03-8: The Expedition School Letters of Support

Parks and Recreation Board – Aug. 26, 2024

03-8: The Expedition School Letters of Support — original pdf

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Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:40:21 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:40:21 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Fw: Letter of Support Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:39:50 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png, FINAL Exp School Support Letter 2023-10-30.docx Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com From: Diane Mackey <diane@austinadventurers.org> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2023 1:54 PM To: Kimery Duda <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Subject: Letter of Support Hi Kimery, Please ﬁnd attached the letter for support of the Expedition School from the Adventurers Academy. If you need it to say more or anything different, please let me know. Good Luck! Diane 1 of 1 7106 Shadywood Drive, Austin TX, 78745 Tel 737-203-5494, Fax 1-888-300-6396 adventurers@austinadventurers.org www.austinadventurers.org Tax ID 45-4299243 Enriching lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Adventurers Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization October 30, 2023 Kimery Duda Expedition School Dear Kimery, The Adventurers Academy of Lifelong Learning is pleased to submit this letter in support of our partnership with the Expedition School as you seek to receive a grant for your organization. The Expedition School has been an excellent and valued partner since 2020 as the Adventurers Academy serves adults in the greater Austin area with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Academy’s mission is to help adults become more independent and connect with their community. The paddling instruction and experiences provided by the Expedition School enables them to access recreational resources of Lady Bird Lake, one of the central features of the Austin community, with confidence and safety. Adventurers really look forward to paddling and have gained confidence in their ability to learn new skills. Most of our families would not be able to afford the cost for their Adventurer to go paddling on a weekly basis without the generous donations and discounts provided to us by the Expedition School. If the Expedition School is awarded this grant, we would hope to build our partnership by adding a multi- day kayak Adventure to the paddling we get to do on a weekly basis! We are grateful for the Expedition School’s support of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and look forward to continuing our partnership! Sincerely, Diane Mackey Director, Adventurers Academy Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:17:01 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:17:01 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Letter of Support Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:51:42 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] From: From: Alissa Magrum <alissa.magrum@colinshope.org> Date: November 30, 2019 at 3:59:37 PM CST Date: To:To: Donna.Tiemann@austintexas.gov, Lauren.Hartnett@austintexas.gov, Katherine.Nicely@austintexas.gov, Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov, Stephanie.Trinh@austintexas.gov, Marti.Bier@austintexas.gov, Amy.Smith@austintexas.gov, Deena.Estrada@austintexas.gov, Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov, Kurt.Cadena- Mitchell@austintexas.gov, Michael.McGill@austintexas.gov Cc:Cc: Kimery Duda <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Subject: Letter of Support for Expedition School (Item 70, Subject: Letter of Support for Expedition School (Item 70, December 5 Council Agenda) December 5 Council Agenda) Dear Austin City Council Members- I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. I am writing in support of The Expedition School and in reference to Item 70 on the December 5th Council Agenda. I am the Executive Director of Colin's Hope, a local water safety and drowning prevention organization formed in 2008 after 4 year old Austinite, Colin Holst lost his life to a drowning in a lifeguarded pool in South Austin. Since 2008, we have provided water safety education to Central Texas parents, caregivers and children through and with community partners who share our vision to end drowning in Central Texas. One of our greatest partners is The Expedition School. Their founder, Kimery Duda is a community leader on multiple safety task forces and coalitions and develops high quality and accessible programming to keep Austinites of all ages, active and safer around water. 1 of 3 The Expedition School programming models the highest water safety standards and encourages safer behaviors in, near and around the water. A few examples of these standards are the mandatory life jacket wearing requirements on kayaks, canoes and Stand Up Paddle Boards to outdoor aquatic programs for at-risk children to adaptive programs for people with Special Needs to gold standard safety during open water swims and races to the teaching of many First Aid, lifeguarding and CPR classes. The Expedition School is a local, woman owned business that cares about the community and prides itself on promoting the outdoors with a focus on safety. This is so positive for our community. Please consider granting the concession to the Expedition School so that they can continue to bring Austinites safely onto Lady Bird Lake and into the outdoors. I plan to sign up to speak on December 5th in their behalf but am available at any time if you would like further information regarding our experience with The Expedition School. