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http://www.bpsd.org/TheHistory.aspx

The Bethel Park High School Class of 2009 will be the 100th Graduating Class of Bethel Park High School and its predecessor schools.  The following is a brief history of Bethel Park High School.
When the Bethel Township School District began on June 21, 1886, education at that time was provided only to students in grades 1-8.
It was not until 1906 that the school district converted one of the classrooms in a three-room school house on Mollenauer Road (Bethel School near Mine Three) into a high school.
In those days, high school was a three year program and students only attended school for half days and for only one semester. The curriculum was basic; there were no electives and students purchased their own books. The high school program changed to a four-year program in 1914. Extra curricular activities began around 1920.
In 1908 the first Bethel High School was erected at the corner of South Park Road and Park Avenue, a building which is still standing today. The original building held two classrooms and an auditorium, employed four teachers and was constructed for $6,400.
The first Bethel High School graduating class was in 1909 with 15 students (10 girls and 5 boys) as members of the inaugural graduating class.
In 1927 a 10-room grade school was constructed near the high school on Park Avenue (the current site of the Bethe

Russell L. Johnson. Warriors into Workers: The Civil War and the Formation of Urban-Industrial Society in a Northern City. New York: Fordham University Press, 2003. xii + 388 pp. $55.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8232-2269-8. Reviewed by Bruce E. Baker (Department of History, Royal Holloway, University of London) Published on H-CivWar (September, 2006) Hawkeyes in War and Industry Russell L. Johnson's meticulously researched study is a very successful blend of two, or perhaps three, "new" kinds of history: the new military history, the new labor history, and the new social history. All of these "new" fields, of course, are as old as Johnson himself, but Warriors into Workers is one of the few monographs that attempts to bring these subfields together. By taking a detailed look at a city--Dubuque, Iowa--that was on the verge of major industrialization when the Civil War came along, Johnson examines the extent to which the experience of military service affected the transition of society from one based on farming, some mining, and commerce to one that would be increasingly dominated by industry in the postwar decades. The task he sets himself is to "[trace] the connection between the industrial workplace and the other great centralized, stratified, and authoritarian institution of the nineteenth century, the Union army" (p. 5). Using sophisticated analysis of the 1860 and 1870 censuses and thorough combing of local newspapers and a variety of local records, Johnson is able to present a fine-grained account of how Dubuque changed and how the war changed its veterans. Dubuque originated in the 1830s, after the Black Hawk War, as a lead-mining town, across the river from Galena, Illinois. By 1855, several railroads had made the city their western terminus, stimulating a brief but powerful commercial boom. The reason for that boom's brevity was the Panic of 1857, which brought Dubuque levels of business failure disproportionate to its size. The business collapse led to concer

"Blackhawk Mines Corp http://www.squidoo.com/blackhawk-mines2 Blackhawk Mines Blackhawk Mines acquires Amazon Gold Ventures. A Mining company that operates in Columbia. A public listed company that trades in Germany on the Frankfurt exchange. Blackhawk Mines Corp. (formerly named: Bentley Fairview Resources Co. Ltd.) is a gold-focused exploration and mining development company with additional interests in silver. The Company is focused on creating royalties and participating interests through joint venture partnering with independent mining operations in South America. The Company's strength is in generating prospects that provide world class gold deposits. Collectively, with our partners and associates who have extensive in-country expertise in exploration and mining operations in Colombia and throughout South America, Blackhawk Mines Corp. can become a significant venture in the mining industry. In recent years, the modern governments of Colombia, Peru and Brazil have each successfully attracted both, foreign capital and technology. Historically, these countries are known to be gold-rich areas mined by humans for thousands of years. In particular, Colombia possesses an exceptional geologic terrain for gold exploration. Within the last five years this country has produced a very high rate of plus-million ounce gold discoveries by a relatively small amount of active companies. In the 19th century, Colombia was the world's largest gold producer. Currently, Peru, Colombia's neighbor to the south, produces about 210 tons of gold per year from the metal rich Andean Cordillera. At present, the Company is focused on Colombia with its flagship Las Palmeras Project in Segovia, Antioquia adjacent to the Frontino Gold Belt reserve. Las Palmeras is an active operation including a gold processing stamp mill and has total reserves estimated at over $180,000,000 USD. The Company's operating partner based in Envigado, Department of Antioquia, has strong, established legal a

