Otterbar Teen Leadership Kayak Camp on the Forks of the Salmon
David Hughes led the Otterbar Teen Leadership Camp a couple of years ago and was impressed with the rivers and infrastructure of Otterbar.
“Otterbar combines quality river running skills on northern California’s best rivers for development. The Sturges family follow a simple plan of combining quality whitewater, great service and hiring the best instructors.” – David Hughes, Otterbar instructor and Huge Experiences founder
Your Otterbar experience will focus on safety and river running as you explore a series of rivers. Building trust for one another begins on the river and is carried over into team work via group activities. While many kayak programs are in bunk houses the Otterbar program is a camp. Students base at a series of camps in Northern California. You will practice leadership skills as you rig and de-rig equipment, you will be responsible for your team meal day, and practice on-water leadership and safety practices.
Past Otterbar Students Who Enrolled at New River Academy:
- Eli Spiegel- Team Riot, Colorado College
- David Spiegel- Team Riot, Colorado College
- Christina Russell- Team Liquid Logic, Albertsons College
- Michelle Yates- Winner of the American Whitewater Academic Scholarship, Colorado College
- Sean Johnson
- Tyson Rowley- University of Hawaii
Here is a piece from the Otterbar website:
http://www.otterbar.com/programs/tlc.html
Teen Leadership Camp (TLC)
Are your children too old for Otter Bar kid’s camp? Are they starting to drive to your local rivers with their friends? Do you worry that they lack the skills and maturity to paddle without adults? If you answer YES to any of these questions, your son or daughter might need some "TLC."
Otter Bar’s new Teen Leadership Camp is a 12-day experience focusing on trust, responsible decision-making, river leadership, and safety. Please see the schedule for dates and prices.
The Routine
Students will arrive on Saturday night and stay at the Kid’s Camp site and paddle on the Salmon and Klamath rivers for several days. During this time students will be discussing and planning the next seven days including what rivers to paddle, where to camp, and what to eat. On day 4, we will pack up the vans and leave Otter Bar with our sights set on the Salmon, Klamath, or Trinity Rivers. The exact locations for days 4-9 will be determined by river levels, the group’s paddling ability, and their individual paddling goals. During this time, the students and instructors will be camping and paddling together every day; students will be responsible for helping to cook all meals and maintain our camp area. On day 9, we will pack up and head for the coast for one final paddling session surfing waves in the ocean near Arcata. We will drop students at the airport on day 10 to meet families or catch a plane home.
About the Instructors
The courageous instructors that will be traveling with your kids are a well rounded bunch with many notable accomplishments in education and water sports.
Amy Lundstrum is a fourth-grade teacher by day and an amazing kayak instructor by night. She spends her time in Bend, OR teaching school, telemark skiing on Mt. Bachelor, mountain biking, and getting kids on the local Deschutes runs.
Kirby Erdely is a high school teacher for most of the year. He teaches science and manages a high-ropes course where he coaxes teenagers to do things they never thought they could. His recreational passions include kiteboarding, snowboarding kayaking, and woodworking. Kirby lives in the Columbia River Gorge; he has instructed at Otter Bar’s NQGU camps for the past 5 years.
Amy and Kirby have worked and played together for years; this team will insure an amazing experience for the teenagers that come to the TLC. There is no need to worry every time your child walks out of the house to go run a river if they have strong safety and leadership skills!
New River Academy Kayak School
4632 Beckwith Rd
Fayetteville, WV 25840
(304)- 574-0403
Fax: (304) 513-2247
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