Changes

This is the collaborative wiki for the '''2010 North America Hitch Gathering''' taking place in Boulder, CO on August 21st. If you were redirected here from http://na.hitchgathering.org then the website is still not functional. For now, we are using this wiki to organize, create content, discuss and publish all information needed for the Hitch Gathering. The first section is the working content for the website, the second is the active discussions for organizing. Please feel free to contribute and participate. If you would like to be added to the mailing list where the current discussions are taking place, [http://lists.freeactive.net/listinfo.cgi/hitch-na-freeactive.net subscribe here]

[[File:Hitchiker.jpg‎|440px|center|alt text]]  =Website=

==Home==

The North America A Hitch Gathering is a proposed non-commercial, volunteer based, self-organized project/gathering set to take that supports the promotion of Hitchhiking. The idea is simple: Once a year a place August 21st, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado is chosen and everyone (COhitchhikers or non-hitchhikers)gather together to celebrate, to share, with to learn and to discover! It's a pre-emptive gathering in Denvertime to get together and be happy, to help one another, to talk and meet, COand to develop our ideas and then pursue them further.

A The next North America Hitch Gathering is a non-commercial, volunteer based, self-organized project that supports the promotion of Hitchhiking. The idea is simple: Once a year a set to take place is chosen and everyone (hitchhikers or non-hitchhikers) gather together to celebrate, to share, to learn and to discover! It's a time to get together and be happyAugust 9th, to help one another, to talk and meet, and to develop our ideas and then pursue them further2014. Details are on the [[2014_North_American_Hitchgathering]] page

==Our Goals==

[[File:CU Engineerings dorms.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Boudler== Where ==The North American Hitch Gathering is taking place in Boulder, Colorado]]this year on August 21st! The exact location is still being determined, though it will most likely be an open area with basic services, possibly a good place in Nature (but still close enough to the city) where we can gather together, camp and live for a few days, a place where we can be free and well.

==Where==The North American Hitch Gathering is taking place There will also be a pre-meeting in BoulderDenver on the 20th of August. Again, Colorado this year! This August 21st! The the exact location is still being has yet to be determined, though it will most likely be a city park inside the city. The pre-day gathering is for those that arrive early, those that are interested in meeting hitchhikers and travelers in an open area accessible location in Denver, and for anyone interested. The afternoon will most likely be spend at a park; then the evening resting with basic servicesfriends (Couchsurfers, Hospitality Club, possible community centre), possibly a good place in Nature or other arrangements (but still close enough to the citycome) . The next day there will be a gathering around noon in Denver where we everyone can gather join together, camp and live for then all Hitch together to Boulder (20 kilometers away). We're envisioning a few daysgreat group of people all leaving together, a place where maybe with media involved, and off to Boulder we can be free and well. go!

August 21st== What ==At Hitch Gatherings all around the world, hitchhikers gather to promote hitchhiking. The first (recent, to my knowledge) European gathering met in Paris in 2008, participants camped for three days in front of the Eiffel Tower. Then in Odesa in 2009 at Shevchenko Park, where they camped at a beach. 2010 was in Portugal, and a group brought it should last a couple days. There will be to North America, with a preemptive meeting sister gathering in the Boulder/Denver on the 20tharea.

==What= How it started ===Hitch Gatherings have happened twice already in Europe, as well as other gatherings in North American. In every case, hundreds A small group of hitchhikers gathered enthusiastic travelers had decided early 2008 to promote hitchhiking in Europe, North American and Around organize the World. The first European gathering met in Paris in 2008, participants camped for three days in front of the Eiffel TowerHitch-hiking Week. Then in Odesa in 2009, where they camped at the beach. We hope that this year the North America Gathering in Boulder will be even betterIt started as an art-project but moved quickly into something bigger, something wider as well as the European gathering more people joined in Portugal.

===How The aim was now to give one location and time for a rally, and broadcast it started===A small group to all the hitch-hikers of enthusiastic travellers had the world. The place was decided early 2008 to organize be the "Champs de Mars" in front of the first European Hitch-Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; and the time 8pm on the 08/08/08, hence the name of "Project 888". See "Paris 888 hitch hiking Week. It started as an art-project but moved quickly into something bigger, something wider as more people joined intrailer" on YouTube.

The aim was now to give one location and time for a rally, and broadcast it to all the hitch-hikers of the world. The place was decided to be the "Champs de Mars" in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France; and the time 8pm on the 08/08/08, hence the name of "Project 888". 150 people showed up from all around Europe and stayed for the 3 days week-end. It was a very intense time of exchange, smiles, and french wine. We held playshops on urban camping, safety issues, sustainable travel and many other things travel related.