"A Mining company that operates in Columbia. A public listed company that trades in Germany on the Frankfurt exchange. Blackhawk Mines Corp. (formerly named: Bentley Fairview Resources Co. Ltd.) is a gold-focused exploration and mining development company with additional interests in silver. The Company is focused on creating royalties and participating interests through joint venture partnering with independent mining operations in South America. The Company's strength is in generating prospects that provide world class gold deposits. Collectively, with our partners and associates who have extensive in-country expertise in exploration and mining operations in Colombia and throughout South America, Blackhawk Mines Corp. can become a significant venture in the mining industry. In recent years, the modern governments of Colombia, Peru and Brazil have each successfully attracted both, foreign capital and technology. Historically, these countries are known to be gold-rich areas mined by humans for thousands of years. In particular, Colombia possesses an exceptional geologic terrain for gold exploration. Within the last five years this country has produced a very high rate of plus-million ounce gold discoveries by a relatively small amount of active companies. In the 19th century, Colombia was the world's largest gold producer. Currently, Peru, Colombia's neighbor to the south, produces about 210 tons of gold per year from the metal rich Andean Cordillera. At present, the Company is focused on Colombia with its flagship Las Palmeras Project in Segovia, Antioquia adjacent to the Frontino Gold Belt reserve. Las Palmeras is an active operation including a gold processing stamp mill and has total reserves estimated at over $180,000,000 USD. The Company's operating partner based in Envigado, Department of Antioquia, has strong, established legal and political alliances that enable excellent cooperation with such key entities as the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy. "

"Blackhawk Mines Corp. (formerly named: Bentley Fairview Resources Co. Ltd.) is a gold-focused exploration and mining development company with additional interests in silver. The Company is focused on creating royalties and participating interests through joint venture partnering with independent mining operations in South America. The Company's strength is in generating prospects that provide world class gold deposits. Collectively, with our partners and associates who have extensive in-country expertise in exploration and mining operations in Colombia and throughout South America, Blackhawk Mines Corp. can become a significant venture in the mining industry. In recent years, the modern governments of Colombia, Peru and Brazil have each successfully attracted both, foreign capital and technology. Historically, these countries are known to be gold-rich areas mined by humans for thousands of years. In particular, Colombia possesses an exceptional geologic terrain for gold exploration. Within the last five years this country has produced a very high rate of plus-million ounce gold discoveries by a relatively small amount of active companies. In the 19th century, Colombia was the world's largest gold producer. Currently, Peru, Colombia's neighbor to the south, produces about 210 tons of gold per year from the metal rich Andean Cordillera. At present, the Company is focused on Colombia with its flagship Las Palmeras Project in Segovia, Antioquia adjacent to the Frontino Gold Belt reserve. Las Palmeras is an active operation including a gold processing stamp mill and has total reserves estimated at over $180,000,000 USD. The Company's operating partner based in Envigado, Department of Antioquia, has strong, established legal and political alliances that enable excellent cooperation with such key entities as the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy. Panama City, Panama. March 01, 2012 - Blackhawk Mines Corp. ("Blackhawk") announced today that it has acquired all the

