because why not?!
​
Dan started my skateboarding education by showing me movies and video clips last summer. These clips highlighted the skillful talent of the most renowned skateboarders in history.  After watching a few clips it was interesting to see the reason why skateboarders began skating. For some, it was an escape, for others it was the adrenaline rush, but each person who skated did it because they loved it. The passion skaters have for being on their boards captivates me. Their level of fluidity and art in their movement is a pleasure to watch. Each skater has their unique style on the board.
It was no surprise, that after watching these movies and clips I was ready to start learning! I wanted to experience that feeling of being completely present on a board- having a flow experience. Dan started to teach me skateboarding last summer. For me, it was scarier and harder than it looked in the video clips. Rolling of a little curb was equivalent to a cliff in my eyes, a twig was a roadblock, and a stone was a death trap. I discovered that my fearful thoughts were preventing me from advancing on the board. With Dan’s encouragement and advice, it made me realize that skateboarding would be a great treatment modality for adventure therapy- pushing someone outside their comfort zone with calculated risks so they can advance and overcome challenges in their everyday life. Skateboarding teaches strong coping skills and resiliency. Dan’s advice to be confident and comfortable on the board made a big difference in my performance and progress.

My experience- no skateboarding stigmas!

Dan brings me to a park in Dundas. This park has a circular layout, filled with a playground, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, a splash pad, and an outdoor rink. This park is popular spot for all ages. I was a little nervous to skate there at first since it is a quiet, family park and I felt that I would be disturbing those around me. I was pleasantly surprised with the interaction of those around us when we were skateboarding. Drivers were courteous and patient, peopling walking and biking around the park were encouraging and polite. This reaction surprised me since skateboarding used to be viewed as a deviant leisure activity and I felt that more people would have been against us skateboarding in the park. It has been fun and smiles all around thus far!  Each time we go to skate there it is a great experience and I am grateful for that.

Call to action!

I want to hear what you are trying that is new to you! What are you going to try this summer that is outside your comfort zone? Do you know someone who is already passionate about it that can help you get to where you want to be? Share your stories in the comment section or reach out to me via social media!
 
PS. Stay kind to skaters :) Peace, love and happiness!
 
Stay kind,
 
Annie

Hello kind krafters! I hope you’re all doing well, and for those of you who are students, enjoying the post University exam season! For me finishing exams means a number of things. The start of a four month summer and a nice break from spending my weekdays in classrooms is a particular favorite. The end of exam season for me also means the start of full time working hours at a retail and wholesale industry shop here in Halifax, called Murphy Gear. For the past four summers this has been how I’ve spent my time; work most of the week, play in the outdoors on my off time, and volunteer whenever I can.
            This year I decided to change it up a bit, and added in an Internship, completed as an elective through the College of Sustainability at Dalhousie. I’m not one to enjoy spending my summer days inside a classroom, so I knew my internship would have to involve some outdoor work and lots of playtime in the natural world. Enjoying physical activity, being an avid hiker, and wanting to find a way to promote greater accessibility and community awareness of outdoor recreation opportunities in Halifax, a hiking related project was my natural choice. 

​            Nova Scotia is a beautiful province, and the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) (where I live) has an incredible amount of natural beauty for its inhabitants to experience and enjoy. In the HRM alone there are over 70 hiking, walking, biking, and multi-purpose trails. But, we lack a comprehensive database and resource for accessing information about these trails. This creates a big problem of accessibility, because without accurate and clear information, community members who are inexperienced or new to outdoor recreation such as hiking, do not have adequate support for engaging with the natural world. A lack of up to date information also results in safety risks, as it does not provide visitors, new or highly experienced, the tools to enjoy the outdoors safely. If you’re not sure how long a trail is, it’s difficult to know how much water and food to pack. If you’re not sure of parking locations near the trail, you may be deterred by the unknown risk of having your vehicle towed while you’re in the woods. And if you’re new to hiking and want to spend more time outdoors, inaccurate and unclear information can lead to unpleasant or dangerous experiences, and sadly deter away from future adventures. This is a problem, and an issue I passionately want to tackle. 

​I decided that the most accessible way to get accurate and clear trail information to interested community members was an app; easy, simple, accessible, and likely to connect a wide variety of people. At first I wanted to collect all the data and make my own app with the help of informatics students at Dalhousie. But then I was introduced by a friend to the AllTrails app and their global trail database. AllTrails was easy, clear, and as its descriptions and maps were linked and followed by users, it was mostly accurate. But, despite many merits, the app was global, meaning some trails here in the HRM were missing, and some needed updating. Descriptions which clearly identified wheelchair accessibility, length, rating, and parking information were also needed for greater accessibility and success.
            So, I emailed AllTrails, and before I knew it I was signed up with the College of Sustainability for a summer internship with AllTrails as their HRM Trail Auditor and Advisor. That’s a fancy title that pretty much means I get to spend my free time hiking all the trails in the HRM, taking relevant notes, and mapping my route. After that I take my data and format it into a coherent and clear description and accurate map, and upload it to the AllTrails database. Part of my work also looks at checking each trail already in the database for the HRM, and making sure the information and maps are up to date. So, in other words, I’m hiking for school credit. 

