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- EARTHFEST -SAFEHAVEN - HI-MARTHA'S VINEYARD 50TH B-DAY
CELEBRATION -
FIELDTRIP TO CORNWALL |
Springtime at the ENEC office is usually an incredibly
busy time. The Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket hostels are getting
ready to open anyday now, the auditors are coming to scrutinize our financial
records, online reservations are pouring in, budget travel workshops are being
planned and grant application deadlines are approaching. Two
weeks ago, while coming home from a stimulating vacation in Morocco, I found
myself stuck at Heathrow for six hours because of flight cancellations. Thank
goodness for iPods and Dan Brown, but still! Six hours of forced waiting around
made me slow down and reflect about this spring's activities - Earthfest
celebration on the Charles River Esplanade, Camp Safehaven, the annual
camp that takes place at the Vineyard Hostel for kids who are HIV+, and the brave
travels and teachings of John Francis, our guest speaker for Martha's Vineyard's
50th Birthday celebration. I probably
didn't think so at the time, but looking back, I'm glad I had the time to slow
down and reflect on what's going on around us this April and May. Although
I wouldn't wish six hours of stale airport air on anyone, I do hope you make
the time to enjoy this spring.
- The 12th annual, WBOS Earthfest on April 30th
at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River esplanade is a great opportunity to check
out Earth friendly products, Earth friendly organizations, and see free live concerts.
Hopefully I'll be able to tear myself away from the hostels, because there are
many booths, displays, vendors and people that are interesting and fun to mingle
with.
Look for our booth and don't
miss out on our raffle for a free stay at our hostel on Martha's Vineyard. If
you'd like to volunteer with us at Earthfest, please contact Jonathan Harada at
617-779-0900 x17 or programs@usahostels.org
- On the Vineyard, the hostel will
be transformed into Camp Safehaven once again, thanks to Tony Lombardi, David
Butler, and many volunteers and donors. For one week, kids of all ages get a chance
to experience a summer camp extravaganza despite their illlness. On April 23rd,
the hostel opens to the public for the season.
- In
May, Hostelling International - Martha's Vineyard will turn 50! Lots
of celebrations are planned, but the star of the show - besides the hostel of
course, will be our invited guest speaker, artist, walker, thinker and
United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, - John Francis.
Founder
of PlanetWalk, a nonprofit environmental education organization, Francis travels
around the world speaking on pilgrimage and change, and on Planetlines, an environmental
studies curriculum based on the walking pilgrimage, which he is developing for
high schools and universities.. Francis has walked more than 20,000 miles
and sailed around the world to promote peace and environmental stewardship. If
that is not enough for any one person to accomplish, he did most of this with
a vow of silence, not talking for seventeen years. Don't
miss the May 20 and 21 birthday celebration at the hostel....more information
will be sent out, as well as being posted on the Cape and Islands hostels website,
www.capecodhostels.org |
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Every month, FOOTNOTES takes a virtual field trip to
a hostel. This month takes us to Cornwall in the British countryside, where
Monroe Sheppard, new manager of the Martha's Vineyard Hostel, lived for three
years while working as an ethno-botanical curator. You'll have to visit the Vineyard
to ask him what exactly, that means! The Hostelling International-Lizard
was formerly a Victorian hotel acquired by the National Trust to preserve
and protect this most unique location. This newly restored building now offers
first-class facilities and has stunning views out to sea over Lizard Point. Almost
the most southerly building in England, it provides a superb base for exploring
the spectacular coastline of this historic peninsula. This 30 bed hostel is ideal
for families and walkers, and is wheelchair accessible. Contact this friendly
hostel at lizard@yha.org.uk
Hostelling International USA, Eastern New England
Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing cultural interchange
by facilitating worldwide travel.
Who
We Are | HI-USA, Eastern New England Council
1105 Commonwealth
Avenue
Boston MA 02215 USA
www.usahostels.org | |
