It Takes a Village: Changing Lives One Train Robbery at a Time

(00:00:00) It Takes a Village: Changing Lives One Train Robbery at a Time
(00:02:00) Park Pulse
(00:09:50) Mail Train: Answering Your Most Burning Questions
(00:16:53) Loyal Listener Call
(00:20:24) The Big Drop: Vanessa Moos, CEO of Canopy Village
(00:56:23) The Inside Scoop: This Week's Super Secret Insider Tip

This week's episode is all about community, support, kindness, and how together we can make a difference in the lives of others. 

Hosts Sara Jean and Jordan welcome a very special guest, Vanessa Moos, the CEO of Canopy Village in Coeur d' Alene (formerly Children's Village), to join us to talk about where those robbers on the Silverwood Express steam engine train keep taking your generous donations, how they are making a difference in our North Idaho community, and hear all about last week’s annual event fundraiser, the Summer Soiree! 

Want to donate or purchase a raffle ticket for your chance to win some really BIG prizes? Head to the Canopy Village website!

Learn more about Canopy Village by watching this short dramatization of how they are helping the children of the area here. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Silver, come chinned up bun thrills that'll make.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Come chinned up fun sive, come tied up fun.

Speaker 3 (00:13):
Well, hey there, welcome to you another episode of The
silver Wood Show Podcast. I am Sarah Jean with your
co hot Wait who are you?

Speaker 4 (00:21):
You're Jordan?

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Wow? This is the only episode thirty. Oh it is right. Yeah,
it's thirty right, yes, thirty.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Thirty episodes and I still we still can't can't get
an intro in for you.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
That's not ridiculous.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Maybe thirty one is the magic.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Okay it is, hope. So, hey, I got the microphone
figured out today.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, but your arm is super weird right now saying there, go.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
There and just put it under it under like this.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
You know you know what?

Speaker 5 (00:53):
That totally reminded me of this like Christmas vacation when
he's on the ladder and he doesn't know where to
put his arm and this like exactly what.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Happened that I feel like him a lot. So it's okay,
so totally normal. Welcome to the Silverwood Show, The silverwoode Show.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, we've got a fantastic guess this week. In fact,
I'm super excited about this one. She heart, Yes, she
does a lot. Her name is Vanessamos. She is the
CEO of Canopy Village, and she's basically going to come
talk to us about where all of that spare change
that you've been robbed of on the train is going,

(01:27):
because it's going to a really, really great cause.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
They're at Canopy Village.

Speaker 5 (01:31):
And a lot of people probably don't know Canopy Village
because that name has changed.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
From what was Children's Village village.

Speaker 5 (01:37):
So when we ever we say Canopy Village, just think
in your mind Children's Village.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yes, it's the same thing as just a new name.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Same thing, new name, and as always, it takes a
village and we're going to talk about how and why
with her.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
You might want to.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
Grab a tissue or two. It's possible that there could
be some tears, but good tears, happy tears, and so
we'll talk about that in the big drop. But let's
kick things off with particles park Pools. There's something super
special going up today. Jordan's yeah, my big win.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Don't you dare play it? Don't you dare play it?
Don't do it. Jordan's don't know.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
The winner is.

Speaker 4 (02:21):
That's me.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
It's not a spoiler, no, Jordan thinksy won. But we
are finally posting.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
What is this?

Speaker 2 (02:33):
I win?

Speaker 3 (02:36):
I win, I will get them decide who wins.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
Okay, social media, this is.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Me and Jordan proving will it coast on tremors, all
sorts of fun things like doing our makeup which I
definitely won, and ties.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
But you didn't have a broken.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Yeah, but that's just part of life.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (02:58):
Just because the balden come at you straight and you
didn't hit a home run doesn't mean that it's the
ball's fault.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
But if the ball was broken, I think we would
have a problem with it.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Wouldn't be it wouldn't be what anyone's fault? Your own?

Speaker 2 (03:13):
How was it someone.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
I did?

Speaker 1 (03:17):
But we did other things.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
We drew some pictures, we did some word searching, we
tied some ties, we did some juggling so called juggling.

Speaker 1 (03:25):
We're gonna like for yourself who.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
Won each challenge and come up with a big championship
trophy for the winner.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, So that's going up today on social right and YouTube.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
Well yeah, by the time this releases, it will already right.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, yes, So make sure you go vote for me.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
I don't have to standard the voters.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
You already have the whole beginning of the show with
your little zeus whatever.

Speaker 5 (03:51):
Ye all I was saying is this is who won.
I wasn't saying, go vote for me like you. Okay, whatever,
we'll see.

Speaker 3 (03:59):
That silence, the glare the SIDEI maybe we'll just have
to do a tiebreaker and do another round.

Speaker 2 (04:07):
We were not going to need a tiebreaker, aren't we are, though?

Speaker 1 (04:12):
Okay, but maybe be successful.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
Maybe we'll take it to other coasters to see if
it will coast. So it could be a lot of fun.
So go check that out on our social media. And
then I think, actually the pulse is flatlining because the
only other thing we have.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
Is Scarywood Applications.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yes, and there's no pulse in that, and.

Speaker 5 (04:33):
We love it in the best way possible. So Friday,
Scary Woid Applications go live. For the twenty twenty five season,
we have our event, which we called Midsummer Scream, and
it's for anybody who worked last year in Scarywood can
come out and they get to learn everything that's being
new for the upcoming season. And then we watch a
little scary movie in the in the Main Street theater

(04:55):
and have pizza and all that kind of stuff so
super fun. It actually becomes a really cool event watermelon
carving instead, Jack Jael pumpkin carving.

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Make sure to get some pictures of that.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Yeah, it's fun.

Speaker 5 (05:08):
There are some really good ones, some creative ones last year,
and so we make a fun little summer thing because
their countdown to Scary Wood has already started.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
And it makes me nervous.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
It makes me so excited.

Speaker 5 (05:19):
Yeah, there's a lot to do, a lot to do,
but it's a it's a ton of fun.

Speaker 4 (05:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
And so they can apply for lots of different things, right, so.

Speaker 3 (05:26):
You could be yeah anything, I mean, well, you're a
park or is this just for haunters?

Speaker 2 (05:32):
This is haunters but also like night security?

Speaker 5 (05:35):
Okay, yeah, for that those are kind of like the
main two spots because a lot of the rides and.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
Food and retail they just roll over from the Silverwood season.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
If they can work, okay, And is it just applications,
do they need to be prepared with anything?

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Rightly?

Speaker 3 (05:49):
Don't be your tip for someone who really wants to
be well.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
The tip is to apply.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
Okay, that's going to start.

Speaker 5 (05:56):
That's the starting point because from there, if you are new,
if this is gonna be your first year. Then we
will do an audition with everybody, okay, And so the
tip to that is just don't let whoever's in the
room watching, don't don't. It doesn't matter. Everybody's gonna doing
the same thing, okay, So just go all out.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Oh okay, I would love to be flying the ball
in one of these You didn't audition.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
I didn't audition. You just let me go for it.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
You're going to do it this year?

Speaker 1 (06:23):
Oh yeah, Oh my gosh, please make audition.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
Okay, we'll put you.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
Okay, yeah, because Fruity Pebble is coming back. Yeah, so
I mean, if you let me. But I got to
take some night vision camera too. I had so much fun, Yeah,
getting some video of all the people screaming their heads off.
So lots of fun things in store. So something to
look forward to. Uh, scary it just around the corner
before we don't know.

Speaker 5 (06:49):
Well, I mean we're halfway through July already, right, so
wow the season is I mean, there's we.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
Had the halfway point of the season.

Speaker 5 (06:57):
We're I think we're well passed the halfway point because
crazy well we're probably at the halfway point through September.

Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yes, maybe a little bit past.