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best Day Ever Alissa -- Alissa Magrum Executive Director, Colin's Hope 512-294-3910 (cell) Follow us on Twitter: @colinshope Find, Friend and Like us on Facebook Volunteer to Support our Mission www.colinshope.org Colin's Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt organization that raises water safety awareness to prevent children from drowning. We envision a world where children do not drown. Attendee panel closed 2 of 3 Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 3 of 3 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:14:27 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:14:27 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: To:To: Fw: [FWD: Re: Emails for Letter of Support] Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:45:30 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com From: kimery expeditionschool.com <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 9:40 AM To: Jim Wick <mastrwik@yahoo.com> Subject: [FWD: Re: Emails for Letter of Support] One more letter of support - from my radio co-host on the Great Outdoors. Kimery Duda Founder and Director The Expedition School 512.626.6282 www.expeditionschool.com Facebook | Instagram | Twitter View our safety course offerings -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Emails for Letter of Support From: Ken Milam <kmilam@verizon.net> Date: Mon, December 02, 2019 4:54 pm To: kimery@expeditionschool.com Done: Sent this to every one -----Original Message----- From: kimery <kimery@expeditionschool.com> To: Ken Milam <kmilam@verizon.net> Sent: Mon, Dec 2, 2019 1:52 pm Subject: Emails for Letter of Support Kimery Duda Founder and Director The Expedition School 512.626.6282 www.expeditionschool.com Facebook | Instagram | Twitter View our safety course offerings I hope this works. , My name is Ken Milam. I am a talk show host on am 1300 The Zone. I'm the Hunting & Fishing guy. I have been a fishing guide on Lake Buchanan since 1981 I am also a 7th generation Central Texan. With a county named after my Great Great Uncle Ben Milam. O, enough about me. I want to inform you that there is a Chance for Austin, East Austin to be so much better! Kimery Duda, owner operator of The Expedition School is one of the Finest people I have met! I know she will do her utmost to help Austin and Lady Bird Lake in the Best way she can! So please help her contribute to Austin, East Austin and the Lady Bird Lake area by helping her accomplish her goal! Thank You Ken Milam Host of The Great Outdoors & The Sunday Sportsman, News Talk 1200 WOAI, and Nation wide on Iheart radio Heard on am 1300 The Zone 1 of 2 Lauren.Hartnett@austintexas.gov, Katherine.Nicely@austintexas.gov, Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov, Stephanie.Trinh@austintexas.gov, Donna.Tiemann@austintexas.gov, Marti.Bier@austintexas.gov, Amy.Smith@austintexas.gov, Deena.Estrada@austintexas.gov, Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov, Kurt.Cadena- Mitchell@austintexas.gov, Michael.McGill@austintexas.gov Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:13:48 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:13:48 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Fw: [FWD: Letter of Support for The Expedition School & Item 70 (12.05.19Meeting)] Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:45:19 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com Kimery Duda Founder and Director The Expedition School 512.626.6282 www.expeditionschool.com Facebook | Instagram | Twitter View our safety course offerings From: kimery expeditionschool.com <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 12:35 PM To: nhoad@mail.utexas.edu <nhoad@mail.utexas.edu> Subject: [FWD: Letter of Support for The Expedition School & Item 70 (12.05.19Meeting)] -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Letter of Support for The Expedition School & Item 70 (12.05.19 Meeting) From: Kerstin Wiggins <kerstinlwiggins@gmail.com> Date: Mon, December 02, 2019 7:41 pm To: Dear Austin City Council Members, My name is Kerstin Wiggins and I am writing in support of Item 70 - to approve an ordinance authorizing a boating concession on Lady Bird Lake to the Expedition School. It has been an honor and a privilege to work along side Kimery Duda, founder of 1 of 2 the Expedition School, and the entire staff, as a Guide and Educator since 2010. Since 2006, the Expedition School has been providing city-contracted instructor classes on Festival Beach near Camacho Recreation Center and has proudly maintained a perfect safety record. All Expedition School guides are trained and current in professional guide licenses and safety certifications such as Waterfront Lifeguarding and CPR/AED. As of today, over 92 lives have been saved by alumni of The Expedition School. Over 150,000 athletes have been safely supported by our medical and aquatic team in races and special events; and, over 60,000 individuals have safely participated in customized programs, kayaking, Stand Up Paddling and canoeing programs. In addition to offering programming, professional safety courses, and medical and aquatic support for special events, The Expedition