Check out our new website! www.kidsadventuring.org

Please point yourself to our new website at

www.kidsadventuring.org

Thanks!!!!

We made it! All sweaty and tired...but we made it.

35 brave souls, mostly returning KIVA members, blazed a trail up to the amazing sights at the top of Peaks of Otter on Saturday!

Thanks to Target for the water, man did we need it, and to Clif Bar for supplying the snacks! Hmmm...Chocolate Chip Bars, Double Chocolate Bars, Sour Apple Twists Ropes, and Strawberry Twists Ropes...

Two quick things:
June 7th, Roanoke City Parks has invited KIVA members for a special hike at 10AM. I will send out an e-mail of details.

NEW - The Phenomenal Jon Beard and the Ever-talented Kim Avis have created a bright and bold new website for KIVA. It is still in the works. I will give you the link, as soon as they give the go ahead. These guys hiked with us, took amazing pictures and still had the energy to go home and develop this fantastic addition to our increasing web presence. Thank you guys.
Please check out Jon's work at www.jonbeard.com

Thanks All.

A hiking we will go...a hiking we will go....

Join us today, if you can! See below for details. Check back Monday for really neat news and an extra special date for KIVA members in June. If you have not signed up for our monthly newsletter, please send an e-mail to KIVAinfo@gmail.com

Also: Please check out this great article about the work of Richard Louv and the people of Children and Nature Network.

Also wic... Thanks to the Roanoke Times for their excellent coverage of Bike Month. They published my letter to the editor today about these efforts. I will be riding in the Ride of Silence Wednesday, to bring attention to the growing number of people who are making the clean commute to work.

Ready to take on the mountain?

Join us Saturday for a beautiful day spent hiking to the top of Sharp Top at the lovely Peaks of Otter. Our children have enjoyed this fall and spring tradition for several years now. Each of them has spent time in our worn out old backpack. This will be our youngest last journey in the faded teal and blue snuggly. And he will be excited for that. His little legs are not so little anymore.

Our kids enjoy the trip for the snack breaks, and the chance to see Daddy winded. Last year, nearing the top, I heard our youngest mimicking me from the backpack...hhhhhh...aaa...hhhhhh...aaa...hhhhhhh. I'm sure he didn't know why I was making the noises, he just new I was supposed to be doing it, and therefore so should he.

This year the trip will be shorter, as we have grown, but also because we will have friends hiking along with us. Many people on our mailing list of over 160 families have said they will come out. We are happy to also welcome Ms. Virginia Ehric from the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We joined FotBRP after hiking the trail last spring. I came down the mountain noticing how much cleaner the trails were and a few days later I read a great article about how a group of teenagers spent their spring break cleaning up the Peaks trails for a project sponsored by the Friends.

Ms. Virginia will be sharing about the FotBRP programs, box turtles and tree plantings. We will be writing up our adventure on Saturday for their newsletter. The timing of this event is perfectly set to the recent newspaper accounts of the loss of funding for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Come join us as we learn more about the efforts of so many people working to keep our area beautiful. Can't make it, but want to learn about the Friend's efforts, check out
www.blueridgefriends.org

Meet us at 10 AM at the Discovery Center atop Mill Mountain for a pit stop and directions, or meet us at the bottom of the Sharp Top Trail at 10:45 AM. We hope to see you there. Bring a picnic lunch. Snacks are being provided by Clif Bar and 72 water bottles have been donated by Target of Roanoke. We will begin the hike about 11:20.

Thanks for your support and for passing the information about KIVA onto many friends, family, and neighbors.

Went up on the mountain, to give my horn a blow...

E-mail us at KIVAinfo@gmail.com for an agenda for the year and monthly newsletter.

Such a reward this has been, to invite people out to a favorite park, to share picnic lunches, to meet new families. A simple idea has grown into a very large list, a slightly large undertaking, and something the Donahue family looks forward to all month long! Our last meeting cemented for us that we have a good thing going with KIVA. For those who could attend, the families who hunted down this little oasis of a park (Happy Hollow Gardens) we thank you.