Speaker 5 (07:06):
But at the same time, I'm in like, there's only
forty something days until Labor Day.

Speaker 1 (07:12):
That's so crazy, Jordan. Guess what else?

Speaker 2 (07:15):
What?

Speaker 1 (07:16):
There was a really big celebration this week?

Speaker 2 (07:18):
This week? What was the celebration?

Speaker 1 (07:20):
Sarah Jean had her one year anniversary?

Speaker 4 (07:24):
Wow?

Speaker 5 (07:25):
Yeah, I don't have an applause, but I started to do. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (07:30):
Is there a winner?

Speaker 3 (07:31):
And the winner is Sarah?

Speaker 2 (07:34):
That we got cut off.

Speaker 1 (07:36):
It wasn't for being here a year.

Speaker 2 (07:38):
He's been here a year. Congratulations.

Speaker 1 (07:41):
Thank you, so thank you for not hiring me. I
appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
You're welcome.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
It's been a good year. It's been a great time.
So super happy. It went by so fast.

Speaker 5 (07:50):
And we had some super fans come and visit us,
which was kind of fun.

Speaker 2 (07:54):
I wasn't here, but you've met them.

Speaker 3 (07:55):
I did meet them, and we really wished you were here, Jordan.
We really did hear all the pictures.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
I saw the pictures.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
We did take a picture just for Jordan with like
the open mouth, you know thing.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
So I feel like I was looking in the mirror.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
So we had Crestlin and we had Jason, and we
had Taylor and their parents were both super farer and
they came all the way from Oregon and it was
super special. And so they were actually here on Tuesday
and Thursday of last week, and so I got to
see them twice, which was really cool.

Speaker 1 (08:22):
Yeah, they came both days and the first day.

Speaker 3 (08:25):
I brought them up to the studio we did a
little mini podcast episode that I do have permission from
that not like on the phone. We did Okay, I
might make a little real about are super awesome because
I do have full permission from their parents and so,
and they got their face on the wall.

Speaker 1 (08:42):
We did take a great photo and all this stuff.

Speaker 2 (08:45):
We're going to have the line out the door.

Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah, it was just it was so great because they
did reach out. It was super special. And then I
was in the Theatervollusion on Thursday. Oh sweet little Taylor.

Speaker 3 (08:55):
Came running up to me out of nowhere and just
gave me the biggest hug. And so of course then
I had to meet them again and give them some
autographed photos drawn by our awesome graphic artist Alan of
will It Coast And so they were like the first
to get the photo and I didn't. I didn't sign
your name. I was going to go to forge it,

(09:17):
but I was like, no, they can come back and
then they can get to the signature next time.

Speaker 2 (09:21):
So it's just more ra special.

Speaker 3 (09:23):
So thank you to you guys for coming out here.
I'm not kidding you. It made both me and Jordan's
whole entire month just to know that we actually have
people like listening to us that really enjoy us, and
you guys were just a fantastic family. So I hope
you had a great time at Silverwood and we hope
to see you back here really soon.

Speaker 1 (09:39):
So that's kind of the park pulse. And thought, yeah.

Speaker 3 (09:43):
I was thinking we didn't have a lot of pulse today,
but we're pulling pus. We're pulsing okay, So let's let's
do some mail train.

Speaker 1 (09:49):
Stuff, all right.

Speaker 3 (09:52):
So if you haven't heard of the mail train, this
is your opportunity to ask us some really cool questions
about the park that maybe you've been just dying to know.
And if you want to write us, there's a couple
different ways. You can do it podcast at silverwidtheen Park
dot com on email, or you can do silverwidthien Park
dot com slash podcast on our website and fill out
the forum there and every week we will as signs.

Speaker 5 (10:13):
You up to be a loyal listener the forum on
our website, but you can ask a question. You can't
ask a question too, but yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:19):
So, but of course you want to be a loyal
listener because we might call you like we're going to
do here in just a couple of minutes and play
a little game, give you some tickets and.

Speaker 1 (10:27):
All that good stuff.

Speaker 2 (10:28):
Maybe when some money.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
No, let's get into the questions though. This week we
had Aspin Petrowski. She wanted to know how do you
guys come up with new podcasts every week?

Speaker 2 (10:37):
And that was a question mark and an next Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:40):
That was like she's super curious and super impressed, very.

Speaker 1 (10:43):
Impressed, very empressed. And so because we have so much
to talk about here.

Speaker 5 (10:47):
There is there's a lot of behind the scenes stuff
that people just don't know exist. I mean, like I said,
we're only thirty podcasts in Yeah, there's a lot more
to discover.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
Ask us next year because we might exactly but you.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
Know, everything is redoable because everything changes every year and
so and the park is different every year, and so
we could probably just keep doing the same prote we.

Speaker 5 (11:10):
Can do similar stuff, but we do sit down in
a room and kind of just brainstorm what do we
think people want to hear. Yeah, so if there's other
things that you do want to hear, let us know,
let us know, because we don't want this to be
like what we think.

Speaker 2 (11:24):
And what we think.

Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah, we want to give you the insight that you're
looking for. That's what this is all about. So if
you've got great ideas on our next podcast, please let
us know.

Speaker 1 (11:32):
But yeah, it's kind of never ending.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
I mean, there's so many little intricacies you're at the
park we can touch on, and so more great guests
to come. And we're happy to be thirty episodes in. Yeah,
and almost heading into our one year anniversary.

Speaker 2 (11:47):
One year anniversary is going to be huge.

Speaker 1 (11:49):
That is going to be huge and then.

Speaker 2 (11:50):
Bigger than your one year universe.

Speaker 3 (11:52):
Hey, it is though, it is though, it really is
that because this was this was the baby. Yeah, it's
yeah what I want to to see happen. So thank
you Aspin for that. Let us know what you'd like
to hear. We had Maya Osmond write in wanting to
know how do the actors prepare for the train show
at Silverwood. So Jordan and dynamite Dan over here, let
us know.

Speaker 1 (12:12):
How do you prepare?

Speaker 2 (12:13):
How do I prepare?

Speaker 5 (12:14):
Yeah? I don't do a ton for preparing. Yeah, so
I think, I mean it starts off. We we start
off in January doing a call for auditions and submissions
and all that and so, and then as we go
to callbacks and then we offer contracts and then once

(12:35):
people sign on, we send them the script and they're
really working on these lines for a month plus to
get to get into their body. So it's just kind
of becomes natural for them. So when they're on the train,
they don't have to think as much. But with that
being said, we do a lot of rehearsals because the
train is a beast of a ride for it's a

(12:55):
long stage, it's not what people are used to. It's
very interactive in terms of close proximity, a lot of
moving parts. So we do take about the whole month
of April to rehearse, get as much train time as possible.
But I mean for me, I mean, it's yeah, it
is running lines. It is making sure I know what

(13:17):
the line before.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
Is, making sure yours and your whole start.

Speaker 2 (13:20):
That one is a tricky one for me.

Speaker 5 (13:21):
It turns out I can't figure that one out, So
luckily it's kind of all part of the character.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Yeah, you just let it. You just let it go.

Speaker 5 (13:29):
And in the end, and what I tell all of
our actors is like, it's fun, Like it should be
fun and if you make a mistake, most people won't know,
so just run with.

Speaker 1 (13:39):
It and they're going to think it's funny.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 5 (13:41):
So some of the best things that we've ever come
up with as far as like what the lines are
is because it was like an improv moment, like the
trampoline exactly improv.

Speaker 2 (13:48):
Yes, yes, for those who haven't seen it, be surprised
with the.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
Trampoline spoiler alert.

Speaker 5 (13:55):
But but and every day they're doing vocal warm ups
and stretches and all that kind of stuff. Fight to
make sure that they're all on the same page for
the shows.

Speaker 1 (14:03):
Yeah, which is awesome.

