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WINNER! Best "Active Date" in the Dating Category.
(Group Date that is.)
Nominated and Winner of toronto.com's BEST OF T.O. |
|
| insideToronto.com
- City Centre - The Mirrow - Tuesday, May 8, 2007 |
|
| Love
of Nature can lead to romance -
by Justin Skinner |
North
Toronto resident's events started after attack in Toronto park
JUSTIN SKINNER
May. 3, 2007
What began
as an attempt to bring women together for safe and scenic walks
through Toronto's parks has actually become one of the city's
most active matchmaking services.
North Toronto resident Christa Kroboth organized the Stroll in
the Park events three years after a terrifying experience she
had while cycling in High Park.
"I was cycling through the park when I stopped quickly to
run into the washroom," she said, recalling the incident
that happening 20 years ago. "A guy followed me right in
and grabbed me. I grabbed his Adam's apple and choked him until
he let go."
Kroboth ran from the washroom and shouted at her attacker before
fleeing the park on her bike. Once she got home, the shock of
the incident sank in.
"I just started shaking uncontrollably," she said.
While the experience was harrowing, Kroboth continued to cycle
through the parks until she had a bike accident that left her
with a broken collarbone and wrist and other injuries, not to
mention a severely damaged bike.
"I knew I couldn't ride my bike anymore, all I could do was
walk, but I wanted to do it in the parks because I love nature,"
she said.
Still haunted by the attack in High Park, she wanted to create
an environment where she - and women who shared her love of Toronto's
green spaces - could walk safely and comfortably.
"I saw on the news that the best way to make parks safe was
to increase the traffic on the trails," Kroboth said. "I
wanted to get single women involved, but the question was how
to get them to come out. The answer was to invite single men."
The walks are roughly 10 kilometres long, though less hearty walkers
can always bow out at the five-km mark. Each event begins with
each participant introducing him or herself and end with optional
dinners.
"People will sometimes get to know each other along the walk,
or sometimes they won't even introduce themselves until the dinner,"
she said. "Then the next time out, I see them holding hands
on the walk."
While A Stroll in the Park primarily attracts singles, anyone
- from couples to tourists looking to get a better view of some
of Toronto's most beautiful areas - is welcome. With plenty of
hours spent each year walking through the city's various parks
and trails, Kroboth has learned the ins and outs of each.
"I know every single park and which time of year is best
to see the displays put on by Mother Nature," she said. "For
instance, the Toronto Islands in February are beautiful because
you get ice sculptures when the waves are crashing up on the shore."
Walkers explore parks across the city, with each starting point
easily accessible by TTC. The group also tackles trails outside
the city, with weekend getaways to such destinations as Haliburton
and Algonquin Park.
While the importance of leading an active lifestyle is well-known
these days, Kroboth started A Stroll in the Park 17 years ago,
when keeping fit was often an afterthought. Because she began
her company long before the nationwide health push, Kroboth was
unable to secure funding for her events. She has nonetheless managed
to keep A Stroll in the Park afloat through memberships.
"When I first started, I called every single person on my
list personally to invite them," she said. "Over the
years, at least 1,000 have become members."
Kroboth added that this June she will lead walks in two different
age groups, one for ages 20 to 39 and another for those 40 and
up. She also holds special event nights with club/pub evenings,
movie nights and other fun activities for singles.
The next walk will include tours of Sherwood and Sunnybrook parks
and will kick off at the northwest corner of Lawrence Avenue and
Yonge Street at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 6.
For more information visit:
www.astrollinthepark.com
or call 416-484-9255.
|
|
Front
page of the Metropolis section in the Sunday Toronto Star on March
23, 2003 |
|
| Get
Strolling -
by Margo Varadi |
A Stroll in the Park - Walking & Adventure Club
Toronto
Islands
Seventeen-year-old
Christa Kroboth was out for a short walk in High Park at 1 in
the afternoon, when she was grabbed by a man who had followed
her into the women's bathroom. He tried to kiss her but she grabbed
his Adam's apple (as her grandfather had taught her to do) until
he stopped and she could run away.
Three years
later, Kroboth began Stroll in the Park as a means for singles
to enjoy walking Toronto's green spaces with the safety of numbers.
