According to the US Department of Energy, "The vehicles we drive release over 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year—mostly in the form of carbon dioxide — contributing to global climate change." The overall Zoar Outdoor company total of 2000 miles prevented over 2100 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere this year!  

• zoar outdoor
• white house
• bruce lessels

Charlemont, MA-- May 6, 2011 -- Several West County businesses have been selected as a "Best of New England/Editor’s Choice" in Yankee Magazine’s annual Travel Guide issue.  "Best of new England" choices are made by special assignment editors who personally select travel activities in each New England state.

Zoar Outdoor’s Deerfield River raft trips were selected as the "Best Rafting" under Massachusetts Adventures.  Double Edge Theater in Ashfield was chosen as the "Best Farm Theater" under Local Secrets and The Green Emporium in Colrain received the "Best Church Supper" in the Food & Dining category.

Outdoor enthusiasts visiting western Massachusetts can tumble down two sections of the Deerfield River through family friendly rapids or exhilarating whitewater or zip through the trees on Zoar Outdoor's Canopy Tour. After a day of adventure, try a thin-crust custom pizza served in Colrain's former church on the common at the Green Emporium's Pizzeria. If the night is still young, there's time to catch the Summer Spectacle, a unique production of music, song, dance and story at Double Edge Theater nights during July or August. Lodging in the area can be easily arranged at one of the many rustic bed and breakfast locations in the valley. 

"Our special travel issue includes page after page of secrets and whispers. It covers New England’s unique landscape, its attractions, and the people who create the flavors, crafts, and lodgings that lend their richness to memorable travel," says Yankee editor Mel Allen. "It’s about the secrets we whisper to family and friends when we come home from seeing new places. We think of our ‘Bests’ as secrets whispered to friends—in this case, the loyal readers of Yankee Magazine."

The 2011 Travel Guide features "Best of New England — Editors’ Choice" selections, which include the best restaurants, lodgings, attractions, local secrets, and bargains in the region. For 34 years, Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England has been the most widely distributed and best-selling guide to the six-state region, providing readers with a comprehensive vacation-planning tool and daily reference.

• massachusetts
• Green Emporium
• Double Edge Theater
• deerfield river
• Colrain
• berkshires
• Ashfield
• whitewater
• Yankee Magazine
• Zoar Outdoor

Zoar Outdoor's "Commuting to Work" Campaign has reached its goal of commuting 1000 miles to work this year using human-powered means. This past May, the staff of Zoar Outdoor commenced a challenge to leave their cars at home and bike, walk or run to work. The staff have been actively car-pooling for several years in an effort to use less gas, put fewer cars on the road and help reduce their carbon footprints. This latest campaign is consistent with Zoar's philosophy of maximizing resources in an effort to minimize environmental impact. The company offered $25 gift certificates to local restaurants for every 100 miles a staff member ran, rode a bike or walked to work. Out of all the employees who participated in the challenge, six employees surpassed 100 miles and earned a gift certificate! Through the collective effort of many employees, Zoar Outdoor completed their 1000-mile challenge on November 12, 2010.

• deerfield river
• Charlemont
• carbon dioxide. carbon footprint
• biking
• berkshires
• US EPA

Several staff recently tested out some Liguidlogic Versa boards and Werner paddles on the Zoar Gap section of the Deerfield River. Bruce Lessels, President and Greg Poehlein, Retail Shop Manager went for a cruise down the river and were surprised how easy it was to maneuver the boards down the rapids. “It’s so much like canoeing” stated Lessels. Poehlein plans to stock boards next year for sale in the shop and offer classes on how to paddle SUPS.

SUPS are really a crossover sport between surfing and kayaking/canoeing. Like kayaks, stand up paddleboards range in length from 8 to 14 feet and come in heavy duty plastic, wood or light weight fiberglass constructions. They look very similar to surf boards, their predecessors. Paddles are essentially really long canoe paddles that carve the water as you stand atop the board. You can use these boards on any body of water – ponds, ocean or rivers.

Currently, there are lots of board and paddle manufacturers, magazines events and competitions devoted to this fledgling industry. Long-time surfers say that once you’ve stood up using a paddle, it’s hard to lie down again on a board. SUPS also really develop leg muscles since you have to stand up the whole time. It was the single fasted growing segment of the paddlesport industry in 2009.

