It’s been a busy spring and summer of kayak instruction; both whitewater and sea kayaking. And the busiest part of the season is still to come. I haven’t posted lately so I’ll play catch-up now about some of the events to date…
SCOUT LEADER KAYAK TRAINING, June 5-8
I’ll start with photos taken during the first week of June when I helped guide a group of Scout leaders at Gardner Dam Adventure Base working to receive their ACA kayak instructor certifications under the tutelage of ACA instructor trainer Dave Benton and instructor trainer candidate Sandra Newbury.
ROCK ISLAND KAYAK CAMPING TRIP, June 11-14
Next up was the NEWP club trip I led to Door County’s Rock Island State Park. Fifteen club kayakers enjoyed an amazing time during this year’s kayak camp-out. Once again I reserved group site 1 for our hardy NEWP members. I say “hardy” because weather conditions were not always ideal. Our original intent was to board the Washington Island Ferry on Sunday and paddle from Washington Island to Rock Island (about 1-1/2 miles) that afternoon. However, north winds whipped up 4+ foot waves in the strait so we had to deal accordingly. Six of us elected to ride the small Karfi ferry so we could set up tents and tarps and camp Sunday night. Others in the group waited until Monday for calmer conditions, either on the mainland or Washington Island. In my 16 years of visiting Rock Island, this was my first experience riding the Karfi. And it was memorable! As the fully loaded boat rocked back and forth, waves crashed over the bow resulting in a few screams (not mine), wet clothing (everyone) and several inches of water deposited in my Ikea carry bags. Monday turned out to be a fine day for paddling and hiking. Some kayaked six miles around the island while others paddled shorter distances, hiked or just chilled. Tuesday started out rainy so some of us played Jenga in the boat house while others hiked to the lighthouse. The rain stopped by mid-afternoon so a group of us paddled around the island. A roaring campfire topped off each evening. Everyone retreated to their tents by 9:30 or so for well-deserved sleep. Wednesday morning we packed up, paddled back to Washington Island under beautifully calm conditions, and said good-byes before heading our separate ways.
TRR NATIONAL CONFERENCE, June 23-27
I attended my firth or sixth Team River Runner national leadership conference, this year in Columbia, SC. We stayed on the campus of the University of South Carolina. Here’s how Joe Mornini, TRR Executive Director, described the event in the printed program:
“We hope this conference inspires you, broadens your skills, connects you with new friends, and widens the many intricate ties we have to one another with our mutual goal of increasing the number of ‘butts in boats’ on the healing waters of our country. This year’s National Conference will simply focus on training in leadership and safety. We will have paddling opportunities on local rivers and waterways to deepen our connections to each other. TRR is a unique family – bonded by service to others, and a love of the living waters we paddle on. In this, TRR’s 19th year, your efforts have affirmed the best qualities a person can offer another.”
As part of the conference, I was stoked (is that what the youngsters say?) to assist Scott Brown instructing a two-day ACA Trip Leader Course.
DOOR COUNTY SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM, July 6-9
For the 13th year, I instructed at the annual Door County Sea Kayak Symposium. Instructors gathered on Thursday to review best teaching practices. On Friday Jeff Schmidt, Kathy Schmidt and I led a morning group tour to the Sister Islands. Jeff and I took turns amusing the group with tall tales about ostriches and early pioneers. Friday afternoon I led a group tour from Moonlight Bay to the Cana Island Lighthouse. Saturday was an all-day tour with 14 participants and 3 instructors (Andrea Knepper and Dave Olson) paddling from Rowleys Bay, around Port des Mort (Deaths Door), past the Northport ferry terminal and over to Gills Rock. A looming thunderstorm chased us off the water a bit early but it was a good 12-plus-mile day. On Sunday I led three kayakers in search of “open water adventure”, at least that was how the class was listed in the program. The conditions were a bit too calm that day to call it a true “adventure” but we still had a great time.
WAUSAU SWIFT WATER RESCUE & KAYAK SKILLS CLINICS, July 13-16
I organized a Swift Water Rescue clinic for our North Central region of Team River Runner. The clinic took place Thursday and Friday, July 13-14 at Wausau Whitewater Park, Wausau, WI. There were 11 participants (six were veterans) plus ACA SWR instructor Glenn Harman and assistant instructors Dave Hillman and Piper Wall. States represented were Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. TRR paid for the whitewater park fee, instructors’ fees (which were offered to TRR at a reduced rate) and also provided meals during the event. Participants took advantage of free camping in the adjacent city park in Wausau. The purpose of the SWR clinic is to teach skills participants apply in their local chapters to help make all TRR river events as safe as possible. TV station WSAW featured the event with a news story and live reporting from the water park: https://www.wsaw.com/2023/07/
That same weekend we held our annual TRR whitewater kayaking skills clinic Saturday and Sunday, July 15 & 16, also at Wausau Whitewater Park. Lead organizers were Craig Esposito and Linda “LT” Tomsevics. The Wausau TRR event is the largest annual whitewater paddling event for veterans and their families in the Midwest each year, attracting participants from WI, MN, IL, MI, and IA as well as other states. Veterans are paired with instructors who provide one-on-one instruction. This year approximately 70 people took part. About one-third were veterans and their family members. Other volunteers included kayak instructors, safety boaters, “frogger” boogie board safety team, cooks, greeters, and organizers. Highlights of the weekend included delicious breakfasts and a fantastic Saturday evening barbeque – all prepared and donated by volunteers. The TRR kayak clinic was featured on Wausau WAOW TV: https://youtu.be/8lmbzt1ohak
My YouTube video of the Wausau Whitewater Skills clinic:
There’s much more to come in this busy kayaking season, including:
- TRR’s Southeast Rendezvous in North Carolina and Tennessee where we will kayak the Ocoee and Nantahala Rivers, Aug. 4-6.
- Leading the annual TRR Great Lakes Sea Kayaking clinic in the Apostle Islands, Aug. 12-17.
- Topping it off with seven days and nights whitewater kayaking and camping on Idaho’s Salmon River with a TRR group including Lonnie Bedwell, Aug. 20-28.
