When camping season starts, we fish, play on the beach, go for hikes, cook our supper over a campfire, stargaze?and enjoy meeting other families. We also bring our dog, who really enjoys the random sniffing that goes on when canines meet in the ?wilderness? (as a two-pound toy poodle, a provincial park is the closest he’s going to get to the great outdoors!)

So if You’re considering a camping trip this summer, here’s the scoop on some of our favourite places in the Manitoba/Northwest Ontario region (most with sites ranging from basic tenting to full-service sites for full-sized trailers).

Whiteshell Provincial Park

Whiteshell Provincial Park is huge. Located in eastern Manitoba, it contains 10 campgrounds with reasonable camping fees. we’re talking really reasonable: at $7-12 per night for a provincially run campground, plus a Manitoba Park Pass ($7 for 3 days or $28 for a season), camping here is a great choice!

West Hawk Lake is an amazing natural attraction in the region. It’s located on the Trans-Canada trail and has wonderful walking trails. Created by a meteorite, the lake is reported to be as deep as a football field and is used for federal scuba diving training. Also on West Hawk Lake is the Whiteshell Fish Hatchery, which gives tours and explains how Manitoba Conservation is repopulating fish species in Manitoba lakes.

Falcon Lake has three campgrounds, but my favourite is Falcon Beach. The campground is beautiful and a walk to the beach or town is only a few minutes. The long beach is white sand, and you can rent a giant tube and spend the day floating in the sun.

There’s also a large playground that kids of all ages seem to love, and hidden beside it is the Falcon Lake Interpretive Workshop, with interesting displays and conservation-centred activities for kids.

You can find more information on the Manitoba Parks website (including a link to online campsite reservations) and the Trans-Canada Trail website.

Lilac Resort

Lilac Resort is located on the Trans-Canada highway approximately half an hour east of Winnipeg. On the other end of the spectrum from most campgrounds, it has everything from waterslides to concerts, mini golf to paddle boats, and much, much more. If you’ve never camped, or the lake scares you, this would be a good place to start.

In fact, it isn’t really camping; more like a resort you can sleep at in a tent. Small hotel rooms are available, or you could use a day pass if you are passing through.

Rates are pricier than provincial parks, but include all activities in the resort?even concerts. There are paddle boats for the duck pond, and amazing staff, but just remember?the pools are chlorinated and after three days this can start to irritate sensitive skin.

Lilac is an awesome family retreat, and I’ve seen a lot of people there having a blast without kids.

Rushing River

Located 20 minutes east of Kenora, Ontario, Rushing River is one of the most beautiful parks I’ve seen in the region.

The campground is really rocky, so some sites are walk-in only, situated on a cliff overlooking the water. As well, some of the campsites are located right on the water. There are at least five beach areas within walking distance of the campground, ranging from larger family beaches to small hideaways.

The larger beach (a large swimming area, but not much beach?most people park themselves on the rocks or grass) has a lot of rock crops a short swim out that are great for diving off, and the water is crystal clear.

Rushing River also has three hiking trails, two easy and one moderate, that even inexperienced hikers will enjoy (less than an hour and a half) because of the gorgeous scenery and wildlife viewing.

If you want a secluded spot, choose a tent-only, walk-in site on a rock cliff. You’ll feel like you are the only people in the world!

Rates are higher in Ontario Provincial Parks (about three times higher than Manitoba), but include the cost of an Ontario Park pass for the time you are camping?normally $16 per day, or $89.15 for the season.

Go here to find more information on Rushing River or other Ontario Parks campgrounds.

Anicinabe Park

Located about a two-minute drive from downtown Kenora, this privately owned RV/campground/beach park is a local favourite?which should speak volumes to travellers.

The beach is the big draw (along with the boat launch), and has beautiful sand, a small playground, a picnic area, an on-beach playground, and a dock that circles the swimming area so you won’t float away on your air mattress. This park is on Lake of the Woods, but the water is much nicer earlier in the summer due to the shallowness of the swimming area.

