The Westcoast / 360° Family is Growing!

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The Westcoast / 360° Family is Growing!

Nov 032011

We wanted to take the time to share some fantastic news with you about some of our Company Directors and Trip Directors!

As summer came upon us rather quickly, we didn’t get the chance to share the amazing news that happened right before our annual staff training weekend in June. On May 23^rd, Max Nessim Hay was born to Carolyn and Symon Hay. Many of you will know Symon as one of the Directors of Westcoast Connection / 360° Student Travel for the past 11 years. He also directed programs for over a decade, taking hundreds of our trip members all around the world including our first Australia programs. His wife Carolyn also directed programs for us for 5 years so many of you might have had the chance to know them both. Max is now 5 months old and is certainly taking after his Dad… he smiles all the time and he cannot sit still!!

Max

On October 3^rd, Kellen Ryan LeCouffe was born to Pamela Nugent and her husband Kevin. Pamela is the dedicated Trip Planner for all of 360° Student Travel’s overseas Community Service programs including South Africa, Ecuador/Galapagos, Peru, our new exciting new Thailand program and China. Pamela also makes up part of our staff hiring team, is a summer Company Director and is in charge of one of our two summer communication centers so many of you have likely spoken to her over the past 11 years. Kellen joins a wonderful family that includes big sister Isabelle and big brother Trent.

Kellen

Finally, on September 23rd, Camden David SwamiNathan was born to summer Company Director Rich SwamiNathan (aka Swami) and to summer Trip Director Lindsay Reid. Many of you have been on trips with these two and will be happy to know that Camden (or Ace as he was more familiarly known in utero) and mom are doing well!

SwamiNathan Family

Camden

Congratulations to the Hay, Nugent and SwamiNathan family!

Alumni, have a story you want to share? E-mail us at alumni@westcoastconnection.com.

The Westcoast Blogger

La Mitad del Mundo

Ecuador/Galapagos Community Service No Responses »

Nov 012011

La Mitad del Mundo is the official Middle of the World site straddling both the northern and southern hemispheres. Participants on our Ecuador & the Galapagos Community Service program visit this area in Quito. There’s a series of experiments that are set up along the GPS-measured Equator line that help to demonstrate the effects of being exactly on the equator, as well as the differences in physics that exist between the northern and southern hemispheres. The coolest part of our visit includes participating in a few really cool experiments.

The Corolis Effect is demonstrated using a tub of water and some green leaves. When a bucket of water is poured into a sink on the Northern Hemisphere, it swirls in one direction (as shown by the leaves floating in the water), whereas on the Southern Hemisphere side, the water swirls in the opposite direction. When the water is poured down the center it came straight down.

The most popular experiment is visitors trying to balance a raw egg on the head of a nail. Apparently, it’s supposed to be easier to do this along the Equator. Well, when Company Director Mitch tried to do it he had no luck! One of the guides shared with him that on some mornings when he’s feeling well balanced, he can do it easily. On other days, it’s hard for him to balance the egg.

To see the Corolis Effect and try to balance the egg, I guess you need to join us in Ecuador this summer!

Check out this video to see these experiments in action!

The Westcoast Blogger

The Food Bank of Alaska

Alaska Community Service No Responses »

Oct 262011

Today it’s all about our Alaska Community Service program. If you haven’t seen the photo album we just uploaded to our Facebook fan page you should definitely check it out!

And below is a great article that Trip Director Matt wrote about his experience volunteering with the Food Bank of Alaska.

Enjoy!

The Westcoast Blogger

“Would you like to make a donation by purchasing a delicious baked good to assist the Food Bank of Alaska?”

The pride our trip members took throughout the “Great Alaskan Bake Sale” process on that warm sun-filled day in Alaska, is something that I will never forget!

Our group was greeted with open arms by Rick and Anita of the Hilltop Chalet in Anchorage. At first our group was a little reserved but that quickly changed as we went full out while our culinary skills were put to the test. In groups of 3 and 4 we baked cookies, cakes and plenty of other delicious treats, which were to be sold downtown on the 4^th of July. Soon the Chalet was filled with an aroma that would make your mouth water! You would think that after baking for several hours that the clean up at the end would be the most difficult part… This however, was not the case! Our group had no problem licking bowls, spatulas and finding a place to store “extra” chocolate chips and marshmallows! The day was filled with laughter and song which was a great way to start our community service based trip. We were even greeted by an ABC News reporter who interviewed our group while we baked (you can see the article here). We had a big kick out of seeing ourselves on the news a few days later. The next day we set out and put our marketing skills to work. All of our baked goods were sold downtown, with all of the proceeds going to the Food Bank of Alaska. The Trip Members paraded through the downtown streets of Anchorage selling our baked goods to anyone and everyone. Some of the Trip Members also took it upon themselves to donate some of their baked goods to those who looked like they could use a treat to brighten their day.