School has removed over 17 tons of trash and 3 tons of recycling from Lady Bird Lake since it opened. Every program is dedicated to leaving the locale we explore cleaner than we found it. Furthermore, we hope that our alumni go on to implement these practices in their homes and communities as conscientious stewards of our planet. Kimery Duda is a true leader, an incredible teacher, and a well-respected advocate for Austin‘s adventure sports community. I have never met an Austinite more devoted to the community and the safety of our participants or committed to providing quality, accessible and affordable outdoor opportunities for everyone. I have personally met and spoken with hundreds of Holly St neighbors and East Austin residents who have have been positively impacted by Kimery and The Expedition School. Without them, these residents have no opportunity to access rental canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and other watercraft without traveling west of the highway or south of the river. A concession contract would allow the Expedition School to continue enriching the lives of many differently-abled Austinites for years to come. Sincerely, Kerstin Wiggins 512-569-9102 5602 Penick Dr Austin, TX 78741 This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:14:59 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:14:59 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Letter of Support Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:46:58 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] From: From: Sarah Sharp <sarah@sarahsharp.com> Date: December 1, 2019 at 10:52:06 PM CST Date: To:To: Lauren.Hartnett@austintexas.gov, Katherine.Nicely@austintexas.gov, Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov, Stephanie.Trinh@austintexas.gov, Donna.Tiemann@austintexas.gov, Marti.Bier@austintexas.gov, Amy.Smith@austintexas.gov, Deena.Estrada@austintexas.gov, Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov, Kurt.Cadena- Mitchell@austintexas.gov, Michael.McGill@austintexas.gov Support for Expedition School and Item 70, Subject: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, Subject: December 5 Council Agenda December 5 Council Agenda I am writing to you as a member of the Holly community to express my support for The Expedition School to operate a paddle sports concession at the docks near Camacho Recreation Center. I have been an East Austin resident since 2000 and my family has lived on Riverview Street in the same block as the Camacho Center since 2012. We have a special relationship with the Expedition school. My three children and I were avid stand-up paddleboarders until we were cut o_ from using the expedition school in 2015. My kids love participating in their park clean up days and since the ﬁrst time we cleaned trash out of the lake from our paddleboards, the kids completely stopped using straws. My band has played the Colorado River Ramble several times and my eldest son & I have competed in the family paddle. I have enormous respect for The Expedition School founder, Kimery Duda. Her commitment to safety is like no other SUP rental 1 of 3 place I’ve patronized, and I’ve rented from all of the Lady Bird Lake concessions and many others. I’ve seen ﬁrst-hand when she has the students from the school for the deaf and the school for the blind on the water. It’s truly remarkable. She gives so many Austin students their ﬁrst EVER experience on the water and she does it with the utmost attention to safety. This is true community. There is only one paddle sports rental east of IH 35 Lady Bird Lake and it’s across the water and not easy for us to access. It has more of a party vibe/singles scene, people doing tricks on their boards without lifejackets. We used to walk across the street to get out on the lake once or twice a week, but now we drive to Capitol Cruises by South 1st street on the rare occasion that we all get out on the lake. It’s such a sad change for us and there is nothing we want more than to be able to access the water and the boards right by our house. I am including letters and photos (attached) from my kids from a previous appeal we sent to the City Council in 2015. The City would better support East Austin community members if we could access The Expedition School on a consistent basis. They provide easy, a_ordable paddle sports and there is no safer place on Lady Bird lake to teach our children, be active and ﬁt, and appreciate the natural beauty of Lady Bird Lake than the protected cove near CRC. It is important for East Austin families to have similar access to the same water sports as those on the west side of IH 35. Sincerely, Sarah Sharp www.sarahsharp.com 512-636-0976 2210 Riverview St. 78702 Attendee panel closed 2 of 3 Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 3 of 3 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:15:53 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:15:53 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Letter of Support Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:48:59 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Diana Weihs <dianaweihs@gmail.com> ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Diana Weihs Date: Sun, Dec 1, 2019 at 9:26 PM Subject: Item 70 at 12/5 Meeting, Support for Expedition School boating Concession To: <Kurt.Cadena-Mitchell@austintexas.gov> Mr. Mitchell and Councilwoman Alter, As Austin residents of 35 years and personal