LAF’s Third Annual Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes raised $12,000 to support our research and scholarship programs. Thanks to all who participated by registering online, mailing in entries, or stopping by the LAF booth at the ASLA Annual Meeting EXPO in San Diego!

Representatives from sponors EDSA and OLIN were on-hand at the EXPO booth on November 1 to pull the winning numbers from the nearly 200 entries (photo at right). And the winners are…

Cara Smith, ASLA of Alexandria, Virginia won the all-expense-paid, week-long trip for two to EDSA’s Crosswaters Ecolodge & Spa, one of China’s first ecotourism destinations, located in the Nankun Mountain Reserve in Guangdong Province. Cara, a 2010 graduate of Virginia Tech’s MLA program, works for the firm Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects. She said that she is extremely excited, thankful, and still in disbelief.

“Winning a trip to China was the last thing on my mind as I was standing by the cheeses at Trader Joe’s and received that momentous phone call from San Diego. In my excitement I almost abandoned my full shopping cart!”

 “As a young professional in the field, I am so grateful. Such opportunities to experience new cultures and environments are few and far between, and they truly enrich and inform the work of landscape architects.” Cara plans to travel to Crosswaters in April 2012.

Keith Wagner, FASLA of H. Keith Wagner Partnership Landscape Architects in Burlington, Vermont won the long-weekend for two at OLIN’s Carneros Inn, a vineyard oasis located between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California. Keith is extremely thankful for winning and says that he and his wife are looking forward to the trip.

“I wanted to donate to LAF because my old professor, Robert Reimann was a huge advocate of the foundation. By chance, I saw the sweepstakes invitation and entered, but really didn’t think I would win. In fact, I completely forgot about it until I got the call. It was very nice of OLIN to sponsor the trip, and I’m looking forward to seeing their work at The Carneros Inn.”

If you’ll be in San Diego for ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO, we hope you’ll join us for one or more of the following events to support and raise awareness about LAF programs. In addition to the Olmsted Scholars and Landscape Performance Series , we’ll be showcasing Case Study Investigation (CSI), LAF’s newest initiative to integrate landscape performance in professional practice and design education.

The Sky’s the Limit - LAF 26th Annual Benefit
Sun, Oct 30, 5:00-9:30pm
Join us on the exclusive Ivy Rooftop at the Andaz Hotel for a delightful evening, where we’ll honor the 2011 Olmsted Scholars, recognize the faculty Research Fellows who led the summer Case Study Investigation (CSI) collaborations, and showcase the Landscape Performance Series a year after launch. Proceeds support LAF’s research and scholarship programs.

LAF Booth in ASLA Expo Hall (#1118)
Mon, Oct 31, 9:00-5:00pm
Tue, Nov 1, 9:00-5:00pm
Stop by our booth to learn more about LAF, meet the 2011 Olmsted Scholars, see the Landscape Performance Series and results from our Case Study Investigation (CSI) initiative, and register for our Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes. We’ll also be conducting video interviews, so come prepared to share your thoughts for potential inclusion in our Conversations with Leaders in Landscape - we’d especially like to get anecdotes from past LAF Board members, scholarship winners, and reserach grantees.

EXPO Learning Lab: Landscape Performance Series
Mon, Oct 31, 10:30am
Learn how to use the resources of the Landscape Performance Series to demonstrate the impact of your projects and showcase your work.

Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes
Tue, Nov 1, 4:30pm
Join us in the ASLA Expo Hall as we draw the two grand prize winners of the week-long trip for two to Crosswater Ecolodge & Spa in China and the long weekend at the Carneros Inn in Napa, California. Entrants need not be present to win.

Now in its third year, LAF’s Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes offers a fun way to support the foundation’s research and scholarship programs. Matt Spidell of Castle Rock, Colorado was the winner of the 2010 sweepstakes and spent the last week of September in the Philippines at AECOM/Ayala Land’s Anvaya Cove resort.