For those of you that could not attend for various reasons, but sent notes of support (Go Windy Hill Yard Sale Day!) we thank you. For those of you that sent prizes for our talent show, over 100 prizes given away!, we thank you. To those of you who didn't run away when I destroyed a lovely rendition of my favorite banjo tune, I'm sorry for your pain. I promise not to do that again...any time soon. I spoke of how honored I was that friends would be willing to come up and play for our talent show. Not just for the cool swag, donated by area businesses, but just because I asked. Thank you all.
The Ever Incredible Mike Franke
The Golden Throated Jamie Booker - The Cat Came Back!
The Rockingest Rockers in the Land - The Wading Girl - songs about bears...oh my!
The Entertainingest and Extremely Energetic Tom Angleberger
The Easy Go Calmly Lynwood Hall
and the addition of a wonderful mandolin player (and son) and storyteller, Bill Saul - who needs to send me a recording of his tune about playing in the Blue Ridge Mountains...
and lastly, the many, many talented kids who took to the stage!

Thank you to the businesses and individuals who donated prizes - you will be noted in our next monthly newsletter... Over 100 prizes!
Holiday Inn - Roanoke at Valley View
Plan 9 Music of Roanoke
Grandin Theatre
POPS Ice Cream Parlor (for strength)
Walkabout Outfitters in Downtown Roanoke - please call them for your hiking needs!

If you get a chance, please tell all the fine businesses "thank you" the next time you stop in!

Tom Angleberger for the signed copy of Quikpick Adventure Society - a book that got KIVA stewing in our brains. A must read!
Karen Adams for a copy of her book, The Mystery of Roanoke

and the wonderful, wonderful teachers at Glen Cove Elementary who emptied their closets (and wallets) just for me!

Now keep on getting out there. Roanoke, Salem and the surrounding areas offer us so many great places for free outdoor fun. Last weekend, I had the chance to so some puddle splashing with our kids on their bikes! That kind of adventure brings you to life. That's what showers and changes of clothes are for, right? April Showers bring Virginia clay stains. Maybe we should write for a sponsorship from the maker of the bleach pen! I'll work on that. In the meantime, make some memories with your children. It won't be long until they won't want to have a thing to do with us. Unless...

We'll see you on the mountain!

KIVA meets today! See below for more information.

Your name here? KIVA Talent Show!

Happy Hollow Gardens, here we come! Updated 4/21/08

We take to the mountain with our free monthly outdoor adventure club on April 26th from 10 AM until 3 PM. If you have never been to Happy Hollows, please check the link below or mapquest it yourself.

6697 Mount Chestnut Road, Uninc Roanoke County, Virginia

or this link
Happy Hollow Gardens

Times are still available. We have so many great people who have offered to share their talent with us. If you don't see your name here, but you would like, please let us know through e-mail at KIVAinfo@gmail.com

THERE WILL BE PRIZES for each person who gets on stage. The prizes have been donated by area businesses and teachers. Gently used books, toys, hiking supplies, coffee, frisbees, a night's stay at a local hotel, John Lithgow books, music and much more. We now also have an official POP's t-shirt, a gift certificate from Grace's Pizza, a prize package from Plan 9 Records in Roanoke, coffee from Starbucks, tickets to a movie at the Grandin Theatre and gift certificates from B and D Comics. There will be a table of prizes laid out that day for you to choose from. We are still accepting prizes, as well as talented people!


Here is the schedule at this time.

Still waiting on a time for you, right?
Email at KIVAinfo@gmail.com

10:00 arrival, introductions, pass out agendas
10:30 Grounds tour and share Lithgow books
11:00 Donahue family and others
11:30 Mike Franke and others
12:00 - 12:30 Picnic lunch
12:30 Jamie Booker and others
1:00 The Wading Girl and others
1:30 Tom Angleberger and others
2:00 Lynwood Hall and others

No talent too small! Due to parking restrictions, feel free to come up anytime throughout the day. About 20 cars can fit in the parking areas, please consider carpooling.