Speaker 3 (14:04):
I mean there's a lot, there's a lot more than
I think people even realize.

Speaker 1 (14:07):
Plus they're rotating teams.

Speaker 5 (14:09):
Yeah, there's three teams, and then there's a whole swing
team to rotate in if someone ends up getting sick
or has a little injury.

Speaker 1 (14:16):
And they're also being engineers.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, and they're also singing in the park, so they're
doing a ton.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah, they're they're out and about doing all sorts of things.

Speaker 3 (14:22):
So if you see them, give them a high five
and do a great jobs because they're putting in their time.
All right, thank you Maya for that one. Melissa Strow
wants to know how much money do you raise on
the train for.

Speaker 1 (14:32):
Charity each year.

Speaker 5 (14:34):
This is kind of a variable number because from the
train specifically, we're now that we've gone cashless since twenty twenty,
the train donation has gone down from what it was.

Speaker 2 (14:50):
Just sad, yeah, but we're still.

Speaker 5 (14:52):
Like within that twenty five to forty thousand dollars range
for that, and then our owners, Gary and Gene Norton
have put in the to get it to one hundred
thousand every year probably since the mid twenty tens twenty
fifteen ish.

Speaker 2 (15:09):
But that's such an awesome thing.

Speaker 5 (15:10):
Yeah, And so we get we get the opportunity to
go out and present this check to Canopy Village and
it's such a it's the best time of the year
for us on the public relations side, because we're not
only doing Cannoby Village donation, we're also doing the community weekend,
the food donations, food and donations, and so there's a

(15:31):
lot to be just in the spirit of giving at
that time of year.

Speaker 3 (15:35):
So just running all over northern Idaho and eastern Washington
and delivering these.

Speaker 2 (15:40):
Checks super fuss.

Speaker 1 (15:41):
It's great.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
So thank you to our community for coming together. That's
kind of what this episode is definitely going to be about.
So we'll get into that. So thanks Melissa for asking that.
I want to call Aloya listener. Do we have a
new sounder this week?

Speaker 5 (15:54):
We do have a new sounder, because obviously they've been
way too easy.

Speaker 1 (15:58):
I mean, yeah, we've definitely had some.

Speaker 2 (16:00):
This a little harder.

Speaker 3 (16:01):
Okay, you don't and I don't know it. Once again,
Jordan thinks I'm a cheater. So there's that. I'm not
a cheater. You're a cheater. You're the one that cheat.

Speaker 2 (16:10):
I didn't do anything.

Speaker 1 (16:10):
You didn't actually juggle. All right, let's generate we're getting you.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
Actually you actually juggle.

Speaker 1 (16:15):
I mean my juggle. At least the balls stayed put
three of us.

Speaker 2 (16:19):
That's not juggling. Okay, moving on, here comes the loyalist number.

Speaker 3 (16:29):
We have a winner, all right, I'm being until number
two thousand one hundred and eighteen two thousand. We're up
to actually like twenty six hundred right now, by the way,
which is crazy. So remember when you said we couldn't
get to five hundred. That was a while ago, but
we just keep on, yeah, gaining those loyal listeners.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
So we love it. So let's give him a call.
See who it is.

Speaker 3 (16:58):
Hello, Hey, Sabrina, This is Sarah, Jean and Jordan from
the Silverwood Show podcast here at Silverwood Theme Park.

Speaker 1 (17:05):
How are you?

Speaker 2 (17:07):
We're so good?

Speaker 1 (17:08):
Hey, guess what.

Speaker 3 (17:09):
You're this week's loyal listener, and so we're calling you
with a pair of tickets to Silverwood and a chance
to win some Silverwood cash.

Speaker 1 (17:17):
Oh perfect, awesome, Well you automatically get the tickets, Okay, so.

Speaker 3 (17:22):
You're you're good to go with that, but we want
to see if you could win some money with a
little game of truer false and then we've got a
sounder for you that's worth big boss there.

Speaker 1 (17:30):
At the end. Okay, Okay, sounds good. All right? Are
you ready for your first statement?

Speaker 4 (17:36):
Yes?

Speaker 3 (17:36):
Okay, Silverwood's owner used to fly a stunt plane.

Speaker 1 (17:40):
Is that true or false?

Speaker 4 (17:42):
True?

Speaker 1 (17:44):
At a girl? Yes?

Speaker 3 (17:45):
Five dollars in the bank. Okay, we're moving to the
second one. Silverwood is family owned and operated. Yes, yes,
that a girl. Okay, onto the next one. There's a
trampoline at the silver Mine.

Speaker 5 (18:02):
All that's if you haven't been out of the park.
That is actually a true statement.

Speaker 3 (18:08):
And you'll understand why once you take the train ride
and see the robbery.

Speaker 1 (18:13):
Yeah, we've got a fun little stock. Yes, I do
know that.

Speaker 2 (18:17):
Okay, but that's still you.

Speaker 1 (18:19):
Still self ten dollars. We're not done yet.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
So Silverwood celebrated its thirtieth birthday this year.

Speaker 4 (18:26):
True or false? I'm guessing falseuse I thought it was
more than that.

Speaker 3 (18:32):
Correct, Yeah, are correct? Thirty seven?

Speaker 1 (18:35):
Yeah, we don't even know we're doing.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
Great question, but we know what's not thirty something like that. Okay,
So we've got fifteen dollars in the bank.

Speaker 2 (18:44):
Fifteen.

Speaker 1 (18:45):
Next one, there's a hidden sandy beach on the Lazy River. True.

Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yes, they're twenty dollars. It's my favorite little spot of
it is a little nook. Yeah, a lot of people
don't know about it. So find that sandy beach. So, okay,
we've got twenty dollars in the bank. Okay, and now
what is she going to.

Speaker 5 (19:04):
Win, so you could win an extra fifty dollars if
you guess this sound bite right. So this is either
a ride in Boulder Beach or Silverwood. So I'm going
to play this SoundBite for you and then after it's done,
you can guess here it comes.

Speaker 1 (19:18):
Okay, it's quick, I was quick.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
It was quick.

Speaker 4 (19:27):
What do you think I am guessing in the Silverwood Park?

Speaker 2 (19:29):
Okay? What ride.

Speaker 4 (19:32):
Thunderstanyon?

Speaker 2 (19:35):
That is incorrect?

Speaker 1 (19:37):
Told me I don't know.

Speaker 2 (19:39):
But you still get your twenty dollars.

Speaker 3 (19:40):
And your tickets, yes, and I will I give you
a text for a call right after the show is
done and let you know how you can get those
out of We'll call.

Speaker 1 (19:47):
Okay, okay, perfect? Here, Thank you so much and thanks
so much for listening. Bye.

Speaker 3 (19:55):
All right, so now that I've heard it, yeah, I've
got some ideas.

Speaker 1 (20:00):
Okay, but I'm curious.

Speaker 5 (20:04):
That was short and it was well, we've got like
three in a row now they got it first time,
so it's like it's time to get a little hard.

Speaker 3 (20:11):
There are loyal listeners and they are loyal. Yeah, and
that's how it should be. So when it done, so okay, perfect,
So what do you say we get into the meat.

Speaker 1 (20:20):
Of things and head into our bick drop.

Speaker 4 (20:27):
Drup.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
Well, we are back with our very special guests for
this week. A lot of you wondering where all of
those robbery donations are going, and so we've got the
perfect person here to explain just that to you. We've
got the CEO of Canopy Village formerly Children's Village. For
those of you who maybe haven't switched over yet, Miss
Vanessa most so, how are.

Speaker 1 (20:46):
You, Vanessa good?

Speaker 4 (20:47):
Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (20:48):
Thank you so much for being here.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
Let's just kick right in, tell us a little bit
about Canopy Village and maybe just kind of hint on
that name change and all of that, just to familiarize everybody.