The highlight of this activity for me was when collectively our group came to the conclusion that “Wow…. community service can be fun.”

Yep… Sure can!!!

Kia Ora, Welcoming New Zealand & Fiji for 2012

New Zealand plus Fiji No Responses »

Oct 252011

While most of us were sleeping snoring away at 4 am on Sunday morning, likely resting up for a day of watching NFL, doing errands or preparing for the World Series Game 4, a lot of the world, at least the non-North American Western World, was gathered together for a huge moment in sports.

Every 4 years, the Rugby World Cup is held, more often than not in a British descended country. Although many North Americans may not know much about the sport of Rugby (present author excluded … I’m a big fan!), for many countries it is their number one sport of choice.

The world revolves around the prep school “civilized” sport of Rugby Union. The movie “Invictus” with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman portrayed the incredible, unlikely victory of a newly formed South Africa over the mighty New Zealand All Blacks team back in 1995. This was one of the most unifying moments in South African history and a focal point for the country in its efforts to unite racial divide. It’s an incredible sports moment and something that is certainly a true life moving story – (you can learn about that moment and South Africa’s incredible history on our South Africa Community Service program).

This past month however, the World Cup was held in the magical land of New Zealand… an adventurer’s paradise and a destination that 360° Student Travel is proud to announce we will be going to this summer. Our program will be an incredible and complete experience of the whole country that takes in the best sights and activities. From the most adrenaline pumping white water rafting trip ever, to one of the best treks in the world; from Zorbing to a glacier experience like no other – this is an incredible adventure.

New Zealand plus Fiji Whitewater Rafting

Rafting the Kaituna River ... 13 Major Drops and a 22 Foot Drop Over Tutea Falls

Glacier Mountaineering the Franz Josef Glacier

This summer will be an awesome time to visit as the country will be riding a high; the Kiwis, had not won the World Cup since 1987 despite being among the favourite teams at almost every tournament. Last week they met their arch rivals, the Wallabies (Australia’s National team) and handily beat them 20-6. In the other semi, France overcame Wales 9-8 and the stage was set for Sunday’s final game … a rematch of the 1987 game.

The All Blacks (named for their trendy and cool black Jersey’s) scraped by and after 80 minutes of play managed an 8 to 7 victory. For a Nation of 4 million people who live and breathe rugby, this was the success of a lifetime. All in all, the spectacle was incredible and the world was awed by the show put on by the team from one of the most magical of travel destinations anywhere in the world.

Hopefully you managed to catch a game or two; if not we hope you manage to at least have seen the All Blacks perform the Haka, a traditional Maori war dance. The dance is effectively a challenge to an opposing “team.” It is something that has been performed for centuries and it is amazing to see on the sports stage.

Our groups will learn the Haka firsthand this coming summer from an indigenous Kiwi and be able to show it off when we experience a traditional Maori village experience. Check out the Haka from the Final above or see what the Wall Street Journal had to say about it last week.

You can check out our New Zealand Program (and its extension in Fiji) on our website which has just been updated!

The Westcoast Blogger

Anna Put Her Hand in Jessica’s Mouth …

South Africa Community Service No Responses »

Oct 182011

Don’t worry, Jessica wasn’t a Trip Member on Anna’s Africa Community Service program, Jessica is a 10 year old female hippopotamus who lives in South Africa.

Everyone is Smiling!

When our groups visited Jessica last summer, she was quite hungry! Some trip members fed Jessica tea while the other group fed her sweet potatoes. According to Trip Director Anna, “We would place the sweet potato on her nose and then place it in her mouth – a pattern that she is familiar with. In between, you could pet her nose and her face. She drinks a CRAZY amount of tea and she loves coffee, but they cut back on coffee because her doctor said it wasn’t good for her!”

Feeding Jessica

Petting Jessica

Hippos are known to be aggressive, but not Jessica. The scientists studying her if she considers herself to be a human or if she sees her human visitors as hippos.

Check out the clip below to learn about the South African couple who adopted her and watch her behave very much like a house pet! Also see the Animal Planet clip about her here.