This park is a great alternative to a hotel if you are visiting the region over the summer. Harbourfest (August long weekend) is an amazing city-wide party with concerts featuring big-ticket performers. This year’s line-up includes Loverboy and Paul Brandt, with past performers such as Nazareth and Tom Cochrane.

The Sunday evening fireworks are absolutely breathtaking, the days are filled with different activities at the Harbourfront for kids and adults, and down the road at the Recreation Centre there’s the Agricultural Fair with displays and a good-sized midway.

You can find out more at the Anicinabe Park website, or visit Harbourfest ? Annual Kenora Festival.

Not only do I not pay banking fees anymore, but I save money on my insurance and even receive discounts in some clothing stores in my town.

Recently, I learned about the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) program. Recognized world-wide, this additional ID card opens doors for full-time students, as well as saves them a lot of money when travelling or even doing things close to home that may be considered tourist-related.

The cost of the card varies, but according to Via Rail’s website, if you purchase the card at one of their locations it is only $16 and it doesn’t expire for 16 months.

According to the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website, the following information is required to apply for the card:

Acceptable proof of full-time student status, including either a copy of your university or student ID card (if properly dated and clearly indicating your full-time student status), or a signed and dated letter on official university or school stationery attesting to your full-time student status. An original copy is preferred, but photocopies and faxes may be accepted.

You will also need a passport-sized photo and proof of your date of birth.

The discounts available would make the purchase of this card worthwhile even for a student who is not planning on travelling internationally. For instance, Via Rail offers students a 35 to 50 per cent discount, and children can still travel for free with a paying student-parent during the summer.

Greyhound Canada also offers a discounted price of 25 per cent off adult tickets for ISIC holders, and there are literally thousands of discounts available with the ISIC that are listed by country on their website.

From museums to student travel companies, this also seems to be a magic card for any full-time student living on a budget.

According to the ISTC website, the ISIC also offers other benefits to student travelers, which include access to a free 24-hour multilingual emergency help line, and a personalized trip planner and travel guide.

For a card that only costs $16, It’s an amazing deal. And with the card being valid for 16 months, it means that even if you apply for the card when only a month away from graduation, you can have a valid student identity card for 15 months?even when you are no longer a full-time student!

For more information, visit the International Student Identity Card website and Via Rail’s Student Discount Information page.

When my daughters were young and I was a student, I got tired of waiting to be able to afford a fun family holiday, and began going on camping trips with them.

With no experience, and without anyone camping with me, there were some bumpy times. Camping in a provincial park in Manitoba, we were rained out. I hadn’t waterproofed my new tent and everything got soaked; our clothes, our food, even the car (I hadn’t rolled up the windows). But we didn’t give up just because of weather!

Not only is the cost of camping geared toward the budget of a student, you have more freedom than you would in a hotel. For you first-time campers, or you folks who had a really bad experience camping and have avoided it ever since, here is a set of tips that can really make your experience enjoyable.

So erase the idea of mosquitoes swarming you in the morning (and evening) while you sip gritty campfire coffee. we’re not talking about wilderness camping here; this is how to car camp in a civilized manner!

Picking and preparing a tent

You can now buy reasonably priced tents that have built-in poles. I recently picked up a new tent for $190 on sale—six-person with built-in poles and solar-powered LED lights with removable solar charging flashlight!

Most comedy sketches about camping poke fun at people trying to set up a tent, but these tents save a lot of time—they can be set up in four minutes, including fly and tent pegs. Known as EZ-Tent by Woods, they’re also available in four- and eight-person models. A four-person version of the EZ-Tent lasted six years, camping most weekends in the summer, mildew damage, losing the tent bag the first year, peanut butter accidents, and going without a tent fly for the last year.

