Adam van Koeverden at TEDxAlgqonuinPark 2012: On the Virtue of Hard Work

Are you thinking about applying to be a speaker at TEDxAlgonquinPark 2013? Here's a taste of what it looks like.

Olympic gold-medal kayaker Adam van Koeverden shares his experiences training in Algonquin Park in this engaging talk from TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012.




If you're considering applying, also check out these tips from TED Prize winner George Aye: http://www.greatergoodstudio.com/how-to-prepare-for-your-ted-talk/.

Our speaker application deadline has been extended to June 13. If you have an idea worth spreading that fits our theme Think Outside, we want to hear from you! Apply here: http://www.tedxalgonquinpark.com/speakers/.

Listen Differently: Adam Ruzzo at TEDxAlgonquin Park 2012

There are many benefits to exploring nature. Perhaps one of the most profound is its transformational effect: it forces us to see the world differently.

At TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012, guitarist Adam Ruzzo made us listen to nature differently. In his TEDx Talk, Adam created a living musical landscape by imitating sounds from Algonquin Park on guitar. "After being so taken by this amazing place, I decided to express its beauty through music," says Adam. "I figure if painters and photographers can do it visually, why can’t I do it through sound?”

Watch Adam's TEDxAlgonquinPark Talk:

TEDxAlgonquinPark will be back in the Fall of 2013. Get ready for more amazing speakers who will challenge you to think differently about Algonquin Park, nature and your place in the world. Details coming soon. If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, don't miss out on the announcement of this year's theme and date! Sign up here. 

Reflections of the TEDxSummit

From April 15-21 we had the privilege of gathering in Doha, Qatar in the Middle East with about 700 other TEDx organizers from all around the world. This was a remarkable trip – designed for learning, sharing, growing, and becoming inspired.

Let us start by saying – this was not your average conference. It was much much more. Never have we experienced such a positive, creative, and diverse environment. Each day we had the opportunity to meet incredible people from all walks of life. We began to make connections before the conference and workshops even began, through organized tours like sand dune bashing.

Arriving in Doha -  we were greeted by the Power of X

The conference kicked off in an amphitheatre, where we sat alongside 1200 locals, taking in some remarkable TED talks. (Hans Rosling’s talk at the Summit can be viewed here) This really set the tone for the week.

In a large dome built especially for the TEDxSummit we gave our ears to some fellow TEDx organizers as they got on stage and shared their best practices as well as their ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’. Over 3 days we attended workshops that we hand selected in order to best inform ourselves on relevant topics. Some of the workshops we attended included; How to Build a Resilient Volunteer-Organized Event, Partnerships, Building a Local Community, Ticketing, Getting a Great Talk from your Speakers, Hosting, Filming, Designing your Stage, How to Engage your Audience, and Public Relations. These workshops were quite informative and allowed for a lot of discussion and new ideas to surface. We had an opportunity to gather with all of our fellow Canadians to discuss issues relevant to our region and opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

 

Left to right: Courtney and Megan taking a tour on a camel during dessert day

TEDxAlgonquinPark was very well received and there was much excitement from other organizers upon hearing that this event would be focused on and hosted in a provincial park. In fact, you may see some of their smiling faces volunteering on September 6^th!

We are happy to report that we have returned home with the tools needed to make TEDxAlgonquinPark a positive and memorable event for you, as we continue to go forward in the planning stage, with great excitement. We hope to implement some of the best ideas we heard at the TEDxSummit and are grateful to have had this opportunity to learn from other organizers.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Algonquin Visitors Centre,

Megan and Courtney

Watch TEDxSummit Opening Night

TEDxSummit is a week-long conference for TEDx organizers from around the world, but everyone is invited to the Opening Night TED session held at the Katara Amphitheater on April 16. Come listen to renowned speakers from across the globe share new ideas, and discover the power of x. Megan and Courtney will be representing TEDxAlgonquinPark  at this event and are excited to welcome you along their journey to Doha.

TEDxSummit will be livestreaming the opening night for the public. For us unable to travel to Doha, we will have the opportunity to watch and engage with this monumental event:

Monday, April 16^th

TEDxSummit Opening Night

7PM AST/6PM CEST/12PM EST/9AM PST

This three-hour event will take place at the Katara Amphitheatre in Doha, speakers include Hans Rosling, Maz Jobrani, Raghava KK and William Noel. See the full Opening Night program.

URL: TEDxSummit.ted.com (YouTube)

How to Watch: Watch at home, with your team or organize a casual viewing party for your local community. 

When to Watch: Live and for 24 hours after air time.

We’re so glad to be able to share these moments from TEDxSummit with our Community

Best,

The TEDxAlgonquinPark Team

Brought to you by: The TEDxSummit

March 1st: Save the Date!