friends of Kimery Duda, the head of the expedition school, for 20 years (she was a soccer coach for 2 daughters, a leader of an outdoor program and a surﬁng instructor for another daughter, and supervisor for a daughter at the Expedition School in water programs), we support expanding a boating concession to the Expedition School in their location on Festival Beach. The unique north east location of the center, which has been providing city contracted instructor classes there for 12 years, opens access to rental canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards to those living in East Austin on the north side of Lady Bird Lake. The attention to safety is exemplary: Ms. Duda is a CPR instructor for the West Lake Fire Department, and her attention to detail and the training of of her stac is outstanding. The dock is wheelchair accessible, and has transfer equipment for those who need it. The school has also provided programs for visually impaired and hearing impaired students and citizens. The Expedition School has a strong commitment to community service, and has removed over 15 tons of trash from Lady Bird Lake. We hope you can support Item 70, which will improve access for those underserved by geography and disability. Best, Diana Weihs and Jim Tai Attendee panel closed 1 of 2 1 December 2019 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing in support of The Expedition School’s request to have the City authorize a boating concession on Lady Bird Lake. I have known Kimery Duda and her work as the Director of The Expedition School for ten years. The Expedition School supplies lifeguards, EMTs and Trail Guides for the ninth grade retreat at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School every September. As the Dean of Students for St. Stephen’s for nine years, I was in charge of the retreat and thus worked closely with Kimery and her staff prior to, during, and after the retreat. The retreat takes place over a three day period at the HEB Foundation’s Laity Lodge Youth Camp in Leakey, Texas. Approximately 140 people attend the retreat each year, 125 of them being 9th grade students. Kimery and her staff have been the ultimate professionals. Their first priority has always been the safety and well-being of the students. We have never had an emergency thanks to The Expedition School’s well-established sense of order and accountability for our students. Kimery is a top notch educator and first responder, and I have every confidence that should one of our students ever need her in an emergency, she could save their life. Thankfully, we have never had to use her in that capacity! In addition to schools like ours, Kimery takes student groups from all backgrounds on all kinds of trips. She often talks of trips with students with disabilities such as hearing loss and visual impairment. Kimery works with all kinds of communities within the community. She and her staff exhibit tremendous patience with our students--I can only imagine what her staff does with students who need extra assistance and reassurance. I am confident that it is incredibly impressive to watch! Many of our students from St. Stephen’s have taken Lifeguarding Training and Wilderness First Aid from her through one of her classes. She often hires them to work as Lifeguards after they graduate and rejoices every time one of her pupils saves a life--I believe she and her students are responsible for 92 lives saved! I know at least one of our alums who have saved a life because of their training through The Expedition School. In addition to medical expertise, Kimery and her staff constantly emphasize care for and appreciation for the land. They instill that same appreciation in our students, emphasizing the idea of “leave no trace” camping and gratitude for the opportunity to be in such a beautiful place as Laity Lodge. I have absolutely no doubt that Kimery and her staff do and will continue to do the same on Lady Bird Lake. She has already been a steward of the land, literally collecting tons and tons of trash and recycling at their current location. Kimery is a known member of the Austin community. It is clear to me that Austin appreciates and recognizes her commitment to the City of Austin, its emergency services, and its entire population. I hope that the City Council will honor that commitment by granting her the boating concession she is requesting. As an educator, I have seen the importance of The Expedition School’s work and the impact it can have on the lives of all people--young and old alike! Of course, the concession will benefit The Expedition School, but ultimately I am confident it will be to the City’s benefit to be provided this opportunity as well! I highly recommend that the Council approve this request! Sincerely, Katherine A. Coe Director of Middle School Athletics St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Austin, TX Katherine A. Coe Dear Council Members, My name is Maddie Hamill and I am a guide with The Expedition School Austin. I have been working with this agency for just over a year. During this year I have gotten an inside look at just how many people The Expedition School serves. Personally, I have taught multiple safety courses, lifeguarded events of all scale and run team building events for groups of all ages – including the teachers at East Austin College Prep, where Draylen Mason, a victim of the Austin package bombing went to school. Every year The Expedition School