If you read the reviews on this tent (as all good students would, right?), people are whining that rain gets in. Of course it does—rain will leak into any tent before you waterproof it. But waterproofing spray can be picked up at Wal-Mart for $11 and it works. If You’re really worried, stop by a Canadian Tire and get tent wax. It looks like a big Chapstick and you run it on the seams inside the tent and fly to make sure water won’t get in.

Set your tent up at home and follow the instructions to waterproof it. Also, make sure you read the instructions that come with it; they’ll tell you how to clean it in case of a food- or nature-related accident.

Some campers think it builds character when You’re putting together a “real” tent. But unless you want a 16-person tent with a detachable gazebo, you can stay with a simple approach. Hard-core campers might give a giggle—until it is a beautiful 28 C day and your tent is up a full half hour before theirs and You’re on the beach before they have their fly on!

Picking your campsite

Start easy. Pick a provincial park close to home to test out your equipment and camping skills. Pick a site with electricity, and one within walking distance to something you want to do. Like the beach? Going for walks? Photography? Jumping off a dock into a lake? Build your first trip around what you know and love.

If You’re not ready for full-on nature, you can camp at a park that has a swimming pool. Do not head for an unstaffed, remote campground on your first trip. As silly as it sounds, re-introduce yourself to nature gradually.

Inside your tent

Nothing should touch the walls—if it rains, that might cause a leak. And do not keep food inside your tent, because critters like food (and chips inside your sleeping bag are no fun at all). If chocolate attracts kids, imagine what other animals it might attract.

Sleeping-wise, you can choose an air mattress or foam (camping foam unrolls to go under your sleeping bag). Always have a sleeping bag; if it is cold it will keep you warm, and if it is warm out, you can sleep on top of it and be quite cozy. Bring a light fleece blanket as well. don’t use a camping pillow; those are for hikers and hard-core campers. Bring a few pillows from home and you’ll sleep that much better.

Keep all your clothing and personal items inside a plastic tote, or at least a double garbage bag inside your tent. In case a little water gets in, your clothes and equipment will be dry! One important tip: bring two sleeping bags. There’s nothing nicer than sitting in front of a fire cuddled up with your sleeping bag. Use one bag for outside the tent and one to sleep in. Plus, you’ll have a spare if one gets wet or it gets cold out!

Menu

Stomach upsets really suck when you are camping so keep it simple, meaning foods you are used to. Here are some foods you can easily cook on or in a fire and that taste great: corn on the cob, S’Mores (roasted marshmallows between two graham crackers and a piece of Aero chocolate bar), shish kebabs, hot dogs, campfire pies (pie filling between bread, cooked in a campfire sandwich maker), bannok (Bisquick works for this), Jiffy Pop, and canned food (take the top off and put the can in the corner of a fire to warm up). Just remember your can opener!

It might sound good in theory, but don’t plan to cook everything over the fire. Small propane stoves are less than $30 and will come in handy if it is too hot for a fire or you just want to boil water for tea. If you never plan on camping again, you can keep it around in case your power goes out.

Campfire

Bring a lot of newspaper to help start your fire or buy some Firestarter. It is inexpensive, usually sold in the camping aisle of any bigger store, and will make your trip so much more fun (unless you love feeling like a caveman, screaming to the world “I make fire!”).

Keep all your material for fire and cooking in a plastic tote so it won’t get wet, and bring an empty pail to keep by the fire, filled with water. When You’re done for the evening, you won’t have to grope around in the dark for a water tap, and if a piece of wood flies out of your fire you can dump water on it. Always put your fire out for the night.  100 per cent completely out. I don’t care if it is pouring rain, put it out.

Also, call ahead to make sure you can buy wood at the campground. Most campsites won’t let you bring in your own wood anymore because of tree diseases or other things they’re trying to keep out of their park.

Things to keep you happy

Twice as many clothes as you need. Sunscreen, bug spray, and a hat. A coffee maker. That’s right, a coffee maker (part of the reason for picking a campsite with electrical plugs).