Speaker 4 (20:59):
Yea, most people in Courtlaine know us as Children's Village,
which is super fair. We're still Children's Village. We did
change our name to Canopy Village, but for over thirty years,
almost forty this year, we have been sheltering kiddos in
our community, and so decades ago, a school principal in
Courdlaine noticed that there were two kiddos who needed a
safe place to stay, and from that was born Children's Village.

(21:21):
So we have two four thousand square foot homes, one
of which we're operating right now, and then the second
is our Family Sports Center. So we are the only
crisis respite an emergency shelter provider in our region. And
we also have residential treatment so longer term kiddos that
live with us to help them through their long journeys
that got them to us. And then we help families

(21:43):
keep families together through Family Sport Services.

Speaker 1 (21:45):
And you're doing a great job of it.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
It's a lot of work. It's a lot of work.

Speaker 5 (21:49):
And if you've never been out to Canopy Village and
just seeing the campus, it is unbelievable how much goes
on in that space. I mean, I know it grows
every year and continues to grow from like a just
an infrastructure standpoint. So can you talk about just like
the last five years, like what has happened to get
to where you are today?

Speaker 4 (22:10):
Yeah, like Jordan said, we have fifteen acres, so it's
really big. Most people only see the pretty gate on
Handley Avenue with the green Heart, but behind it, we
actually have fifteen acres. So we're right near Lake City
High School, right central quarterline. Kiddos walk to and from
our campus from school. But the last five years, everything
has changed a lot in foster care. So where we

(22:31):
were primarily foster placement for littles, there's a lot of
foster homes for littles which were so grateful for the
service that is provided by any foster family. But what
wasn't happening was the older teenagers, the kiddos who sometimes
get kicked out of on average, seven to eight homes
before they get to us. That's where we started specializing.

(22:51):
And so they're great. We think they're fantastic humans, but
spicy days is the best way to put it. Yeah,
And so in the last five five years we've kind
of adopted more of a teen based model. Our average
age in the last year was age fourteen and fourteen girl.
Because we are only able to until we build a
boy's home, service serve kiddo's boys till the age of

(23:15):
their thirteenth birthday.

Speaker 1 (23:17):
Oh okay.

Speaker 4 (23:17):
A big reason is because we over twenty five percent
of our placements are sibling groups, and so a couple
of weeks ago we were able to take a group
of three into our home, and that included teenage boys.
But by keeping siblings together, we know that we can
keep their family together without them going into state systems.
So yeah, a lots changed. We've started learning that even

(23:38):
though a safe place is our homes, maybe there's more
that we can do. And that's what started our Family
Support services. So you know, if a kiddo makes a
bad decision and takes something at Maverick when they shouldn't,
or maybe does something in school makes the you know,
they get pretty angry and they don't know how to
calm themselves down. What's actually happening there. It's not usually

(24:00):
the behavior, it's not usually the bad choice. It's usually
something going on at home or something going on that's
making them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. And that's what we're
really leaning into is our family support services helping families
feel like they can be safe coming to our care,
whether or not the kids need to come into our homes.
What's going on at home? And how can we serve you,
How can our community wrap around you to give you

(24:22):
a village?

Speaker 2 (24:23):
And when did that Family support service? When did that start?

Speaker 4 (24:26):
Yep, we open that only about a year and a
half ago, so January of twenty twenty four. That was
a cool a grant funded building that we put right
between our two houses. So Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections,
so our state said kiddos shouldn't go to jail when
they make bad decisions like this. And so that's the
goal is to wrap around the family, get all the

(24:47):
agencies together. Instead of telling a mom or a dad
or a kiddo that they need to go call this
person or this person, let's get them into our Family
Support Center and let's call with them. Let's help them
through their their trauma or whatever is going on on
their instability, whether it's housing or you know, somebody lost
a job or they don't know how to pay their rent.
Maybe kiddo's not doing well in school, but they're not

(25:08):
getting the support that they need. What can we do
to give them that village? You know, hundreds of years ago,
our society was built to have lots of people around,
but because people move and things like that, there's not
always a village. And so that's what that Family Support
Center is is it's a village. It's really to wrap
around to families.

Speaker 1 (25:25):
And it takes a village. So it takes a village.

Speaker 3 (25:28):
Talk a little bit about the system there and the
volunteers and how many people it takes to kind of
keep Canopy Village going.

Speaker 4 (25:35):
Yeah, in the thousands where we are, we do have
a large staff population. If you think about your kiddos
and all the hours that you're at home, twenty four
to seven is a big staffing and so we have
a lot of staff. We have almost forty staff right now,
and then we have hundreds and hundreds of volunteers. I
can't keep up with our fifteen acres. I trust me,
you'll find me. Wead backing sometimes or wet spring that

(25:57):
we really appreciate having the hundreds of volunteers and big
groups and banks and families that come in and help
us through the year. So it's a big operation.

Speaker 1 (26:06):
So if someone wanted to get involved, what their steps
be to do that?

Speaker 4 (26:09):
Yeah, just our socials, just like Silverwood's awesome Socials is
the most live way that we interact, and so looking
up Canopy Village quardline is the start. We also have
our website which is Canopy Services dot org and then
all of us are accessible. We're a big agency, but
you know how to find me, and so we have
a good team that would really love, you know, to
interact and we're always looking for new partnerships. We're always

(26:32):
looking for opportunities for our residents to learn different skills,
you know, for off site visits and you know, workforce
training things like that. There's lots of lots of ways
to engage with us.

Speaker 5 (26:43):
What do you think the biggest thing you've learned since
being like CEO of this? What is something that you
have really taken away? And I mean something probably like
breaks your heart, Like where have you grown the most?

Speaker 4 (26:56):
I think the biggest this has always been important to me,
but I think my job has confirmed it is that
beat kindness is everything. And when a kiddo is not thriving,
like when a kid's having a hard time at school
or a hard time at home and then people around
them are judging them, that's what breaks my heart. And

(27:17):
so a big goal of mine personally, like my you know, project,
is that if anything, that the if the village can
teach empathy at at a you know, at the childhood level,
that every kid knows that their neighbor at school is
trying their very best and can help them through that
instead of ostracizing them, and then adults the same thing.

(27:38):
You know how I'm like, I have grown up already,
and my feelings still get hurt when people are not kind,
and so I think that's been the most humbling, But
it still is true that kindness will will get people
through their hardest day, which is why every interaction must
contain some kind of empathy. Instead of saying, what you know,

(27:59):
that person is bad or that kid is having a
bad behavior, why aren't we asking like, how are you
feeling right now? Like it looks like you're angry, it
looks like you're having a hard time. I understand that,
versus saying that that's a bad kid or that's a
mean parent. That's what I think. That's the biggest thing
that I've learned.

Speaker 3 (28:18):
Is realizing that everybody's going through something. Yes, you know,
and you never know the depth of exactly what that is.

Speaker 4 (28:23):
It will always be one hundred percent true that you
don't know what your neighbor is going through, and whether
you're a kid or an adult, that should translate to
like you have zero percent, you know nothing other than
what you're seeing in front of you, and so being
kind will always be the best way that you can
support that person, whether you agree with them or not.

Speaker 3 (28:40):
Ye percent, we definitely agree with that walk through a day,
a typical day at Canopy Village for maybe one of
the kiddos that's there.

Speaker 1 (28:50):
What does it look like.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
Well, we are community based and so that's something a
lot of people don't know is that they don't do
school at the village and so yes, we're in summertime,
but I'll give you school and then i'll give you summer,
so school year, kiddo's that's my favorite time of day
is about seven thirty eight when the school buses start
rolling in. Sometimes there's six to eight of the school
buses coming in. It's fun, it's getting you know, you

(29:12):
think about your household times twelve or more.

Speaker 1 (29:15):
Like everybody get out the door.