Zoar will be testing out several program ideas this fall and finalizing details classes, rentals and retail sales of SUPs over the winter for the 2011 season. Check out www.kayaklesson.com early next year for more information on classes. For retail sales and rentals, visit www.zoaroutdoor.com/store/

• surfing
• SUP
• Stand Up paddleboarding
• MAssachusetts
• kayaking
• deerfield River
• Berkshires

Tino Specht, local kid who learned to paddle on the Deerfield River with Zoar Outdoor, has gained national recognition as a Shred Ready Team member and the elite Global Team for Level 6.  Paddling industry manufactures reward individual who have demonstrated outstanding performance in the world of paddling with team memberships. This entitles them to free gear, entry fees for competition, travel costs and at times stipends. ”It is every paddlers’ dream to be sponsored by a couple of companies”, states Specht. Specht divides his time between Chile in the winter working as a coach for New River Academy and Canada where he teaches kids to paddle on the Ottawa River for the summer. Recently, Specht was one of four kayakers nationally selected by World Kayak to represent paddling interests at the Outdoor Nation Youth Summit in New York City.

Elaine Campbell gave up here career as a teacher and now travels the country competing in every freestyle event she can get to. She is sponsored by Shred Ready and is a member of Team Wave Sport. When she is not on the road, which is most of the year, she paddles at home on the Deerfield River sharing her passion with other up and coming racers.

Jim Sullivan, the silent, but deadly type has been racking up wins over the years. His quiet demeanor fools one into thinking he can’t be that good. But watch out, he’s an awesome kayaker! He is a member of the Jackson Kayak Regional Team.  He also teaches full time for Zoar Outdoor where he manages Team Z keeping a full race schedule. During the winter he’s out west tearing up the slopes at Big Sky Montana. 

Janet Cowie, Director of Instruction at Zoar Outdoor oversees it all and makes sure that her instructors are at the top of their game for teaching and racing.  As a World Kayak Ambassador, American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Educator and member of the Safety, Education and Instruction national committee her work guarantees that Zoar’s staff and students are getting the best instruction in the world of paddling. She also ensures that Zoar’s mission “inspiring people to experience sustainable outdoor adventures that build strong communities" is fulfilled at every event and in every class.

Zoar Outdoor’s Paddling School has been making access to kayaking or canoeing much easier for the public with programs designed for kids and parents from beginner to advanced levels.  Zoar’s increased outreach efforts will bring paddling to a wider sector of the community and help the overall health of the sport both regionally and nationally. For more information see www.kayaklesson.com or www.zoaroutdoor.com.

• Team Z
• Massachusetts
• kayaking
• instruction
• Deerfield River

Zoar’s Deerfield Valley Canopy Tour was the first zip-line in Massachusetts in 2009. This year 2 new zips have been added giving guests 16 total elements to experience in the native New England forest. Guests “soar” through the trees getting views of the river valley under a full canopy of trees. Trips take an average of 3 hours to complete and run 7 days a week.

“Our special travel issue includes page after page of secrets and whispers. It covers New England’s unique landscape, its attractions, and the people who create the flavors, crafts, and lodgings that lend their richness to memorable travel,” says Yankee editor Mel Allen. “It’s about the secrets we whisper to family and friends when we come home from seeing new places. We think of our ‘Bests’ as secrets whispered to friends—in this case, the loyal readers of Yankee Magazine.”

The 2010 Travel Guide features 312 “Best of New England — Editors’ Choice” selections, which include the best restaurants, lodgings, attractions, local secrets, and bargains in the region. For 34 years, Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England has been the most widely distributed and best-selling guide to the six-state region, providing readers with a comprehensive vacation-planning tool and daily reference.

• Zoar Outdoor
• Zip Lines
• Yankee Magazine
• New England
• Canopy Tours

Charlemont, MA -- 

Zoar Outdoor will be hosting the 7th Annual DemoFest, June 25 – 27, 2010 on the Deerfield River in western, Massachusetts. DemoFest is a free event open to the public designed to give seasoned paddlers the latest information on the whitewater industry. It is an opportunity to test out boats, use paddles, and get some instruction from some of the most accomplished paddlers in the country. 