It is also an opportunity for singles to find that "special
someone to share long nature walks with," as advertised so
often by newspaper personals. Her group offers regular tours of
local parks, such as the Rosedale Ravine and the Scarborough Bluffs.
On this
day, Kroboth leads a group of singles on a Toronto Islands tour.
The guide, with overflowing enthusiasm, platinum blonde hair,
black eyeliner and tights, reminds one of an aerobics instructor
as she leads her tour to the ferry terminal.
A male
participant is greeted by Kroboth with squeals and hugs. There
are significantly more women than men: 11 to four. But for two
younger women in the group, this appears to be of no concern.
"The singles thing is not really my main goal. I'm interested
in the exploration and the exercise," says Michelle Michalak,
a public relations worker in her 20s.
Kroboth
describes her walks as a way to get to know people naturally,
without the drunken pressures of the bar scene. "At least
not until later," an eavesdropping woman interrupts, anticipating
the dinner and drinks option afterward.
Kirk MacGregor,
president of the Toronto Caving Group (a local cave-exploration
association), says frankly: "I admit openly that I'm here
for the singles. Let's face it, I'm aging, plain and poor; I don't
have a snowflake's of a chance."
Whether
or not people have the same objectives, they are united by a love
of the outdoors, which is clear as they introduce themselves in
the greeting circle that begins all of Kroboth's tours. The group
then sets off for Hanlan's Point, the boat ride feeling like a
tour of the Arctic as it crunches through the ice. "It's
one of Toronto's best-kept winter secrets," says the first
mate of the ride. Ospreys, falcons and snowy owls can be spotted
in winter as they stop over Lake Ontario on their migrations,
he says.
From there,
it is off to the lighthouse, ice formations at the pier and finally
the Rectory Café before the tour, or at least the walking
part, is over.
The $20
cost of the 3 -hour walks covers administration; transportation
and the dinners after are extra. Sometimes, Kroboth offers a brief
history of the selected park, or has someone from the group read
a blurb from a Green Tourism map.
But, according
to Kroboth, she is not offering a tour - she's offering an chance
for people to take a leisurely stroll through a park without having
their brains stuffed full of information.
|
|
| Vitality
- Toronto's Monthly Wellness Journal - April 2002 |
|
A
Stroll in The Park Celebrates Anniversary
A
Stroll in The Park Walking & Adventure Club will celebrate
its 12th anniversary this year. The club was initially created
with the single woman in mind, but is now immensely popular with
nature lovers of both sexes, from every walk of life.
In
spring, summer and fall walks take place every Saturday or Sunday,
unless there's a special event planned. Walking and exploring
takes place in more tan 15 different locations across the city,
including: Humber River Valley and High Park in the West; Edward's
Gardens, Sherwood Forest and the Rosedale Ravine to the north;
the Islands and the Beaches in the south; and the Scarborough
Bluffs and Rouge River Valley to the East. Members receive walk
information in the mail a couple of weeks prior to the event.
Each outing starts at 1 p.m. and lasts three to five hours with
optional halfway departure points. A newcomer may join on the
day of the walk, but be sure to arrive at 12:30 to complete some
paper work.
These
walks are an excellent way to keep fit while socializing in a
healthy environment. There is also a strong feeling of safety
while walking with a group through parks and gardens.
There
are four types of membership of fees ranging from $20 to $115.
Membership card can be used for discounts at five outdoor stores
and there are discounts for all the Special Events listed in the
Club's schedule. Among the special events are: Royal Botanical
Gardens & Dandruff Castle Dinner on May 18; a weekend at Tobermory
June 7-9; a Niagara Winery Hike on August 10 and the Niagara Festival
of Lights on Nov. 23. Vitality's Pat Young says she can't believe
that it is 12 years since she first took A Stroll in The Park!
"It was a brisk, but beautiful, fall day, and I still recall
what a good time I had."
For further details phone the Info-Hotline at 416 484-9255, visit
http://www.astrollinthepark.com,
or email info@astrollinthepark.com
|
|
National
Post, Saturday, June 23, 2001 |
|
She gets men and women out on a hiking trail and then lets nature
take its course!
|
How do you get women out to an event? "Invite men,"
says Christa Kroboth founder of A Stroll in The Park Walking &
Adventure Club.