Families are encouraged to visit the stage when you would like, but feel free to walk around the park, enjoying the lovely creek, the wonderful trails, and the tremendous trees! Please remember to stay with your child at all times. Childcare will not be provided, but lovely memories will be made.

Check here for updates. Banjo, storytelling, jokes, tap dance, singing, mad skills, gardening, break dancing, flat footing, air guitar, soduko? Whatever your talent is, come share it with us!

Clean Valley Day!

When we finished cleaning at Fishburn Park, a family came down the hill to set up a birthday party for their one year old. The mother mentioned that she had her one year birthday at this same spot! What a reward that was providing her with such a clean area in which to have her birthday. It was almost as good as the delicious doughnuts donated by Mr. Mike Jennings at Krispy Kreme!

Thanks to Joy and Anne, the amazing Enos family, The Wright Brothers and Donna, and to my lovely crew for showing up and putting those work gloves to...work.

We are so excited about April 26th at Happy Hollow Gardens! Back to the fun part of KIVA for an outdoor talent show. Please make sure you let us know so we can reserve you a spot on the stage! Times are filling up quick. Look for acts by:
The Talented Mike Franke
The Amazing Lynnwood Hall
The Not So Ready For Prime Time Chip Donahue
The Wading Girl

and hopefully you, mixed in with talented kids from all over Roanoke and the surrounding areas. Check here next week for an updated list of performers and a map to find Happy Hollow Gardens!

Domo.

Domo.

That's what I got from the bumper sticker of the car parked at the end of our road as I returned from my run this morning. Today, as I ran, I remembered it was Clean Valley Day. The world seems fresher and new. It is easy to see why April was chosen for National Poetry Month. Everything is inspiring. The yellow daffodils, the purple grape hyacinths, and the dainty periwinkles all were on parade. Lovely low to the ground violets, who come out a week before my birthday every year, were welcoming early buzzing bees. Even my favorite color, the blue in my wife's eyes, is sparkling even more it seems.

As I ran, I passed a few boxes in the road, a few bottles and various riff-raff. The same thought came to my head. We should get somebody to clean this up. I looked around and I thought of Betty Grable's quote: "I've got two reasons for success, and I am standing on both of them."

Something we tell the students all the time...If it is to be it is up to me...

So, I came back from my run, boxes, bottles, cigarette containers, cups, etc. in hand. And I truly received a parade for my efforts, thanks to the flowers and the budding trees... plus the little guy waving to me on the bumper sticker, saying "Domo."

Yes, we will be there. Rain or shine to continue to clean up for Clean Valley Day. I hope you can join us. Fishburn Park - 10 AM til 2 PM. Bring a picnic lunch, some gloves, and whatever reason you may have for success. Hope to see you there. Doughnuts donated by Krispy Kreme. Until they run out!

KIVA for Clean Valley Day, April 5th!

Hello all. As we have mentioned, KIVA - Kids In the Valley, Adventuring! will always be free. The only thing we ask of you is to consider giving back to our lovely town by participating in a few volunteer events. Roanoke and the surrounding areas offer so many great places to play. Let's do our part to keep them beautiful!

KIVA - Play, Learn, Volunteer
Here's a chance to do all three of these things. Bring your gloves, hats, water bottles, and smiling faces. Lets make it shine!

Meet at Fishburn Park at 10 AM. Doughnuts will be provided by Krispy Kreme. Bring a picnic lunch. We will clean, eat and play throughout the day (10-2). Come pitch in when you can.

ALSO - Please be aware! April 26th is our next meeting! KIVA takes on Happy Hollow Gardens for a marvelous hike, day of adventure and our first annual talent show. Email us if you would like to be added to the ever growing list of performers! KIVAinfo@gmail.com

Thank you all so much!

WOW!
Saturday was our best turn out yet!

It could have been the beautiful weather.

It could have been the wonderful book talk given by my wife for Ryan and Jimmy: And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Ryan-and-Jimmy/Herb-Shoveller/e/9781553379676/.