Bring a kettle if you are a tea drinker, and a toaster if you like your morning crumpet. You won’t want to crank up a propane stove or fire when It’s already warm at nine a.m., and these amenities will let you hit the beach within 15 minutes of waking up!

Extra garbage bags and duct tape. A piece of rope to dry bathing suits over. A really comfy camping chair; the folding type with beverage holder.

The AU course you are currently working on. You can take a break from it if you want, but bring along a textbook in case guilt or beach boredom sets in. Just keep it in the car when You’re not reading so it stays dry in case of rain!

Good summer reading. Rubber boots and an extra pair of shoes and way too many socks (always keep your feet dry). Two flashlights—they are really easy to lose in the dark.

Camping with kids

If it is your kids’ first time camping, great! The younger the better, and if they are a little squeamish at first don’t worry. Just don’t make faces yourself if something gives you the chills. Chances are they will hit a playground within an hour and make a pack of friends to hang out with. Here are a few things that younger kids love to bring camping:

Nets (they’re inexpensive, and great for catching bugs, minnows, or crayfish). Board games or a deck of cards. Bikes (if you can possibly bring them they are so much fun for exploring the “neighbourhood”).

Beach toys. Gear them toward the child’s age, but even a 10 year old admits she loves to bury her mom in the sand, and sandcastles are fun at any age. Camera—my girls like disposable cameras so they can take their own camping pictures.

Setting up and taking down your tent

When setting up, remember to put the tent on a tarp of the same size. If the tarp is too big or too small, water can run under the tent floor and damage it. Set up on the flattest, highest spot you can. And remove any rocks or sticks first; you’ll avoid poking a hole in the tent floor—or sleeping on a rock.

Never put your tent away wet. Sometimes you get rained out, pack it all up, and go home. It happens. But as soon as that sun starts to shine, set up your tent to dry out. If your tent stays wet you’ll get mildew stains, which look like rust but smell like garbage or wet socks. You can only remove them with a combination of bleach, water, and scrubbing, and even then the smell might still be there.

And make sure you bring a few extra tent pegs in case you lose one, and an extra hammer to make sure they are secure in the ground.

Outside your tent

Keep your fire and wood away from your tent, your food in your car, and your tent away from your neighbour’s. don’t hang things on your tent to dry, and avoid setting up your eating or sleeping area right beside an outhouse. Trust me.

How hard do you want to make it?

Keep things simple and lighthearted. don’t plan on spending three hours cooking a gourmet meal unless that is your passion. If your supper ends up absolutely gross and inedible don’t get too upset; pull out the extra hot dogs and have fun. When you are camping you will lose one thing, ruin one thing, leave one thing behind, and one person will get a minor injury (did you bring a first aid kit?).

But simple car camping is as safe and easy as hanging out at an in-town park and having a picnic. Just plan ahead, bring extra food, and if all else fails there will be a restaurant or chip truck within walking distance. And leave those things you don’t want to lose at home or locked up in your car. Cell phones can’t fall into a toilet if they are sitting in your glove compartment.

Pets

It is iffy if you want to bring your pets camping the first time you go. Just consider whether it would cause more stress if they were along, and if you do bring them, pack food, a water bottle, a leash, and some pocket scoopy bags. Pets are a great way to meet other campers, but if you have a hairless dog that sunburns easily, it would be happier being indoors.

Other campers

Camping really brings strangers closer together. It is like living in a small town for a short period with people you might never see again. But you might end up making some friends you want to go camping with in the future, too. Be friendly and take the chance to chat it up with other people.

If you hate it

don’t give up. Try a different park, different setting, going with a different group of people, or a different plan. I think for camping, the three-time rule applies. If you try camping three times and you hate it with a passion, then sell all your camping equipment and try again in three years.

Laugh

Some of my fondest memories of my daughters growing up were camping accidents. Find the humour in whatever happens; 10 years from now, you would rather remember a laugh at something than someone who was grumpy.

And That’s another reason to bring the coffee maker along. I know I’m more cheerful on a wet soggy morning with a decent cup of coffee.

