Venture Outdoors » membership http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:37:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Members Day at KP http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/07/02/members-day-at-kp/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/07/02/members-day-at-kp/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:02:02 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=3140 Finally, we saw the sun! 270 people came out for Member’s Day at the newly renovated Kayak Pittsburgh and the adjacent city park, Allegheny Landing. If you missed it or want to relive it, here are a few highlights:

Touch: Heat, we had it! The high topped out somewhere in the ‘90s, and the sun shone bright. No worries, we had a river in which to cool our heels.

Sights: With free fishing, biking, and kayaking, there was plenty to see! For paddlers, it was the river moving slowly as they paddled up and down the shoreline. For bikers, it was the awesome trails accessible from downtown. As for fishing—we had a few great catches, too!

Sounds: A bluegrass duo, Jessica and Paul, serenaded us for a few hours. What better to accompany the sounds of spring than a fiddle?

Tents: Around 2:30, it rained for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, we all huddled under our big new tents to protect ourselves. It was a good test run for the tents and we kept perfectly dry.

Treats: We grilled out under the big blue sky, and our guests and members brought lots of tasty side dishes and desserts. The cream puffs were a big hit, in part because they were able to stay more refreshingly cool than any of us. Perhaps most notably, almost everyone commented on missing a Ramen Salad. To our dear member who usually brings it: you know who you are! We hope you’re able to hang with us next time!

New Friends: Holy cow…61 new individuals became members last weekend. Thanks so much for joining, and we can’t wait to see you again!

Photos: Check out some shots from the day below!

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]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/07/02/members-day-at-kp/feed/ 2 Why are you a Member? http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/06/29/why-are-you-a-member/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/06/29/why-are-you-a-member/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:11:26 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=3119 Maybe it’s the discounts at Kayak Pittsburgh, or the half price Wine and Cheese Hikes. Whatever it is, there is something that draws people to purchase and renew their Venture Outdoors Membership. So what’s your story, why are you a Venture Outdoors Member?

Take a minute to reflect, do you remember the first time you became a Member… what was your motivation? Or when you last renewed you membership, what made you do so?  There’s no right or wrong answer.

Please share your comments in the field below, we want to know your story!

Every Venture Outdoors Membership is up for renewal on one of three dates each year, January 1st, May 1st, or September 1st.

If you don’t know your renewal date, log on to our website, www.ventureoutdoors.org, and in the top right corner and you’ll find your membership type and expiration date. Or look on your Venture Outdoors Membership Card, your renewal date is the same day as your expiration date.

You can renew you membership online at, www.ventureoutdoors.org. Click the ‘Renew your Membership’ under Memberships in the blue bar near the top of the screen.

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/06/29/why-are-you-a-member/feed/ 0 Winter Members Party at South Park http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/03/02/winter-members-party-at-south-park/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/03/02/winter-members-party-at-south-park/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:14:40 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=2483 Last Saturday, February 27, Venture Outdoors held its 8th Annual Winter Members Party at South Park.

Mother Nature blanketed the ground with snow for over 80 VO members to play in the picturesque winter wonderland, and she kept a fresh coat coming as we made our mark snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, roasting marshmallows, creating art with our friends from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, snow creature making, and of course, during a few impromptu snowball fights.

The highlight of our Winter Members Day was our Camp Stove Cook-off. This year, nine folks showed off their backcountry culinary prowess in four categories: appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert.

Five winners prevailed: Best Appetizer – Sean Brady (mushroom/bacon quesadilla), Best Soup – Robyn Brady (potato soup), Best Entrée (tie) – Dave Smetak (roasted turkey over an open fire!) and Joe Harkiewicz (venison burgers), and Best Dessert – Lora Woodward (apple and cinnamon delight),

Thank you to every member, volunteer, and staff member who made this great celebration of our members and the outdoors possible! Our next members day will be Venture Outdoors 9th Annual Birthday Party in June. Details to follow. Be ready for some kayaking!

Check out some photos from the day below. See more photos from the day on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ventureoutdoors

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]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/03/02/winter-members-party-at-south-park/feed/ 0 Whole Foods Day a Success! http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/23/whole-foods-day-a-success/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/23/whole-foods-day-a-success/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:44:13 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=2451 A big thank you to everyone who stopped by Whole Foods in Shadyside on Wednesday, February 17. Whole Foods is donating 5% of its income on that day to Venture Outdoors totaling over $5,200!

We had a great time hanging out at the store throughout the day selling memberships and handing out coupons. We hope to make this an annual tradition and do it again next year. Thanks Whole Foods!

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/23/whole-foods-day-a-success/feed/ 0 VO at Whole Foods http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/02/vo-at-whole-foods/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/02/vo-at-whole-foods/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:37:12 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=2113 [UPDATE - New Date] Do your grocery shopping on Wednesday, February 17 at Whole Foods in Shadyside and Whole Foods will donate 5% of their total daily sales to Venture Outdoors!

We’ll be at the store from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM in the café area offering special discounts and gifts memberships. If you’re looking for a perfect gift, we will be offering special Dual and Family Gift Memberships including Activities and Kayak Pittsburgh passes. Stop by our table with your February 17 receipt from Whole Foods and receive a coupon for $5 off a rental at Kayak Pittsburgh.