New this year will be a free clinic- "Smart Start/Intro to Kayaking" for beginners 9 am – 12 noon on Saturday and Sunday. This clinic will use sit-on-top kayaks which provide an easy way for recreational paddlers to try out kayaking. The paddler sits on top of the boat instead of being inside the boat wearing a sprayskirt. The boats are more stable and less tippy than whitewater kayaks.

Manufacturer representatives, Team Z members and Zoar Outdoor instruction staff will give free technique clinics on the Deerfield River through out the weekend. There will be the full line of whitewater boats will be available for demo. Saturday evening will feature a BBQ from 5 – 6:30 pm and film fest.  NEW this year, Demofest will be hosting the National Paddling Film Fest Roadshow from 6:30 – 9 pm.

For 27 years the National Paddling Film Festival has been hosting a competition to determine the best in paddle sport videos and images. The Roadshow is a selection films hosted and presented by local clubs or organizations. The films come from the NPFF’s extensive paddlesport library covering amateur and professional entries from 22 years of festivals. The Roadshow has been seen several dozen cities in over 18 states, Canada and Europe.

Free mini-clinics include improving your roll, river runs, freestyle, kids clinics, stroke timing & efficiency to name a few. Demofest runs from 9 am – 4 pm each day. A more detailed schedule is available at www.zoaroutdoor.com/demofest.htm. Space is limited on day, so it’s best to reserve a spot ahead of time. Reservations can be made by calling 800-532-7483.

• Team Z
• massachusetts
• kayaking
• film festival
• deerfield river
• whitewater

Charlemont, MA - Zoar Outdoor has added 2 new zip lines this season to it's popular canopy tour.  In its second year of operation, Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours was a huge success in 2009. The addition of 2 new zip lines will provide something new for returning guests. One zip travels out to a westerly view high up in an oak tree. Then you traverse back east to a ground landing where you slow yourself down to a jog along a trail.

The season opened in early April with a gorgeous day in the trees. "This early spring with warm weather and rain has brought out the tree buds weeks earlier than last year.  When you zip through the trees you are seeing the emerging canopy as it develops according to the weather", states Kevin McMillan, Director of Guided Programs.

The early heavy rains and snow melt have brought up local rivers and Zoar Outdoor is running whitewater rafting trips on the Deerfield River and Concord River in Lowell.  "Again, the unseasonably warm weather has made staff training and guest experiences on the river a pleasure this spring", comments McMillan

Zoar Outdoor has been offering family-friendly outdoor adventures along the Deerfield River in the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western, Massachusetts since 1989. Family owned, the company offers a wide variety of human-powered adventures for all ages from April through October. Zoar has a reputation for excellent customer service, environmental concern and developing a community around people who like to play outdoors.

• Whitewater rafting
• Deerfield River
• Canopy Tours
• Berkshires
• Zip-lines

Charlemont, MA -  Warm weather, sunshine, and recent heavy rains all added up to a splendid time on the Deerfield River the last few weekends. That is if you're training to become a whitewater raft guide! Zoar Outdoor's spring guide school is nearing completion with 20 perspective raft guides. Trainees wore wetsuits with lots of poly pro under layers and hauled rafts over quickly disappearing snow banks to run the rising rapids of the river. The guide school takes place over 4 consecutive weekends in March before the commercial raft season commences in April.

Trainees are selected through a competitive process that starts with job ads placed regionally in January and ends with congratulatory calls in late February. Folks who become raft guides come from all walks of life for a variety of reasons. This year's group includes several local high school seniors, college students from across the northeast, teachers who have the summer free, camp counselors and park rangers looking for something new,  students from the Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community College and Marlboro College, a former state trooper, a carpenter and a number of ski /snow board instructors.

 "This allows us to focus on training our summer guides in the required safety and rescue techniques prior to the start of our season so everyone is fresh and ready for our Zoar Gap trips which start on April 15^th", explains Brian Pytko, Rafting Manager. . "It's a great group of people and we have a lot of fun while learning the necessary skills. It's especially easy with the warm weather we've had recently", states Pytko.

With the recent heavy rains, there will be plenty of water in the local rivers for some pretty big whitewater this spring. Zoar's spring trips include the Millers River during the first two weeks of April, the Concord River in Lowell during April and May, and the Deerfield River Zoar Gap starting April 15^t and continuing all season until mid-October.  The Zoar Gap section is controlled by hydro-electric dams and provides boatable levels all season.

