Take a “Voyage of Rediscovery” in your Backyard River
It is no secret that the key to restoring the Chesapeake Bay begins with restoring the local waterways that lead to it. And it is unlikely that people who have no connection to those local waterways will feel compelled to work to make them healthier. So what better way to establish a connection with those rivers, especially at a young age so that the connection will be long-lasting, than to get out on the water and see it for yourself? One program has done just that in Washington state, and you can do it right here too.
“Voyages of Rediscovery” Program Director and Wilderness Guide Adam Wicks-Arshack tells us how.
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“Voyages of Rediscovery” has facilitated educational expeditions on the rivers and waterways of Washington State since the spring of 2009. Using 30-foot voyager canoes as a medium for education, “Voyages of Rediscovery” gives students a new-found connection to their backyard rivers.
“Voyages of Rediscovery” employs a flexible program that can be catered to the needs of educational institutions, outreach groups, and community development groups. Through hands-on paddle time, our goal is to mesh the romance of historical expeditionary travel and an environmental education curriculum suited to your educational needs.
As a program, we run river-based environmental education trips in our fleet of 30-foot voyager canoes. Each canoe holds up to 12 students, a teacher, and a guide in the back. This arrangement allows the educator to lecture to his or her students and also allows the guide to share his or her knowledge of rivers while out on the expedition.
While we allow for ample study and activity time both on and off the boat, the majority of the learning comes from paddling side-by-side with classmates. The expedition really facilitates the development of teamwork and leadership skills for the students.
Over the past year Voyages of Rediscovery has completed 15 educational canoe trips with more than 300 students on the waterways of Washington State. The first educational expedition was on the Upper Columbia River at Lake Roosevelt, a three-day, two-night trip for a leadership-based class from the Evergreen State College.
“Voyages of Rediscovery” has also facilitated several trips for the Havermill Medicine Wheel Academy, an alternative high school for “at-risk” native youth in Spokane, Wash. On the west side of the state, we also offer trips on the Nisqually River, Skagit River, and the Puget Sound.
Although we are based on the complete other side of the country, if enough people show interest in participating in a river or Chesapeake Bay-based educational expedition in your area, we can make that happen.
In 2011 we will be driving across the country with our canoes and guides, facilitating canoe trips on “backyard” rivers across the nation. That can easily include one of your rivers, so just let us know!
If you would like to get more information on how to set up a backyard river expedition with Voyages of Rediscovery, just send an e-mail to info@voyagesofrediscovery.com.
Additional Resources
Voyages of Rediscovery
The Nisqually Watershed: a Uniquely Protected Area - Voyages of Rediscovery
Canoe, kayak and boat field studies - Bay Backpack
Exploring by Canoe - Abbott’s Mill Nature Center