Why do we organize the Camp Cup?

Earlier, we wrote about the awesome people of the Camp Cup Challenge... the coaches, the volunteers, the kids. As I mentioned, that's one of the big reasons we put on the Cup; it's a lot of fun being around those folks. But, it's not the only reason we do it.

Last night, we were chatting with an experienced kayak instructor we met when we arrived here at the Otter Bar (www.OtterBar.com) to teach for a few weeks. He was very skeptical about why we would organize the Camp Cup, or even run the Alzar School. His thought was: "running a nonprofit sounds like a TON of work."

He was right, on some level. It takes a lot of paperwork, organizing, planning, scrimping for pennies, sweating, manual labor, cooking, cleaning, etc, etc. He suggested we just teach at a good kayak school, where the pay is better, the hours shorter, and enjoy ourselves.

We've done that before. We've taught with some great adult programs around the world. But, I guess what makes the Alzar School extremely worthwhile for us is getting to see the benefits the kids extract from their experiences. Giving our students the opportunity to experience the outdoors is phenomonally rewarding, truly worth all the hours of work we put in. The Camp Cup is just one example. We saw kids make new friends, challenge their boating skills, and build self-confidence. There were 112 kids, and I'm pretty sure they all got something out of the deal. They derive so much more than an adult does, I think, because they are at such a pivotal point in their lives. They are trying to identify who they are, what kind of person they want to be, and whitewater gives them an option that lets them be "cool" while still being healthy and unique.

So that is what makes whatever little busy work we did to make the event possible seem like a total bargain. At least some of that throng of kids will be lifelong paddlers, will help keep our rivers clean, will make good decisions because they learned how to do that through whitewater.

Check out the video we quickly put together:

People of the Camp Cup

One of the giant reasons the Alzar School gets so excited to help put on the Camp Cup Challenge is the chance to surround ourselves with dynamic, fun, committed people. Besides the 112 kids the event served this year, there were the forty-four volunteers from the 13 participating camps. These camp counselors, program heads, photographers, etc are all very committed to the idea of getting kids interested in the outdoors, through the venue of paddling. Having worked at a summer camp, we know the work is hard, the pay isn't great, and that you have to give up a lot of personal time (and space) to help these kids. That's why it's so impressive to see volunteers standing at the bottom of Nantahala Falls with throw ropes all day, sweating it out in the heat to time runs, or setting up lunch. The good news for the volunteers is that they get more than personal satisfaction out of the event. I saw numerous camp counselors exchanging greetings, making plans to paddle together in the future, and sharing laughs. We can't name all the volunteers here, but can't extend a big enough "thanks" for all their help. The event would truly be impossible without them.

At this year's Camp Cup Challenge, we were fortunate enough to have some of whitewater's "celebrities" there. What's really incredible about this is that these folks spend a huge majority of their professional time on the river, yet still are wildly enthusiastic to haul their boats up to run those kids through the course over and over. And, they're humble enough to man a throw rope if necessary, to wear goofy leis, and to give free advice to young paddlers. We had coaches and Olympic athletes, paddling heads from rival kayak schools, folks involved with two of the US's major paddling associations (the ACA and the USACK). It is rejuvenating to see folks who maybe sometimes have competing interests get along so well and have fun, all to make this event a great thing for the young paddlers. That's the spirit of whitewater, one of the reasons the Alzar School is so passionate about hooking kids into the outdoor scene.

A GIANT force behind the event was the American Canoe Association - Dixie Division (http://www.dixiedivision.net/). Once again, they were the generous host of the event, providing insurance, securing the Special Use Permit, and significantly upping the budget to make sure every kid got a healthy, delicious lunch. President Gordon Black was on hand, supervising safety at the bottom of the Falls with fellow rescue guru, Sam Folkes. These two titans of whitewater were pretty cool about giving responsibility to the younger counselors, and keeping the event about the kids. It was so great having them there!

As always, the Nantahala Outdoor Center (www.NOC.com) was a huge platinum sponsor for the event, making it possible by allowing us to use their incredible facilities. They also contributed financially, making it possible for each kid to go home with a sweet t-shirt to remember the event by and providing prizes. And, best of all, we had the support of Olympian Wayne Dickert, whose official job title is "Ambassador for the NOC." We'll never forget watching him hike his canoe back up in the rain during the training day to run more kids through the slalom course (while we sheepishly wolfed down dinner at the restaurant). You won't meet a better ambassador to the NOC or to the sport of whitewater paddling than Wayner (as he is affectionately known). Wayne was backed up by the whole NOC staff, who were extremely positive about the event and supported us with whatever needed to happen. A big shout out to Phillip, who helped hang gates, get bibs, wade through the icy water, etc.