supports Colin’s Hope, an organization started by parents who lost their son to drowning at a lifeguarded pool, in the 10k Got2Swim event. This event is a moving billboard down Lake Austin for drowning prevention awareness and would not be possible without Expedition School staff who are passionate about keeping people safe in, on and around the water. During the Spring, The Expedition School also keeps students and their families safe by serving as the medical staff at the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) mountain bike races. Another population this agency serves throughout the year are individuals with disabilities. For our participants with visual impairments, we provide regular programming around Austin and bi-annual trips to Colorado. The guides at Expedition School not only provide recreation opportunities for these individuals, but vastly improve their quality of life and helps them feel more confident in all aspects of their lives. The Expedition School location on Lady Bird Lake has the only ADA boat ramp in Austin. With this ramp we can more easily serve those with physical disabilities so that they too, may utilize one of Austin’s greatest natural resources. The residents of Austin who live east of IH-35 and north of Lady Bird Lake have no opportunity to access rental canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and other watercraft without traveling west of the highway or south of the river. A concession contract would allow the Expedition School to provide recreation opportunities for such a wide variety of people. The more people who appreciate and use the lake, the more people will help take care of it. The Expedition School has removed more than 17 tons of trash and 3 tons of recycling from Lady Bird Lake since it opened with the help of volunteers who we have served. In addition to providing programming and supporting local organizations, The Expedition School certifies a wide variety of people in a multitude of Red Cross classes including lifeguarding, wilderness first aid and CPR. The more people we certify in these safety courses, the more people are kept safe in our community. Alumni of these Expedition School classes have saved over 90 lives using the knowledge and skills they learned from our staff. Lastly, Kimery Duda is a highly respected outdoor guide and safety trainer in the Austin outdoor adventure community. I have had the pleasure of first hand experiencing her passion for educating and keeping people of all ages and abilities safe while enjoying outdoor activities. There is nobody more deserving of this contract so she and her staff may continue to champion water safety and provide recreation opportunities to both the general population and those who need special accommodations. Sincerely, Maddie Hamill Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:11:32 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:11:32 Central Daylight Time Fw: Kimery FYI - FW: Support for Expedition School and Item 70,December 5 Council Agenda Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:44:09 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: To:To: [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com From: kimery expeditionschool.com <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 12:41 PM To: Kathy Setzer <heykathy@heywoodhotel.com> Subject: RE: Kimery FYI - FW: Support for Expedition School and Item 70,December 5 Council Agenda Kathy, This letter means the world. THANK YOU! I'll keep you posted with the outcome on Thursday. Big love to you and the team @ Heywood! Kimery Duda Founder and Director The Expedition School 512.626.6282 www.expeditionschool.com Facebook | Instagram | Twitter View our safety course offerings -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Kimery FYI - FW: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, December 5 Council Agenda From: "Kathy Setzer" <heykathy@heywoodhotel.com> Date: Tue, December 03, 2019 11:39 am To: "'Kimery Duda'" <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Hi Kimery, Here is a our letter of support sent to Pio. He’s a contact/friend of mine. I’m sending a letter to the other council members separately. I wish you so much luck! Kathy Heywood Hotel - Austin, Texas 1609 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin TX 78702 +1 512 271-5522 - heywoodhotel.com Owner and General Manager: Kathy Setzer From: Kathy Setzer <heykathy@heywoodhotel.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 12:27 PM To: 'Council Member Pio Renteria' <sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov> Cc: 'Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov' <Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov> Subject: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, December 5 Council Agenda Good afternoon Pio, I’m writing a brief letter of support on behalf of our neighbors at the Expedition School as they seek to open a boating concession on 1 of 2 Lady Bird Lake. As you know, I have lived in District 3 for nearly 20 years and I have owned my business in District 3 for 11 years. This month, the Heywood Hotel will celebrate our 8th anniversary. The Expedition School is a trusted partner of the Heywood Hotel. We regularly refer our hotel guests to the Expedition School for water safety instruction and outdoor adventure activities. We know that our visitors are in good hands when working with Expedition School because their guides are well