Connecting people with the outdoors and with each other has long been central to Zoar Outdoor's mission, so when social media websites came along, it was only natural that the company would adopt it as an ideal way to communicate with its guests in between trips. The community of outdoor adventurers is close-knit and many are already frequent Facebook users.  "We can add events as we schedule them, post videos as we create them, and guests can give feedback or contribute videos and photos so that prospective guests can get a much better idea of what we do" said Bruce Lessels, President of Zoar Outdoor. 

Guiding a zip line canopy tour last summer, Lessels saw clearly the power of Facebook to connect people when a guest told him she had just posted a photo taken moments before to her Facebook account from her cell phone. "When your friends can follow your adventures on an almost real-time basis, technology is acting to deepen your social connections."  

The immediacy of Facebook presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the outfitter.  On the one hand, the frequent connections to guests and the ability of guests to interact both with the company and with each other are welcome additions.  On the flip side, the need to keep producing fresh content and to monitor the site daily is a challenge for a small company whose staff prefer to spend time outdoors and away from the computer.

• Zoar Outdoor
• Zip Lines
• social media
• facebook

Charlemont, MA-  Zoar Outdoor has made the decision to no longer print its annual multi-page, 4-color catalog which they mail out to over 25,000 clients annually.  This was an environmental, as well as a financial decision. Due to the majority of news being sent electronically through the internet, the use of print materials has declined enormously.

"We're not printing a 16-page catalog this year for a number of reasons which boil down to improving the delivery of our message and saving resources", explains Bruce Lessels, President.

The beauty of the web is that you can get your message out continually and change it as needed.  In addition, the web allows content to be interactive with video clips and forums with Facebook and YouTube. Prospective guests can get a much better idea of who we are and what we do before deciding to join us for an outdoor adventure. 

Finally, it takes about 65 trees to print a 16-page catalog and Zoar places a high value on trees as a business whose product is the outdoors.  Zoar will be printing a few smaller pieces and referring the public to their websites: www.zoaroutdoor.com, www.kayaklesson.com, www.deerfieldzipline.com and their Facebook pages to get the latest information on our programs. 

Media Contact:

Karen Blom          

Karen@zoaroutdoor.com

800-532-7483x 107

PO Box 245

Charlemont, MA 01339

 -END-

Zoar Outdoor has been offering family-friendly outdoor adventures along the Deerfield River in the culturally-rich Berkshire Hills of western, Massachusetts since 1989. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Bruce Lessels and Karen Blom, the company offers a wide variety of human-powered adventures for all ages from April through October. Zoar has a reputation for excellent customer service, environmental concern and developing a community around people who like to play outdoors.

• social media
• massachusetts
• facebook
• conservation
• youtube

Specht grew up in Charlemont on his family's farm and learned how to kayak with the Zoar Outdoor Kayak Academy program while he was attending Mohawk Trail Regional High School. He took a keen interest early on and quickly became one of Zoar's best kayakers. During 2007 he attended Huge River Academy, a traveling kayak school and satisfied his senior year graduation requirements. For the past 3 years he has worked as a kayak coach and Spanish teacher for Huge River Academy. 

He is a member of Zoar's Team Z, a group of gifted paddlers who are sponsored to compete in local and national races.  He has had a passionate interest in kayak videography.  Specht has been a great role model for aspiring young paddlers both locally and around the globe. In his spare time he travels the world with his kayak learning about world cultures, new rivers and new languages.

Media Contact:Karen Blom 

Karen@zoaroutdoor.com

800-532-7483 x107

www.zoaroutdoor.com

PO Box 245

Charlemont, MA 01339

 -END-

Zoar Outdoor has offered guided outdoor adventures in the Deerfield River Valley since 1989 and celebrated its 20^th anniversary in 2009. Zoar Outdoor provides seasonal guided whitewater rafting, kayak, and canoe instruction, rock climbing classes, bike and kayak rentals, canopy tours, lodging and retail sales from April through October.

• Yangtze River
• kayaking
• film festival
• China
• Charlemont

Charlemont, MA -- Zoar Outdoor's new Zip-line adventure, Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours offers a fresh perspective on fall foliage viewing. The recent rains and cool summer temperatures are a perfect recipe for fabulous colors this fall.  There's no need to drive through traffic to see the foliage when you can zip through the trees and reach out to touch the colors.

Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours opened in early June and has taken close to 5000 customers down the course. Zoar's course consists of elements in the forest canopy with dual cables, sky bridges and rappels with tree platforms in red oaks, white pins, white oaks and hemlocks surrounded by an abundance of deciduous trees.  The course is licensed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Dept. of Public Safety and inspected by outside vendors semi-annually.

"We are committed to a high level of staff training.  Each guide trains for at least 40 hours before working on the course and has first aid and CPR training.  The primary goal of our guides is our guests' wellbeing", states President, Bruce Lessels.  "Both of our guides made everyone feel safe and comfortable. They seemed to truly value that the canopy tour was a special experience for the group", observations of a recent satisfied customer.

Tours can be combined with whitewater raft trips, kayak instruction or bike rentals to make a full-day or multi-day adventure in the Berkshires. Lodging is also available on site at the Hawk Mountain Lodge or in the Zoar campground.   Located just 2 hours west of Boston and 3 hours north of NYC, Zoar Outdoor offers a great weekend getaway in a pristine valley on the Deerfield River in western Massachusetts.

Zip Tours last about 3 hours and run several times every day with groups of up to eight people accompanied by two guides. Larger groups can be accommodated by arrangement. Fall reservations are now being taken at 800-532-7483 or on-line at www.deerfieldzipline.com.

Media Contact:
Karen Blom
karen@zoaroutdoor.com
1-800-532-7483
www.zoaroutdoor.com
www.deerfieldzipline.com
7 Main St/ Mohawk Trail
Charlemont, MA  01339

• foliage. massachusetts
• Fall Foliage
• fall
• canopy tours
• berkshires

"The redesign will allow people to see more clearly how to move along levels or step-up to new levels in the sport. We've seen incredible growth in the sport over the last few years and this new approach should attract more interested outdoor enthusiasts to the sport", states Cowie who is an American Canoe Association Instructor Trainer Educator and advisory member for the ACA/SEI River Kayaking Committee.

The change came about due to Zoar's research, which found that many people don't have the time or money to start in the sport with a multi-day clinic format - they have busy lives, limited resources but still want active past times that keep them in shape physically and mentally. Zoar sees paddling as a means to a green life sport that will create lasting memories, new skills, offer physical challenges and get people out of the consumer spending mode (i.e. mall shopping, couch potato life style). Once you learn the skills and get the gear, you can paddle for the rest of your life without having to buy a plane ticket or lift pass!! Rivers are free to use for everyone!

New this year, Zoar has two one-day classes for people who are starting out in the sport. The Recreational kayak clinic is for beginner paddlers who just want the basics in a recreational kayak to be able to paddle on flatwater or easy moving water (class 1). The day is shorter, less aggressive and cheaper than other courses. You may even already own a kayak, but not really know how to use it safely. By the end of the day you may be inspired to try more or just want to continue with self guided trips or tours.  Either way you'll have the tools to paddle flat water on your own, especially if you practice often.

The other new clinic is a 1-day Whitewater kayak clinic for those who want an overview to river kayaking, but need to maximize their time. It's a first step in the paddling for life program and gets you ready to take other clinics over time. We cover the skills necessary to start you in whitewater kayaking including self rescue and river reading as well as basic paddling technique.  This is a great way to get a taste of the sport and see if you want to proceed further with it. Both of these courses meet monthly throughout the summer when the water is warm and the weather beautiful.

Zoar still offers a full array of 2, 3 and 5-day courses starting weekends in May and continuing through October for those seeking more in-depth skill development and are not hindered by time. Some of these are at the novice level, others are for advanced paddlers. No other sport gives stimulates your mind and body as kayaking or canoeing does while allowing you to enjoy natural settings for little or no cost.

For more information see www.kayaklesson.com or call 800-532-7483. Photos and details are available upon request.

Media Contact:
Karen Blom
karen@zoaroutdoor.com
800-532-7483 x 107
www.zoaroutdoor.com
7 Main St.
Charlemont, MA 01338

• water sports
• massachusetts
• kayaking
• berkshires
• deerfield river

Free mini-clinics include improving your roll, parent & child river runs, freestyle & beyond, kids clinics, stroke timing & efficiency to name a few. A more detailed schedule is available at www.zoaroutdoor.com/demofest.htm. Manufacturer representatives, Team Z members and Zoar Outdoor instruction staff will give free technique clinics on the Deerfield River through out the day. The full line of boats from Wave Sport, Pyranha, Liquidlogic, Jackson Kayak, Dagger and Esquif will be available for demo as well as AT and Werner Paddles. At the end of the Saturday there will be a barbeque and multi-media paddling presentation.