Another pillar of the Nantahala Gorge was also immensely present in the form of the lovely Juliet Jacobsen Kastorff from Endless River Adventures (http://endlessriveradventures.com/). Juliet escorted so many kids through the Falls on the training day, it's impossible to keep track. She also helped Pablo coach kids in the gates, proving that, while she might not be a slalom racer, she sure can coach! ERA not only provided Juliet's stellar coaching, but took pictures, provided a TON of amazing prizes for the giveaway at the end of the day, and more.

Joe Jacobi (www.joejacobi.com) was present for the event day again this year, offering kids advice for running the gates and documenting the day through video and tweets. We're sure he'll have a commentary up on his site (see above) soon. With Wayner and Olympian Pablo McCandless, he also participated in the Counselor Cup, giving the kids a lunch time entertainment.

Last, but certainly not least, we had the coaching phenom Pablo McCandless in the house, imparting the lessons he picked up in Beijing last summer. What most of the racers didn't know is that Pablo was up at 7 AM to wade across the river to hang gates for the event. We're doing our best to get Pablo to work with the Alzar School on our "Rivers of Chile 2010" expedition this December, so keep your fingers crossed that the dates and stars align to make that happen. Pablo worked with US Junior Team Coach Rafal Smolen (also there to help coach the kids) to help spread the word about what kids can do to become more active in the sport of slalom kayaking and canoeing.

Wow! As you can tell, a lot of great folks (many unnamed) came together to make the Camp Cup Challenge 2009 a success.

Ellie’s Blog

I am super bummed that this trip is over because I’ve had so much fun! Overall, this trip has been totally different then the Alzar trip in Mexico. I think I’ve improved a whole lot and I’m not nervous being underwater or trying new stuff. What I really liked about this trip was that not only do the instructors teach you how to do things, the students teach too. I’ve also seen myself improve off the water. My leadership skills have grown and changed since A.I.M. (Adventure in Mexico), and I could definitely see my improvement on FLOW. This trip has been so awesome I don’t think there has been a single time when I’ve been bored. I also don’t’ think there was a time where I wasn’t either smiling or laughing. Looking back on the trip, I think it has been so awesome because everyone is so goofy and the rivers have been so different but so awesome too. I’ll definitely miss FLOW and my adventures on Alzar and hope to do other Alzar trips too.

Thanks Kristin, Sean, Katie, and Claudio for making this trip happen- it’s been a BLAST!

Glob by Connor Madigan

This trip has been a hesh learning experience for me. I have learned how to lead more efficiently, work better with different types of people, but most of all, and perhaps most importantly, I learned how to kayak. I started to get the hang of the fantastic things that is surfing. I also started on the road to mastering my roll, probably the most important maneuver. Kayaking has opened so many doors. Now I can go into bigger stuff, try new moves, surf, and have more confidence in my newfound abilities. I have just started to get the hang of all this new stuff that has been thrown indmy face. I have only begun to be enlightened as to all of the fun that I can have in this new sport.

McLeod's Blog Entry

This trip I have learned that there are a couple of types of people; those who do, those who watch, and those who think. No one person is only in one category, they are a cross of all of them, they just show one trait more prominently than the others. I have also learned to surround myself with people of all kinds so that I can learn from other points of view. But over all, the trip has been awesome.

Blog by Jeffrey Trufant

In this, my blog, there are a myriad of things about which I could write, but one is, by far, more important to me than most of the others. This thing is something that I began to learn before I embarked on my flight across the country to join Alzar. There are six billion people in this world- I only know a handful of them. Each of those people who are not in my handful- just like those who are- have, and create, opportunities for themselves, and unless I mix up my life every so often, the handful of people that I know my never expand and my opportunities may not either. There is a great big world out there- your own world is tiny, and you’ll never get out of it unless you throw yourself out. Give yourself a challenge, you can make it.

Final post by Mychal Hayes

Dear people of the regular world,

This will be my last blog entry of this trip. It saddens me that this trip is over. I have made some good friends that I hope to keep in touch with. My skills have improved on and off the water. My teaching ability and assertiveness has improved a lot since the beginning of this trip. Some of the best times of the trip were driving from the one river to another in the van. Those times were fun because we told a lot of stories and got to know each other. Other great times were after we got off the river and were sitting at the campsite talking. I’m glad I went on this trip and I wish it were longer.