​So far I’ve uploaded my data for the Musquodoboit Trail System near Halifax, which consists of one long railway trail and 5 backcountry trails. I have to tell you it feels pretty amazing to have my trail descriptions up on a globally viewed and accessed database. Even better, I’m doing something I absolutely love, getting to spend my time meaningfully working in the natural world, and pursuing a passion of connecting my community here in the HRM with nature and outdoor recreation. In short, I’m following my dreams.
            I challenge you all to never forget that following your dreams is a possibility. If you can think it, you can do it. I encourage you to take one step, no matter how big or how small, to achieving something you have always wanted, whether that be a project, a job, an activity, a goal, or a pursuit for the world’s greatest chocolate chip cookie.
AND reach out to me on social media, or comment on here and let me know what you’re doing, what you’re passionate about, what your dreams are, and how I can help support you to make them a reality!
And if you’re pursuing that chocolate chip cookie goal, I volunteer my services as lead taste tester. 

​I finally made it home - I don’t know about you folks but those exams felt never ending! I am thrilled to be home - I have been reunited with lots of the people I have missed over the school year (not to mention my dog too!) I started this summer jumping back into work! For those of you still getting to know me, I am a workaholic! I returned to my previous summer job, working at a pool company in Burlington, Ontario called Mirage Pool and Spa. 

​Upon my return, I was stoked to hear that Mirage Pool and Spa had visions of getting more involved with our local community. To kick off the season our team held a Spring Sale April 29th and 30th. At this event, we were selling raffle tickets for pool prizes, where 100% of the proceeds went to support the Halton Women’s Place - an organization providing shelter and crisis services for physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused women and their dependent children and is dedicated to ending violence against women and their children.

Despite some unanticipated weather set backs, we had a great turn out! With a jumpy castle on site and a fired up BBQ, families from all over the city came out to support us. It was amazing to see the support from all ages in the community. By the end of the event, Mirage Pool and Spa donated a $600 cheque from the profits of the raffles and $1900 in prizes for the cause! I couldn’t wait to write this blog. I mean- I just got home and there is already so much positivity! 

For more information on the Halton Women’s Place, and ways to get involved click this link: http://haltonwomensplace.com/contact-us/volunteering/
For more information and pictures of the Mirage Pool and Spa event check out the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Mirage-Pool-Spa-304187103022890/

Mirage is excited to continue its involvement and support with this organization and more to come! I have to say I am grateful I have the opportunity to see the goodness in my community at home, at school, and at work. 

I encourage those of you who are reading to try and see the goodness in your environments! Your volunteer work is not limited to outside those settings! I invite you all to reach out if you would like advice on how to bring volunteer opportunities to your workplace- I would love to help. If you are currently supporting an organization and/or cause I would love to hear about it! Comment on this blog post or reach out to me via social media. ​

What a wonderful world we live in! Excited for all the new opportunities this summer will hold.
 
Much gratitude,
 
Annie

Hey everyone!
            Hope you all are well, and have been enjoying sunny spring weather as we’ve had here in Halifax the past few days! Sunshine and warmer weather for me means spending as much free time as I can being outside and enjoying nature. It’s also that time of year when outside volunteer projects cross my path. This past weekend I helped to organize and participate in an annual Shorelines Clean Up Party at the Living Shoreline in Halifax. 

           Here in Nova Scotia we’re coastal people; drive 15-20 minutes in any direction and you’ll hit the ocean. While this proximity means a plethora of pretty sunset views and water sport adventures, it also makes our seaside province highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as increased sea level rise.
            Living Shorelines are a natural mechanism for coastal protection, using plants and other natural materials to help stabilize the shore. Stabilization improves coastal health, fortifies the ecosystem, and provides habitat for local wildlife. 
​            Living Shorelines works with nature to protect nature!

            In Halifax, a company called Helping Nature Heal (HNH), has taken these concepts of natural adaptation and ecological landscaping techniques to create a living shoreline on the Northwest Arm, at St. Mary’s Boat Club. Partnering with HNH and the Ecology Action Centre Coastal and Water team, I was one of a number of volunteers who helped organize this year’s Shoreline Clean Up Party.
            This past Saturday April 29th we gathered at the site, along with a group of 35 amazing volunteers, to reinforce and revamp the existing site. Hard working volunteers, led by the HNH crew, gathered seaweed, sticks, and debris from the shoreline and used it to reinforce and fortify the shoreline. Another group planted willow trees along the shore to act as natural buffers. Volunteers also worked on mulching around the grassy area and set-up new stakes for measuring to collect erosion data.

The event engaged volunteers and community members with natural adaptation techniques and ways to use the natural world around them to fortify and protect against climate change. For myself, it also allowed me to spend a day outside, getting dirty and working hard to protect my home from the threats of climate change. It is sometimes easy to shrug off climate change, especially when the impacts are not immediately visible or threatening to you on a daily basis. Events such as these help to make everyone aware of the potential impacts, while also teaching everyone that they can and should have a role in helping to protect the planet. 

              Everyone has a part to play, big or small, in protecting the planet and making it a better place. Getting involved is easy, and as I found with this event, can be fun and engaging! I challenge you all to find a way to get involved in protecting your local community for climate impacts!
          If you live in a coastal community, participate in a beach clean-up or look into natural adaptation techniques. Organize an event or info session if you can’t find any!
            If you’re in Halifax connect with me to learn more about the Living Shoreline and get involved!

Until next time,
Stay Kind 💙
Niki
 
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