Bethel City Council Supports TAAV

Several TAAV members attended yesterday’s Bethel City Council’s meeting. During the opportunity for public comment, they  spoke about their experiences with TAAV and the importance of the annual Outward Bound trip.

Hello my name is Elizabeth Andrew. I’m 17 years old. Outward Bound is a trip downstates where we do stuff outdoors. Last year we went to Oregon and we went whitewater rafting on the Deschutes River. We we did many things like rafting, swimming, and exciting things like jumping off rocks and swimming in fast water. We also got to learn new and different skills. It was a very fun and exciting experience. We want to go this year because it is in a Maine, a very new and different place. We are going to learn how to sail. We are very excited for this trip and have been planning and fundraising for this trip all year long. We need these miles because it is very far away and we need as much support as we can get. Thanks for considering giving to us.

Hi my name is Austin Atcherian. I am 16 and I am in 10th grade. I have been in TAAV for about two years. During Outward Bound I learned about leadership and I want to go back because I want to learn more and more stuff and have fun at the same time. Thanks for considering donating to us.

TAAV member Megan Moses was unable to speak to the Council, but attended the meeting. She wanted to share the following:

Last year I ventured on my first trip out of state and learned that there is more to life than your comfort zone. Sometimes you have to go out of your own circle and find out that there is more to life than your self and there are also more places to learn about and explore. I also learned that you have to work as a team in unison rather than doing your own thing.

After hearing TAAV’s testimony, the Council decided to discuss AM 14-23, TAAV’s request for a donation of twenty thousand Alaska Airlines miles for its upcoming Outward Bound trip to Maine in late May. The Council voted 6-1 to donate air miles to TAAV.