"Your guides took wonderful care of our group. Without exception they
were fun, friendly and incredibly helpful."
Derrick Weston
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Day Camp & Nature School
Rafting Adventures
River rafting offers children
a wilderness experience without the physical demands of a backpacking
trip.
On River Dancers' Nature School Rafting
Adventures, our trail is the beautiful Klamath River, which we share
with the plant and animal communities that make this ecologically rich habitat
their home. Each day includes structured natural history experiences involving
the naming of plants and animals and discussions of their habitat along
with unstructured time to discover their own place in nature.
In his new book, Last Child in the Woods,
Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, Richard Louv
points out, "Our society is teaching young people to avoid direct
experience in nature...Yet, at the very moment that the bond is breaking
between the young and the natural world, a growing body of research
links our mental, physical, and spiritual health directly to our association
with nature in positive ways. Several of these studies suggest that thoughtful
exposure of youngsters to nature can even be a powerful form of therapy
for attention-deficit disorders and other maladies."
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Kids learn
the basics of river rafting:
- How to paddle a one person inflatable
kayak.
- For students interested in additional kayaking, guided
training in whitewater kayaking.
- Assist in paddling a multi-person raft through class
two and three rapids.
- Water, sand, wilderness safety.
Ecological awareness includes:
- Wildlife watching and identification
- at least 4 species important to the Klamath River habitat.
- Plant identification - at least 5 species with information
about their importance to the ecosystem.
- Astronomy - depending upon the phase of the moon
and presence of clouds, discussions can include constellation identification,
searching for the Milky Way, and other simple discovery type astronomy
experiences.
Cultural and social awareness includes:
- Learn the importance of the Klamath River
to the Karuk Indian Tribe including information about the World Renewal
Ceremony held each year along the river.
- On three day trips, hike to Ukonum Falls, a Karuk
sacred site.
- Participate in storytelling, and group process activities.
- Spend unstructured time in nature swimming, hiking,
and exploring.
The trips take place on a beautiful section of the Klamath River
in far northern California. Great rapids, deep pools perfect for swimming
and playing, a relaxing pace, easy camping along the river's edge,
evening stories around the campfire... the perfect escape in all ways.
Your Day Camp and multiple day Nature School
Rafting Adventure include meals (lunch for day campers), rafts
and all safety equipment, up to 18 one-person inflatable
kayaks, and certified river guides at a ratio of 1 guide for 6
students.
Please call for a quote. Prices are negotiable
depending upon the size of the group, length of trip, and special
needs of the class or school.
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"More nature can soothe body and soul. Today's
kids are increasingly disconnected from the natural world. Instead of spending
their summer months hiking, swimming and telling stories around the campfire,
children these days are more likely to attend computer camps or weight-loss
camps."
-- author Richard Louv in "Last Child in the Woods: Saving
our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder"
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