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Red Sox Tickets Donated Posted 4/17/10
You get what you ask for. (Well at least your chances are much higher.) I met a sponsor of the Red Sox about 7 weeks ago and in our 3 minute conversation told him about SWA, our trip to Boston this summer and our goal of going to a Red Sox game. I received a call yesterday from Frank letting me know there will be ticke...ts at Will Call for us Aug. 4th. Thank you Frank! Bryan
Lonza Rockland Inc Raises Funds Posted 4/15/10
Great News! Lonza Rockland Inc. in Rockland, Maine held its 10th annual Cabin Fever Reliever event in which employees raise money for charities and SWA was just notified that they raised almost $1,300 for us. We will be accepting a check and giving a talk in Rockland on 4/21. Thank you. Read more at: http://knox.villagesoup.com/place/story/316020
Your Vote Counts! Posted 1/27/10
Bangor Savings Bank is hosting a "Community Matters More" grant program. The award is for $5,000 and the winner is determined solely by the votes of Maine residents. Their web site is http://www.communitymattersmore.com. There you will find a link at the bottom of their page to "Cast your votes" where you can write-in Squeaky Wheel Adventures under the Downeast region. Thank you!
Please help to spread the word. Below is a sample email to cut and paste if it makes it easier -
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A Maine non profit that I support, Squeaky Wheel Adventures, has asked me to request your vote.
Bangor Savings Bank is hosting a "Community Matters More" grant program. The award is for $5,000 and the winner is determined solely by the votes of Maine residents. Their web site is http://www.communitymattersmore.com. There you will find a link at the bottom of their page to "Cast your votes" where you can write-in Squeaky Wheel Adventures under the Downeast region. Thank you!
Squeaky Wheel Adventures offers multi-day eco-friendly road trips for kids in foster and other out-of-home care. Read more about them at http://SqueakyWheelAdventures.org.
Thanks,
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You have the opportunity to vote for three organizations - may we suggest writing in the Wildlife Alliance of Maine for the Greater Bangor Area. Their web site is http://www.wildlifealliancemaine.org.
Press Release - great season and 2 grants for 2010Posted 12/14/09
Surry, ME – December 14, 2009 - Squeaky Wheel Adventures (SWA), a Maine based tripping camp for children in foster care, kinship care and adopted, completed five exciting trip... » Read more
Hydrogen Water Cars Continues Support
Posted 12/14/09
Well the bus is still in the shop but when it comes out Hydrogen Water Cars (HWW) has prepared us to expanded and upgrade our Hydrogen fuel supplementation. HWW has enhanced their Hydrogen generator design and provided us with two new generators to install for next summer. We installed one generator late last summer and in that limited amount of time we were able to feel a significant power difference. We are very excited about the results we will see (both in power and fuel savings) with the new generators. SWA and HWW are very excited to be working together in adding this alternative fuel to our program and we are very appreciative of their generous donation. Read more about HWW at - http://www.hydrogen-generators-usa.com/
Florida for 2011Posted 12/14/09
We have been busy this fall working with Florida in order to offer our trips to Florida kids during the winter months. We have made great strides towards this goal, but have decided to wait until next winter to launch our program there. We will be meeting with individual districts this winter and working together to schedule trips. The Gracie B. Kerr Foundation is partially earmarked for this expansion and is a great start on funding. We are enthusiastic about offering our program Florida.
Happy Holiday and a Great New Year!
Posted 12/14/09
Yes, it is true that 2009 was a tremendous year for SWA, but 2010 is already looking just as good. This fall we have been awarded 2 grants, one from the Maine Community Foundation and the other from the Gracie B. Kerr Foundation. These grants are for 3 areas - rebuilding the bus' engine (currently underway), portion of Maine trip funding for 2010 summer and expansion of SWA to offer trips to kids in Florida during the 2011 winter. As always, we are both grateful and humbled by this support and very excited for the future.
Private Fundraiser HeldPosted 8/21/09
We want to send a big thank you to John & Tammy at the Offshore Store & More in Frenchboro, ME whom took it upon themselves to run a fundraiser for SWA and raised $350! As always we are very touched by others support and grateful for the help. www.offshorestoreandmore.com Getting the Engine Rebuilt. Yes!Posted 8/14/09
How far can the bus's engine go? That is what we have wondered for these last 10 years of owning the bus. Well, it can go until 6:10pm August 6, 2009, at mile marker 115 on I-95 just north of Augusta. This was the exact point at which our engine decided it was too tired and stopped running. As one camper commented, "Is there supposed to be that much oil all over the back?" No. But luckily we always tow a car behind the bus for any such emergencies and were able to drive the last 3 campers back to Bangor without a hitch. We then hunkered down for what would be a long 10 hours before arriving, by tow truck, at a mechanics shop in New Gloucester, ME at 4:30am. Pura Vida.
The bus did exactly what we needed to do this summer though (well within a hour of the last drop-off). And now that this question of how long the engine could last has been answered, we can move ahead toward a new engine and a renewed confidence in the dependability of the bus .