===Odesa 2009===

The challenge was much harder this time. Paris was an easy go for most of us, but the Ukraine was a lot further. Many people embarked on a multiple day hitchhiking trip, travelled traveled non-stop or met up at the pre-meetings that were organized along the way. In the end we gathered with a bit over a hundred hitchhikers from all over Europe, mostly experienced hitchhikers. A few didn't even make it though, it was too far for them. We spent three days together talking, partying and sharing our skills.

In === 2010 ===The North American Hitch Gathering took place in Denver, Boulder, Nederland, and the end we gathered with forests around Nederland (on a bit over lake, near a hundred hitchhikers from all over Europetrail, mostly experienced hitchhikersnext to Moffat Tunnel), Colorado on August 21st, 2010. A few didn't even make it though It is a beautiful, open area with basic services at the trail head, in Nature (but still close enough to the city) where we gathered together, it was too far camped and lived for them. We spend three a few days together talking, partying and sharing our skills. We had workshops a place where we could be free and sponteneous meetingswell.

===2010===What will 2010 There was also be like? Do a pre-meeting in Denver on the 20th of August, at a park in the middle of the city, with dinner at the SAME cafe (So All May Eat - a pay as you want to join? Do you have ideas on how to participate? We hope can place, where people can also volunteer). The pre-day gathering was for those that arrived early, those that this time were interested in meeting hitchhikers and travelers in an accessible location in BoulderDenver, Colorado and in Portugal even more people will join us than last year! for anyone interested. The afternoon was spent at the park; then the evening resting with friends (Couchsurfers, Hospitality Club, possible community centre), etc. The next day we all hitched together to Boulder (20 kilometers away).

===Participate===

==How==

* [[General info]] * [[Top tips|Top Tips]]* [[First time hitchhiking|First time]]* [[Hitchhiker's safety|Safety]]

[[Category:North America]]  =Discussion=

- [http://www.volunteerconnection.net/why/VCfaq.html|a Volunteer Connection] or [http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/volunteerconnection/LoadOpportunityReview.do?opportunityId=348607&vcId=8508|a Zero-waste education @ farmer's market](your name here?) - Request competent, understanding, communication-savvy volunteers for ON-site(Denver and Boulder) mediators between Us and Them. Us being- any traveler there for the gathering. Them being- Authority figures, Media, other Groups (church,4-H, political rally, gang-bangers, etc)who may be occupying the same space. In Paris, there was a delegated group to explain to the Police Who we were, Why we were there and generally to smooth things over. Ended up, they didnt mind us assembling, as long as we kept our backpacks piled centrally instead ov spread out the grass and informed us ov NO tents the second morning. Ovcourse, by the 3rd morning, some ov our group did NOT hear that part and when the SAME police arrived that 3rd morning, they were NOT HAPPY!! In Odessa, somehow the authorities already knew. Whether through the radio, TV or somehow, they didn't mind us congregating in the park. It was pretty unsafe to sleep there(my personal testimony), but the days were fine. The Tourist Bureau also offered a FREE guided tour ov the harbor area WITH translation for us. BUT, by the 3rd afternoon, the police told us we had to leave, the park was not cleaned by some volunteers. We tried to keep tidy, but with many people and not enough direction, things tend to fizzle out. -Meal Time!-What better way to get to know your fellow traveler than over cup ov Joe? Organize with Food Rescue operations already in place in Denver and Boulder to see if they would be interested in lending a helping hand. Having an approximate time(within a couple hours) for breakfast and dinner feedings will take the stress from individuals foraging for themselves. Allowing more time for stories and skillsharing. People can switch off food duties in order to participate in group discussions. Once again,... In Paris, a kind man(who shall remain anonymous) walked around with a hat and people donated what money they could. Then off to the market we went! Upon returning, there was a smorgasbord ov food available to any who wished. In Odessa, dumpster-diving was not possible(im told) and for the majority ov westerners, restaurants/markets were affordable(but ruined any communal feedings).

* Video media, ie. shorts, promotion stuff, etc (your name) Lily? * Catch lines, phrases: The Road is Zen, The Road is True, etc. Possible idea is gather near Naropa university, the first buddhist accredited university in america, and place the Buddhist/Zen theme on the promotion. :im begging to differ on the theme. Why mix spirituality with travel?-r3353

* Highlight good angles to approach Media, ie. Promotion packages with manifesto type work, at least some sort of written work on the event in our own words.

