Dear Friends of the Ten Oaks Project,

It's my great pleasure to be writing to you as the new President of the Ten Oaks Project Board of Directors. Having been involved with the Ten Oaks Project for a few years now, I can say that it's a huge priviledge to work with an organization as wonderful and well-supported as this one. I'm continually inspired by the impacts of our programs on campers and families, and by how the dream of Julia Alarie and Holly Wagg and their founding Board has transformed into something so amazing for our communities!

This is a year of big transitions for the Ten Oaks Project -- we're gearing up for the launch of our new program, Project Acorn, a leadership retreat for youth from queer communities; we're stoked about this upcoming summer of Camp Ten Oaks, with some new faces and friends to share those great camp moments with; and we're excited to be growing as an organization as we hire our first Executive Director!

I'm so excited by all of these developments. I know, though, that they wouldn't be possible without you, our campers, families and supporters. So, we'll continue to need your help -- more than ever, actually. So, as you've supported us in the past, I look forward to meeting and working with all of you as we continue to make the Ten Oaks Project a huge success in connecting children and youth from LGBTQ communities through programs and activities rooted in play (and full of intentional magic)!

Thanks for your past and continued support.

Mark Schaan

5th Annual Bowl-A-Thon
Saturday March 7, 2009

Are you ready to lace up your bowling shoes? Have you been practicing your adventure bowl since last year's record breaking event? The time has finally arrived...TD Canada Trust presents the 5th Annual Ten Oaks Project Bowl-A-Thon to be held on March 7, 2009.

This year's Bowl-A-Thon will take place at Walkley Bowling Lanes, running from 6 to 9 pm. That's right - 30 lanes of bowling madness, including prizes, costumes, the Ensight Canada Adventure Bowl, and outrageous spirit - all with the goal of supporting kids and youth from queer communities, with lots of fun along the way!

The Ten Oaks Project is expanding this year with the addition of Project Acorn. We need your help to make our programs accessible to any child or youth who wants to participate. This year's Bowl-A-Thon fundraising target is $28,000...will you be there to make it happen?

Save the date: March 7, 2009, and stay tuned for more Bowl-A-Thon information including how to register, prizes, fundraising tips and more!

Learn more about the Bowl-A-Thon

Welcome aboard!
Introducing our new board members

We'd like to take a moment to welcome some fresh new faces to the Ten Oaks Project Board of Directors:

Jeff Beyer
Chris Cowperthwaite
Pamela Murphy
Marnie Potter
Lee Rose
Elizabeth Tyler

Read the board bios on our website to learn more about these wonderful people. We challenge you to see if you can find out which one of our new board members is expecting his or her third child in March 2009 and who is a champion roller derby enthusiast...

E-mail your answers to info@tenoaksproject.org before midnight on February 6, 2009. All correct entries will be put into a draw for a free Camp Ten Oaks Hoodie!

January 2009 - In this issue

Meet Our New Board Members

5th Annual Bowl-A-Thon

2009 Camp Ten Oaks Dates

Ten Oaks Project's New Website

Community Corner

Check it out...
Ten Oaks Project's new website

New year. New look. New website. The Ten Oaks Project's website recently underwent an extreme makeover! Take a few minutes to check out the new www.tenoaksproject.org. There's lots of information about Camp Ten Oaks, the upcoming Bowl-A-Thon and much more...

2009 Camp Dates

Mark your calendars - The 2009 session of Camp Ten Oaks will be taking place from August 23 to 29, 2009!

Camper registration opens on February 23, 2009.

The Camper Registration Package will be available for download on our website on February 23, 2009.

Did you attend camp in 2008? Your spot will be held until March 30, 2009.

Community Corner

Are you an LGBTQ parent or guardian? Do you have adopted children? Are you interested in connecting with other LGBTQ adoptive parents?

Please join us as we start up a new group for parents to meet and talk with other LGBTQ parents who have also adopted. The goal of our first meeting will be to determine what kind of supports and needs LGBTQ parents who have built their families through adoption require in Ottawa.

The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at the Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm.

For more information, please contact Holly Wagg at 613.742.5944 or lgbtqadoptionottawa@rogers.com.

The Ten Oaks Project is a not-for-profit, charitable organization. Our mission is to engage and connect children and youth from LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer) communities through programs and activities rooted in play. Our programs include Camp Ten Oaks and a new Youth Leadership Retreat, Project Acorn, that will launch in 2009.

Ten Oaks Project | 255 Montreal Road, Unit 205 | Ottawa, ON | K1L 6C4

613.321.2825 | info@tenoaksproject.org | www.tenoaksproject.org
Charitable organization number: 85521 5471 RR0001