It could have been the fantastic walk for World Water Day, led by Mr. Earl Morris of the Virginia Bluebird Society - http://www.virginiabluebirds.org/

It could have been the glowing remarks about KIVA by Mr. Robbie Schaefer on his radio show for XMKIDS. Do check out more by Robbie here: http://songsforkidslikeus.littlestarrecords.com/

Mostly though, I think it was the parents and the 50 plus kids who showed up to have an adventure together. Thank you for making KIVA a success once again. Parents, we appreciate all you do for your children.

The Roanoke Times surprised us by coming along for the day. Thank you to Mr. David Harrison and Ms. Jeanna Duerscherl for coming out. Your thoughtful story and beautiful photographs added so much to our progress as a group and raised awareness about how families can get out and play, learn and volunteer to make a difference in our area. We had 20 families write in yesterday, to ask for our newsletter because of the article!

Lastly, a book was pointed out to me and I am looking forward to reading this. Written by an associate professor of English at Radford University Rick Van Noy, A Natural Sense of Wonder, Connecting Kids With Nature Through the Seasons, will certainly be a book that the Donahues will feature at one of our meetings later this year. Check out a preview at
http://www.ugapress.uga.edu/0820331031.html

Please forward our information to friends. We would love to see you out April 5th. For Clean Valley Day, KIVA is continuing to play, learn, and volunteer by cleaning up at Fishburn Park April 5th from 10 AM until ---Well I guess until the Krispy Kreme doughnuts run out.

Thanks.

KIVA March 22nd and a few links!

Hello there!
Just a quick reminder about this month's KIVA - Kids In the Valley, Adventuring! Meet us at Green Hill Park at 1:00 PM as special guest, Mr. Earl Morris discusses local bluebird habitats that have been set up around the area, and then walk with us as we participate in World Water Day. We will be hiking and walking by the river. Dress accordingly! We look forward to seeing you there. Come adventuring with us!

Speaking of birds: Check out Andy Runton's webpage for our favorite winged friend, Owly! This little big bird has a heart of gold and was a big inspiration for the outdoor adventuring idea behind KIVA. http://www.andyrunton.com/ He signed an original drawing for me years ago, and it is hanging on the wall before me as I write this. Next time you come out to KIVA, check out the Owly books on the table!

Visit our World Water Day walk site at: http://www.worldwaterday.net/network/052/KIVA - Kids In /the Valley, Adventuring!

Also: Plan to meet with us as we return to Fishburn Park to join a special Team KIVA clean up crew for Clean Valley Day, April 5th, this time at 10 AM. Bring gloves and we'll bring doughnuts! As always, KIVA is free. Tell a friend.

Chip and Ashley Donahue

See anything fun in the paper today?

KIVA - Kids In the Valley! was introduced today to the local Roanoke area through today's issue of The Roanoke Times. We would like to welcome any new readers who have learned about us by reading this article. My wife and I would also like to thank Ms. Jennie Tal for writing about our free monthly outdoor adventure club.

The story in today's paper can be found online here:
http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/152384

I am concerned about the sentence that states that I got tired of hearing about what my students are doing after school. If you are a present parent of one of my students or a parent from the past, you know that I frequently attend my student's games and activities after school and on the weekends. I also apologize for the word "most," as this wording does not properly reflect my feelings about my classes as a whole. I know many of my students attend many fantastic activities; such as sport practices, church services, scouts programs, and family fun activities. Again, I apologize for any way that this may take away from the amazing things you do with your families.

However, over all, I feel that the article captures our spirit of adventure and does a great job of welcoming all families to join us in thanking Roanoke for providing all of the fun places for us to play.

Please join us March 22nd for our third KIVA meeting of the year. If you would like to be added to our mailing list and to receive our monthly newsletter, please e-mail us at
KIVAinfo@gmail.com

Thank you all for visiting.
Chip Donahue

Thanks for coming out!

Hello All,

Thanks so much to those families that came out for KIVA and those families who happened to be playing at Fishburn Park and decided to come play with us for a while. I hope everyone enjoyed their free frisbee(*donated by Advance Auto Parts*), making the craft (a hiking journal donated by the Salem Wal-Mart), and the yummy hot chocolate and coffee (*donated by Starbucks). We had a great time. We will definitely need to put Fishburn Park on our list for next year. An extra special thank you to Michael Overacker for presenting the game of Disc Golf and walking us through a couple of rounds.

