What does Wild River Academy do when the water is ice?

The cold weather may inhibit paddling opportunities, but the Wild River Academy staff is hard at work. Coming off of our Paddle Forward trip down the Mississippi River, we have a lot of momentum and support and are more excited than ever about the direction the organization is going. There is lots to be done to prepare for our summer canoe trips, and our schedule is also filling up with speaking engagements at outdoor symposiums. We will be heading up to Duluth this weekend to attend and present at the Student Outdoor Educators’ Conference at the University of Minnesota. Natalie will be speaking about her epic Hudson Bay Bound Trip, and members of the Paddle Forward crew will talk about our trip down the Mississippi River. Gatherings of people who are excited about what they do are always energizing, and we are looking forward to sharing what we know and learning from other attendees. Click here to learn more and register for this great gathering!

We are also starting up our High School Fellowship program on February 9! This is an exciting opportunity for high school students to learn all of the component parts of planning their own canoe trips, and they will also participate in a mentorship program with WRA staff. Wild River Academy will teach a new topic to participants once a week, bringing in experts to teach everything from marketing to fundraising to teaching outdoors skills and planning a food menu. Participants may also receive independent study credit from their school! Come summer, students will then have the opportunity to help lead a Wild River Academy trip to solidify and show off all of the skills they develop. Five students are on board already, but we have room for more! Email Anna@wildriveracademy.com if you are interested.

Plan ahead! Register for a canoe trip this summer! Paddle, learn about, and discuss the waterway that you travel on. Email Paddle@wildriveracademy.com if you have questions or want to schedule a group trip that is tailored to your availability and interests.