By Beau Kissler
Sean McAlindin could hardly believe that many community members had never heard of Adventure Risk Challenge, or ARC, even though it’s been an active nonprofit in the region for over a decade. Fueled by passion for ARC, which he coordinates in Tahoe, he set out last fall to find ways to spread the word about the program, which mentors English Language Learners through combined literacy and outdoor activities like backpacking and camping trips in Yosemite.
McAlindin combined his passion for music and ARC by creating an event to benefit the foundation. Scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7, ARC in the Park brings together the Tahoe music community to raise money and awareness for the outdoor literacy program. The daylong festival will take over Truckee River Regional Park’s amphitheater, filling the space with local music, including stylings from McAlindin’s bluegrass band, Lost Whiskey Engine.
“[It’s] a way for me to bring together my two worlds into one project,” McAlindin said. “It’s a music festival that brings all of the local musicians together for a day, and raises money for ARC … I decided to put this on so that everyone rallies for this amazing program.”
Seven local bands are on the bill to perform at the event — including Sneaky Creatures, Angele and the Wildwood Band, Aaron Oropeza, and Truckee Tribe — and all involved parties are donating their time and skills to the inaugural event.
McAlindin has been organizing and raising the money for the event himself because wanted to develop new ways to fundraise for the program he cares deeply for. The result is a true grassroots effort. With the help of Sierra Nevada College students Justine Nelson and Jason Maynez, McAlindin has worked for the past three months to enlist both talent and supporters for the event, including 30 local businesses and dozens of Tahoe/Truckee locals. McAlindin is also organizing a raffle to hold at the festival, with prizes like a donated Jeremy Jones snowboard.
While McAlindin has dedicated himself to organizing ARC in the Park, he doesn’t want it to be about him. The festival and everything surrounding it is solely about ARC, which encourages students to search out their calling through leadership and reflection in the wild, according to McAlindin.
“It’s amazing how much spending time in nature helps you figure out who you really are, what you want to do, and what is important to you,” he said. “I want every single person in the Truckee/Tahoe community to know about ARC and what we do … We’re a resource for all the youth of this community, especially high school students that are trying to figure out where they want to go next.”
Additional info and tickets available at arcprogram.org/arc-in-the-park/.