trained and current with their professional guide licenses and safety certiﬁcations such as Waterfront Lifeguarding and CPR/AED. I have been impressed to learn of the many ways Expedition School has supported the broader Austin community, including removing tons of trash from Lady Bird Lake, providing a number of safety courses to the community including residents with special needs, and saving nearly 100 lives through the efforts of their well-trained instructors. As you are aware, there is currently no option for residents or visitors in our area to access rental canoes, kayaks and other non- motorized watercraft without having to cross I-35 or travel south of the lake. We want a more connected city and a more connected East Austin neighborhood. Providing a boating concession on our part of Lady Bird Lake is vital to that type of connection. There is simply no better operator for this type of business than Expedition School, a trusted neighbor who has worked hard for our neighborhood and Festival Beach, our neighborhood’s crown jewel, for well over a decade. I thank you for your service to District 3 and the City of Austin, and thank you for supporting Expedition School. I urge you and our other esteemed Council members to grant an expedited permit for Expedition School to provide a much-needed boating concession in our neighborhood. Thank you! Kathy Heywood Hotel - Austin, Texas 1609 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin TX 78702 +1 512 271-5522 - heywoodhotel.com Owner and General Manager: Kathy Setzer This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:38:59 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:38:59 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Fw: Letter of Support Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:37:57 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png, Outlook-The Expedi.png, Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com From: Kimery Duda Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2024 4:58 PM To: davidkinsey2011@gmail.com <davidkinsey2011@gmail.com> Cc: Adam at The Expedition School <adam@expeditionschool.com> Subject: Letter of Support From: Kim Foster <kkgfoster@gmail.com> Date: Mon, December 02, 2019 9:36 pm To: undisclosed-recipients:; I believe it goes without saying that programs such as those provided by the Expedition School are a wealth of positive growing experiences provided to some of our city's adaptive population - be it emotionally, financially, and/or physically. It's devastating to imagine the loss of even one of these integral programs! My first experience with Kimery Duda and the Expedition School was while homeschooling my youngest son back in 2011-12, during an emotional move to Austin from far East Texas - a place that never quite became "home" to our son Tanner. Our time with Kimery and her staff was nothing short of outstanding; Tanner had found his first "home." Since it was home to him, I never hesitated to recommend the School when asked time upon time about Austin-based outdoor programs while working at O Henry Middle School; these inquiries were made by parents, as well as organizations and individuals who worked with the a-risk population at O Henry Middle School, Austin High School, and Eastside Memorial High School. By providing Kimery Duda's Expedition School the sensical choice to become a concessionaire you will help to ensure that the School is able to continue offering such extraordinary enriching opportunities to some of our most delicate Austinites. An added note: as active volunteer of East Austin-based art - film, music, and a 1 of 2 variety of other art modalities - I can't tell you how many times visiting connoisseurs, artists, and performers have complained about the inability to enjoy eastside water activities north of Lady Bird Lake. How crazy is it that I share about all the work that the Expedition School does for the local folks and environment, yet are unable to provide the opportunity (and income to the city of Austin!) due to an unfair designation?! Please let me know if I can answer questions...I'm always available! -- Peace, Kim Gilley Foster 512-534-0118 Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School http://www.expeditionschool.com This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:10:15 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 19:10:15 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Fw: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, December 5 CouncilAgenda Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11:43:35 AM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com Begin forwarded message: From: kimery expedi.onschool.com <kimery@expedi.onschool.com> From: Sent: Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 3:26 PM To:To: Jim Wick <mastrwik@yahoo.com> Subject: Fwd: Support for Expedi.on School and Item 70, December 5 CouncilAgenda Subject: From: Erik Silvius <ESilvius@hebfdn.org> Date: December 3, 2019 at 2:44:53 PM CST To: Kimery Duda <kimery@expeditionschool.com> Subject: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, December 5 Council Agenda Dear City of Aus.n, This leTer is in support of The Expedi.on School being awarded a concession contract on Lady Bird Lake. The H. E. BuT Founda.on Camp has been partnering with The Expedi.on School for over 10 years in order to provide high-quality, safe, and transforma.ve outdoor 1 of 2 experiences for kids who otherwise do