ACA | Stewardship Paddling Sustainably
May 2012
Outdoor Nation PADDLE NATION PROJECT
Making the World a Better Place to Paddle! Since 1880.
Empowering Youth— Learn, Paddle, Preserve CONNECTING YOUTH WITH RIVERS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP PROTECT OUR WATERS
In May, the American Canoe Association (ACA) partnered with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), the Charleston County School District (CCSD), and Half Moon Outfitters to provide a Paddle Nation program to middle school aged students in a traditionally underserved area of Charleston County. This program gave students the opportunity to gain on-water experience and paddling skills, coupled with lessons related to stewardship and how each student is a stakeholder when it comes to promoting healthier waters.
Provided through the Baptist Hill Community Education Pro- Through leading this program, the ACA has helped to create gram, the Paddle Nation Project afforded many first time paddlers with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience on the waters around them.
The program was developed to provide youth with a handson, safe paddling experience and to educate participants about the benefits of paddlesports as a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle. Additionally, it served as a venue to teach youth about the importance of good on-water stewardship.
a community network that could partner on similar programs or easily replicate this model.
The two-day program was highly effective in providing targeted stewardship education and supplemental paddling skills to then apply concepts learned in the classroom. Students left with a better understanding of how the waters that were paddled can be affected by how we conduct ourselves on land on a daily basis.
Youth and adult chaperones that participated in the program left feeling more confident and comfortable on the water and had a better understanding of their waterways and local resources for exploring them.
Creating future Generations of Stewards “I learned today that it’s important to pick up trash and recycle and stuff because all of it can get into rivers and dirty up our water and oceans. I’ve been slackin’, so it’s good to come here and learn what I can do at home. We can all help out and do stuff to make our environment cleaner and, you know, more healthy. I’m gonna be better.” — Jerry, a student reflection after stewardship lessons on Day 1
ACA Paddle Nation Project
More than just a day. It’s about a lifetime.
CLASSROOM SESSIONS Getting the wheels turning! Students participated in an interactive
“I want to thank you. I’ve done a lot of field trips and programs, and you have been the most professional group I’ve ever worked with… you went above and beyond. This is something that these kids will remember for the rest of their lives and will be able to take their kids out on the river one day because of what you have done. It really is more than just a day of paddling around, and it means a lot.” —Joel Warren, Baptist Hill Community Education Program
2.5 hour classroom session led by the ACA Stewardship Coordinator. Lessons incorporated state-identified learning objectives for the age group and focused on good stewardship of our marine environments.
ON-WATER INSTRUCTION Equip with skills necessary and boost confidence! Certified instructors and camp counselors with the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission led lake based on-water demonstrations and lessons to teach first time paddlers the basics and safety techniques.
APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED Students were taken on a six–mile paddle on the Edisto River! For most, this was their first time paddling a river and eating lunch on its banks. Students enjoyed identifying local wildlife, vegetation, and helping to leave the Edisto a little cleaner than they found it!
Building Capacity for Future Paddlers The ACA partnered with Half– Moon Outfitters in South Carolina to purchase paddles and supplies for the children of Baptist Hill Community Education Program and other youth from CCPRC to use and continue programs that explore South Carolina's waterways.
Inspiring
Outdoo
The ACA’s Paddle Nation Project directly reached eighteen
Prior to getting on the wa
seventh grade students from rural Charleston, South Carolina. A vast majority of these students live in areas without potable water, and, for most, the program served as their first time holding a paddle or exploring the infamous river that runs right through their backyard, the Edisto.
groups to ensure better, m dent was outfitted with a p taught how to make sure t ately. Students were taugh basic strokes, and how to prior to even getting into a
The Edisto River is touted as being the longest free-flowing The ACA currently has over 6,000 instructors across the world! These paddlesports ambassadors use their certifications to teach and certify new instructors; run summer camps or outdoor recreation programs; serve as tour guides through some of the most beautiful rivers and landscapes across the country; create education programs that engage youth and the community that teach essential onwater skills and safety information; or work as instructors for programs like First Descents, which offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors a free outdoor adventure experience designed to leave them feeling empowered. Through ACA certified instructors and educational programs, over 809,000 youth are reached annually by the ACA. While safety is most important, the ACA also places great importance on stewardship education and views every new set of hands on a paddle as a new steward for our waterways. Through educational outreach and community-based programs like the Paddle Green Program, the ACA is helping to create a sustainable network of on-water stewards: actively working towards a cleaner and healthier tomorrow.
blackwater river in North America. A blackwater river is one that flows through forested wetland areas and is named for the darkly stained waters that derive its color from the tannins leached out of decaying vegetation. The resulting waters are acidic in nature and provide a unique ecosystem for local flora and fauna.