Please stop by Whole Foods to say Hi to our staff and support Venture Outdoors!

Whole Foods is located at: 5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

This event was originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, but was postponed due to weather conditions.

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2010/02/02/vo-at-whole-foods/feed/ 0 Final days of gift giving! http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/15/final-days-of-gift-giving/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/15/final-days-of-gift-giving/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:11:29 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=1940 The heat is on! We are down to the last few days of holiday shopping. Venture Outdoors has lots of great gift ideas to satisfy everyone on your list. Our gift membership packages make excellent gifts.

Each package comes with extra bonuses to make sure your loved ones get the most out of their membership for the entire year. Gift memberships start at just $20, and come in student, individual, dual and family packages. Every package includes:

  • Kayak Pittsburgh Rental Passes
  • Venture Outdoors Program Passes
  • Venture Outdoors Bumper Sticker

Or if your loved ones are already members, give them some stylish Venture Outdoors Gear. We have a new style of beanie this holiday, complete with tassels and extended coverage for your ears. Or the popular L.L.Bean fleece lined vest makes a great gift. We’re selling them for the same price as L.L.Bean but with the Venture Outdoors logo embroidered on the front.

All gift memberships and gear must be purchased by 4:00 PM on Monday, December 21 to ensure delivery by Friday, December 25.

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/15/final-days-of-gift-giving/feed/ 0 Backrubs-and-Bodyworks http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/04/backrubs-and-bodyworks/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/04/backrubs-and-bodyworks/#comments Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:47:33 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=1896 We are excited to announce the addition of Backrubs-and Bodyworks to our Merchant Discount list. Venture Outdoors Members now receive 10% off any massage service at their studio in Downtown Pittsburgh!

Backrubs-and-Bodyworks is Downtown’s premier provider of massage to the “weekend warrior” since 1997. Their techniques include Sports, Neuro-Muscular, Trigger-Point, Hot Stone, Reflexology, Couples, Seated and Foot Massages. Their on-site massage can bring stress-relief to your workplace. Gift certificates are available and fit any budget for birthdays and holidays. Visit their experienced and relevantly trained professional massage therapists who have been working for 13 years to relieve pain and tension. Same-day appointments welcome! Open Monday through Friday 10:45 AM to 6:00 PM.

Backrubs and Bodyworks
Suite 205 Park Building
355 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: 412.201.1777
www.backrubs-and-bodyworks.com

See our entire list of Merchant Discounts

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/12/04/backrubs-and-bodyworks/feed/ 0 Be Different this Year http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/23/be-different-this-year/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/23/be-different-this-year/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:30:11 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=1868 Let’s face it, everyone is looking for unique Christmas gifts. The gift that goes down in history or is the talk of the family gathering. Something more than a tin of caramel popcorn or Target gift card. Something your loved ones will actually use and remember.

Why not give them a Venture Outdoors Membership, a VO Membership will keep giving all year, through winter snowshoeing, spring hiking, summer paddling and fall biking. Just think – at this time next year, your gift will still be giving!

The holidays are one of our best times to buy memberships. We have membership packages for students, singles, couples and families, and each package includes extra bonuses to use throughout the year.

Packages range from $20 to $60 and can even be purchased for yourself.

So think outside the box this year, or just think outside and wrap the gift in a box. Start your Christmas shopping with Venture Outdoors.

See our membership packages at: ventureoutdoors.org/givemembership.aspx.

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/23/be-different-this-year/feed/ 0 Twenty-three minutes and three new liftetime members http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/09/twenty-three-minutes-and-three-new-liftetime-members/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/09/twenty-three-minutes-and-three-new-liftetime-members/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:56:13 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=1808 It took just twenty-three minutes for Pittsburgher’s to donate over $1 million to area nonprofits on the Pittsburgh Foundation’s first ever Match Day. Venture Outdoors had 16 people make donations through the PittsburghGives website, and an additional 23 people donated on our website after the matching funds had been exhausted.

The matching funds are still being confirmed but we are estimating that over $16,900 was raised for Venture Outdoors on that day, making October 28th the single biggest day of individual giving in Venture Outdoors history. Thank you to everyone who donated!

As part of this special occasion we also offered up lifetime memberships to anyone who donated $2,500 on the PittsburghGives website, and we are pleased to announce our very first Venture Outdoors Lifetime Members: Tony Delserone, Lazer Palnik and Clark Lingren. Thank you for your generous donations!

]]> http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/11/09/twenty-three-minutes-and-three-new-liftetime-members/feed/ 1 Where are your fellow members? http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/10/28/where-are-your-fellow-members/ http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/2009/10/28/where-are-your-fellow-members/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:56:31 +0000 admin http://blog.ventureoutdoors.org/?p=1769 A friend of Venture Outdoors, Kevin Perkey, of 3rc recently shared these maps of our membership growth over the past four years. Kevin created the maps using GIS technology and the history in our database.

Check out the maps below to see how we have grown and find your dot!

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