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An Interview with Holden and His Mom
Sunday, May 13th, 2012As many of you know, Holden’s mother, Genevieve, is visiting him this summer while her human works at LGCT. Holden and Genevieve (Mama Holden) were kind enough to sit down for an interview in honor of Mother’s Day. It is my pleasure to provide you with the transcription below.
- Mandi
Thank you Holden and Genevieve for joining us today.
Genevieve: Oh, it’s our pleasure, dear.
Holden: Sure.
Tell me, Gen, is Holden your favorite?
G: Oh, Mandi, you’re going to get me into trouble!
H: Just tell her the truth, Ma (yes).
G: Well, he’s always been my most independent pup. Confident.
H: In charge.
G: If a bit headstrong.
H: But with a good head on *his* shoulders.
Oh, yes, Gen. If you can just stay there during the interview that’d be great. That’s the best position for the mic to pick up your responses.
G: No problem, dear.
Now, Holden, if there was one thing you would like to tell your mom on Mother’s Day, what would that be?
H: Well, I think that…
Hey, Gen? Up here.
H: Mooooooom!
G: Y’know, I think I smell bacon…
Holden, what was that you were saying?
H: Yes, I think that my mom has always been…
H: C’mon Mom! What is it now?
G: What? Oh, I’m sorry dear, but I think there’s something under this helmet! I can sme…
Oh, yes, Genevieve. That’s fine, but we can check it out after the interview, okay? Holden?
G: What? Oh, right.
H: (audible sigh) Well, what I was going to say was that my Mom has always been important in my life and that I’m glad she’s with me for part of the summer. It’s nice to not have to communicate long distance all of the time.
G: Oh, that is so sweet honey! I’m glad I’m here too…
G: I just, I think there’s something…
H: Yeah, okay Ma. I’ll get the bacon for you, hang on a sec…
Meet: Mama Holden
Friday, May 11th, 2012My mom’s staying with me over the summer.
Her human is working with us at the office.
And while it’s been an adjustment from bachelorhood to being in the same house as my mom again, it is nice having her around. I haven’t eaten this well since I left the litter, and my fur has never been so clean.
Plus, you know, mom’s not getting any younger. While she constantly bugs me about girlfriends and puppies, it’s nice to get to spend some quality time together.
In honor of Mother’s Day, we had a photo shoot at LGCT yesterday. I wanted to get her fitted for a helmet and harness before we took advantage of the buy-one-get-one-half-off (BOGOHO) Mother’s Day canopy tour special that’s happening this Sunday. I’ve included a picture so you can “meet” her…
There's bacon just out of frame
On Sunday we’ll post an interview we did with Mandi just for Mother’s Day. Remember, you can take advantage of the Mother’s Day BOGOHO special too. When mom’s accompanied by her child/ren her canopy tour is half off. Mama Holden and I hope to see you there!
Until next time,
Earth Week Trivia – Answers
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012#1: Pine Tree – A Pine Tree’s soft, white cambium layer is edible in raw slices, dried, or ground up as a stew and soup thickener.
#2: Adirondack is the Mohawk word for “tree eaters.”
#3: Blackberry – The root of this fruit has medicinal properties in treating diarrhea and dysentery.
#4: Trillium is the official flower of Ontario.
#5: Birch Tree – The bark of this tree is lightweight, strong, and waterproof and was used by Native Americans in building canoes, wigwams, and other household items.
#6: Morels – Also known as “hickory chickens,” “molly moochers,” and “dry land fish.”
#7: The average single family home (2,000 sq. ft.) can contain 16,900 board feet of lumber and 10,000 square feet of panel products. That much wood is equivalent to 3-7 acres of forest!
#8: About 45% of paper consumed in the United States is recovered for recycling.
#9: Wood is the 3rd largest globally traded commodity behind petroleum (1st) and natural gas (2nd).
#10: Wisconsin loses ZERO (!) acres of forested land every year. In fact, Wisconsin has been gaining forest acreage, not losing. “The state now has more forestland than at any time since inventories began in 1936.”
Thank you for playing our Earth Week Trivia. Remember, our over 8 miles of Arbor Trails are open free of charge this week to hikers and mountain bikers. It’s a little wet today, but we hope to see you out here soon!
Until next time,
- Mandi
Earth Week Trivia
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
The forest loves you too!
The forest is an endless source of information if you know where to look. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a few choice intellectual tidbits in honor of Earth Week. See if you can come up with the answers before we post them on our blog tomorrow!
1. This tree’s soft, white layer located directly under it’s hard exterior bark is edible when raw, dried, or ground. What tree is it?
2. Related to question number one, this word is Mohawk for “tree eaters.” Hint: it is also the name of a mountain range in northeastern New York.
3. The root of this fruit, found in the wild across North America, is sometimes used as an herbal medicine to treat diarrhea and dysentery.