An extra special group stayed after and helped us clean up and walked the trails looking for trash. Team KIVA has signed up to help with Clean Valley Day - April 5th! Please contact us and let us know if you would like to help out on that day. Let's let Roanoke City know how much we appreciate all the great free parks by helping them keep them clean.

Our next KIVA is already planned out for March 22nd. We will meet again at 1:00 PM. By the way, this is our winter time. Once the weather warms up, we will start meeting earlier. I know this is nap time for many of our crew. March 22nd, please join KIVA in welcoming Mr. Earl Morris of the Virginia Bluebird Society at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County. Mr. Morris will walk us around the park, showing us the bluebird houses along the trail, and teaching us about the life of the beautiful bluebird.

Speaking of walking, this day is also set aside for World Water Day. Please join us as we join people around the world focusing on the world's need for clean water resources. Our walk that day is registered with their website. Check here for our address:
http://www.worldwaterday.net/network/052/Daniel/Donahue

Join us then, make a memory with your child and make a difference in the world.

And as always, it's free!

Here we go again!

The weather outside is frightful...
Keep an ear on the forecast. Last call said it would clear up for us on Saturday.
I'll take that! We are really excited about meeting with you all again. Advance Auto Parts of Roanoke has donated 300 frisbees for KIVA! We will bring them along to share so that everyone gets to take something home. We will also be giving away a few Nalgene bottles donated to us by Nalgene themselves. Wal-Mart has donated hiking journals for each participant, as well. After a tour of the Disc Golf Course, we will be making hiking journals and heading out for some fun around Fishburn Park.

A special thanks to The Roanoke Times for announcing the KIVA meeting for us and chosing us again for a Hot Pick this Saturday.

Come prepared to make a memory with your child.

Looking forward...

February 23rd is our next scheduled meeting. We will be meeting at Fishburn Park at 1:00 PM
for fun, hiking, letterboxing and frisbee golf! Our special guest will be Michael Overacker,
designer of the Fishburn Park Disc Golf Course.

We will be sharing from the book:
Trekking on a Trail: Hiking Adventures for Kids which has been an inspiration to us in preparing KIVA. We will also be sharing treats from many companies who
have decided to support our efforts.

Remember to send us your e-mail for updates and the electronic newsletter.

Thanks for all the e-mails. Please keep them coming. We are compiling favorite places to play around the Roanoke Valley, as well as volunteer opportunities for the families involved.

Play, Learn, Volunteer!

What a success!

Thank you all for coming Saturday. In all, including babies in slings and those in utero, we had 22 kids and their parents, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, and grandfathers! Thanks also to Paul Chapman of the Discovery Center and the great people at the Roanoke Times for letting everyone know about our meetings.

Here is what we accomplished:

Introductions and Mingling
People kept coming in...We had to get more tables and more chairs! My wife was home sick with a few of our little ones, but I was able to bring along my trooper middle child! Thanks P!
I am a school teacher for Roanoke County Schools, with my Masters of Reading. I am learning about the great outdoors as I go along.

Reading
Our favorite animal at the top of the mountain is one of the smallest. The chipmunk was the star is "How Chipmunk Got His Stripes" by James Bruchac
http://www.amazon.com/How-Chipmunk-Stripes-Picture-Puffins/dp/0142500216

Great Character Counts! moment, considering bragging and always being right.

Why did we start KIVA?
One thing I mentioned was as a teacher all things are derivative. I take what I have learned and put it all together into a lesson. The idea for KIVA did not come overnight.

Influences:
My wonderful wife Ashely, who keeps us all going. Her full time job seems to be taxi driver for the Wild Donahue's. She somehow seems to make it to her other job as Managing Broker of Wainwright & Company Realtors. She packs all the great picnics and kisses all the boo-boos. My biggest hero.