Blach Hawk Adventures : Cabela's plan to expand franchise Cabela's, the leading fishing, hunting and outdoor gear retailer has announced their plans to open 3 next-generation stores and relocate their Winnipeg branch in 2013. Construction of next-generation stores is set to start this summer and Cabela's plans to open in the spring of next year in the following locations: Louisville, Kentucky; Grandville, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio. Scaling from 80,000 to 88,000 square feet, the stores will be made in the trademark design of Cabela's consisting of metal roofing, wood sliding, stonework and exterior log construction. They will also sport big glass facades to enable customers to see the shops'  interior even as they near the building. Their first 80,000-sq foot Columbus branch will employ as much as 175 workers coming from the nearby areas. It will be constructed in the Polaris Centers at Interstate 71 and Gemini Parkway, putting it alongside Camria Suites, Costco, Hobby Lobby, Toys R Us and various restaurants and hotels. The sporting and outdoor gear retailer announced on Thursday the 5% increase in their 4th-quarter earnings due to higher sales and bigger profit margins. They also publicized their plan to expand by establishing smaller stores, called Outposts in mid-size cities. The results are largely optimistic, beating Wall Street forecasts, with its shares rising by almost 10%. The company's CEO has announced that they are planning to increase their retail square footage by as much as 10% this year and up to 13% in 2013 through opening in new locations and trying new formats for smaller locations. According to Cabela's, their net income for the previous quarter amounted to around USD 70 million or almost a dollar per stock, a small but significant increase from a year prior. The Outpost Stores is expected to be well-suited to areas in Canada and United States as more stores are planned to be built with their locations still withheld. In

http://blackhawk-mines.blogspot.com/2012/05/black-hawk-news-adventures-guide.html http://latest.blackhawk-mines.com/   Privacy Policy   The Privacy Policy of Black Hawk Adventures outlines your privacy rights and illustrates the Black Hawk Adventures's commitment to protecting the privacy of the users. In the course of Black Hawk Adventures's business, it may collect, hold and use personal information such as names, addresses (including email), telephone and business card details. This personal information may be collected directly from you or from the Black Hawk Adventures's member organisations. Black Hawk Adventuresalso collects personal information to enable it to distribute industry policy material and advise you of specific activities and relevant issues. The information collected is kept and stored in a secure manner on databases and electronic lists. Black Hawk Adventures takes all reasonable measures to ensure that personal information held is accurate, complete and up to date. Your personal information will be used only for the purposes for which it is collected unless you consent to its use, or the law permits its use, for other purposes. Personal information no longer required is destroyed in a secure fashion. If you have any concerns about the way in which Black Hawk Adventures has collected or managed your personal information, please contact us.   OUT GEAR NEWS Blach Hawk Adventures : Cabela's plan to expand franchise Cabela's, the leading fishing, hunting and outdoor gear retailer has announced their plans to open 3 next-generation stores and relocate their Winnipeg branch in 2013. Construction of next-generation stores is set to start this summer and Cabela's plans to open in the spring of next year in the following locations: Louisville, Kentucky; Grandville, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio…  Read More Black Hawk Adventures : Military gear exhibit Defense industry firms are showing off their latest in military equipment in

Black Hawk Adventures : Military gear exhibit http://latest.blackhawk-mines.com/2012/03/27/black-hawk-adventures-military-gear-exhibit/ Defense industry firms are showing off their latest in military equipment in a 2-day Marine West Military Exhibition in Camp Pendleton with thousands of troops in attendance. There were hundreds of military gear and weaponry in exhibit inside the venue - items that can draw the line between life and death in a battle situation. There seem to be no sign that the defense industry is slowing down for companies, either small or big, have participated in the exposition. Knives manufactured by the Leatherman company are especially attracting attention - as there are not only buying military items available but also household items. QinetiQ, one of the participating defense contractors, demonstrated their latest technology in robotic-controlled arms and robots that aid in detecting roadside bombs (a weapon that accounts for a large number of injuries and deaths in Afghanistan). Military personnel can choose items that they think will be quite useful and this can eventually lead to a mass purchase by the whole department. This makes this exposition a yearly opportunity for defense companies to better their trade. The contractor also has a 10-pound gadget that soldiers can use in operating small unarmed air vehicles, called Tactical Robotic Controller. The lightweight armored vest from Elite Defense is alrea

