ACA and Outdoor Alliance Support the Designation of the Mountains to Sound Greenway as a National Heritage Area

The Mountains to Sound Greenway, which spans the state of Washington, includes spectacular resources for the human powered recreation community. 

The ACA and other members of the Outdoor Alliance strongly support the designation of this greenway as a National Heritage Area, and we commend Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Dave Reichert for their efforts to pass National Heritage Area legislation for the Mountains to Sound Greenway.

To learn more about this important legislation, and why we support it, click here.

Stewardship Spotlight: Invasive Species Prevention & Removal

Guest blog post by Colleen Ryan, an active member of the Norton Waterbodies Committee, a group of volunteers trying to find a solution to the invasive plant problem in Norton, Massachusetts.  

Hello American Paddlers. It’s nice to have an opportunity to chat with you about a serious issue affecting paddlers across the United States. Aquatic invasive plants are choking the life out of lakes and ponds where many of us paddle, fish, and wildlife sightsee. I paddle in a small town in Massachusetts called Norton and our lakes and ponds have been inundated with invasive plant life for a number of years. Sadly, because of challenging budget issues affecting most cities and towns, saving the lakes and ponds has not been a priority. There is good news though. Our Norton officials, with the help of volunteers and paddlers, are working together to change this course.

Norton is located in Southeastern, MA. We have three small ponds and one large lake called the Norton Reservoir. The three major invasive plants that are destroying our water bodies are eurasian and variable milfoil, fanwort, and water chestnut. These invasive plants grow quite rapidly with the help of fertilizers and other nutrients in the water. They suffocate the native plants. They impede paddlers from being able to paddle, fish, and sightsee. Our Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has been a great resource for us to identify the plants and learn different ways to address the problems they cause.

In 2013 the Norton Board of Selectman organized a Water Bodies Committee to address the challenges. The Committee is comprised of volunteers who are invested in saving the water bodies. Without this effort the lake and ponds would become murky swamps. The Committee did research and public education to understand the issues and inform the residents. At the October 2013 town meeting, residents allocated $50,000 to develop a plan to clean up the water bodies. In October 2014, residents allocated $800,000 to start the permitting process and a three year treatment process. The permitting process should be completed by June 2015. The treatment process for milfoil and fanwort is done chemically and the treatment process for water chestnut is hand harvesting. We must make a long term commitment for success.

The public education process has been very successful for us. We have identified ways that all residents and paddlers can make their contribution. 

Here are some ways we can all work together to help:

1. Clean our boats before and after use, preferably with hot water and letting it dry, and definitely before we paddle in different lakes and ponds. Preventing the spread of invasive plants is a necessity for success.
   
2. Do not to litter. We promote a carry in - carry out program. We are very fortunate that the Norton Kayaking Company sponsors a Norton Reservoir clean up at least once a year. This is a great opportunity for high school and college students to learn how to kayak and help out.
   
3. We encourage residents who live around the lakes and ponds not to use fertilizers near the water and to be careful about storm water drainage.
   
4. We also promote how important it is not to feed the waterfowl. 

We continue to educate the public through newspaper articles, posting educational materials at the local library, and assuring that information about saving the lakes and ponds is broadcast on the Norton Media Center TV station and website. Additionally, we have a Norton Water Bodies Facebook page which helps us stay in touch with paddlers, residents, and committee members. As fellow paddlers we encourage you to become knowledgeable about what aquatic invasive plants may be affecting where you paddle. Get involved and make your contribution.

Click here for more information on aquatic invasive species and prevention techniques. 

We're Hiring!

The ACA is currently looking for a Financial Coordinator / Office Manager to join our national staff in Fredericksburg, VA! 

To learn more about this position, please click here or visit www.americancanoe.org/Employment.

Rock the River This Weekend!

This is the first event of its kind for Fredericksburg, Virginia. The festival combines activities from various communities who benefit from, are inspired by, and enjoy their time on the Rappahannock River. 

There is adventure with a multi-sport river and foot race, outdoor activities for grown-ups, kids, and their furry friends, a display of unique art and crafts, as well as the enjoyment of great craft beer, tasty food, and live music throughout the day. Let's show our beautiful Rappahannock River the love it deserves!

