| FIRST for Monaco - Outward Bound targets Monaco youngsters for personal development
"Monaco does so much for the rest of the world, we felt it was time to give something back to the local population. All young people need help to cope with today's challenges. This is not about being rich or poor it's about being a member of the human race and learning how to reach your full potential. We are very excited, Monaco has never hosted anything like this before." says Judy Churchill, General Secretary of OB Monaco Association.
OB Monaco projects take « mountainous » strides ahead (See Phot Report Below)
Following meetings held in Monaco in June 2007 with the Outward Bound Monaco Association committee and Stephen Howe MVO and two OB UK instructor’s, the potential for to assess running a Monaco based OB course in 2008 was assessed.
 Following in the footsteps of the OB Monaco Patron HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco (see (www.mctimes.com/news/2007/05/2305Princebirds.php) and (Nice Matin Saturday 21 July Au Lac de Millefonts avec le prince Albert) , Steve Howe of (Stephen Howe Consulting Ltd) and Judy Churchill (General Secretary OB Monaco Association) have just returned from a fact finding and information gathering mission in the Mercantour.
Assisted by local experts Liz Lord and Melvyn Jones of Spacebetween Alpine Adventures (www.space-between.co.uk) , they visited different activity centres, trekked up mountains, checked out mountain shelters, visited various gîtes and youth associations and accommodation centres. The purpose of the mission was to assess the potential for organising part of the OB Monaco course in this area and the suitability of the various including investigating the legal and liability implications of running such activities.
Returning to Monaco they visited. Jeune J’écoute with whom OB Monaco is currently cooperating and then held a meeting with Mr Gilbert Vivaldi President of the Monaco Rowing club (www.societenautique.perso.libello.com ) to initiate plans to incorporate Monaco based water sports into the OB Monaco programme under the trained and experienced guidance of Mr Vivaldi. The club has been in existence since 1888 and impressed Steve with not only their equipment and expertise but their desire to become part of the programme and their belief in the overall OB all-round educational philosophy. They also discussed the introduction of cultural and linguistic element into the programme, something that Mr Vivaldi felt was equally important.
Plans were discussed for possible winter courses where young people for the Northern hemisphere could take advantage of Monaco’s exceptional microclimate and be able to benefit from both the sea and the mountains on Monaco’s doorstep, at a time of the year when other areas are less climatically hospitable.
OB Monaco aims to run a first 5 day activity course in summer 2008 aimed at local young people, combining outdoor adventure (mountain and sea), environmental awareness raising in line with Prince Albert’s current work in this area (see www.fondation-prince-albert-2-de-monaco.fr) and linguistic and cultural sensitisation.
Watch this spot for further news and updates………………
Photo Report
2081 = Mel Jones at the his gîte where "spacebetween" run their Alpine Adventures
2082 = Checking out local youngsters rock climbing at La Colmiane
2083 = The via ferrata at La Colmiane
   
2084/85/87/88 = Inside the mountain refuge at Madone de Fenestre ( 1900m alt)
2086 = view from Refuge at Madone de fenestre
2092 = local flora
   
2093/95/97/99 = Liz and Mel's gîte
 
2094/98 = Steve's five star accommodation (testing out the camping possibilities for OB Monaco)
2096 = view from the gîte
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