Haiti's copper and silver reserves in its hills are now up for an extensive exploitation by a Canadian corporation that has reportedly damaged the neighboring Dominican Republic.   Once this mining plan is authorized while Haiti is under foreign occupation, it could practically leave the country without its ecological, cultural and mineral wealth.   Moreover, concerns surrounding the mining venture have been raised as the operation calls for the construction of a deep-water port in the northeastern part of the country, posing a significant threat to their marine ecosystem.   The biggest water reservoir that is near the mining operations is at constant risk of cyanide contamination, adding to the reports that the firm has been previously accused of destroying Indian archeological sites by using dynamites on mountainsand.   Geologists of the United Nations have documented significant pockets of copper and gold in 1970s but at that time, foreigners were not willing to risk their money in an unstable and corrupt country.   Surprisingly, it was not after the 2010 earthquake that outside investment was encouraged and investors discovered a good opportunity. In fact, just 2 weeks after the catastrophe, a Canadian exploration company purchased all the stocks of the only Haitian company which has full permits in exchange for an area of land, practically appearing as a scam.   Three companies are already considering prospects of mining in Haiti but at present, only Somine has complete concessions to bring the metals out of the area. The said permits for 31 square miles were negotiated in 1996 during the presidency of Rene Preval and which required the company to hire Haitians.   According to the parties interested in the mining prospects: "What we're most excited about is that we found some silver which was never really realized before. It's the first silver discovery in Haiti. Part of the reason why it was never really discovered was that histor

Army engineers of the US military has announced its plans to make a new gear for female soldiers that will provide them with more protection and make them more alert in combat. In a study made by the US Army it was discovered that the ill-fitting military gear actually interferes with the women's combat performance, citing examples like difficulty in boarding the vehicles and taking proper aim with their weapons. This initiative to redesign body armor started in 2009 when women from the 101st Airborne division felt uncomfortable wearing the gear during the war. "It rubbed on the hips, and the vests were too long in the front, so that when you had female soldiers climbing stairs or climbing up a hill or a tree, or sitting for a long time in a vehicle, that would create pressure points that in some instances could impact blood flow and cause some discomfort," said Lt. Col. Frank Lozan, who is helping design the body armor. However, engineers are faced with challenges because making new female body armor will present potential weaknesses on the material. This is because the material of the armor they use will get heavier as you add more curves. "There are some complex curvatures that come into play with female hard-armor plates. I could make female hard-armor, but it would be twice as heavy," Lozano said. They are now exploring "unique chemical designs" to make lighter but effective plates. "It became clear to us that there was a difference in torso length. The other point that we realized is that there is a significant difference in shoulder width. I read this data, and it seems so obvious," says the product manager for the Army's soldier protective-equipment program. Black Hawk Adventures reports that they are planning to design a body armor specifically for women with adjustments like narrower shoulders, shorter torso and curves in the hips and chest so they can fit more naturally. Eight female sizes gears are now being t

SILVER, COPPER MINING COULD SAVE HAITI Haiti's copper and silver reserves in its hills are now up for an extensive exploitation by a Canadian corporation that has reportedly damaged the neighboring Dominican Republic. Once this mining plan is authorized while Haiti is under foreign occupation, it could practically leave the country without its ecological, cultural and mineral wealth. Moreover, concerns surrounding the mining venture have been raised as the operation calls for the construction of a deep-water port in the northeastern part of the country, posing a significant threat to their marine ecosystem. The biggest water reservoir that is near the mining operations is at constant risk of cyanide contamination, adding to the reports that the firm has been previously accused of destroying Indian archeological sites by using dynamites on mountainsand. Geologists of the United Nations have documented significant pockets of copper and gold in 1970s but at that time, foreigners were not willing to risk their money in an unstable and corrupt country. Surprisingly, it was not after the 2010 earthquake that outside investment was encouraged and investors discovered a good opportunity. In fact, just 2 weeks after the catastrophe, a Canadian exploration company purchased all the stocks of the only Haitian company which has full permits in exchange for an area of land, practically appearing as a scam. Three companies are already considering prospects of mining in Haiti but at present, only Somine has complete concessions to bring the metals out of the area. The said permits for 31 square miles were negotiated in 1996 during the presidency of Rene Preval and which required the company to hire Haitians. According to the parties interested in the mining prospects: "What we're most excited about is that we found some silver which was never really realized before. It's the first silver discovery in Haiti. Part of the reason why it was never really discovered wa