FREE admission for all kids, dogs, and river lovers. Get more info at www.rocktheriverfxbg.com.



This year, both the 35th annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race (GRWCR) and the Canoe Poling National Championships are part of Rock the River FXBG. 

Surf SUP!

Written by T.J. Turner, ACA Education & Outreach Coordinator. T.J. holds several ACA instructor certifications in SUP, kayaking, and canoeing. One of his favorite places to paddle is the 13th Block East in Folly Beach, South Carolina. 

If you live by the ocean and would like a thorough, fun, and challenging course, I recommend you take a Level 3: Surf SUP Skills Course, Assessment Course, or Instructor Certification Workshop. I had the opportunity to take part in a Level 3: Surf SUP course with Instructor Trainer Educator Josh Hall and Instructor Trainer Matt Hite in the middle of April. The course was well executed, from on-land presentations to in-water, real world applications. Matt’s background, coming from a family of ocean lifeguards, really hammered home the safety aspects of the sport and how to choose the ideal location for your surf class.

All participants in the course were Level 2 Instructors from all over the country, however most were located on the Eastern Seaboard. The sharing of hard and soft skills, and understanding the various challenges each instructor candidate faced with their students and their areas, made for a great learning experience. Folly Beach--with its smaller waves, a predominant SSW swell, and little to no wind--provided the perfect location to run this instructor course. 

As most Instructor Trainers will mention, the instructor process is just that, a process and a journey. As hard skills and teaching abilities improve, the ACA instructor cadre improves and remains the gold standard in all paddlesports disciplines. 

In the surf environment everything is constantly changing, and there are a lot of moving parts. This environment is so dynamic that it may take a while to understand the full force of what you are leading your students in to. When the aspects of the ocean and the adjoining bottom composition form that perfect wave and you get your student down the face and down the line, this is a triumph of monumental proportions. You are creating a solid link between that individual and the ocean, promoting a lifelong passion for SUP surfing, and furthering the ACA’s mission.

Please help keep the stoke alive as we continue to progress in all disciplines of SUP. As an instructor, being able to emulate the ‘aloha’ mantra to help build a stronger community is fantastic. We all share and use the water differently; to respect your friends in this environment is of the utmost importance.

For more information about becoming an ACA Level 3: Surf SUP Instructor please click here.


All photos are of the East side (North) of Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission.

2015 Swiftwater Rescue Conference

Mark your calendar. This is one event you won't want to miss. Registration will be available online very soon!

The 2015 ACA Swiftwater Rescue Conference will focus on a series of on-water safety and rescue educational sessions taught by the best of the best in swiftwater rescue instruction. In addition, there will be a range of social functions, including BBQ and mountain music on Saturday night. For those simply looking for an Instructor Update, you can accomplish that too, but there will be so much more available in the realm of on-water rescue!

Please visit www.americancanoe.org/SWR_Conference for more information. 

Don't Miss the Canoe, Kayak, & SUP Races in Fredericksburg, VA June 6!

Along with the local, volunteer organizing committee, the ACA will host the 35th annual Great Rappahannock Whitewater Canoe Race (GRWCR) in Fredericksburg, VA on Saturday, June 6, 2015.

This classic Fredericksburg event takes place every year on the first Saturday in June. Races are open to participants of all ages and include both whitewater and flatwater canoeing, kayaking, SUP, and even canoe poling. In addition, there are races for youth and Scouts. 

Online registration for the GRWCR is available now, and participants can also register on-site starting at 7:45am on race day at Old Mill Park. Proceeds from this annual race support Friends of the Rappahannock, the ACA Collegiate Racing Program, the Fredericksburg Fire Department’s River Rescue Team, and the Fredericksburg Chapter of Team River Runner.

This year, the GRWCR is part of the inaugural Rock the River FXBG event. This all-day, stewardship-focused festival features environmental educational programs from local conservation organizations, on-water paddling instruction, river clean-ups, a running race, ultimate Frisbee, and a riverfront beer and blues festival.

For additional information, and to register, please visit www.americancanoe.org/GRWCR