* Start posting on digihitch.com, Couchsurfing.org (Your Name, Jeremie, r3353(im starting with contacting groups on CS. Does anyone know a way to promote in all US states, Canadian provinces and Mexican states? i certainly dont want to SPAM them all.), [[User:gjemmott|George]] - digihitch forums seem broken, no response from admin)** I partly fixed the forum, it's readable again. Not sure how to make it possible for people to post again. Any phpBB experts around? [[User:Guaka|guaka]] 21:42, 10 June 2010 (UTC)

Any suggestions for Boulder or Denver? Add below. Also, is it between June 5 and June 12ish? Call [[User:gjemmott|George]] at +1 760 822 9880 because he may not have internet that week, but is on his way to investigate places (including your suggestion!) in Denver and Boulder.

Criteria:* Jeremie says ''I would recommend trying to locate a place where people could camp and be outside for a couple days. ''* For Denver, Jeremie says ''The Denver gathering could happen in a public park (and probably should be for media) and then the evenings could be CSed or hosted somewhere in the city.* For Boulder, though I imagine Boulder to be somewhere we everyone could gather for a few days without too much worry. Close enough to services, yet still far enough from bother.''

''I (Mike L. from Denver) recommend Boulder Central Park, where the bandshell is, at Broadway and Canyon. HOWEVER, an all-nighter in Boulder might be a problem. In fact there is ongoing was a civil disobedience occurring at this very moment in Boulder over their prohibitions of camping:

Aowin suggests Washington "Wash" Park (+always lots of people, +right in the middle by I-25, -[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park,_Denver| big park], 165 acres, might be hard to find gathering, lakes, +playground, rich neighborhood (might get more complaints?)). Also says there is also a good park (City Park) next to the zoo, but likelihood of being bothered by police is higher?

r3353 recommends- for the meeting in Denver, if the goal is media attention, to make it a very busy yet spacious location. But as the hikers trickle in on the 20th, there could be On-site people to receive all new-comers. Keeping things visible for news with Flashmobs and 'playshops' whereby we actively draw in people to spread awareness, making ov statues with the cardboard signs, etc. Then when that evening ends, people can fend for themselves(as it had been in Paris and Odessa. Most banded together in the Champs de Mars(for Paris) or hiking 30 minutes to the nudist beach on the Black Sea(for Odessa). Both were rightous parties independant ov promoting HH(more ov a relaxing "We FINALLY made it-typeparty).As for the idea ov everyone leaving one point in the morning for the Boulder destination(as a Grand Send-Off) MAY be possible, but imagine how many days everyone has already traveled. Many may be staying with friends 'out' ov the area, so the quickest route may be a southern exit to Boulder(if my directions are right, please correct) With at least one person in the Denver locale holding a very BIG sign to guide any late arrivals(if they dont know they way). For the Boulder location(if media is NOT the point) Chautauqua park sounds possible(never been there). Besides the sharing ov stories from around, and other playshops, the final destination is NOT a place to sit around and pat ourselves on the back for making it. Once there THAT is when the actual fun begins. Spreading the concept, Promoting awareness, interacting with locals should be a higher priority than resting on our laurels with our proverbial HH thumb up our arse. So im curious how Barcelona-Portugal and Denver-Boulder will turn out. It is a new idea this year to have main gathering in a city and then ONE day to dance our way to camping area. Another idea is in regards to weather. What happens if it rains? Any shelter for a group ov people should be taken into consideration. Its not much fun if everyone is trapped in a tent because ov torrential storms. Sure, rain gear is usually included in all backpacks. But what about make-shift structures? Is there an amphitheater where we can get together? Above all- let everyone voice an opinion, discuss it and then decide. But for Paris, the destination(aweful towerEiffel Tower) was known from the start, in Odessa (statue ov poet Shevchenko) was determined sometime just before hand. And at the moment Portugal is still floating, yes? The flyers may help sway those undecided.   -----CONCENTRIC CIRCLES outside Denver. i recently posted messages in some major cities that surround Colorado asking for assistance in organizing a meet-up point for any participants on the way in the days preceding the event. In '08 we met in Hamburg and Utrecht prior to Paris. There were other cities coming from different directions on the same days. That is was made it originally called "International Hitch Hiking WEEK', the event itself was 60% and getting there was the rest. In '09, it was more a straight shot once you entered Central and Eastern Europe(please edit this some chose the southern route through Poland, Moldova, to places neededOdessa. Where as some took L'viv, im just on Kiev, Odessa. For me personally, these meetings made a HUGE difference in my experience ov the event. Having never traveled there before, the people i met at the pubs and host-houses were invaluable in assisting my novice thumb.Can someone help me looking at a rantmap to determine other cities farther out(but within approximately 1-day hitch)and post more message??

Possible quotes and phrases for the event to be used on web posters, hand-outs, websites and such. Add what you think would be good!! Don't be shy!