The club started 11 years ago to make nature trail walking safer
for women. Ms. Kroboth herself was attacked in High Park. As well
as providing safety in numbers, budding romances were the fortunate
by-product, with some members taking their final walk as a single
down the aisle. It makes sense because walkers already have a
love of nature in common, says Ms. Kroboth. The club is 99% singles,
the majority between the ages of 30 and 50. But anyone over 18
is welcome. Between 20 to 60 people meet once or twice every two
weeks at a subway station near their trail destination. Upcoming
walks include Edward Gardens and a fall excursion to Algonquin
Park. Call (416) 484-WALK. National Post
|
|
Toronto
Life March 1998 -The Fitness and Wellness Guide - A pull out section. |
|
| By
Robert Maurin |
Here are some fun ways of picking up the pace without entering
a gym.
A Stroll
in the Park
Single
Nature Lovers Wanted. "I formed A Stroll in the Park six
years ago," explains Christa Kroboth, "because I wanted
to be able to walk around on nature trails and be safe. Initially
I thought I would do it just for women, but men were calling wanting
to participate, too." Now all year round, up to 50 people
at a time hit the trails at a different Toronto park every other
week, and usually head out for dinner after. In peak summertime,
the under-40 and over-40 crowds are divided: one group walks on
Saturdays and the other on Sundays. In winter when the number
of participants is lower, the two groups walk together. The exercise
is appreciated by all, but coed membership adds a romantic dimension--the
club has had a marriage in its ranks every single year.
Where to
start: You can become a member which give you six walks for $60
or 12 for $115. Or, you can go on individual outings for $20 each.
The walks are three to four hours long, and all parks are accessible
by the TTC. The club has also branched into day or weekend trips
to Niagara wineries, the Elora Gorge, Algonquin Park and Gatineau
Park, and this August will offer a week-long trip to Banff. Call
484-WALK for information.
What you
need: Good walking shoes and a good appetite.
|
|
|
The
Toronto Sun - Lifestyle - pg.78 Thurs. May16/96 |
|
| Road
to fitness just a walk in the park. - By LORI FAZARI - Special to
the Sun |
Hey, take a hike!
Christa Kroboth likes to walk on by and by and by... She can't
get enough of walking and she's even formed a walking program
for people like her called A Stroll in The Park. It turned five
years old this spring.
The group
began after Kroboth suffered a serious bicycle accident. The only
form of exercise she could handle afterwards was walking, so the
nature lover decided to take to it outdoors. She saw there was
a lack of safety for single women walking in parks, and set out
to find like-minded individuals who enjoy walking in a social
atmosphere.
One advantage
of the group is "safety in numbers," say Kroboth. Another
is stress relief. "People have very stressful lives these
days, so this is a nice way to walk and relieve stress."
Men also
began showing interest in the group. A Stroll in The Park now
has more than 250 single nature-loving members.
They visit
more than 15 scenic nature trails in the city, including the Humber
River Valley, High Park, Sunnybrook Park, the Beaches, and the
Scarborough Bluffs. The group also holds special events outside
Toronto, most recently in Hamilton at the Royal Botanical Gardens
and at Algonquin Park.
Kroboth
leads two groups, split up by age, on weekend walks approximately
every two weeks, all year round. And there's more than walking
success - there has been one marriage per year of couples who
met during walks.
FITNESS:
"I walk with the two groups every two weeks, one group on
Saturday and one group on Sunday - walking 12 miles is great exercise."
"I
try to do my aerobics three times a week, when I have time, and
also enjoy cycling a lot," which she does around her neighborhood.
DIET: "I
try to snack on healthy foods, like popcorn. I have at least three
fruits a day and two vegetables a day." Kroboth combines
this with three starches a day, and eight to 12 oz. of meat a
week - lean cuts only, of course.
"I
generally have a lot of fish, chicken and legumes because they
provide a lot of fiber and are low in saturated fats."