http://latest.blackhawk-mines.com/2012/07/17/military-gear-gets-female-version/ Army engineers of the US military has announced its plans to make a new gear for female soldiers that will provide them with more protection and make them more alert in combat. In a study made by the US Army it was discovered that the ill-fitting military gear actually interferes with the women's combat performance, citing examples like difficulty in boarding the vehicles and taking proper aim with their weapons. This initiative to redesign body armor started in 2009 when women from the 101st Airborne division felt uncomfortable wearing the gear during the war. "It rubbed on the hips, and the vests were too long in the front, so that when you had female soldiers climbing stairs or climbing up a hill or a tree, or sitting for a long time in a vehicle, that would create pressure points that in some instances could impact blood flow and cause some discomfort," said Lt. Col. Frank Lozan, who is helping design the body armor. However, engineers are faced with challenges because making new female body armor will present potential weaknesses on the material. This is because the material of the armor they use will get heavier as you add more curves. "There are some complex curvatures that come into play with female hard-armor plates. I could make female hard-armor, but it would be twice as heavy," Lozano said. They  are now exploring "unique chemical designs" to make lighter but effective plates. "It became clear to us that there was a difference in torso length. The other point that we realized is that there is a significant difference in shoulder width. I read this data, and it seems so obvious," says the product manager for the Army's soldier protective-equipment program. Black Hawk Adventures reports that they are planning to design a body armor specifically for women with adjustments like narrower shoulders, shorter torso and curves in the hips and chest so they can

Military Gear gets Female Version Army engineers of the US military has announced its plans to make a new gear for female soldiers that will provide them with more protection and make them more alert in combat.   In a study made by the US Army it was discovered that the ill-fitting military gear actually interferes with the women's combat performance, citing examples like difficulty in boarding the vehicles and taking proper aim with their weapons.   This initiative to redesign body armor started in 2009 when women from the 101st Airborne division felt uncomfortable wearing the gear during the war.   "It rubbed on the hips, and the vests were too long in the front, so that when you had female soldiers climbing stairs or climbing up a hill or a tree, or sitting for a long time in a vehicle, that would create pressure points that in some instances could impact blood flow and cause some discomfort," said Lt. Col. Frank Lozan, who is helping design the body armor.   However, engineers are faced with challenges because making new female body armor will present potential weaknesses on the material. This is because the material of the armor they use will get heavier as you add more curves.   "There are some complex curvatures that come into play with female hard-armor plates. I could make female hard-armor, but it would be twice as heavy," Lozano said.   They  are now exploring "unique chemical designs" to make lighter but effective plates.   "It became clear to us that there was a difference in torso length. The other point that we realized is that there is a significant difference in shoulder width. I read this data, and it seems so obvious," says the product manager for the Army's soldier protective-equipment program.   Black Hawk Adventures reports that they are planning to design a body armor specifically for women with adjustments like narrower shoulders, shorter torso and curves in the hips and chest so they can fit more

