This spring and summer, three incredible groups have embarked on three incredible journeys in support of CPAWS to raise awareness on wilderness, conservation and watershed issues. Take a minute to read about these inspiring groups and be sure to check out their websites to learn more.

Mountains2Montreal- 4,500km in 130days

http://www.mountains2montreal.ca/

Mountains2Montreal is a group of ten people who are traveling by canoe from Alberta to Montreal over 130 days in support of CPAWS.

Inspired by their shared Canadian heritage and the journey of Canada’s First Nations and Voyageurs,the group set off on May 1to explore the unrelenting Canadian wilderness in search of their own adventure. Starting off with a group of 4 and departing from Alberta, the group will grow along the way as they weave their way through the heartland of Canada and ending their journey in Montreal.

As of July 11, the team has paddled over 3000km and has just over 1000km more to go! Grateful to all their supporters, the Mountains2Montreal team keeps their followers in the loop through a frequently updated website. Drop them a line and they will be sure to respond! Want to do a little more? The group invites fellow paddlers to join them on lengths of their journey. M2M has been trying to meet up with another ambitious group of paddlers known as Trans CanEAUda. Ironically, they just missed each other having shared the same campsite one day apart.

Trans CanEAUda- 7000km to Inuvik

http://www.transcaneauda.ca/

Also on a grand canoe voyage, the Trans CanEAUda team is traveling 7000km from Ottawa to reach Inuvik by early October 2011. This team of 22-24 year olds is driven by a desire to retrace the paths of our early settlers and to raise awareness on watershed conservation.

These eight friends, accompanied by their dog companion Yebo, have decided to support CPAWS and the Ottawa Riverkeeper in this endeavor. They hope to raise $7000 in support of watershed conservation: $1 for every kilometer paddled.

Check out their website and blog to see how their journey is going. You can also track their every step (or should I say stroke) on their online spot tracker!

Andras bikes to Newfoundland

Visit him on Facebook at : Andras bikes to Newfoundland

András Szeitz is embarking on a solo journey as he pedals his way across Canada from British Columbia to Newfoundland. Armed with nothing but his determination and his pack, András is pedaling the journey of a lifetime as he raises awareness for wilderness conservation.

As an employee of MEC and a lover of Canada’s outdoors, he hopes to share his journey with all the folks he meets along the way. Follow his journey on his Facebook group “Andras bikes to Newfoundland,” and read his frequent posts while chatting with other people who are following him.

We all know the chilling feeling of remembering an important occasion one day too late. That’s why CPAWS has launched a year-round gift giving site – so you’ll never feel that chill again.  Check out cpaws.org/tribute to send a quick and easy gift to those people on your list.

A gift of wilderness protection can be made in honour of any occasion, a birthday, wedding, or anniversary. Our reminder service keeps track of all your dates and ensures that Canada’s wildlife keeps making tracks too!

So sign up now! CPAWS thanks you!

Working for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, it has definitely opened my eyes to the beauty of our country. Before I started at CPAWS, the idea of “Canada” seemed foreign to me. I know that seems absurd, but it’s the truth. When I thought of Canada, the images that came to mind were my friends' cottages, snow and hockey.  The actual country and its land never occurred to me. For this reason, whenever I planned my getaways, I always thought of going abroad. I would dream of trips to Boston or Italy. Until about a year ago, I didn’t grasp exactly how absolutely stunning Canada is, and how lucky we are to have such a gorgeous country that is so vast and so varied in temperature, scenery, culture, and that is so easily accessible through our National Parks system. 

Since working with CPAWS this has changed. Through the people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard, the issues I’ve learned about, and the successes I’ve been a part of, it’s like a veil has been lifted from my eyes! When I look at the things on my bucket list today, they all stem from my own backyard. I want to hike on the Jasper Skyline Trail, and skate on the frozen ice in Banff. I NEED to see the stunning wildlife and jaw dropping beauty of the Yukon, and paddle through the majestic Nahanni.  At first, these spaces that we protect seemed so distant to me.  But as I learned more about them, and got to experience them through the eyes and stories of others, I realized that all these spaces are what make Canada Canada!

The opportunity to open the eyes and the minds of others to the experiences that await them in each of our national parks makes me extremely excited about CPAWS’ Park Dreams Contest: What’s on your bucket list?

In celebration of Parks Canada’s 100th Birthday, CPAWS is asking you to share your dream national park experience.  Share in 50 words or less your dream experience that you wish to have in a national park and be eligible to win the grand prize trip for two to the Nahanni courtesy of Nahanni River Adventures.

Visit parkdreams.ca and start dreaming!