My three children...always up for the adventure. Thank you.

My good friend, Rick Williams, who got me off the couch and changed my life, tricking me into training for triathlons. Crazy man even manages our weekend running crew.

My many grandparents for getting me outside when I was a kid.

The following books must be read, if you want to understand why we created KIVA:

The Quikpick Adventure Society by Sam Riddleberger
http://sam.riddleburger.com/qwiklink.html

We really related to the kids of Crickenberg. This book sparked spirit of adventure in me, inspiring me to even suggest leading a group of kids on outdoor adventures. The story shows the true importance of the journey is not the treasure found under the "X Marks the Spot", it is the memories made along the way. This book will travel with us to all KIVA meetings. Our friend Jamie borrowed it. You can have it next, or better yet...buy your own.

A Walk In the Woods by Bill Bryson
On a recent hike, we met a wonderful man who hikes the same area almost everyday for the fun and the exercise. He recommended the book to us and we purchased it that day. Everyday Ashley and I shared stories from the book, laughing as we went along. NOT ALL FOR KIDS. Share the good stuff with them. Keep the better stuff for when they are older.
http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Woods-Rediscovering-Appalachian-Official/dp/0767902521

and these websites:

www.letterboxing.org Our favorite way to spend the day!
www.mmw.net Let's Go Everywhere!
www.rogerday.com DREAM BIG!

That's plenty enough for now. We look forward to seeing you all and more at our next meeting in February. We will have a guest speaker and lots of fun playing at Fishburn Park!

We'll be there!

We are excited to share our first KIVA meeting with you today at 1:00 PM, at the lovely Discovery Center atop Mill Mountain. If weather is a factor, please don't take crazy chances. Just come to our next meeting. But for those who can make it, we will be there!

"Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.”

Chief Seattle left these words of wisdom, and they are a guide for what we are planning to create with KIVA. Get out there. Enjoy. Make memories. Leave a footprint, something that can be seen, ever so slight. Our hope is that others will follow this footprint and get out as well.

As a school teacher, I hear a lot about No Child Left Behind. Last night I researched a new drive in Environmental Education called No Child Left Inside. The KIVA team has been added to their efforts, and our footprint has been placed on their website.

Check it out here!
http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_sub_actioncenter_federal_nclb_day_map

We are still planning to see you all at The Discovery Center on Saturday!

Hot Pick! on Roanoke.com

Hello All!
Looks like it we are in it for real! Roanoke.com just listed us as a Hot Pick! for our first meeting next Saturday. Here is the link if you want to check it out.

http://www.roanoke.com/appcal/calDetail.aspx?eventID=10452


The kids are very excited. We will be heading up the mountain on the 19th for Trail Clean Up Day and then preparing for the first KIVA meeting. Can't wait to see you all there.

Until then, keep sending in your outdoor ideas for our first newsletter. I spent the greater part of the day at the Salem Library looking for books for hiking hints and outdoor games ideas.

Lots to be found...
To quote an old dead dear,
"Dig deep, the earth is hard, the treasure is fine."

Welcome to the KIVAinfo blog.

Hello all! Thanks for finding your way here. A quick introduction is in order.

My wife and I decided to put together this little (FREE) get together in hopes of getting parents and their kids out of the house and outside enjoying our wonderful town. We want to showcase our favorite treasures within 50 miles and then learn about others we have yet to find. We want to also share ways to volunteer locally, to make our valley an even greater place to live.

The support from area businesses and the local media, The Roanoke Times and Roanoke.com has been fantastic. Already local stores, like the Natural Foods Co-Op, have offered to host us and supply snacks. I'm going to go with this momentum and call a business everyday!

Our first meeting will be held at the lovely Mill Mountain Discovery Center, atop our favorite high altitude playzone, Mill Mountain. Join us Saturday, January 19th, 2008, at 1:00 PM for introductions and snacks.

To receive our e-mails and calendar updates, please send an e-mail to KIVAinfo@gmail.com

We'd love to see you there. No childcare will be provided. Please come prepared to adventure with your children and leave knowing that you made a memory.