Wilderness Journal

This weekend the Park Ridge Winnebago Nation held its spring camp out. The spring camp out is the time when Chiefs whose terms are ending pass their leadership roles to new dads.  It is a special time for the organization.  Retiring chiefs and their children look back fondly on their memories throughout the year while new chiefs and their children eagerly await with excitement for their new responsibilities. 

A special farewell is due to Winnebago Nation Chief Matt Hachigian.   Matt said his goodbyes as Nation Chief at Saturday evening’s Council Fire.  Matt brought passion, vision and determination to the role leading the Winnebago through two memorable years for the Scouts and their dads.   

Matt and his family embody what being a Park Ridge Wilderness Scout or Princess is all about.     Throughout his tenure, Matt made sure that the Winnebago Nation was a vibrant and exciting organization.  He worked tirelessly so that the campouts were great fun for all of the families involved.  The whole Hachigian family devoted time, effort and their dollars so that the Winnebago Nation and the entire Park Ridge Wilderness Scouts and Princesses  (PRWSP) could prosper.  The Hachigians are always there when the organization or the Park Ridge community needs help.

Matt will continue volunteering within the organization.  He will work on the Federation Board with Jim Hoffman as a Federation Tally Keeper.  Together, they will develop and implement marketing and recruiting strategies for PRWSP.  Matt will continue to make a difference.  Matt’s dedication to the Park Ridge Wilderness Scouts and Princesses will forever be appreciated.  It has been a privilege to serve with Matt and his family throughout my time with the organization. 

 Chiefly yours,

David A. Farrell

Federation Chief Emeritus

We would like to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, and participants in the Together Forever Color Fun Run this year.  Over the years, we have helped a number of Park Ridge families who have faced extraordinary challenges. This year’s recipient is the Provenzano family.  Their son  Dylan (pictured above) is a 12-year-old Emerson middle school student who was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Lurie Children’s Hospital.   We are pleased to be giving the proceeds from the race to help benefit the Provenzano family.

Special thanks to Don Metter and Colleen Montgomery.  Don created the race 5-years ago with the idea to help a person or family in need.  His drive and determination has kept this event going within our organization. Colleen has organized this event for us each year since its inception. Without her, it would have been very difficult to get this event off the ground.  Thank you both.

We hope that you enjoy some of the pictures from the run.  There was a rainbow of smiles to go around.

We would like to encourage folks to visit Dylan’s Go Fund Me page at the link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/dfense-for-dylan-provenzano

 

 

What is the Together Forever Color Fun Run all about?

All of the proceeds from this run go benefit a local family in need.  Over the years, we have helped a number of Park Ridge families who have faced extraordinary challenges. This year’s recipient is the Provenzano Family, they have spent so many hours, days, and years fundraising for foster children, Ronald McDonald House, the homeless, children with disabilities, and so many in their community. It is our hope that we can show this family the same support they have shown so many, with the help of all the communities they have touched.

Their son  Dylan, is a 12-year-old Emerson middle school student in Park Ridge, is an amazing baseball player, an expert at all things Legos, He was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Lurie Children’s Hospital. He is a fighter and has the kindest heart. Dylan has faced so many battles and always comes out stronger, braver, and with a smile and happy heart. He has overcome mastocytosis as an infant, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, manages sensory issues and anxiety, worked so hard recovering from a broken growth plate last summer to be baseball ready this season and then was diagnosed this January with Ewings Sarcoma. He just found out that his baseball season will be on hold for the foreseeable future and is understandable disappointed but has vowed to be back on the field as soon as possible.

Sign up now !

 

Details

Saturday, May 13th at 8:00am

Distance: 2 miles

UNTIMED RUN, WALK & SCOOT

Race Location: George Washington School

1500 Stewart in Park Ridge in-between  Western Ave / Crescent 

Race Day Packet Pick Up/ Registration: 7:10am -7:50am

Pre-Race Day Packet Pick Up: May 12th – 2:30pm-7:00pm

At Dick Pond in Park Ridge

 

Where do I sign up?

Press the orange Sign Up Now! button.  It is that easy.

The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for children.

Strollers, wheelchairs, bikes, scooters and tricycles are welcome.

 

The PR Wilderness Scouts and Princesses Annual 2-mile Color Fun Run will be Saturday, May 13th, at 8:00 a.m.  The run starts in front of Washington School (1500 Stewart Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068).  Participants are free to run, walk, skip, dance and saunter through the course as they dash through  a rainbow of colors.  WARNING:  Smiles and laughter are contagious at this run.  Share the experience with your family and friends.

Please join us for this worthwhile event as the proceeds go to a local family in need.    Be sure to sign up at the following link.   

Sign up now !

The Park Ridge Wilderness Scouts and Princesses proudly supports Park Ridge Friends of the Parks who will be hosting their fourth annual Pedals for the Parks Bike and Trike Exchange.  Our very own Mike Wapner is the Secretary of the organization.  Mike is a Chief Emeritus of the Mighty Ojibwa (twice).  Below are a few words from Mike concerning their upcoming event.

 

The kickoff event is the Bike Collection on Saturday, April 8, from 9am to 12 pm at the Centennial Aquatic Center, 100 S. Western Ave. in Park Ridge.  Bikes of all sizes in all conditions will be accepted.  Bike donors will receive a receipt for a tax-deductible donation that also serves as a ticket to early shop from 11 to 11:30 am on the sale day, and a 20% discount on a purchase of a bike at the sale.

The public Sale will take place at the Park Ridge Park District’s Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 29 from 11:30 am to 3pm at the Maine Park Leisure Center at 2701 W Sibley Ave. in Park Ridge. Historically this community has been very generous with their donations, providing us with more than 100 bikes each year for the past several years. In addition, thanks to Kozy’s Cyclery, there will once again be ten adult ready-to-ride checked and tuned bikes.  Watch for photos of many of the available bikes and trikes at PRFriendsoftheParks.org. All bikes and trikes will be sold as-is, with all sales and donations being final. A rain date is scheduled for May 6, 2017 at the same time and location. Unsold bikes will be donated to Working Bikes, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Chicago.

 About the Park Ridge Friends of the Parks

Park Ridge Friends of the Park is a 501(c)3 organization under Internal Revenue Service Guidelines and donations are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. The PRFP supports the Park Ridge Park District’s mission and a variety of its recreational and conservation projects and programs. Learn more at www.prfriendsoftheparks.org.