Exciting things are around the corner for TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012.  We will be launching the new website on March 1^st, 2012.  Visit us at: www.TEDxAlgonquinPark.com on Thursday to learn more about the event and the team. 

We are also excited to be revealing the theme for TEDxAlgonquinPark 2012.  The theme captures the energy of TED to keep spreading new ideas.  In an effort to foster a positive atmosphere and productive event our intention in developing the theme was to ensure that stakeholders in the Forestry, Conservation and Recreation industry would find that it resonates with each one of them. 

Stay tuned for the big launch of this exciting theme on March 1^st, 2012.

Meet our Operations Lead: Courtney Sinclair

Not only is she busying thinking up creative ways to make sure TEDxAlgonquinPark is the most exciting and smooth-running event you've been to, Courtney's also the gal behind our social media accounts. Drop her a line on our Facebook Page or at Twitter.com/TEDxAlgonquinPk

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This past December I returned home to beautiful Golden Lake after 4.5 years of studying Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University - and what a long 4.5 years it was! While I was away it took me just about that long to realize that it wasn't the math, the calculations and formulae, or even the theories that brought me joy. It was much more than that. What I really enjoyed were the challenges, the friendly competition, being exposed to new ideas and technologies, and working with my classmates to solve problems.

I came back wanting to have a bigger voice and to use my knowledge and know how to bring a positive experience to this unique area I call home. I talked with Megan to see what TEDxAlgonquinPark was all about. It seemed like a pretty neat opportunity - exactly what I was looking for. I welcomed TEDxAlgonquinPark as a new challenge and an opportunity to really get to know my neighbours and connect with my community. 

I am so excited and pleased to have been accepted, along with Megan, to the TEDxSummit in Doha, Qatar. At this week long conference we will be proudly representing the Ottawa Valley while meeting with other TEDx organizers to spark up new conversations and get inspired. We can't wait to return home full of ideas and to share a great experience with you at TEDxAlgonquinPark in September.

Check out a few of my favourite TED talks..

Fly with the Jetman - Yves Rossy. Some beautiful views!!

http://www.ted.com/talks/yves_rossy_fly_with_the_jetman.html

What do you get when you cross a plane with a car? A flying car? Nope - A plane that drives. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/anna_mracek_dietrich_a_plane_you_can_drive.html

Courtney

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Keep up to date and support Courtney on her journey to the TEDxSummit by visiting this link:

Help Court Get to Doha!

TEDx: Ideas Impacting the World

For those of you wanting to know more about the TEDx program (the x denotes an independently organized event), check out this video. It still gives me shivers watching it.

Enjoy,

Megan

TEDxSummit 2012

Well folks, it’s official. TEDxAlgonquinPark be attending TEDxSummit in Doha, Qatar. I’m crazy excited to be representing the team at the summit, which will bring together TEDx organizers from all over the world. I’ll be participating in workshops for TEDx licensees, talking to TED Fellows and TED Prize Winners, and collaborating with other organizers.

I can’t wait to bring the passion and inspiration from this event back to TEDxAlgonquinPark!

 About TEDxSummit

TEDxSummit will bring together TEDx organizers from around the world for a week of workshops, collaborative projects, regional and cross-regional brainstorming, talks, special events and cultural activities. The 2012 event, to be held in Doha, Qatar, will be the first time this amazing global TEDx community is gathering in person to formulate a shared vision for the future of the TEDx platform. 

What is TEDxAlgonquinPark?

TEDxAlgonquinPark is an independently organized community event, designed to spark new ideas and conversations. This one day event will have 6-7 speakers presenting ideas relating to the topics of Recreation, Conservation and Forestry, plus performances from various local artists. These topics are too vast to properly explain to an audience in one day, so rather than trying to explain the topic in its entirety, speakers are being sought with an idea relating to the topic, than can be easily explained in 20 minutes (might be very specific, or more broad).

TEDx conferences are modeled after the original annual TED conferences which are week long conferences featuring experts from around the world. Talks from the original TED conferences are available at TED.com and highlight ideas from some of the world’s leading minds on any topic from neurosurgery to history. TEDx conferences (the x denotes an independently organized event) were created to bring that energy and innovation to a community level.

TEDxAlgonquinPark has three primary objectives:

1. Promote the park’s surrounding communities and their rich heritages
2. Develop and stronger sense of community spirit by creating an event that the local communities are involved in and can take pride in.
3. Provide the audience with a more well-rounded view of the park by highlighting ideas in forestry, as well as conservation and recreation.

A TEDx conference is an ideal vehicle for these goals because of the atmosphere of new connections and ideas. We hope to introduce the audience to new ways of thinking about the park and their local communities. TEDx events customarily provide a positive environment in which to do this, and we are taking measures to keep the event positive and non-political.

Sunset at Little Otterslide Lake

What is TEDx?