It’s also been fast-paced, similar to the Zipper ride at the fair my daughter convinced me to ride with her. After standing in line for an hour with her in the sun, the term ?show no fear? took on a totally different meaning. During the ride, I was convinced I would either fall out of the safety harness while upside down (although I was wedged in there really well?the rides seem to be built for teenagers and I seem to be built more like a stereotypical farmer’s wife), or I would get very sick while at the top of the ride.

School stress can feel like that. Your course deadline is coming up fast, you’ve booked your exam, but now you don’t know if you will be able to write it in time. Or you need a higher mark to pass and don’t know whether to withdraw and get a WF on your transcript or take the lower mark. What are you going to do? Or maybe you have a six-month course you signed up for, but left it all to the last month and your tutor hasn’t acknowledged the two assignments you handed in at midnight!

It can all be quite nauseating. Not enough to lie down in the grass in downtown Kenora with a Slurpee resting on your head, but the physical effect can be similar. To combat that feeling, here’s a list of study and planning ideas I have come up with that I wish I knew when I started.

When you get that shiny new box of course materials, don’t jump right in

I’m a full-time partially funded student, so I have to finish three courses every four months. Minimum. And I optimistically signed up for a summer term as well. I learned quite quickly that going through every piece of paper in that box, and reading over the study guide to learn the expectations, is really important! Can we say English 255 online groups? A lot of people wait too long to sign up for them and then they miss out on one that fits their schedule.

Book your exams before you begin the work

Sound crazy? Actually, scheduling is a large part of distance education. Without a strict schedule you will fall behind. I plan out all my exams based on the weight of the courses (the amount of work they take and the credits they are worth), and plan exam dates that work with my local invigilator. I book every exam with AU at once through the exam unit?then plan my assignments and reading plan with my calendar. It is easier to keep on task and on schedule if you have a plan. And that way, my exams are requested a full four months before my course end date!

don’t sacrifice too much

Sounds silly coming from a single mom who works full-time and attends AU full-time, right? But with careful planning and thinking ahead, you will actually save yourself quite a bit of time. Working with your calendar from the start, you can plan your study activities around special events in your life, or your families? life.

An example: this summer we are spending a total of 19 days camping. I can’t go 19 days without studying, so I planned in advance, and the summer courses I chose can travel with me as they aren’t online based and don’t require a computer.

I study at soccer practice, but don’t study during a soccer game. Any student knows how easy it is to get burned out. Plan your course load and course schedule realistically, and with good balance and planning (and hard work, of course) you can find balance between the things in your life that are important. Sacrificing too much can make you bitter, and life is meant to be enjoyed!

don’t lose your textbook

Sound crazy? I might be the only person in the history of AU to lose a textbook, but I doubt it. I chose not to look at my ORGB 364 textbook for a week (I think I subconsciously hid it so I couldn’t find it again.) It was under the seat in my car while I spent three evenings tearing my house apart.

Every student needs a study area, even a small one. Keep your course materials and textbooks in a place you can find them and easily work on them for short periods. Pens, pencils, papers, erasers, etc. should be ready for your study time (I wrote a four-page essay on construction paper with a Sharpie pen during my first term, and it wasn’t a pretty sight when I was trying to type it to email to my tutor).

Give yourself a lot of time to finish your course

This goes back to scheduling once again. I always give myself a two-week buffer when planning out my courses, so on paper I do my three courses in three-and-a-half months. The two-week break is something to look forward to, but it also allows for those crazy things in life that seem to happen right when you don’t have time for them. Like mono.

Stay in touch

Find some way to become involved in AU. The AUSU forums are a wonderful way to remember that you aren’t alone, and are also a great place to get advice or to ask other students about their experiences with the school, or even a certain course. The forums aren’t a study board by any means, but there is a lot of good advice there that goes back years.