Matt runs his own firm, Natural Design Solutions, Inc., which specializes in commercial development with an emphasis on xeric and sustainable design. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit a resort designed and built with unique ecological, economic and cultural sustainability features.

Matt and his wife Michelle spent three nights in Manila and three nights at Anvaya Cove during what proved to be an adventure-filled week, with heavy monsoon rains and Typhoon Nesat hitting the islands on the latter part of the trip. Despite the rain and experiencing their first typhoon, Matt and Michelle insist that they had a wonderful time.

“We so enjoyed our trip to the Philippines! We were fortunate to have the opportunity to fly on a world class air carrier, stay in a top-notch hotel in Manila, and experience the lovely Anvaya Cove resort, which is only a few hours drive from Manila.”

“We enjoyed experiencing the eco aspects of Anvaya Cove, which included recycling, non-potable water in our bathroom, advanced stormwater management, permeable parking, and energy efficient guest units. The resort was designed to provide customers a closeness to nature with indoor/outdoor dining, open air bars, pools and game rooms.”

“The dining facilities were oustanding with a variety of healthy options, including both American and Filipino entrees. We were equally impressed with the work ethic and customer service of the Filipinos. They made us feel like royalty.”

“We thank LAF, AECOM, and AyalaLand for hosting our trip. We enjoyed the culture, food and tropical environment and will always have fond memories of our time in the Philippines!”

LAF’s 2011 Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes is now underway. Register now for your chance to win one of two exciting vacation packages: a week-long trip for two to Crosswaters Ecolodge & Spa, one of the first ecotourism destinations in China, or a long weekend at the Carneros Inn, a vineyard oasis located between California’s Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

For our 3rd Annual Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes, LAF is pleased to announce not one but two vacation packages — one international and one domestic.

The first is an all expense paid, week-long trip for two to EDSA’s Crosswaters Ecolodge & Spa, located in the Nankun Mountain Reserve in Guangdong Province, China. This award-winning resort is one of the first ecotourism destinations in China. See our blog for a trip report from a previous sweepstakes winner.

The second destination is OLIN’s Carneros Inn, located between the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California. This vineyard oasis is nestled among 27 acres of seemingly endless rows of grape vines and scenic apple orchards. It offers private gardens, spa treatments, and dining using the region’s best artisanal ingredients.

The Sweepstakes page will be updated as we have more details. Registration officially kick offs in the fall, with the drawing for winners made on Nov 1 at the ASLA Annual Meeting EXPO. All proceeds support LAF’s research and scholarship programs. Many thanks to EDSA and OLIN for providing LAF with this generous opportunity.

Matt Spidell of Castle Rock, Colorado is the new winner of the trip for two to the Philippines through LAF’s 2nd Annual Sustainable Destination Sweepstakes. (Though another winner was selected initially, she declined the prize due to a lack of availability to take the trip.) Matt was chosen from the 200 entries LAF received, raising over $11,000 to support our research and scholarship programs.

Matt will have a unique opportunity to visit Ayala Land/AECOM’s award-winning Avaya Cove resort in Morong, Bataan, Philippines. The sweepstakes package, valued at $8,200, was donated by AECOM and Ayala Land and includes:

• 6 nights’ accommodation (3 nights at Anvaya Cove, 3 nights in Manila)
• Roundtrip airfare between the U.S. and Manila
• All ground transportation transfers
• $100/day per person meal and entertainment allowance

“My wife and I love traveling and are due for a trip,” said Matt who runs his own firm, Natural Design Solutions, Inc., which stresses ecological design and green building principals. “It will be really cool to go to a resort designed and built with these same principals.”

Matt knew of LAF’s scholarship programs from his time as president of ASLA Colorado, though participation in the sweepstakes was his first direct involvement with the foundation. “And my wife Michelle constantly reminds me that she is the one who actually sent in the sweepstakes entry.”

Matt and Michelle will make their trip sometime in the next year and plan to share some of their photos and insights with us when they return. Thank you to all who participated in the sweepstakes by registering online, mailing in entries, or stopping by the LAF booth during the ASLA Annual Meeting.