Last thoughts by Robert Lapeyre

This trip has been amazing from all the beautiful places we have been to the kayaking; it is going to be unforgettable. Going in to this trip I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the whole leadership part, but I soon realized that it was pretty awesome. It was great being able to watch my paddling skills grow throughout the past three weeks. Looking back on the experience these is not anything that I regret. I definitely have a different and better perspective on leadership now that I have gone through F.L.O.W. If I were given the chance to do this again I would definitely do it.

Final Blog Entry, by Zoe Mroz

It’s pretty difficult to describe just how much I’ve learned these past three weeks. Having multiple opportunities throughout the trip to lead the group and learn from my mistakes and others’ mistakes, honing and establishing a larger basis for my own leadership skills, has pretty much cut out my work for the future improvements I’ll make. This trip has only scratched the surface as far as my personal growth as a leader goes, and has paved the way to many opportunities to continue developing myself as a future leader.

Having never kayaked before this trip, my three-week crash course was in-tents (ha- like camping)! My head is still spinning a bit because the sport is so involved. I’m so happy that I learned, though, because it’s incredibly fun. I will admit that I’m still slightly intimidated by whitewater, but I’d probably hop into a kayak anytime and push through a challenging rapid (though I should hope its at my level, of course.) One things for sure- I’ll NEVER look at whitewater the same way again!

Best moments of this trip include learning to roll (even if I don’t get it the first time), getting my sprayskirt on by myself, learning to set up and/or dissemble a tent in 10 minutes or less, being able to see the rural (beautiful) parts of Idaho and Cali and Oregon, scaling a giant wave on the Snake river without flipping, getting airborne on said wave, cooking s’mores by the fire with everyone, having interactive lessons with our awesome instructors, just shredding the gnarr in general, eating lots of new foods, tooth brushing parties, hanging out in Happy Camp, rafting with Pebbles, listening to comedians on my iPod with Ellie in our tent, catching a tiny glimpse of fireworks between pine trees on the 4th of July, and all the O.H.O. time in-between.

I won’t soon forget all the experiences I’ve gained on this trip.

Zoe's Blog #2

So I'm really excited about tomorrow because it's the 4th of July and we're staying in this phenomenally beautiful campsite, and we've made a really cozy settlement. The views are pretty amazing, so hopefully we'll get a good fireworks show.

Other than tha, I've been eating a lot of fruit/new foods and working a lot on rolling and I have FINALLY got it down. I even managed a combat roll on the Main Fork of the Payette. This was the second time we'd done this stretch but I'm really glad that we did because it is so much fun and accommodating for a beginning/intermediate kayaker like myself.

We have two more nights at this site on the Payette, and then two days on the Snake River. I'm quite excited to see what the leaders-of-the-day have in store for the group. That's always an adventure in itself!

Mychal's Blog Entry

Dear Citizens of the Regular World:

This trip has been a lot of fun. We started by going to the Klamath River. We ran that for three days, then went to the Cal Salmon and ran a couple of different stretches. We rafted and kayaked, the more experienced boaters paddled Clear Creek as well, which was fun. We also ran the South Fork of the American River, both the upper and lower stretches. There were some big holes and waves! Then, we drove to Reno and played in the whitewater park. We played for about 45 minutes.

After Reno, we drove to Boise and stayed at the Alzar World Headquarters. The next day we drove to the Payette and have been camping on a piece of property on near the South Fork. We've been running different stretches. First we ran the Main, then the Cabarton. On the Cabarton, after kayaking Howard's Plunge Conner, Robert, and I swam it, then jumped off a rock at the end. The next day, Robert, Ellie, Jeffrey, Conner, and I ran the Lower South Fork. Ellie and Robert got out above Staircase, the first larger rapid, and we finished.

Cali vs. Idaho, by Connor McLeod

The largest difference between the rivers in California and the rivers in Idaho is the volume of the rivers. In California, the rivers are very small in volume, for example take Clear Creek, which was running approximately 400 cfs. It was very small compared to the Mighty Main Payette, about 5,500 cfs. The American River was larger than Clear Creek, but still was only about half of the Payette. Also in California, the rivers are much more technical... take the "Gaping Maw..." some pretty technical moves but there were very few large waves, as on the Payette or the Snake, where there are huge waves but fewer technical movs. But over all, all of the rivers have been awesome in their own special way.