Girls Kayak Camp Teaches River Skills and Leadership
This June, Need More Outdoors partnered with the Nantahala Racing Club and the Shannon Christy Fund to host a river camp for middle-school girls in Swain and Graham counties in Western North Carolina. Two instructors and 10 participants spent three days exploring the lakes and rivers of Swain County. Participants included four experienced paddlers and six brand new boaters, aged 11 – 14.
Confronting Fears and Leading Peers
Beginning with an introduction to flatwater basics on Lake Fontana, our new participants were asked to support one another and push themselves to confront fears and insecurities. Our experienced paddlers, meanwhile, were empowered to take the lead teaching their peers, providing encouragement, and explaining important technical and safety concepts.
It was great to watch the girls get braver over the three days,” remembers Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff, camp instructor and Need More Outdoors executive director. “They went from being a little timid to run a rapid to being confident leaders and self-rescuers.
Reaching New Levels
The camp culminated in a day-long expedition down the Tuck Gorge, with participants switching in and out of a raft, ducky, and several kayaks. The dynamic that developed in this peer-led group resulted in each young lady pushing herself to new levels, whether this meant catching her first eddy on the Tuckaseegee, practicing rolls in moving water, or guiding a raft for the first time.
This special camp enabled participants to explore the outdoors on their doorstep, discover new strengths and interests, and push themselves out of their comfort zones