Once on the lake, instruc
communicating with your p direction you want, turn ar given supervised paddle ti learned.
Meandering for more than 250 miles across a watershed of
The following day, studen
3,125 square miles and enveloping more than 12 counties, the Edisto is an invaluable resource to the people of South Carolina.
Park to put in for a 6-mile instructor per student, so s own. Over the course of th about where they were pa of the Edisto, explore its s about the vegetation that l that live in its waters or de
During the first day of the program, the students were led by staff from CCPRC to a lake in James Island County Park to learn basic paddling skills, techniques, and safety information.
For all of the students, th
many didn’t want to see th had accomplished and we
or Play!
ater, students were divided into smaller
more personalized instruction. Each stupersonal floatation device (PFD) and were that they fit and were adjusted appropriht things like how to handle their paddles, get in and out of their canoes, from land a boat.
ctors demonstrated proper techniques for
partner, how to make the canoe go in the round, back paddle, etc. Students were ime on the lake to reinforce the lessons
nts met with staff at Givhan’s Ferry State
paddle of the Edisto River. There was one students didn't have to paddle on their he day, students learned to read a map addling to, got to each lunch on the banks serpentine twists and turns, and learn lined its banks and the many creatures epend on the river for survival.
his was a first-time experience. And while
he day end, they were excited by what they ere eager to come back and do it again!
Of the 6.14 mill io debris that ente n tons of r marine environments ea ch of that comes fr year, 80% om freshwater rivers an d streams! THAT’S WHERE WE PADDLE! With more than 50 million people paddling annually, WE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE if we all cleane d that we explore! the areas
TRASH M
The EPA estimates that the away 4.43 lbs of trash per
In South Carolina, the ave away 5 lbs/ day.
That’s 35 lbs/ week! 1,825 ily of 4, that would be 7,
Did you know?
For the entire population approximately 4.6 million, MILLION POUNDS OF TRASH AR EACH YEAR! That’s enough to fill and 9 feet deep!
CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE THE #1 POLLUTE The Paddle Nation Project began with
As a class, we learned about local
municipal solid waste and how waste is transported and sorted in our landfills; the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; and the concept of “precycling,” being a Students learned about marine debris as a conscious consumer and choosing to purchase products that demonstrate growing global issue and how they could sustainable packaging practices. contribute to cleaner, healthier oceans by being good stewards of their local Together, the students calculated their waterways. household waste production and compared it to national averages. Each In order to understand the issue and student had to identify and pledge at least effects of plastics and other debris in our one way that they would try to reduce waters, students had to understand the their waste output and improve their connection between the land they live on, waterways. their watersheds, and that all of our rivers and streams eventually flow into the ocean. All of the day’s lessons were reinforced Students also had to examine their own through videos and activities that contributions to the problem. What do they connected how we behave on-land with effects on our oceans and its inhabitants. use on a daily basis? How could they be In the end, students realized that although more mindful about the waste that they they may not be able to see the river from generate? What happens to your waste their homes, we all live on the water, and once it leaves your trash can? we all live upstream from someone else. classroom lessons related to the importance of on-water stewardship and conservation of our rivers and streams.
We All Live Upstream! A GREAT CLASSROOM A C T I V I T Y T O D E MO N S T R A T E THE CONCEPT OF WATERWAY POLLUTION Materials Needed:
Poster boards (1 board per group of students. Usually 3-5 per group)
Markers, colored pencils, etc.
Prep:
MATH!
Before class, line up all poster boards and draw a continuous river through them
e average person throws r day.
On the back of each poster board, write a small number to denote their order
erage person throws
Activity:
5 lbs/ year! For a fam,280 lbs of trash/year!
Ask the students “Who wants to be a millionaire?” Have them divide into groups of 3-5.