Speaker 4 (29:16):
I don't think that kid had shoes, but I think
they're in the backpack, like you know, a normal household.
Of chaos ensues and then they all go to their
their respective schools. So a big tenant of ours is
that we keep kids as best we can in their home.
Whatever school they were in before they came to live
with us, they'll go. And our school districts work really
well with us, even all the way to Post Falls

(29:38):
in Athol as well as Quadline School District. We have
great partnerships. So when a kiddo is placed, will try
really hard to keep them because that's stable, that's their friends,
that's their family, you know, even in the instability at
their home. And then in the summertime, it's kind of fun.
Everyone thinks that they might just be on you know,
video games. We don't have any of that. They can
earn the privilege of some video games, but there's no

(30:00):
cell phones in our homes, and it's a very restrictive.
Like they get up, they do physical activity after breakfast,
and then they do a formal activity. There's also therapeutic groups,
so are littles. So a lot of times when you
get angry, if you don't know how to cope with it,
you just get mad, right, But but how do you
calm yourself down and how do you not throw something? Like?
How do you learn those skills? And so the littles,

(30:22):
which is under the age of ten, go through ninja training, okay,
where they learn ninja tricks and then they put a
little you know when you go to the doctor's office
and they put that thing on your finger to see
heart and so that what they're learning is when they're
really doing ninja tricks like how high they are and

(30:43):
then what what physically can they do to bring themselves down?
And so that's because ninjas can calm their.

Speaker 1 (30:50):
Bodies and we all want to do right exactly.

Speaker 4 (30:55):
I think most adults can use some ninja. Yeah, we're
going to start them early, but little Silverwood off side,
they do have that big lawn out there.

Speaker 2 (31:06):
I have a ninja warrior tra.

Speaker 3 (31:11):
I mean, we've got survivor would yeah.

Speaker 1 (31:15):
Yeah, yeah, I love that. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (31:17):
So our days are kind of robust. They can do
lots of activities. They go out, you know, they're on
paddle boards just as much as you and I are.
But they are really intentional. We're really intentional about helping
them succeed when they're outside of our home, whether they're
a short term respite or a long term shelter, they're
going to learn skills in our homes that will help
them succeed, and then our hope is that we can

(31:37):
engage their family unit in the same kind of training.
Maybe not ninja. Maybe people don't need to do ninja.
They do, but they can do breathing techniques and they
can do you know, understanding how their body is working.

Speaker 5 (31:48):
Even as adults yeah, yeah, well and then I mean
they just came out to silver Wood.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
They did, yes, thank you for that.

Speaker 1 (31:54):
They loved it.

Speaker 4 (31:55):
Everybody was here.

Speaker 1 (31:56):
They had a great day.

Speaker 4 (31:58):
My understanding is there were you know, they just wrote everything.
They were there as long as they possibly could. I
heard nothing but raving reviews. And this is a new crew.
Our goal is not that we have the same kids
living with us that we did that last summer, and
so every year, by Silverwood allowing them to come out,
it's giving them an opportunity that almost all of them
have never had. So that one day is we are

(32:21):
very grateful for that. Plus our goal is that they
succeed outside of our care, and so making safe decisions
and making good decisions and keeping their body and their
mind and their friends safe and making you know, getting
through that day successfully and just enjoying their time is
a huge victory for us. And we were very victorious
that day. Good And yes, the kids had a great time.

(32:41):
They were exhausted. They went right to bed after they
got home. So yeah, I appreciate that opportunity of course. Yeah.

Speaker 5 (32:47):
And so do you have other like activities plan that
are like regular throughout the summer kind of like that,
like a get away.

Speaker 2 (32:55):
You have to earn that, Like how does that work?

Speaker 4 (32:57):
Yeah? Those sometimes when when a kiddo isn't making safe
decisions for their body or mind, there are times when
the safest thing is to stay back and our campus,
like you said, our campus is huge. We have fifteen acres.
We have a Leadership Quartelaine bike path out there. There's
so much activity. Koboda Tractor gave us a large grant.

(33:18):
We have a huge thirty bed garden area with a greenhouse.
We have a basketball court and a volleyball court. You know,
they could be better constructed. Maybe in our future state,
they'll be a little fancier than the dirt they are
right now. But that our facility is great for them
as well when they stay home. But yes, outings are

(33:38):
a huge part of our days mostly, I think once
every other day in their schedule. Last time I looked,
there's something, whether it's going to like Atlas Waterfront Park,
you know, to be outside when it's hot. Everybody keeps
begging me to put a pool on campus, and that's
a hard no.

Speaker 2 (33:56):
The time.

Speaker 4 (33:58):
You Yeah, it's a hard no for insurance. And then
my little brain can I handle that?

Speaker 2 (34:04):
Stress.

Speaker 1 (34:05):
Yeah, but they love me.

Speaker 4 (34:06):
In the water. I mean there's they swim all the time.
I mean, they really are kids in our community, and
just because they're living at the village does not mean
they're any different. They're still having the same experiences. But
our goal is really to be very intentional that they're
able to keep themselves, their bodies and mind safe. And
that's a journey for a lot of these kids. You know,
my kids, when I talk to them, what they have

(34:29):
at their home. You know, I'm not the perfect parent,
but I think that we are doing our very best.
But every other parent is doing their best too. We
know that trauma is usually the third generation, so parents
are doing the very best they know to do. It's
not wrong, but it's up to all of us to
lean in to help them do better and learn. Like know,

(34:52):
we know more in twenty twenty five, you know, than
our parents did, and then their parents didn't know what
our parents did. And so we just have to keep
as a community fostering even the parents growth. But yeah,
the kids are great, they're fun, they're sassy. We have
a new cat.

Speaker 1 (35:08):
One.

Speaker 4 (35:08):
His name is Jack Jack Jack Jack Gus. Gus is like,
we're going to say on a field trip because there's
another cat, but he's not there right now, and we
think the adventure, yeah, we think Gus Gus will find
his way back. But Jack Jack Jack Jack Jack has
a harnessed and jack Jack has a seat on the front.
And then apparently the reason we needed while the kids

(35:29):
petitioned somewhat harassed, really to get the cat. I'm not
a cat, but therapeutic, Yeah, they are a therapeutic They've
made the case since we have cats, but we have
chickens as well, who are also very therapey.

Speaker 1 (35:43):
I love about the chickens, Yeah, a very big part
of our day.

Speaker 4 (35:48):
But that attracts mice and so now jack Jack apparently
is very good at eliminating them. That's great, which is
the goal.

Speaker 1 (35:59):
Keeping them out something.

Speaker 5 (36:00):
So with the chickens around that topic, why why chickens?

Speaker 4 (36:05):
Yep, Well, it is therapeutic, so a couple I think
it was two years ago that came up that livestock
is really important so a kid. Sometimes kids don't have
the opportunity to be responsible for another. We also know
therapeutically that talk therapy doesn't usually work for many kids. Now,

(36:26):
think about sitting on a couch right, Like, I can
do it because I'm regulated and calm in my body
and I trust the two of you. But if you
haven't had that in your life, that's not going to
really help you. And so tactle right, there's you know
the coppers and the gels and everything. Sensory toy. Yeah, yeah,
animal therapy moves into that. Animal therapy moves into sensory

(36:49):
and then it also aligns a child where a child
can see that the chicken is comfortable or not right,
which then regulates their own body, like, how can I
make the chicken comfortable? Chickens hot? I should give it
cold water. That's attachment theory at its finest. You know,
you think about when babies are on chests. That's that's
teaching the baby's body to calm down with the mom's

(37:10):
body or the dad's body. And so there are kiddos
who haven't had that experience and they these are the
ways that we can kind of help them align. The
real goal would be horses, and we work with some
partners in our community with horse therapy, but I don't
have we don't have land nor the means to have horses,
and so we start small, which is we started with chickens.