Reward yourself

Martyrs are only meant for novels and movies. I spent a full 14 hours working through my first math course with AU during my second month. Then I realized that I forgot half of what I was working on because my brain had turned to yogurt. You need breaks and you need motivation. There is nothing wrong with taking a few days off studying once you finish that course you’ve been hammering away at every day for a month.

Be realistic with your family situation

Family and school can coexist. No one has to be miserable, and you don’t have to miss out on important things. It comes down to scheduling, but also being realistic. A two year old is not going to let you study for too long before things get stressful. Probably five minutes, and I am being optimistic.

Try to save most of your study time for when they don’t need you the most. I do most of my studying after my daughters are in bed at 9:00, or while they are entertaining themselves. I don’t try and do my homework while they are doing theirs, because I know they will be asking for help and I’ll be distracted.

don’t do your school work at work

First, don’t work on math assignments at work unless you are specifically told the bosses don’t mind. For some reason, my boss was quite upset when my calculator and graph paper were all over my desk.

Draw a line between work and school as much as you can. I still read textbooks at work, but only during my lunch hour. Try not to bring your work home with you; you have enough school work sitting there waiting for you!

Also, many employers will be flexible (if you ask nicely) and allow you to take a half day off every few months as a training day to write your exam. Finally, make sure that your employer knows you are working on your degree. It is impressive that you are working and furthering your education.

Use your calendar

Everything was nicely laid out in my calendar, and planned out so I’d know exactly what to work on on which day. And then I put my calendar away in a drawer for two weeks! I thought I knew my plan well enough that I didn’t need it in front of my every day, and I almost missed my critical exchange for English 255. Keep your calendar where you can see it and use it, and keep it updated as well. If you suddenly have to go to a wedding, shift your calendar plan around so you don’t fall behind.

Talk to a course advisor

They really know their stuff. It is amazing the things you can ask them about course requirements and prerequisites. I worked out my entire AU course plan from start to finish and got them to check it to make sure it would satisfy my degree. Then, after my first two terms, I decided to change the program I was admitted to, and my course advisors were an amazing resource to help me through the transition.

Remember that there is always a way

don’t ever give up. Any situation you find yourself in while studying has a solution waiting for you. Online, the askAU feature is an amazing resource, but so is a phone call to the Info Centre. The Info Centre is there to answer your questions, so make a call and find out for yourself from the source. You can also contact department heads and ask them questions, or you can call your financial aid advisor if you have a concern.

If someone says no to your question, don’t always take it at face value because they just might not be right. This isn’t a matter of loopholes or lies; it is a matter of regulations and realizing that one person can’t know everything in the rule book. As well, the AUSU is willing to help out any student that calls them.

Sometimes it seems that studying is the easy part of distance education. We can’t just walk into an office and ask a question, but there is a seemingly unlimited amount of staff and resources that can help you with whatever crisis you find yourself in. It is simply a matter of putting the time in, staying calm, and finding the right person to ask your questions of.

Let me give you some background. Three years ago I moved to Kenora, Ontario, when I accepted my new job as a Systems Administrator. As I got used to the fast pace of my new position, I also began getting used to the slower pace of a small town. However, in the back of my mind this little voice was always nagging at me, asking me if I had really made the right decision.

As I have two daughters, I worried that I might be taking something away from my daughters? childhood; Kenora doesn’t even have the large theatre or arts component, or the festivals, that Winnipeg (my home town) had.

Winnipeg is no Toronto, I realize that. But in Kenora, the town revolves around the lake, outdoor activities, sports, and more outdoor activities! It is beautiful, and a great place for any child to grow up. But I didn’t want them to miss out on the variety that a larger town might offer in any area they might grow interested in.

While exploring my new employer, I started looking into all the benefits they had mentioned during my interviews. And one of them really stood out to me: a self-paid leave of absence.

For four years you receive 80 per cent of your pay, and during the fifth year?while not working?you receive the 80 per cent of your pay the company has squirreled away for you. On paper it looks great, but for the first few years I didn’t think it was something I could really afford.