She keeps
her fat intake down to three teaspoons a day - "if I do have
a sweet I'll make sure to have that only twice a week."
Meanwhile,
membership to A Stroll in The Park is $35 a year. Membership includes
discounts at five outdoor sports stores and three free walks.
Walkers receive location cards with the time and meeting spot.
Nonmembers pay $20 a walk.
For more
information, call 484-WALK.
|
|
Toronto's
Midtown Voice Page 11 November, 1991 |
|
Midtown
Neighborhoods - A New Perspective On Loving Nature |
| By
Barbara Neyedly |
A woman who created the concept of single adults taking walks
in the park together, did so in part because there is safety in
numbers, and because the parks are a lot safer when more people
use them.
Christa
Kroboth, a resident of Esplanade Avenue and a freelance graphic
designer says "I get all my creative ideas from nature. But
being a single woman I was finding it increasingly difficult to
enjoy my long walks on the weekend in High Park without feeling
threatened in some way."
So back
in September 1990, her brainchild, A Stroll in the Park took off,
becoming an instant hit, particularly with single woman. Many
called up Kroboth to say "What a good idea!"
She organizes
one walk a month, often in High Park, and always in accessible
locations such as Edward's Gardens, where her most recent outing
on October 20 took place.
Although
she tries to keep the numbers of men and women even, and the age
spread to about 15 to 20 years, the idea is not to start a dating
service, but to promote "safer walks for singles, who are
also nature lovers,' says Kroboth. And "unattached"
is really the operative word - not necessarily single, she says.
"I
don't want people coming out just to meet someone," she points
out. "The idea is to relax and enjoy yourself. It's a way
to get people out who haven't been to a park in 10 years and need
a new perspective on the earth," she says. "It is also
a healthy alternative to the bar scene."
Why a group
for singles in that case? Because, says Kroboth, people who are
single, might not enjoy themselves "with a lot of kids around."
But she is thinking of starting a group for just single parents.
Keeping
the balance between the sexes for a given outing is only difficult
for the age group over 50, says Kroboth, where available men who
want to take a walk with a group, are apparently in short supply.
Kroboth
enjoys taking her groups along isolated trails that most women
never feel safe enough to meander along when alone.
It was
in High Park that Kroboth was attacked a few years ago. *While
bicycling through the park, she stopped at the Grenadier Restaurant
to use the washroom. Going outside, she says a man "came
whipping around a little partition. He grabbed me -- I couldn't
even see him, except for his Adam's apple. I just squeezed it
until he gave up."
(*CLARIFICATION:
The assailant hid "inside" the Ladies Washroom building
which is directly across the street from Grenadier Restaurant.)
Afterwards
a police officer told her "You shouldn't be here alone."
Those words were echoed by her doctor just last year, when Kroboth,
riding her bike through High Park , again, "bashed into a
barrier -- it had no reflective color - and went flying over it
onto concrete. That doctor scolded me for being there." She
said "What were you doing in the park alone?"
The result
was - A Stroll in the Park.
Kroboth
says word of mouth spreads the idea of the walks, where "People
of similar interests can develop no-pressure friendships."
Ten successful
walks have already taken place since start up what Kroboth calls
her "hobby".
The walks
usually take place on weekends between 1 and 4:30 PM, with a break
at the halfway point at a concession stand. Sundays in the Park
events will carry on during the winter in such locations as the
Toronto Islands and Sunnybrook Park. Preregistration is required.
To join the group, call 969-3162, or write to: A Stroll in the
Park, c/o Christa Kroboth, Suite 116, 34 Eglinton Avenue West,
Tor. M4R 2H6.
SINGLES
MINGLE IN NATURE: a healthy alternative to the bar scene, A Stroll
in the Park, attracts singles of all ages for outings that involve
hiking and enjoying nature with their own age group. Centre, Christa
Kroboth, creator of the concept, is surrounded by some friendly
companions who agree with her idea at a recent hike. Photo courtesy
Christa Kroboth
* 99% of
our participants are Single, but Couples are welcome to join in
the Fun!
*GTA Visitors are also welcome!!!
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| Copyright©
1990 -
2005 - A Stroll in The Park Walking
& Adventure Club |
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