(37:32):
You got about a dozen. They get their nails painted.

Speaker 3 (37:35):
We paint, yes, Jordan, will you please paint your chickens.
They're very docile, they're very like. You talk to them,
they'll talk back. They are moleficent is the nicest time. Yes, yeah, right,
what a turn of events in a therapeutic residential facility.
Molificent is the one that's kind Yeah, and that's a

(37:58):
great teaching tool right thereself. Yeah, So again, everybody's going.

Speaker 2 (38:02):
To the names change or is it like.

Speaker 4 (38:07):
They will eat like because usually there's a kid that's
been there, you know, there's not usually a huge break,
and so one kid won't make sure that the other
kid's like no, no, that's melficode, like that has a name,
Like that's my episode. We're not changing the kids named
the cats too. So I hope my hope was goats.
But I don't want to go to bath because it's
like the coating.

Speaker 2 (38:26):
Fainting goat.

Speaker 4 (38:27):
Wouldn't it be funny? I think it'd be the sweetest
thing for the school buses to come and the goats
meet the kids when they got well.

Speaker 1 (38:34):
So I have a sheep.

Speaker 2 (38:37):
I have a sheep. I have a sheep. Her name
is Susan and she has a baby doll sheep.

Speaker 5 (38:42):
She gets maybe twenty four inches tall, and she's not
as destructive as goats.

Speaker 1 (38:49):
I think she's a dog, right, do you think.

Speaker 2 (38:51):
She's a dog? She follows Mary had a little lamb
is her to a tea.

Speaker 5 (38:54):
She follows my wife everywhere we need she She's super cute.

Speaker 2 (38:59):
They just need shared once a year.

Speaker 4 (39:01):
The zoning and courteline. You know, I have friends. Hopefully
if they're listening, they might consider or.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
Anybody else that's listening right now that might be able
to help.

Speaker 1 (39:10):
But don't bring them without it.

Speaker 3 (39:13):
Yeah, but yeah, baby.

Speaker 2 (39:15):
Doll sheep, and we bottle fed her. We got her
at four days old.

Speaker 4 (39:20):
Okay, that's adorable.

Speaker 1 (39:21):
It's jordan't even let me facetimer once.

Speaker 3 (39:23):
She came running out of her little pen and just,
oh my gosh.

Speaker 1 (39:27):
The bat.

Speaker 2 (39:28):
Okay, that's and back to our regular schedule program.

Speaker 3 (39:33):
We're often sheep or this is very opposite, but bees
can be very therapeutic as well.

Speaker 2 (39:39):
Yeah, because you got to be calm around them.

Speaker 4 (39:41):
Correct. Yeah, they're very You have to really regulate your
body because they feel that. And so bees could be next,
or sheep or like very different or goats, I don't know.

Speaker 1 (39:50):
And then they can get the money and things like that.
You always wanted to pick dogs. What about dogs? We're
not allowed to not dogs?

Speaker 4 (39:56):
Okay okay, So Rosa, if you're listening, technically, as our
COO and our chief clinician, have a therapy dog that comes.

Speaker 1 (40:04):
To work with her.

Speaker 4 (40:05):
Okay, okay, you know there you go, right, I have
a Bernese mountain dog and that's the goal has to
make her into a little service animal. But she's not.
She's very not hyper allergenic.

Speaker 3 (40:15):
Okay, gotcha. Okay, the allergies that make sense. And the
cat's outdoors, so that makes sense.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
Okay, I got it.

Speaker 3 (40:21):
Well I love that so much, So talk a little
bit about I mean, obviously it's things like that. Where
do a lot of these donations and what not go to?
What's next?

Speaker 4 (40:30):
I mean, our goal is to really build a facility
that doesn't break with our kiddos. The more advanced trauma is.
You know, kids only know what they know, right and
when when I mean I personally, I remember what my
therapist told me years ago that was the most beneficial.
It's like, you know when I told her, I was
really angry and I don't know what to do, and

(40:51):
she's like, why don't you just scream? It's like, oh,
I can't scream. It's like why not you know, why
don't you just close yourself in your car and just yell.
Don't you feel better when you do that? You know,
when kids don't have those tools, sometimes they're more physical
and our old, old homes are not sustaining. So we
need to build a new home.

Speaker 1 (41:07):
We need it.

Speaker 4 (41:08):
When a kid is mad and makes a poor decision,
our home should help them succeed through that, right, But
when you have a forty year old home, it's just
not built the same way. And so what's next is ideally,
you know, we're in a capital campaign to build a
home that will sustain all the kids, like every kiddo,
male or female, zero to eighteen, whatever they need. That's

(41:31):
our goal. But for now, in our current homes, you know,
we're just kind of sustaining and keeping. The need is
higher than it ever has been. We are trying to
meet the needs of our community, but it's very, very difficult,
and there's a lot of changes at the state and
federal level. So you talk about donations. You know, our
donations are mostly for payroll, which is hard for people

(41:52):
to understand, but think about all those hours at your
house where you're responsible for your kid when these kids
don't have it, that's payroll, right. We're just a payroll
heavy and we have to be and that's how we
do the good work. And that's where you know, a
lot of the donations go as well as you know,
when the kids ask for certain things, we have a
budget for that and outings and things like that. But yeah,
we're primarily community funded, so every dollar goes right to

(42:16):
our direct services, which is really important. And then we
have some contracts with other agencies, including the Department of
Health and Welfare that help us sustain that hard work
that we do. But yeah, every day is hard and
busy and it costs a lot of money.

Speaker 3 (42:31):
Well, and I saw too in the brochure and that
showed it used to be like one classroom, yes, and
the little graph thing that you guys put together and
seeing that it used to be one and now it's
what like forty five classrooms full of kids, yeah, that
are needing this help. And how much that's went up
yep over the years.

Speaker 4 (42:48):
Yeah, it's hard to relate because there's you know, there's
agencies where they have thousands of kids and that there's
there's a real need for that.

Speaker 1 (42:55):
Yeah, our work.

Speaker 4 (42:56):
Is so intensive on a residential side that you know,
a kid, if a kid needs a bed, the kid
needs the bed until they don't need the bed, right,
And so that's one kid. It's not a thousand kids,
it's one and that's a very intentional pivot in their
life that we provide and we feel very honored to
do that. And so yeah, on the cover of it,
it's hard to relate. You know, when you say how

(43:16):
many kids we've served, what does that actually mean? And
it does mean quite a few classrooms. When you think
about your kid's kindergarten or first grade or third grade classroom,
now think about that times, you know, eight to ten.
That's a lot of perspective. Yeah, so even though it
feels little, that's a lot of family units. That's a
lot of kids that we're able to serve each year,

(43:39):
and that's just growing. And our way of growing that
is by keeping them out of our beds as much
as we can. We'll always have a pillow when we
need to put a kid on, you know, in a bed.
But our Family Support Services is really where we go upstream,
like what's going on in the family, how can we
avoid the trauma, which because it's scary, you know, our
caregivers give us like these really sad stories of kiddos

(44:00):
don't want to be there, right, Mom doesn't want to
give kiddo to us, Dad doesn't want to give kiddo
to us. But sometimes that's the safest thing. But that's
that's a trauma in itself. That's a hard kind of
memory in their life. If you have you seen inside
out too, Yes, the core memories, right, that's one of
the core memories that they're going to have. And so
how can we you know, avoid that or how can

(44:22):
that core memory be a little bit softer. And that's
really what we're doing with our Family Support Center.

Speaker 3 (44:27):
Yeah, and the video that you showed, so we're going
to kind of let's move into the summer, soar a
little bit because this happened last week. Yes, and it's
you guys's biggest event of the year at an annual event.
It was my first time getting to go, and I mean,
Jordan will say it was nothing, but because I cry a.