Explain that you are giving each group a million dollar piece of riverfront property to be developed
of South Carolina, , that would mean 23 RE ENTERING LANDFILLS
however they want. Money is not an object. The students will have to live here, so be sure to incorporate everything that they will need.
entire football field
Give students 10-15 minutes to develop their land. Once everyone has created their towns, explain that these properties are not several different pieces of land but, rather, one continuous river.
Post all towns in order of the numbers on the back of the poster boards and assess how they are
ER OF WATERWAYS WORLDWIDE!
Discussion:
Look at river as a whole. Have each group of students explain their develop-
“I have always heard about the three R’s, but ‘ precycling’ is a whole new term to me. It makes sense, though, to think about the materials and packaging of the goods you buy before you purchase them.”
ment and identify potential sources of pollution.
—7th grade teacher accompanying the students
For each potential pollutant, students will pass a marker downstream to the next “town.” (At the end, the final town should have a lot of markers passed down to them.)
Ask the students at the final plot how they feel about ending up with everyone’s pollution.
Ask the students upstream how they feel about contributing to it.
Then ask the students what they can do to help reduce pollution that reaches people downstream.
BIG PITURE MESSAGE: We ALL live upstream of someone, both literally and metaphorically, and we all need to be mindful about how we conduct ourselves on land.
ful r e d n o w y n a so m r o f u o y k Than
! S E I R O M ME
REFLECTIONS “Wow!!! The grant program that the ACA provided, along with the support from the staff from James Island County Park and Recreation, was a HUGE success. After bragging about how well day one went, I struggle to put into words how things even got better on day two. Every part of the trip was planned perfectly. The entire staff who participated in this event were true professionals… The manner in which they interacted with our students was a lesson for all educators to learn from. They engaged the students, asked open ended questions, and most importantly, genuinely listened to what was on the minds of our inquisitive young people. The students really had a great time and we are so thankful that you were able to provide this opportunity for our children. They learned skills that they might not have ever learned and taught them that stepping out of their comfort zone can sometimes bring great rewards. I am so proud of all of them. You know you have hit a home run when one of the students put it so simply, ‘this is nothing like any of the field trips I have ever been on before.’ Such a simple comment spoke volumes to me. Thanks again for your professionalism in making this experience something that will stick with these children for the rest of their lives… such a unique opportunity!!!!!” — Joel Warren, Community Education Director, Baptist Hill High School
“The Outdoor Foundation grant allowed the ACA to develop a successful experiential community program which taught lifelong skills and a new type of environmental awareness to participants. The success of this ACA program has set the standard for all or new experiential community programs. We are thankful to the Outdoor Nation Paddle Nation Project and all of our partners for making this such a rewarding experience.” “It was wonderful watching the children move away from apprehension and toward a level of comfort with the river…. The education and understanding gained through this experience melted away their fears and began the process of connecting them to their environment. It was a very happy and proud day for everyone involved.” — Joe Moore, Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission
— Wade Blackwood, Executive Director, ACA
MANY THANKS! Thank you to the Outdoor Foundation and Outdoor Nation for funding this initiative!
And to our partners who made this program possible!
Learn more about what the ACA is trying to do to educate youth, motivate paddlers, and reduce marine debris through our Paddle Green Program and stewardship initiatives! If you have questions about how to become a more active steward, contact Cate.
Be sure to
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Committed to cleaner waters and a more sustainable future. Being one of the four tenets that the ACA was founded on in 1880, promoting good stewardship is central to the ACA mission. For more than a century, the ACA has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to protecting and preserving the environments that we all love to paddle. From Clean Water Act litigation to Club Fostered Stewardship grants, we are committed to YOUR waters by supporting grassroots efforts and representing the interests of paddlers in federal policy. Programs like the Paddle Nation Project are especially important to us because the ACA wants to educate and inspire future generations of paddlers to get outside, explore their waters, and become the new wave of stewards that will help protect our rivers and oceans! Thank you to the Outdoor Foundation for funding this initiative! We are incredibly grateful to OF and Outdoor Nation for supporting so many programs that inspire our youth to get out and play. The American Canoe Association is excited to be able to contribute to paddlesports education for youth across the country! With gratitude,
Cate Huxtable Stewardship Coordinator
ACA Stewar dshi p
108 Hanover Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 P. (540) 907. 4460 x 106 F. (888) 229. 3792 www.americancanoe.org