"Blackhawk Mines B06N | Black Hawk Adventures : Olympic-quality sports gear for all   http://latest.blackhawk-mines.com/2012/09/04/black-hawk-adventures-olympic-quality-sports-gear-for-all/  In the wake of the Olympics fever, people across the world had a glimpse of sophisticated and high-end sports gear used by athletes in their games. Not surprisingly, they are using top-of-the-line gears and equipment to help them perform at their best. And thanks to such an elite market, the advanced and highly-improved gears are made available to the public as consumer products. The technology used to develop gears in professional sports are now adopted by legit manufacturers in improved sports gear for amateurs, minus the fraud alert. Sleek bicycles in word-class events are mainly from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic known for its durability, strength and lightness. This particular material is now available in high-performance bicycles - from rims, seat posts, handlebars, stems and cranks. As for helmets, they are also becoming more advanced in terms of design and composition. Originally, helmets are made from leather, effective in protecting it from abrasions. Today, helmets being used in competitions are sometimes with built-in goggles and a wraparound design so that cyclists will have more convenience while having the optimum protection. Likewise, consumer helmets for skateboarding, football and skiing are created with hard aerodynamic plastic shells that are highly resistant to puncture and have shock-absorbers. Separate visors or ultra-lightweight goggles made from polycarbonate plastic (like bulletproof glass) are also popular. Bodysuits worn by track and field players of the US has now become part of a popular trend in recycled-materials-turned-fabric. Looks like many of our athletes and outdoor lovers are highly concerned about the impact they are making on the environment; good thing sports equipment firms have quickly responded to the market. Olympians this year

"According to a report from the National Ski Industry Association, ski areas across the nation saw strong business during the 2012-13 seasons. Although the rise in the Rocky Mountain region is just about 1.9 percent, Skier visits rose 11 percent in the United States. In southwest Colorado the season started slowly, but picked up after the holidays. "Despite the slow start to the season, overall Durango Mountain Resort was about on par with last season," said Kim Oyler, spokeswoman for the southwest Colorado resort. "Thanks to help from Mother Nature and our mountain operations crew, Durango Mountain Resort was able to extend the season one additional weekend and closed on April 7," she said. U.S. resorts experienced slow starts be subsequent to a strong snowfall in mid-December. Comparing to December last year snowfall for December this year nearly tripled.  And compared to 2012, snowfall was weaker in January, strong in February and about even in March,. "It started real late," said Richard Bodiford, co-owner of End Industries, an Aztec shop that rents ski equipment. "We missed a lot of Christmas break business, but the middle picked up all right." The Four Corners was blanketed with snow soon after Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort closed on April 7, the final insult indicates. "We got some in early March and after the season closed it's been snowing left and right all over Colorado," Bodiford said. The winter was the eighth-best for the Rocky Mountain region in the past 34 years, the report said. The association did not release data for individual resorts. The national survey of resorts spotted other trends: Snowboarding was down for the third straight winter. In 2012-13, snowboarders made up 29.6 percent of total visits. Season pass sales dropped as more skiers bought daily tickets. Average season pass sales fell 4.3 percent. Ticket prices rose. The average adult weekend ticket cost $86.1

"Online Voting for People's Choice Adventurer of the Year Runs through Jan. 31, 2014 The 2014 Adventurers of the Year, naming extraordinary achievements in exploration, adventure sports, conservation or humanitarianism have distinguished them in the past year was already announced by National Geographic.   Runs through Jan. 31, 2014, the online voting for the People's Choice Adventurer of the Year has already started.  Fans can go here to vote at any time for their favorite honoree.  In February, the adventurer with the most number of votes at the end of the voting period will be announced as the 2014 People's Choice Adventurer of the Year. The 13 honorees this year were a long-distance swimmer, to refresh your memory, he was the first to swim from Cuba to Florida without protection from a shark cage; another one was a skier who is re-imagining his sport in urban landscapes; and two veterans dedicated to establishing connections between veterans and the outdoors; lastly a snowboarder committed to helping brain injury survivors. The 13 Adventurers of the Year for 2014 are: Stacy Bare and Nick Watson - American adventurers and veterans who launched an organization that links veterans to the outdoors and the outdoors community; Greg Long - American big-wave surfer who won the 2012/13 Big-Wave World Tour,  despite nearly losing his life in a massive wipeout a few months earlier; Amy and Dave Freeman - American adventurers and educators who completed a three-year, 11,647-mile journey across North America by kayak, canoe, dogsled and foot, connecting with students and teachers along the way; Diana Nyad - Sixty-four-year-old American long-distance swimmer who recently completed a swim between Cuba and the United States, on her fifth attempt; Kevin Pearce - American snowboarder who, after surviving a traumatic brain injury, launched the "Love Your Brain" campaign to encourage the use of helmets for kids; Kilian Jornet Burgada -