Speaker 1 (44:43):
Lot but definitely drew a few tears. You made me
ball my eyes out, but such a beautiful event.

Speaker 3 (44:50):
And the video that you showed at this that the
visual again, the visual of it, you guys did a
great job of it just showing kind of where these
kids are coming from and you know how the mom's
working really really hard and they're doing their best, and
it just it was absolutely phenomenal the way you guys
put that together.

Speaker 1 (45:08):
And do you have a link to that or anything?

Speaker 4 (45:10):
Yeah, yeah, it's buying it up. I'm putting it on
our website and I have a link that I can
send you that I'd love for.

Speaker 1 (45:14):
You to share.

Speaker 4 (45:15):
And the video is of a mom, you know, it's
kind of a bigger picture now that we're trying to show,
and it's that empathy conversation that we're having is this
mom is just rocking it. But they are living in
a car, but kiddo's fine, Kiddo is happy, kiddo has
cared for and loved. And the story that we showed was,
you know, the adversity that mom is dealing with while

(45:36):
kiddo's at school is that unseen fight that you will
never know that people are going through. And that's where
you lean in into kindness and asking questions and seeing
how you can serve your neighbor. You know, that isn't
a foreign concept to any of us, but sometimes we
get away from it. And the video is a great
dramatization really because we couldn't use any of our families
or kiddos. But yeah, we did that.

Speaker 1 (45:58):
That video was really impactful.

Speaker 4 (46:00):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (46:00):
We're going to put that in a link in the
show notes for that.

Speaker 1 (46:02):
I'd love love to do that for sure.

Speaker 3 (46:04):
Now let's talk about that's why it was successful.

Speaker 1 (46:07):
Yes, very grateful. Tell us how things turned out.

Speaker 4 (46:11):
Yes, we were very humbled. This is our biggest event ever.
We had five hundred and seventy five people. I think
we probably could have gone over six hundred, but my
little soul just couldn't.

Speaker 2 (46:21):
And this all happens on property.

Speaker 4 (46:23):
It happens on property. Yeah, Yeah, we don't do it
at an event center. We tent it, so logistically it's,
you know, the biggest party that I've ever thrown. And
we're good at it.

Speaker 1 (46:31):
Oh you're not so good at it? Yeah, what should?

Speaker 4 (46:35):
Yeah, we tent our village, which is where the kids
all play out by the garden area and where they
ride their bikes. And so we put up every tent
in Coraline and every plate turns out there's only six
hundred to rent in town. And so I was like, okay, well,
if we go over six hundred, there's no more dinner
plates and that's going to be a problem. And so really, yeah,
we have a great cater There's not a lot of
caterers that will take this as a challenge and do

(46:58):
it well to cater in the field, you know, where
you've got zero power, you've got zero like anything. And
he does it great. Tell us about your cater Yeah, Chris,
he's amazing. We're with Daly Owns Prior Cosmic Cowboy. He's stellar.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Just yes, yeah, he's up there.

Speaker 4 (47:16):
Yeah, no, he's great. And he also brings his culinary
students and so it's a learning opportunity. And then also
the Village Bakery does all of our desserts, and so
Village Bakery, if you don't know it in our community,
is such a pillar. Dana and her team are providing
workforce training for a population that everybody you know may
or may not have preconceived notions are developmentally disabled and

(47:39):
physically disabled and they're just incredible. So our kiddos actually
volunteer with Dana and the team once a week and
they're learning all the skills that Dana is teaching over
at the Village Bakery. But they do our desserts and
so just beautiful. It was like the best cake. It
was like a key lime cake. You did miss it?
I'm sorry.

Speaker 2 (47:58):
So good lunch.

Speaker 1 (48:02):
Dinner was delicious.

Speaker 4 (48:05):
It was a braze short rib with hair fell apart, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, and.

Speaker 1 (48:13):
Even that salad with like the beta was it fada
or garganzolar?

Speaker 3 (48:16):
But I don't know, you said theda beta, betta whatever, beta, beta, beta, beta?

Speaker 2 (48:22):
What is near beta?

Speaker 1 (48:24):
I don't know how to say. It was good, that's
all I know. Yeah.

Speaker 4 (48:28):
It was really with fairies with oh fresh blueberry. Yeah,
it's fun, and it was like twenty degrees cooler. You
missed that, Jordan. Yeah, it's only like seventy.

Speaker 3 (48:37):
Day and all sorts of great auction items. In fact,
our producer Jay over here provided one from Popular Skateboard.

Speaker 4 (48:48):
Yeah, and I know the people that bought it and
they're very exciting.

Speaker 1 (48:50):
Are that awesome? Perfect? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (48:52):
And then I ended up with two amazing pet baskets.
Of course they're phenomenal. Oh my gosh, and my cat
got one, my dog got one.

Speaker 4 (49:00):
All sorts, a great Pockids pet Portolain, it's one of them.

Speaker 2 (49:04):
And then the silverwood package.

Speaker 4 (49:05):
When silver crazy, it was wow, yes, and I believe
I believe it was pew enough to you that bought it.

Speaker 3 (49:12):
And after the two banks were like going back and forth,
there was a little internal bidding cord going on.

Speaker 1 (49:20):
Yeah, so it was great.

Speaker 4 (49:21):
Yeah, it went really really well. Yeah, silent auction went well,
and then we had champagne and bobbles donated by Clarks
and sponsored by Tapley Cabinets. Clarks gave us a six
thousand dollars diamond band that was like, oh my gosh,
it was so pretty. That raised ten thousand dollars. And
then we have our raffles still going and it's through
our website tooth till July thirty. First, there's an ATV

(49:42):
in that raffle that you can win for twenty five bucks.

Speaker 3 (49:46):
So it was yeah, I thought it was God and
drop your website again so people can go on there.

Speaker 4 (49:49):
And bed Canopy Services dot org. Yeah, so yeah, we're honored.
That event is a is a labor of love. It
takes a lot to do it.

Speaker 1 (49:58):
Wanting to give us total the grand total it's and.

Speaker 4 (50:02):
Still counting, I'm hould to say four hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars.

Speaker 1 (50:06):
Yeah, there was such every.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
Dollar accounts and we are like super humble by the
generosity of our of our donors, but not at the
high level only. I mean, that's a lot of fifty dollars,
one hundred dollars donations by people like me, you know
that can't give. It's not the ten thousands. I mean,
we are very grateful, but relatively like it felt like
this huge vote of confidence. And it was on such

(50:29):
a hard day. You know, our little Quarterlaine has had
such a hard few weeks and so most you know,
some people were just coming from the funeral of our
battalion Chief John Morrison, and then the next day was
Battalion Chief Frank Harwood. And we're just so so deeply
grateful for their sacrifice. And I know their families are
having a really hard time, and we hope that that
engineer Tizdel is strong soon. But I think our event,

(50:52):
I appreciate you bringing up and joining, but I guess
it's everybody just said they needed a hug, you know,
in such a hard time in our using little lake town.
And that's what it felt like, because everybody was there
just you know, and I so appreciate their giving to
the village and I so appreciate that they're community minded,
whether it's the village or the next you know that
we're focusing on our town.

Speaker 3 (51:11):
And just seeing the community come together in that way.
And that's definitely where you drew the most hears from
your speech, because yeah, it was it. You get to
see everybody come together like that and you realize the
power of this little place that we live and it's incredible.

Speaker 5 (51:25):
And you you talk about takes a village. I mean,
it's not just your internal village. There's so much more
on top of that, and so it's awesome to see
that come together. And I mean even extending it to
the people who don't even really know they're doing a part,
like the people riding this train. O. Yes, you know,
they have no idea. They for the most part, they
really don't know what this month. They know there's a

(51:46):
there's a speech that happens that it's going to Canopy Village,
but like what is that, you know, And so it's
pretty cool to see people from Seattle, Portland, all these
places that are helping this cause and hopefully they listen
to this and there may have a little more understanding
of what's going on with.

