“PlanetExplore is an online community designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. Powered by partner organizations that share our passion, PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to develop the benefits gained through a connection to nature..” -www.planetexplore.com

On Saturday, February 13th, 2010, in New York City, The North Face (TNF) combined efforts with The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to host the first regional event for PlanetExplore. Through the collaborative work of several volunteers groups, as well as these two aforementioned companies, the youth of the area had the opportunity to experience the outdoors in their own backyard via an all-day outdoors program.

The launch event was called the “Winter Warm-Up” and set up in Swindler’s Cove on the Northern end of the island. Activities included hiking, fishing, photos in Himalayan suits with an Everest back-drop, a variety of games and gear stations, hot chocolate & soup & smores, fun with insects and reptiles, athlete poster signings, prizes & giveaways, and much more.

Arriving in NYC on Friday afternoon, I met up with fellow TNF athletes, Heidi Wirtz (climber) and Tim Twietmeyer (enduro runner), to assist the PlanetExplore team with both the activities and the area outreach. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of organizers that include Brook Shinsky (TNF), Akiima Price (NYRP), the Aloft Group, and many more on-site staff, our team met some amazing young people, along with great volunteers and other friendly faces.

My personal role was to assist with the Himalayan Photo Booth, and I found myself giggling most of the day while pulling participants in and out of their Himalayan climbing suits and observing their pure joy at being photographed in front of the tallest mountain in the world- Everest (with a photo each person got to keep!)

It was delightful to engage in conversation with the variety of participants about mountain climbing, skiing, and travel, and to see their eyes light up with the hope of great adventure in their futures. I, too, grew up in NYC and had dreamed about one day living and playing in the mountains, and it felt great to share my successful transition from NYC to Telluride, CO, with many other options in between, with these bright and hopeful faces.

The goal to introduce the children and their families to the elements of the outdoors that exist within their own neighborhoods, while exposing them to the many opportunities that exist for them- even in NYC, was met with great success. For PlanetExplore and its visionaries, the kick-off was an inspiring start to many more events that they hope to spearhead across the nation this year.
For more information: www.planetexplore.com and www.nyrp.com