Do I have to tell you why Thailand, well then let me give you reasons why you of all countries will enjoy this country if you love outdoors! Have you tried caving, if not then try it in Thailand. Get inside of Thailand literally by exploring ancient caves and tremendous caverns like those in the Pang Mapha District of the Mae Hong Son Province. Dare and see the underground and discover wildlife, history and geology, it's a caving venture you will never forget. Caves like Cave Lodge have expert guides. Expert guides will escort you so you need not to worry, they will lead you through geologic labyrinths, vertical caves and collapsed caves. For additional thrill and blood rushing, your journey comes along with forest hikes or rafting to see even more of the Thai landscape. For animal lover and wild life enthusiasts out there, we are sure that you will enjoy Jungle Trekking in the wilds of Thailand by hitting the unmarked trails. To make the most out of your trip, try at least a 3-day trek to see mountain ridges, rainforests and experience camping in the beautiful Thai wilderness. Elephant Riding, sounds like fun, yes it is! This will be a whole new experience that you shouldn't ever miss, taking an elephant ride through local Thai villages and surrounding forests. Miss it and it will feel like you have never gone to Thailand at all. Rock climbing or repelling are everywhere now and you find it ordinary. Then you must try number 7, Waterfall Abseiling, throw in the force of a waterfall, and now you're talking adventure. Repel down Thailand's beautiful and powerful waterfalls. You'll feel your heart in your chest as you lean over the edge of a 35-foot waterfall and the ground slowly slips beneath your feet. Whitewater Rafting is something new to Thai tourist market but whitewater rafting is quickly being added to many adventure trek itineraries. Rush the rapids in Southern Thailand's Phang Na province, and you're assured an exciting ride. Moun

Black Hawk Adventures : LL Bean celebrates centennial anniversary http://blackhawk-mines.com/2012/03/27/black-hawk-adventures-ll-bean-celebrates-centennial-aniversary/ In an attempt to entice families to spend more time outdoors and share their experiences, LL Bean launched their "Million Moment Mission" as their 100th anniversary celebration highlight. For every moment shared to others, Bean pledges to donate a dollar to the National Park Foundation until it reaches a million dollars. According to Bean, the concept is to get people to utilize online social media to share their experiences outdoors (via photos, video, writing blogs and commenting). The money from that will be raised will be dedicated to connecting the youth to their national parks. This was prompted by a new survey from L.L. Bean and the NPF shows that 60% of children are spending less than one hour outside per day, with 59% of parents admitting to spending even less time outside due to various constraints. The results are enough to concern them, noting that families tend to spend more time indoors and eventually miss out on the emotional and physical benefits of spending time outside. LL Bean is kicking off their centennial anniversary promotions through a mission with NPF, a new line of special outdoor gear and the debut of their 'LL Bean Bootmobile'. The Bootmobile is a boot measuring 20 ft in length and 13 ft in height, built to scale by a specialty fabrication store in Florida, named Echo Artz. It is basically a Ford F-250 Super Duty truck with a huge boot made of fiberglass atop it. LL Bean Bootmobile has 800 lb-ft of torque, 400 horsepower and can tow up to 4 tonnes. In fact, the shoe's laces consists of 12 strands of mooring rope braided together and can tow up to 106,000 pounds! According to them, they are hoping that people will spend outdoors and