Jumpstart to Get Outdoors: new OFAH and Canadian Tire Partnership

OFAH FILE: 842
August 26, 2014
For Immediate Release

Jumpstart to Get Outdoors: new OFAH and Canadian Tire Partnership
A weekend of one-of-a-kind outdoor adventures set for 60 Toronto youth

From downtown skyscrapers to backwoods duck ponds, every child deserves a taste of the great outdoors, says the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.

This September, these proud partners in outdoor education are delivering a life-changing experience for 60 heart-of-the-city kids (ages eight to 12) who seldom, if ever, experience the world beyond the pavement. From September 5 to 7, two busloads of children and chaperones will join OFAH staff and volunteers for an action-packed Get Outdoors Weekend, hosted at the Kinark Outdoor Centre in scenic Haliburton County.

“Congratulations to Canadian Tire Jumpstart for recognizing all the hands-on skills and personal character development that comes from the OFAH Get Outdoors experience. Canadian Tire Jumpstart is working with the OFAH to support youth by assisting with the costs for healthy, active outdoor lifestyle programs,” said Angelo Lombardo, OFAH Executive Director.

While children in the city centre are accustomed to subways and buses, OFAH Get Outdoors introduces young people to kayaks and canoes, hiking boots and high ropes, as well as a brand new fleet of youth model ATVs supplied by Canadian Tire. The kids will leave their smartphones behind in exchange for handheld devices such as fishing rods and paddles for exploring the lake, compound bows and crossbows for target practice, whistles and compasses for outdoor survival and orienteering, and turkey calls and marshmallow sticks for game calling contests around the campfire.

OFAH Get Outdoors is the Federation’s flagship youth conservation program that, since 2002, has provided outdoor experiences and conservation leadership camps for thousands of children. The demand for this OFAH program has been unprecedented as this year’s 240 spaces for the OFAH Get Outdoors Summer Leadership Camp filled up in less than two minutes.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart gets kids in the game by assisting with the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation for sports and physical activities. It also lends support to unique initiatives aimed at increasing access to sports and physical activities. For more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.

With more than 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 720 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org and follow Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters on Facebook and Twitter (@ofah).

-30-

Contacts: