C-Forum

Canoeing-For-Kids Raft-a-Rama
Sat May 12, 2007 10:00 am

This is an annual fundraiser on the Saluda River in Columbia, SC. The local electric utility (SCE&G) cooperates by scheduling a release on the river to allow for a day of high water - big water III-IV. Come help out as a safety boater, raise funds for a good cause, get a nice t-shirt and eat some of the best BBQ around. More info here :

http://www.canoeingforkids.org/

See pictures of the Saluda at high water here :

http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam/Saluda

I can't say enough about how this is the most important part of our sport. Aside from NateOC, and myself, there is an age gap. And if we want to see more things from companies, we need to get more KIDS involved. if there is to be a future for OC, we need to get KIDS involved. if anything is to be protected 30 years from now, we NEED TO GET KIDS involved. I only wish I could be there to help support this event. And there is also JR. SLALOM TEAM TRIALS in Wausau Wisconsin this coming week where the Nations best 11-14(cadets) and 14-18(Juniors) will be battling it out for a spot on the National Junior Team to go to Junior Worlds. Hope all is well, and go paddle with your son/daughter neighbors kid, kids friends, nephew, just get them out there!!!
Also, check whitewaterracing.org for more info on this Summer's huge extravaganza that is the Junior Olympic Festival in Denver/Boulder Colorado.
Cheers
-Isaac

I should have made this more clear, but... this is a raft trip... All of the "customers" will be in guided rafts...

Jay Alley, the founder, is an open boater from back in the day when an Encore was the hot new boat with a strong desire to help kids. His early efforts were fundraisers to collect funds to donate to established programs that helped kids out - for instance on one of his first efforts he canoed from New York to New Orleans (the inland route - not around Florida ) . Later he developed his own program to work with disadvantaged and underpriveleged kids through outdoor programs, primarily focused around canoeing. He used the challenge of canoeing, along with an unfamiliar setting, as a way to teach some self reliance and reach out to the kids. He also held annual "canoe-a-thons", structured like a walk-a-thon, where we would have as many as a hundred canoes on the Saluda.

However, as time went by, he began to use sit on top kayaks with the kids. In many instances, he had limited time or time in widely spread out sessions to work with the kids and the learning curve in canoes was getting the way of the other wider experience. The kayaks were just easier. He also aquired a couple of rafts which allowed him to carry on when the water is high; otherwise he might have to cancel trips.

With the Canoe-a-Thons, liability became an issue. We would have many, many people who were in canoes for the first time or this was the only time every year they got in one, trying to negotiate class II+ (lower release) - we were constantly fishing people out and lucky to avoid major injuries. Now, we put everybody in a guided raft and with a higher release offer a higher adrenaline experience, but with less actual risk.

So, yes, I think this is a very worth cause, but... It's not quite the cause you were talking about Isaac! I do my best to expose kids to canoes through the YMCA Adventure Guides and Trailblazers, along with Boy Scout Groups, our church, and just about anyone else who wants to go!

regardless, it's kids on water! I guess I jumped the gun, but what can i do, I get excited...(i guess it's not too taboo to use a tla here) lol. I think it is a great thing to get kids out at what ever level of experience that is. I worked at a YMCA camp in minnesota leading trips for 2 years, and I think that most of the comments were just about how cool it was to be "out" of the city, and somewhere else. river, lakes, back lawn, just an outside experience. I hope there is nothing too flawed in this message to have my whole statement again be nullified. My mistake, I should have looked deeper in the links, I saw the photos, and didn't check the other. hope all goes well, and I hope some of the kids do try getting in boats.
not all is lost.
-isaac

that was sort of like boofing a 30 footer into a brick wall, and exploding out of the boat onto the wall as a secondary impact. pretty much.
-isaac
On To Wausau!!!

No worries! I took every opportunity to point out to the kids along for the ride, the wildlife, river features, historical landmarks, and the different kinds of boats on the water - including a slalom C-1! Unfortuately it wasn't me in it, but it was my boat. I got in a couple of minutes "advertising" that Columbia is hosting (part of) the Junior Worlds Wildwater Championships in July.