The self-paid leave of absence really kept my attention for a few reasons. First, who wouldn’t want a year off with pay! Also, I have always wished I had the financial means to travel more with my daughters. We go camping for a good part of the summer, but I haven’t had the chance to take them on an airplane or for the true adventures I wish I had growing up. I was raised in a single parent family, and as a child I didn’t have the opportunity to travel at all.

Finally, this would give them the chance to break out of the small-town living we have grown to love, and really branch out their interests. If I took a year off with my daughters, we wouldn’t stay at home. We would pack up our belongings, give up our rental house, and go overseas on a one-year family adventure!

But how could I afford to give up even a cent of my pay cheque? Honestly, as a single parent with kids who participate in 14 sports throughout the year, things get very tight. And then I began researching the tax implications, as well as the day-to-day implications of purposely dropping my pay.

Full-time students get amazing tax breaks?tuition credits and tax credits for the months you are a full-time student. However, I am in the ?grey area? of income earners, as I make just enough to push me into the next tax bracket. That means a higher tax rate, and I also start to lose my other benefits (e.g., GST rebate, Child Tax Credit).

The income tax taken from my pay cheques is higher, and my tax time refund is lower. I did the math, and by dropping my pay down to 80 per cent to participate in a self-paid leave of absence, the actual take-home pay difference would be minimal. I am actually sliding myself into the lower tax bracket!

I realized I could actually afford to opt into this plan at work, so I began asking around the community to see if there was someone else who had done something similar that I could bounce ideas off. And I realized that this type of plan isn’t that uncommon anymore. A self-paid leave of absence, deferred salary plan, or self-paid sabbatical is something that many employers are opting to offer their employees. As the economy is tight, it is one benefit that is not directly costing the employer anything.

Indirectly, there are staffing costs and administrative costs, but that is more palatable to many employers. I made some new friends in the community that are more than willing to share their experiences travelling throughout the world with a clear conscience, knowing they have employment to return to when their adventure comes to an end.

With my employer, you have to apply for the program and fit a number of prerequisites to be allowed to join the program. I was accepted, and April 1 began my salary deferral. Even though I don’t begin my leave of absence until April 2012 (or later if I choose), my daughters are absolutely excited about the trip. Not only has this turned my dream of travel and adventure into reality, and toned down my fears about small-town living, it has become another source of entertainment and education for my family.

In the five months since I first told my daughters about the idea, I have seen school library books come home on countries they may be interested in, and instead of playing online games, I have seen them read blogs written by different families who have participated in sabbaticals together.

Also, I have tailored my full-time studies so I qualify for graduation in January 2012. On my way out of the country I plan on stopping by Athabasca University for graduation?what an excellent graduation present I am setting up for myself!

What surprises me the most is that more people aren’t interested or participating in this type of program when It’s offered by an employer. My company employs over 200 people, and I am only the second person to ever go on the 80/20 program.

I think part of it might be that four years is a long time in the future. I just turned 30, and four years does seem quite far away. My daughters will be 12 and 14. Four years in the future, things might be totally different for me and my family. But there is always fine print: if I choose not to go on my adventure with my daughters, I can cash out the deferred salary that my employer put away for me at the end of the four year duration, with no penalties (other than the interesting tax situation I would put myself in for that tax year).

And if I decide to resign from my job, the money would be returned to me upon my termination. I urge anyone whose employer offers this type of program to take a second look at it. The tax and net pay implications may surprise you!

We are now beginning to look into overseas volunteer positions in Thailand and Russia, as well as the benefits of beginning to travel while still considered a full-time student. I was reading a travel book on Russia today during my daughter’s soccer practice, and another mom struck up a conversation with me. As I explained the program and my plans to her, she introduced another term for my five-year plan?the fact that I am putting myself on ?layaway?!

Stay tuned, as I look forward to sharing some of my hard-earned knowledge with my fellow AU students!