Blue River Outfitter sends High School freshmen paddling
For immediate release
Contact: Carol Groves
812 365 2705 ext 0
Ninth grade students across the country, including local freshmen, can go paddling down Indiana’s Blue River for free this season thanks to a new program announced jointly by the Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) and Cave Country Canoes..
Called the “9th Grade Paddle Pass,” the program allows students to register and receive a passport that will get them up to 10 free paddling trips with participating outfitters across the U.S.
“Many of our local high school freshmen cross the Blue River every day on their way to school, but they’ve never had the opportunity to explore this treasure right in their own backyards,” “We’re please to help PPA increase participation in paddling by young people, which we hope will lead to them being good stewards of our natural resources,” said Carol Groves of Cave Country Canoes, a paddling leader since 1983.
PPA decided to target ninth graders for the free paddling program because “children entering high school are beginning to form patterns of what their futures will become,” said Interim Executive Director Debi Whitmire. She cites studies showing that, compared with past generations, today’s youth are more prone to obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder and impaired social skills due to a lack of unstructured play time outdoors.
“The socially acceptable way of life for most teens is to sit inside in front of a computer or television screen after school,” Whitmire said. “We want to reintroduce kids to the joys of spending time in the great outdoors.”
To participate in the program, 9th graders must register at www.paddlepass.com, then have a teacher or administrator verify the information and return it to the PPA. The trade association will send qualifying students a passport good for up to 10 free paddling trips, either at the same location or at ten different participating outfitters. Freshmen may choose canoes or kayaks.
A few restrictions may apply, however. At Cave Country Canoes, a paying adult must accompany each 9th grader. Other participating outfitters may have different restrictions, including black-out dates on busy summer weekends.
Teachers of 9th grade classes can take advantage of another free program sponsored by PPA, called “Paddle-O-Mania,” that allows their entire class to paddle as a group. Each class must produce a video explaining why they should get to paddle for free. Videos will be judged for creativity and team-work. Participating outfitters will choose one class to host for a day on the river, including boats, life jackets, paddles, and instruction.
For more information, interested teachers should e-mail paddleomania@paddlepass.com.
The Professional Paddlesport Association is a non-profit trade association focused on fostering paddlesports businesses nationwide by increasing the number of participants in canoeing and kayaking, as well as how often they paddle. The group also provides liveries and outfitters with professional development programs designed to grow their businesses.
Cave Country Canoes has offered half day, full day and two day trips on indiana’s first scenic and natural river for nearly 30 years with over 500 canoes and kayaks, located in Milltown Indiana. For more information, call Cave Country Canoes at 812 365 2705 ext 0 or visit their website at cavecountrycanoes.com