Please check our website at www.zoaroutdoor.com/demofest.htm for up-to-date information and schedules. Let me know if you would like future email alerts in html or text format.

Media Contact: Karen Blom
Phone: 800-532-7483
Fax: 413-337-8436
website: zoaroutdoor.com
email: karen@zoaroutdoor.com

• kayaks
• deerfield river
• berskhires

• zip line
• massachusetts
• challenge course
• canopy tours
• berkshires

The upper Deerfield River fishery includes a diverse and productive angling habitat. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife stocks the river spring through fall with rainbow, brown, brook and tiger trout. There is also native wild brook and stream-bred brown trout. Average stock trout sizes range from 8 to 14 inches.

Through the efforts of local conservation groups, the lower reaches of the river provide a good warmwater habitat for smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, rock bass and lunker fallfish. Enormous brown trout lurk in several deep, well-oxygenated pools with the largest to date measuring 25 inches.

Fishing on the Deerfield River is a unique and gratifying way to experience the river valley. Fishing programs can be combined with Zoar Outdoor’s other activities of biking, climbing and kayaking to create multi-sport adventure packages. For more information, contact Zoar Outdoor at 800-532-7483.

is a 5-mile class 2 run with an average gradient of 25 feet per mile with one class 3 rapid at the end. The average release from the dam is 700-900 cfs. The Zoar Gap section provides an easy "classic" wildwater run good for beginning races. The class 3 rapid at the end of this run has been the site of past slalom team trials and national championship races.

The Dryway section www.zoaroutdoor.com/dryway_ataglance.htm  is a 4-mile section of continuous class 3-4 rapids with a gradient of 60-80 feet per mile. Releases provided by TransCanada (www.transcanada.com/power/usne.html) from a hydro generating facility, puts 900-1100 cfs through this section. There are several great "sprint" race locations along this section. The Dryway has been the past site of two wildwater national championships.  

There will be a water release on the Dryway section on Friday for training with Saturday and Sunday being the race days. Zoar Outdoors will recognize Juniors, Masters and Grand Masters classes. The race dates would be guaranteed flows for 4-5 hours per day. There are no special access fees required by the power company that provide the releases. Shuttles for race and practice runs will be provided by Zoar Outdoor. The average weather in late August is hot with 80 degrees air temperature and 60 degrees water temperature.

Media contact: Karen Blom
Email: karen@zoaroutdoor.com
800-532-7483

Wilderness Medicine differs from traditional first aid in three respects. First, transport times are measured in hours and days rather than minutes, so many phases of patient care that usually occur in a hospital must be carried out in the field. Second, severe environments dramatically increase the complexity of any emergency and heighten risks to patients and rescuers alike. Third, limited equipment makes improvisation and resourcefulness essential.

These issues and more will be addressed by professional instructors from Wilderness Medical Associates, leaders in the field of wilderness medical training. Classes are fast-paced with an emphasis on practical skills. Mornings are devoted to lectures, while afternoons and evenings are spent outside working on everything from stretcher construction to full-scale rescue simulations. A number of realistic simulations, complete with fake wounds and stage blood, will be conducted. Past students commonly report of real-life rescues that, "felt just like a simulation."

This course is recommended for all outdoor professionals and enthusiasts who spend time in remote areas. Graduates will be certified by Wilderness Medical Associates. Call 800-532-7483 and ask for Janet Burnett or Nicole Yezierski at Zoar Outdoor for logistical and pricing information or Wilderness Medical Associates at (888)WILD-MED for curriculum information.

Media contact: Karen Blom

Email: karen@zoaroutdoor.com

800-532-7483

Photovoltaic technology uses semiconductors energized by sunlight to create electricity. The semiconductors are comprised of cells arranged on a panel mounted in a location ideal for capturing solar output.  The Renewable Energy Trust was created by the state in 1998 as part of the electric utility industry restructuring to promote the development of renewable energy in the Commonwealth. The Trust is administered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The goal is to generate the maximum economic and environmental benefits from clean energy resources. Massachusetts Technology Collaborative works with homeowners, businesses, and public entities across the state designing, funding and implementing a variety of renewable energy technologies in order to promote sustainable production of clean energy.  