Speaker 3 (52:01):
Yeah, so our robbers aren't as bad as you actually
think that all.

Speaker 5 (52:06):
The money that I rob goes to Dynamite Dan's college fund.
But everything I got, it got it.

Speaker 3 (52:12):
And then we also have a generous donation from our
owners that at the end of the season as well,
that it matches that and beyond. And so yeah, it's
it's something that's very very close to Gary and Jeanie's
heart and in turn very very close to ours as well.

Speaker 4 (52:26):
And it means so much to us because you know,
there's so many amazing nonprofits and quite frankly, we are
nothing without all of them. But to have the avenue
of Silverwood, you know, to the say, the platform right
of everybody coming in town because Silverwood is a destination now,
you know, it always has been our little hometown amusement park.
But there's so many people coming and the opportunity for

(52:48):
them to learn about Canopy Village and learn where their
dollar is going. Locally is so important and we're very
grateful for that. But yeah, the village. You know, I
love getting text messages from my friends from our element
coentry school or my kids friends, you know, saying like,
oh my gosh, I just rode the train. I gave
my ten dollars from my allowance. We really appreciate it.

Speaker 1 (53:07):
Yeah, and you do say that so much.

Speaker 3 (53:09):
And that's what I love, too, is watching the kids
really get involved in this and feel so good after
they do it, and so yeah, and every.

Speaker 5 (53:16):
Time you bring your kids, I mean, they're always kind
of eager to do that.

Speaker 4 (53:19):
Yeah. Yeah, they're so proud, which I love. You know.
I think philanthropy starts at home, you know, and that
doesn't mean, you know, in the millions of dollars, and
it doesn't mean to be public. You know. It can
be a lemonade stand, it can be just twenty cents
of your dollar of allowance going towards somebody there's some
cause that is important to you. And we're just grateful
that the village is important to Silverwood and the Nortons

(53:42):
because we just we're deeply, deeply grateful and I love
hearing about it and I love seeing the donation box.
I get text messages still people love it. But again
it's that you know, it's we're a little baby. We
look big because we I'm pretty good at Canva and
my team, you know, we're good.

Speaker 1 (53:57):
At you know, I love me some Canada who knows that.

Speaker 4 (54:00):
Yeah, Player our development manager and Paul, our director of development,
like we're good, we're thrifty, we're scrappy, but we're not
a big guy. And so having the opportunity to have
silver would kind of have our logo out there and
talk about what we do not just ask for money,
is so valuable to us and so and I love
that kids can be part of it, you know, they
can buy their coins and yeah and do all the thing.

Speaker 5 (54:21):
Yeah, it's funny because I think I get we put
out surveys and we ask people and I look at
the entertainment specifically and every time, not every time, but
a lot of the times. There's people like I think
it's so tacky that you guys ask for money on
the train, Like this is why they don't. It's not
going to silver going to us, trust us. It is
going to a great cause.

Speaker 3 (54:40):
And what we talk about and even we had a
comment on that post and somebody said, you know, they
fight for it, they should match it in this and
we do.

Speaker 1 (54:48):
We do.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
Yeah. So yeah, for people.

Speaker 3 (54:51):
Are so quick again to jump to these conclusions and
think the worst. And I know that in this world
we live and sometimes that's how it goes. But maybe
stop and look at it and realize, like, not everything's bad.

Speaker 1 (55:04):
Not everything's bad.

Speaker 4 (55:04):
And everybody should ask questions, right, you should ask questions
about donations. You should ask, you should learn, you should research.
You should see where that dollar goes. When somebody blindly
asks you to raise you know, to roll up your
donation or you know, do you want to put another
eight sense? Well, ask the question where is it going? Yeah?
And invest in your community. There's such a beauty in
knowing that as you raise your kiddos or you visit Cordelaine,

(55:26):
that you're investing in this town because you think it's
fantastic and this is nonprofits like us, not just us
or how we make it and keep it that way.
So it's okay to have a question, but lean into
empathy and research it for yourself before you know.

Speaker 1 (55:41):
You're making assumption.

Speaker 4 (55:42):
Yep. And show your kids, right, show your kids that
you don't need to just type the mean things. Show
your kids how to research through that question you have,
and then how to ask the questions of the people
who can answer it instead of just saying something that
maybe will hurt someone in the meantime exactly.

Speaker 3 (56:00):
And potentially stop other people from giving you know, And
that was my biggest thing is we don't want that
on there. We want people to understand that this is
for such a great cause and that negative negativity isn't
gonna isn't gonna help things.

Speaker 1 (56:14):
So yeah, again, be kind I mean that's really the
findness always with story, but speak of kindness.

Speaker 2 (56:20):
Go here something, Yes, you do.

Speaker 5 (56:22):
I feel like this is how you always transition into it.

Speaker 3 (56:28):
Try So this is our inside scoop for us, and
this is where we ask our guests for their super
secret insider tip that will help people enjoy their day
at the park.

Speaker 1 (56:39):
And I do think you've got one particular thing that.

Speaker 3 (56:42):
You'd like to talk about, as we're kind of easing
into it anyway, so tell us your tip.

Speaker 4 (56:46):
My tip is that you can buy coins. You don't
have to have cash if you don't want to bring cash,
because we are cashless at Silverwood. But you can buy
coins at the general Store over by the train and
they're a dollar per coin, and you can donate that
when you're robbed if you choose.

Speaker 5 (57:03):
To yes, And even if you don't donate it, your
money to buy those coins goes to Campy Village.

Speaker 2 (57:08):
It could be a little souvenir.

Speaker 4 (57:10):
I think, yeah, I think I told Jordan the first year,
we made the mistake of not telling my kids that
we could keep it, and so we donated it, and
then our little guy was very upset and so we
definitely bought more. I was like, that's fine. Yeah, they
are very cool. They're like little Wooden Nichols.

Speaker 3 (57:28):
Yeah, yeah, littly cool designed little buffalo.

Speaker 4 (57:32):
By to donate one. Take one.

Speaker 3 (57:34):
There you go, tip, that's the fantastic right there.

Speaker 2 (57:39):
She knows what she's air. But it goes to it's
not cheap to them exactly.

Speaker 3 (57:46):
So when you go in right there at the general store,
you'll see it right there at the counter, and yeah,
it's a great purchase.

Speaker 1 (57:52):
It's a great purchase. So yeah, and I think that
covers it.

Speaker 3 (57:56):
That wraps things up. So we hope that we'll see
you guys out at Silverwood. We hope that we'll see
you checking out their website buying some of those raffle tickets.

Speaker 1 (58:02):
What's the closing date on that July thirty first? July
thirty first, you still got some time. And in the meantime, Vanessa,
thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (58:09):
Thank you for joining us and for everything you do
for this community and just in general.

Speaker 1 (58:14):
So appreciate your part. True Jem, You're a true gem.

Speaker 3 (58:16):
So all right, until next time, and if you'd like
to be a loyal listener or to submit a question,
make sure to head to our website at silverwoodthemepark dot
com Slash podcast. And that's a wrap on this week's ride.

Speaker 1 (58:31):
Thanks for tuning in to the Silverwood Show.

Speaker 3 (58:33):
If you had a blast to make sure to subscribe,
leave us a review, and share the fun.

Speaker 1 (58:37):
With your fellow thrill seekers.

Speaker 3 (58:38):
Got a question, story, or suggestion, send it our way
to podcast at silverwoodthemepark dot com.

Speaker 1 (58:44):
For a chance to be featured in our mail train segment.
Until next time.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
Keep your hands and feet inside the podcast and stay
thrilling

Speaker 2 (58:53):
God come time up on