Cycling Ecotour for Youth - Ontario and Canada

Here's an enriching sustainable travel and group living & learning experience for adults 19-30 organized by non-profit group based in Ottawa, Otesha. They have organized for 2010 (March deadline for participant registration) some inspiring partnerships with organic farms and cycling routes both here in Ontario and across Canada. I've worked with a few alumni and past communities touched by the project in the ecotourism and education fields and found that they gained significantly from the volunteer experience.
~ Kara Mitchell of tOES

In Search of Change-Making Cycling Volunteers What is The Otesha Project? The Otesha Project is a Canadian non-profit organization. We organize bicycle tours which engage with communities through theatre, aiming to mobilize youth to make change in their communities, and the world. We believe that we can create a more sustainable future by building community, making conscious lifestyle choices, reducing consumption and having a really good time all the while. We'd like you to join us as a Tour Member on a challenging journey towards sustainability. The Vision The Otesha Project's vision is to see sustainable consumption and lifestyle choices enter the mainstream of Canadian culture. What does it mean to be a Tour Member? As a tour member you'll answer tough questions about how you want to live and through collaboration with other amazing, hopeful, energetic young people (your teammates!) you'll build a mobile sustainable community. Before you know it, your bicycle will become a vehicle of change. Ingredients include: leadership training, phenomenal bike touring, and a hilarious play that opens the conversation about environmental sustainability and social justice issues with thousands of Canadians. Visit our infopack for more info, including 'a day in the life of a tour member', and fundraising details. What tours could you go on? ...check them out, below. Tours of 2010 In 2010 the Otesha Project is offering three of the craziest cycling and performing tours it has cooked up since it started in 2003. The details are below - and frequently asked questions answered on our faq's page. If you apply before February 15th you will receive two books to go towards your fundraising efforts. Applications close on March 15th, 2010. You can apply online!

Ferocious Farm Tour Ottawa to Toronto and Back! May 3 - June 25 or Aug 28 (2-4 months) This tour will focus its performance route on farming based communities, providing an opportunity to connect to & understand the food landscape of Ontario. Tour members can extend their experience by working on small scale and/or organic Ontario farm for the months of July and August. Learning extravaganza! To learn more, go to FAQs. Coast to Capital Vancouver to Ottawa June 25 to Oct 20 (4 months) Ride through the Rockies, across the Prairies and skirt down the edge of the Great Lakes, ending up in our nation's capital. Watch the landscape change as you ride with the seasons, starting in the summer and rolling to a close as the leaves drop. Epic adventure! Physically Challenging! Highlands and Islands Fredericton to Halifax Sept 7 to Nov 2 (2 months) Ride with the tides, dance with the Scots and pull some red mud potatoes while you're at it! This route starts in New Brunswick and tours to each breathtaking corner of Prince Edward Island. Finally, it crosses the hills of Nova Scotia ending up in Halifax. Lots of Performing!

Ready to walk your talk? Apply. Or email us with questions at info@otesha.ca, follow us on Twitter, & add us on Facebook! To hear more from us, sign up to receive our monthly e-journal here. Peace & Bicycle Grease, The Otesha Project

How to list green travel experiences you offer in Ontario on Ontario Tourism Websites

Hey there green travel and ecotourism operators offering eco travel experiences in Ontario

If you haven't already taken advantage of free online listings available with Ontario Tourism, check out the how-to-page and / or learn more about marketing opportunities available with the OTMPC (Ontario Tourism and Marketing Partnership Corporation) at www.tourismpartners.com (deadlines for 2010 print advertising are listed here too)

For outdoor experiences you offer in Ontario, they have another website, www.ontariotravel.net/outdoor on which you can receive up to 6 listings / eco tour package descriptions. To do so, contact Heather Bot (heatherbot "at" vianet.ca) & she'll send a form.

Based in Northern Ontario? stay tuned for more info on being represented in a new marketing site being built to represent the north and how eco travel experiences you offer there will be represented. If you're intersted in helping tOES provide ecotourism specific content for that site, email us at getinvolved "at" toes.ca .

See tOES members listings to find leaders in green travel experiences in canada, the best eco tourism experiences our lands, waters and people have to offer.