According to Zoar Outdoor President, Bruce Lessels, "We are pleased to participate in the Small Renewables Initiative because it is in keeping with our core environmental values.  Solar energy makes sense as a way to minimize our environmental impact while embracing the latest technology." 

Ironically, the Deerfield River, the location of many of Zoar Outdoor’s river trips, is a source of renewable energy itself. During hydroelectric generation, the water released from dams on the river serves a dual purpose by also providing flows for recreational boating such as kayaking, rafting and canoeing. Hydroelectricity is the largest source of clean energy in the United States and around the world and a significant source of renewable energy for Massachusetts.

Media contact: Karen Blom
Email: karen@zoaroutdoor.com
800-532-7483

The first presentation will be on Saturday, June 24th part of Zoar’s DemoFest weekend. Andrew Holcomb, Team D pro-paddler for Dagger Kayaks, will host TEVA’s new 2006 DVDs “Wet-House” and “Dynasty”.  “Dynasty”  with the Young Gun Crew features runs from around the world including the White Nile’s legendary Hypoxia rapid, first descents on the thundering rivers of Madagascar and the first ever Hail Mary off New Zealand’s Maruia Falls. “Wet-House” is the story of six fiercely independent boaters from the four corners of the planet; united by their shared thirst for big water and high adventure - world-class expedition boater Steve Fisher, Jimmy Blakeney, Kiwi-native Nikki Kelly, Andrew Holcombe, Tanya Shuman, Bryan Kirk and more.

On Saturday, August 12th Henry Dandeneau, local resident and long-time manger of the hydro-electric dams on the Deerfield River will give a power point presentation on “How the River Works” from a energy management perspective and how it affects recreational use on the river.

On August 19th, Harvey Halpern, will give his slideshow “Endangered Canyons of Utah”, which details the spectacular landscapes at risk in Utah. The show includes all five National Parks in Utah, but concentrates on those lands outside the parks that are administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The show is the culmination of 30 years of exploring the remote corners of Canyon Country.

The next presentation will be on September 16th “Chilean Whitewater and Culture” with Chris Spelius, founder of Expediciones Chile and former US Olympic team kayaker will share his multi-media presentation on paddling opportunities in southern Chile along the Futaleufa River. Chris has been coming to the Deerfield River for many years to teach Zoar’s big water paddling clinic.

The final presentation of the season will be on September 30th showing the DVD “In the Flux” by professional kayaker and videographer, David Arnaud. The movie retraces two years of kayaking around the world including footage from the Italian Alps, Siberia, Morocco, Hawaii and Canada.

Come join us for some exciting adventures! These programs are free and open to the public. A simple summer barbecue starts at 5:00 pm for $7.50/person and shows begin at 6:00 pm at the Zoar Outdoor Pavilion.

Michael Porter replaces Larry Bernier, long-time Assistant Rafting Manager. Mike has worked as a kayak instructor, rock climbing teacher and raft guide for the past five years at Zoar Outdoor. This year he takes on the new responsibilities of staff hiring, training and scheduling and continues to assist in managing raft trips on 5 different rivers in New England. Mike will be training new guides starting weekends in March.

For more information on Zoar Outdoor's paddling instruction, raft trips, rentals and lodging visit www.zoaroutdoor.com.

Try downhill skiing at Berkshire East Ski Resort (www.berkshireeast.com) with our “Ski and Stay” $5 discount off a daily lift pass for all ages, valid for the day before or after an overnight at Hawk Mountain Lodge. Stay two nights and get a discount off two days of skiing! Berkshire East is southern New England’s largest ski area with 100% snowmaking on 45 trails serviced by 5 lifts. Ski on uncrowded wooded trails with minimal or no lift-line waits. Berkshire East is an exceptional value for the varied terrain that appeals to beginner and advanced skiers alike.

After a day on the slopes, enjoy a meal at 10% off at Stillwaters Restaurant www.stillwaters-restaurant.com or the Warfield House, both located in Charlemont. Come enjoy a relaxing, but energizing stay at Hawk Mountain Lodge with a sweeping view of the mountain outside every window!

For more information or to make a reservation, call 800-532-7483.