National Awareness Tour
(completed)

The Biofuels Education Coaltition:
Oil and Water Project Tentative Outline of
National Awareness Tour : March 25 - June 15 2006

Click here for Tour Dates and Locations

This initial tour component of the trip will have 4 main focuses:

  1. To reach youth and environmentally concerned people in America, the home country of the team, with the message of alternative fuel options, sustainable energy sources and awareness of the environmental and societal consequences of petroleum dependency.
  2. To inform the public and media of the upcoming first leg of the journey set to span both Americas prior to its initiation in July so that continuous coverage and interest will be maintained throughout the trip. This will also serve to bring awareness to the various sponsors involved in the project through demonstration at various retail outlets and collaborating establishments nation wide.
  3. To raise awareness of, and form partnerships with, various NGOs, youth groups and grassroots organizations involved in river/environmental conservation and biofuels/alternative energy sources advocacy across the country.
  4. To raise money for the project’s ongoing expenses through fundraising evenings consisting of demonstrations and film screenings specific to the journey and the kayaking passion of the team.

The general outline of how these 4 objectives will be reached will vary from place to place but entails a general routine of 4 key visits:

  1. Visiting a particular retail outlet in the morning (between 10-12 am) that is affiliated with the various sponsors of the project. This venue will be used for a mid-morning demonstration of the vehicle, biofuels education, and specifics of the project. At this demonstration Julia Wieck of Tonic Public Relations will coordinate local media be present (including local radio, newspapers and TV) in order to cover the story. The goal will be to have it aired in time to help promote the evening fund raising event. This demonstration will be approximately 2 hours in length. Collaborating NGO/grassroots groups will also be present to share in the message and to establish a partnership with the team.
  2. Visiting a public middle school (aimed at 5th to 8th grade). These schools will have been previously sent a two-week curriculum covering four lessons on biofuels education and awareness of the Oil and Water Project. As part of this curriculum, classes will be challenged to make posters to show ways to conserve energy in their own communities. Winning posters will be chosen to go along with the trip to be present at a final competition toward the end of the primary tour. Students will be encouraged to ask the questions that have come up in their studies and encouraged to engage in the interactive website which will be ongoing throughout the trip.
  3. The evening (7-12 pm) will consist of an event at a movie screening venue. This event will first entail vehicle demonstrations and tours outside the venue and a brief sum up of the project. Following, there will be a screening of two films: Tweaking the Nose of Terror (Alex Nicks Productions) and Dynasty (Young Guns Productions). These movies are both adventure whitewater kayaking movies which are newly released and of interest to a large audience of extreme sport and outdoor enthusiasts. There will be a charge for entry into this event (for the purpose of fundraising) as well as DVDs of the movie and paraphernalia of the Oil and Water project for purchase.

Four necessities of the National Biofuel Awareness Tour:

  • Establishment of contacts in all locations along the length of the tour of collaborating NGOs, school groups and grass roots organizations that would be interested in hosting the visit. Ideally these groups should be specific to biofuels education, river conservation, alternative energy awareness and environmental advocacy. The role of these groups will entail meeting with the team in the morning at the stated retail outlet. Media generated by the project will bring exposure to local efforts and organizations present at the events.
  • Help in organizing local venues willing to host a movie screening (seating at least 50-100 people) that will donate the venue for the evening on behalf of the cause. Ideally there will be a place where the vehicle can be parked outside and is easily accessible to the public.
  • Ideas of media, especially freelance, that would cover the morning and evening event that may not be obvious to someone not from the area.
  • A contact of 1-2 public middle schools that would be keen to engage in the curriculum and presentation by the team. This school will need to be able to participate for the 2 weeks leading up with a non-intrusive, 4 lesson curriculum for the children and a poster contest. We would encourage several schools to participate in the curriculum and follow up components but unfortunately time will only allow for 1-2 visits by the actual team per stop.