4. This flower, commonly found in forests throughout Wisconsin in the month of May, is the official flower of the Canadian province of Ontario.
5. This tree was prized for its bark by Native Americans due to its strong, lightweight, and waterproof qualities. Can you name the tree?
6. These fungi are called “hickory chickens” in Kentucky, “molly moochers” in parts of West Virginia, and “dry land fish.” What are they?
7. The average single family home (2,000 sq. ft.) can contain 16,900 board feet of lumber and 10,000 square feet of panel products. That much wood is equivalent to __ to __ acres of forest.
8. About ___ percent of paper consumed in the United States is recovered for recycling.
9. Wood is the 3rd largest globally traded commodity behind ________ (1st) and ________ (2nd).
10. Wisconsin loses ___ acres of forested land every year.
Good luck and check back tomorrow for the answers!
Celebrate Earth Day with LGCT!
Sunday, April 22nd, 2012It’s no secret that we love the forest here at LGCT. Our course, designed and constructed by S.T.E.P.S., Inc, was built to have as minimal an impact on the environment as possible. In total, only eight mature non-diseased trees were cut down to make way for our mile long canopy tour course, which includes 8 zip lines, 18 platforms, 5 skybridges, 3 spiral stairways, and a one-of-a-kind double helix stairway.
All elements were constructed with future tree growth and health in mind, and, in fact, we could take down the entire course today and tomorrow you wouldn’t be able to tell that we had even been there.
Of course, WHY would we ever want to take down the course? We love it in the trees and we enjoy sharing that with all of our high-flying guests!
SkyGuide Brandon...showing Mother Earth some love.
This Earth Day we’d like to invite you out to our property located just 1.5 miles north of downtown Lake Geneva, WI. Join us for a canopy tour (you can make reservations here) or just spend the day hiking on our over 8 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.
Either way be sure to share a little love with Mother Nature and enjoy the beauty of our vibrant, diverse forest.
- Mandi
Weather.com Wants You To Have an Outdoor Adventure!
Friday, April 20th, 2012Do you believe everything you read on the Internet?
Do you always do as you’re told?
Lake Geneva weather forecast for Saturday, April 21st.
If so, then this Weather.com mandate is right up your alley. If not, then suspend your disbelief and rebellious nature for one day and THEN this Weather.com mandate is right up your alley (Click thumbnail for larger view).
We were checking the weather online, as is our habit several times per day, and when we looked at the weekend forecast we noticed an intriguing addition. Not only does tomorrow look to be mostly sunny with a high of 54 degrees, but the folks over at The Weather Channel think you should take advantage and head outdoors for an adventure!
If you go to the listing for Lake Geneva, WI weather, and click the link highlighted on Saturday’s forecast, you’ll be led to a nice little article detailing all the fun you could have outside this Earth Day weekend.
Number 6, naturally, is one type of adventure we all know and love…(Click thumbnail for larger view)
Our canopy tour is perfect for all ages and runs in most any weather year round!
So what are you waiting for? Make a reservation to enjoy some fun in the sun at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours!
Until next time,
Mandi
Tick Season Has Arrived in Wisconsin
Thursday, March 29th, 2012Greetings, humans. I decided to write this little PSA message for all of our trail guests who will be hiking and mountain biking at LGCT this Spring.
Mandi would do it, but just reading the one article I emailed her caused her to experience phantom itching and she’s currently in the bathroom checking her clothes for the little bloodsuckers. Never mind she hasn’t even been outside yet today. Women.
And so it falls to my responsible, manly shoulders to tell you that, because of the mild winter weather and early summer-like temperatures we’ve been having, tick season has started early in Wisconsin. Usually running May – August, I’ve already been the unwelcome recipient of a bloodsucker or two in my daily outdoor workouts.
Gina, one of our reservationists, spent the better part of last weekend zipping and hiking and found one on her jacket. The rest of the day she investigated every itch and twitch she felt for hidden ticks. Women.
Here’s a picture of what to look for if you’re concerned you may have picked one up on the trails. It’s really best practice to make checking for ticks a part of your routine after you come in from the great outdoors.
Photo Courtesy of CDC
Why You Need to Be Concerned
The biggest concern with ticks isn’t so much the gross factor (though I do caution you NOT to do a Google image search for “ticks”), but that these little vampires of the arthropod world are the leading carriers of diseases to humans in the United States. Though that may sound scary, there are ways to prevent getting bit, and, at least for most cases of Lyme Disease, the tick must be attached 36-48 hours for the disease to be transmitted. That’s why it’s so important to check your clothes and body the minute you get indoors.
Tips for Tick Prevention
As for prevention and avoidance, Midwest Weekends provides a handy checklist of measures you can take to ensure ticks don’t end up ticking you off (had to fit that in somewhere). Their list includes using aerosols like DEET and Permethrin, as well as preventative measures like tucking your pants into your socks or wrapping duct tape around your cuffs.