not have this essen.al opportunity. Research suggests that .me in nature strengthens the physical, emo.onal, and social health of our communi.es. Kimery and the incredible Ex School team will ensure that diverse popula.ons in Aus.n will con.nue to have this opportunity into the future. Sincerely, Erik Silvius Erik Silvius Senior Director, Outdoor School H.E. BuT Founda.on 830-315-9225 hTps://founda.onoutdoorschool.org/ This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:32:45 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:32:45 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Fw: In Support of The Expedition School, Dec 5 Council Agenda Item #70 Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 4:18:31 PM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png, For Dray at The Ex School.JPG, ATT00001.txt Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com From: Jacqueline Vidal <jacquelinenicole22@gmail.com> Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2019 9:10 AM To: Lauren.Hartnett@austintexas.gov <Lauren.Hartnett@austintexas.gov>; Katherine.Nicely@austintexas.gov <Katherine.Nicely@austintexas.gov>; Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov <Lizette.Melendez@austintexas.gov>; Stephanie.Trinh@austintexas.gov <Stephanie.Trinh@austintexas.gov>; Donna.Tiemann@austintexas.gov <Donna.Tiemann@austintexas.gov>; Marti.Bier@austintexas.gov <Marti.Bier@austintexas.gov>; Amy.Smith@austintexas.gov <Amy.Smith@austintexas.gov>; Deena.Estrada@austintexas.gov <Deena.Estrada@austintexas.gov>; Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov <Ashley.Richardson@austintexas.gov>; Kurt.Cadena-Mitchell@austintexas.gov <Kurt.Cadena- Mitchell@austintexas.gov>; Michael.McGill@austintexas.gov <Michael.McGill@austintexas.gov> Subject: In Support of The Expedition School, Dec 5 Council Agenda Item #70 Hello to all! My name is Jacqueline Vidal and I have been a high school educator in East Austin for 9 years. I met the founder of The Expedition School, Kimery Duda, two years ago when our school reached out to do a team build for teachers and staff before the school year started. We received quality programming and left feeling inspired and energized to begin our new school year. In March of 2018, our school and all of East Ausitn and beyond felt the heavy loss of one of our students and victims of the package bombings, Draylen Mason. It was a very difﬁcult time for us all. Recognizing this, Kimery reached out to us to ask what The Expedition School could do to help in this difﬁcult time and invited 25 of Draylen's closest friends to spend a day out on the water for healing, at no cost. Once again, the quality of the programming she led us in that day and the impact it had on my students is something that you cannot put a price on. Not only were the kids able to be outdoors in a beautiful environment, but Kimery tailored that day's educational activities speciﬁcally to us to be able to 1 of 2 address the many emotions my students were dealing with at that time. It was by far one of the best days we had together and I am forever grateful for Kimery and her staff for their continued support of our community. I've included a group photo of this very special day. I have taken groups of students out to The Expedition school many times since. Its close proximity and affordability make it our number one choice when it comes to outdoor education. They love to be out there learning on the water together, as many do not get the chance to do these types of activities on their own. And, I love that safety and quality education are top priorities for The Expedition School staff. I have also volunteered to help with the work The Expedition School does with the Blind & Visually Impaired in our community and have witnessed the dedication and passion that goes into designing and executing quality educational programming for these young adults. I look forward to supporting Kimery and her staff in any way that I can because I know what kind of impact their work has on our community. It is always purposeful and meaningful - qualities that I appreciate very much as an educator. For these reasons, and many more, I support granting The Expedition School a concession contract so that these types of quality and incredibly meaningful opportunities for our community, for our city, can continue and can grow. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about my letter of support. Thank you so much for your time! - Jacqueline Vidal This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:29:59 Central Daylight Time Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 16:29:59 Central Daylight Time Subject: Subject: Date: Date: From: From: Letter of Support: Henry Vaughn Camacho Saturday, August 3, 2024 at 4:16:47 PM Central Daylight Time Kimery Duda To:To: Attachments: Outlook-horizontal.png Attachments: Katherine Nicely, Michele Rogerson Lynch [Outside Email] From: From: Henry Camacho <henryvaughncamacho@icloud.com> Date: November 27, 2019 at 10:50:11 AM MST Date: To:To: Henry Camacho <henryvaughncamacho@icloud.com> Subject: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, Subject: Support for Expedition School and Item 70, December 5 Council Agenda December 5 Council Agenda I am delighted to give my wholehearted support to the Expedition Schools request for a Concession Contract with the City of Austin. The splendid work of Kimery Duda and the sta^ of the Expedition School which is