There is of course one glaring issue - it costs money to rebuild an engine. As you may know, SWA needs to raise approx. 60% of our tripping budget to make the trips "affordable" for kids with DHHS camp funding or post-adoptive funding. (We have also allowed a few kids that could not get the 40% covered to come as well.) This being said we worked hard to accomplish this fundraising goal for the 2009 summer season and have found that if the 3 staff agree to post pone and/or possibly not be paid for this summer's work ( and they have agreed - thank you!!!) we have just enough to cover the cost of the rebuilt engine. The mechanic has also agree to work with us and we will be contacting some parts suppliers to see if they can offer SWA a discount.
The summer was great and we accomplished our goals. Kids had fun and meaningful experiences, we ran all 5 scheduled trips without a hitch to wonderful places, we handled any issue that did come up with good humor and successful outcomes for everyone, and we continued to move SWA forward into a bright future with a terrific new engine. We are already looking at next year's summer trips (New York City? Vermont? Mystic Aquarium? Hiking? Canoeing? Canopy Tour?) and we are exploring running trips this winter in Florida.
This is a POSITIVE event. As I attempted to explain my enthusiasm to someone yesterday over the engine they eventually replied, "Oh, I get it. This was not an unforeseen expense, you just did not know when it would be required." We knew that the engine was old and would eventually need help. A rebuilt engine though expands SWA's possibilities and opportunities.
TestimonialsPosted 8/10/09 Read some camper and care giver testimonials form 2009 Maine summer. » Click Here
Paddle Power?Posted 8/10/09
Yes, that is correct. We occasionally use paddle power. It burns a few calories and gets some great laughs both in the bus and from onlookers. There are few places I think that you can get entertainment like this. - Bryan
SWA gets grant for water powerPosted 7/14/09 Getting ready to run on water! Well at least in part. We received a grant from a local foundation to install a Hydrogen generator that separates hydrogen gas from water to supplement your fuel. Better mileage, more power & cleaner emissions. Hydrogen Water Cars (http://www.hydrogen-water-cars.com/) is also generously providing the generator at a discount.
UPDATE 8/6/09 -
After testing it has become clear that to see the full benefit of this additional fuel that we will need a second generator and Hydrogen Water Cars has decided to DONATE A SECOND UNIT!
SWA on WABI TV5 NewsPosted 6/9/09 Watch the SWA story on the evening news now » Click Here to watch
SWA Connects with Leave No TracePosted 6/9/09 SWA has received a Connect Grant and non profit partnership with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. This partnership and grant will allow SWA to expand our outdoor education program bring a greater depth to our program and offering certification to camp participants. Read more about Leave No Trace at: http://lnt.org/
DO YOU EVER SEARCH THE INTERNET? NOW YOU CAN EARN MONEY FOR SWA EVERYTIME!Posted 5/05/09
That is right, everytime you do an internet search SWA can get a donation. These may be small amounts, but they can add up over time. So please click the link below and make GoodSearch.com your main search engine. » Click Here
SWA RECEIVES SECOND GRANT FROM MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:POSTED 4/07/09
SWA has received a grant from the Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation in the amount of $3,500. This is another big stride towards the needed 60% of this summers operating budget.
SWA RECEIVES TWO GRANTS:POSTED 3/11/09 SWA has received a grant from the Maine Charity Foundation Fund of the Maine Community Foundation in the amount of $4,300 and a grant from the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation in the amount of $2,500. These grants are instrumental as SWA needs to cover approximately sixty (60%) percent of its operating budget through grants and other fundraising in order to subsidize the camper fees. » Read Press Release
2009 SUMMER TRIPS SET:POSTED 2/10/09 The 2009 summer schedule has been set and we have five (5) great trips to offer. » Read Trip Itineraries & Schedule
SWA TRIPS NOT JUST FOR SIBLINGS:POSTED 2/10/09 There has been some confusion about our programming and eligibility. Although we believe that our trips can provide a wonderful opportunities for siblings to spend time together, sibling involvement is not a requirement. SWA trips are available to all kids in care.
TWO SUCCESSFUL TRIP WITH KIDS:POSTED 12/04/08
What a great summer we had! Why you ask? Because the SWA bus was on the road with kids after years of preparation. This year (2008 Summer) we took two great 2-day trips to Canobie Lake Park in southern New Hampshire. In June it was decided to make this years trips as easy as possible for everyone involved to say YES and get on board. Offering short trips at very low cost allowed everyone to make a quick decision and sign-up. We would like to especially thank an anonymous donor whom has been instrumental since the start of SWA and whom offered "rushed" funding to cover an insurance premium that would have otherwise made these two trips impossible. Additionally we would like to thank Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine for there tremendous support and assistance in getting the word out about our trips.
We have held on to a vision over the past several years of what these trips can offer to children in care and were excited to see it in take form. From the kids helping fill the bus with vegetable oil (one of our fuel sources), to their excitement at Canobie Lake, to cooking meal and playing games at camp, each child was able to take away an experience that will not be quickly forgotten. We are gearing up for next summer and will post a flier by February of our 2009 trip offerings.
Hydrogen Fuel? Are you serious?: POSTED 12/04/08
Thats right! We are in the process of adding another fuel source to the bus. This is not new technology in itself, but it is a new alternative fuel that is beginning to take a stand. Don't worry, we are not intending to run the bus on 100% hydrogen, but rather to supplement our fuel with a HHO generator using WATER! By adding an hydrogen-on-demand system separating hydrogen from WATER we will be able to increase our fuel efficiency while continuing to lower our emissions. For now you can read more information at hydrogen-water-cars.com.