Naturally, for your canine friends like myself, these tactics are not possible. In such cases simple spot checks are in order. Neither you, your vet, nor your furry best friend want to deal with the consequences of a tick bite.
Don’t Let Ticks Suck the Fun Out of Your Day
Now that you know the threat ticks bring and how to get the best of the little buggers, let me remind you that they are easy to conquer. I mean, they’re the size of a pinhead for goodness sake…their brains even smaller.
Don’t let them keep you from enjoying the great outdoors this spring and summer. Sure, they’ve arrived a bit earlier than usual, but it ain’t nothing we can’t handle.
This has been a friendly PSA message from your good pal, Holden. Feel free to stop by LGCT and say hello, or, better yet watch me take a spin outdoors. Just make sure to check me for bloodthirsty hangers-on when I’m done.
Until next time,
Spring Has Sprung At LGCT
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012March has been an eventful month for us at LGCT.
We started off with a snowstorm on March 2nd that coated with forest with a peaceful white blanket of flakes.
Late winter snow coats the zip line course
We celebrated our First Anniversary on March 4th, and plan to “march forth” to new and exciting adventures in our sophomore year.
We also welcomed record high temperatures in the past couple of weeks, the 80-degree weather a far cry from how the month began.
A new group of SkyGuides are currently in training for the upcoming season, with plans for another class to begin their training shortly. As we welcome our new staff members into the fold, we also welcome you to join us for a canopy tour while the weather is nice and the season is just beginning.
For the month of March tours are Buy One Get One Half Off, which means that for every canopy tour you reserve you get one half off at the time of purchase for a friend or family member. Enter discount code “BOGOHO” when you check out.
Limit one BOGOHO offer per person, per visit. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Offer for half price canopy tour redeemed at time of purchase. You must enter discount code when purchasing online.
We hope you’re enjoying the sun as much as we are, and, as always…
See you in the trees!
Mandi
Zipline for Two, from First Date to “I Do”
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012Love is the air at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours! From a first date to engagement to “I Do,” we think a canopy tour is the best way to say, “I Love You,” to that special someone.
In honor of Valentine’s Day we’d like to share the many ways a zipline adventure can be an exciting way to strengthen your bond and celebrate relationship milestones.
Photo taken at a zipline course in High Point, NC
1. First Dates: What better way to break the ice than congratulating each other on a job well done after you’ve both successfully conquered The Beast? The bond you build after your first canopy tour together will lay the foundation for a promising relationship.
2. Proposals: Mother Nature will provide a beautiful backdrop for your proposal, which will seem intimate and unique when presented atop our highest platform.
3. Bachelor/ette Parties: Say goodbye to the single life and hello to matrimony as you cross our 240-foot SkyBridge, the perfect metaphor for your new life status.
4. Weddings: Say “I Do” and when the minister responds, “You may now kiss the bride,” give her a smooch, leap off the launch tower, and take your first trip together down our Dual Racing Zipline. When you land your guests can shower you with rose petals, the only cliche allowed at your one-of-a-kind ceremony.
A canopy tour can also help celebrate some lesser-known, yet still important, relationship milestones…
1. The DTR: Every couple eventually has to have the DTR, the Determine The Relationship talk. Utilize our canopy tour to gain a captive audience for the 2.5 hours it takes to complete the course.
2. Meet the In-Laws: Many people dread meeting future in-laws, the stress of making the best first impression can lead to awkward moments…just watch any Hollywood romantic comedy. However, the thrill of flight can help you cut to the chase and get to know each other on a more intimate, “I’ve seen you scream like a school girl,” “we’re in it for the long haul,” kind of way.
3. Silver/Golden Anniversaries: Momentous achievements need outstanding celebrations. Check an item off each of your bucket lists while showing the world that young at heart isn’t just an adage, it’s a lifestyle!
No matter your relationship status or stage in life, a canopy tour is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones. Take advantage of our February BOGO specials and fall in love with the thrill of flight!
See you in the trees!
- Mandi
Ten More Cities Join Lake Geneva in “Bird City” Distinction
Thursday, February 9th, 2012Congratulations Fontana!
Our neighbor to the southwest joins Lake Geneva in being designated a “Bird City” by the Milwaukee Audubon Society.
The project “recognizes efforts to improve bird habitat, manage woodlands, limit hazards, and educate citizens about birds,” as reported by the Associated Press. Read the full story here.
Scarlet Tanager in the LGCT forest canopy
If you’d like to become more involved in recreational birding, spend the day on LGCT’s hiking trails this spring, and then use eBird, a relatively new online resource, to record and track your observations. You can also use the online database to view interactive charts and maps of observations others have made in the area.
As a sidenote, Lake Geneva Canopy Tours is a member of the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, providing several nest boxes on our property and monitoring fledgling activity. Ask your guides about it and other wildlife activity during your next canopy tour!
- Mandi