focused on enriching the lives of the citizens of Austin has been noteworthy and is in keeping with the spirit of the Lorraine "Grandma" Camacho Neighborhood Center to make a positive di^erence in the lives of children and residents of East Austin. My Aunt, Lorraine Camacho, dedicated her life to the safety and welfare of children. She worked selﬂessly to insure that enrichment learning opportunities for children in East Austin were created and supported by the City of Austin. The Expedition School has provided innovative and highly rewarding programs to countless young people. I believe that the work of Kimery Douda and her sta^ has kept that same spirit of dedication of improving the lives of so many that Lorraine Camacho exempliﬁed in her own life. I know this to be true from my own work as a teacher at Gonzalo Garza High School. Kimery Douda and the Expedition School provided extraordinary assistance with specialized outdoor learning activities as part of a collaborative and innovative multi-credit program o^ered at Garza High School during my tenure there. The impact on students' self conﬁdence and learning was immediate 1 of 2 and profound. I believe that your support for The Expedition School's Concession Request will enable these e^orts to expand as well as insure that our young people will have opportunities to participate in activities that they might not otherwise access. I highly recommend support, without reservation, for Item 70 and The Expedition School. Sincerely, Vaughn Camacho Retired AISD Teacher, and Former Director of Research and Planning, Austin Police Department Kimery Duda Founder The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com This email has been scanned for spam and viruses by Proofpoint Essentials. Click here to report this email as spam. 2 of 2 December 1, 2019 Dear Mayor, Council, and Staff: I write to you as the Founder and Executive Director of The Expedition School, and in support of Item 70 on the December 5 council agenda. I grew up in Austin. I would not be the person I am today without access to the parks, swimming pools, and outdoor sanctuaries in our city. My father contracted polio as an infant, which left him permanently disabled. When I was a child, he would make time for me to take me fishing and paddling on Town Lake. We would strategically access the only areas he could safely enter the water - which were, at the time, cement drainage ditches. I learned countless lessons through his disability. These very lessons have not only inspired me to start The Expedition School, but also helped me incorporate these very lessons as part of the mission of the company. The founding principles of The Expedition School are to strengthen our community through transformative outdoor programming, safety education courses, and medical support. Hence it is paramount that we, The Expedition School, instill the safest outdoor practices, offer hands on and practical safety course training whom are taught by seasoned medical professionals and guides of The Expedition School. We hire a diverse collective of professional outdoor educators and faculty, and we offer free adaptive outdoor programming that focuses on empowering populations such as blind and visually impaired and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I’m proud to partner with non-profits and for-profits alike to continue building enriching relationships throughout the community that positively contribute to our local economy, that honor the history and culture of our beloved eastside, and that incorporate environmental initiatives with every program. Since the launch of The Expedition School in 2006, the results of these efforts are worth noting: n We have a perfect safety record in all paddling and outdoor programs. n 92 lives have been saved by our students who took safety courses from The Expedition School. Bird Lake. n We have removed over 17 tons of trash and 3 tons of recycling from Lady n We have received awards from the Austin Police Department, American Red Cross, Keep Austin Beautiful, and Down Home Ranch. n We have been actively certified as a Woman Owned Business and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise with the City of Austin Small and Minority Business Resource Department since July 28, 2009 The Expedition School has proudly operated on the eastside of Austin, on the waterfront in the Fiesta Gardens lagoon, for over a decade in the capacity of a contract instructor agreement with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. Residents on the eastside of Lady Bird Lake have no opportunity to rent canoes, kayaks, or Stand Up Paddleboards. A concession contract would not only allow us to rent our watercraft at an affordable rate to the community, but would allow us to stay in business to continue enriching the lives of many individuals who would not otherwise have access to safe, professional, free or affordable outdoor programming. It is evident that the lessons I learned from my time in the outdoors, from my father, and from growing up in the Austin community – continue through the work we do with The Expedition School. I believe our community continues to strengthen through these efforts, and I would consider it an honor for us to reach more community members through our work as a concession. Thank you for your support. Please contact me any time with specific questions. Kimery Duda Founder and Director The Expedition School www.expeditionschool.com