OARS River Log | By Isabel Ryen, OARS’ Community Engagement Coordinator—TerraCorps Service Member & Shelley Zuckerman , OARS’ Youth Education Coordinator—TerraCorps Service Member | Published September 30

On an early morning in September, four OARS team members—Matt Brown, Adam Nolde, Shelley Zuckerman, and Isabel Ryen— traveled the windy roads to Western Massachusetts to get certified through the American Canoe Association to lead paddles. OARS has some exciting recreational programs that will launch in Spring of 2025. When we arrived at Zoar Outdoor, we were met by our ACA instructor, Jim, who immediately started briefing us on our paddling knowledge. It became evident that Matt and Adam, as frequent paddlers, knew much more about the basics of canoeing than we did. After learning the parts of the canoe, we suited up, piled into a van, and took a bumpy ride to a beautiful pond that we had all to ourselves. Jim not only instructed us on the pre-paddle essential steps, but he also taught us how to lead these steps ourselves.

Charlemont, Massachusetts, is characterized by its bucolic landscape, teeming with graceful rivers and diverse wildlife. We were lucky enough to experience two picturesque days on the water, which is ideal for paddlers perfecting their technique. The fall foliage made the drives to our sites entertaining as well, and we even stopped to observe a river with intriguing rapids. Matt and Adam were much more interested in potentially whitewater paddling that river than Shelley and I…

Due to the variation of skill levels in our group, Isabel and Matt were in one canoe, and Adam and I were in the other. I quickly remembered how much easier it was to be in the canoe’s bow than the stern. However, with the combination of Jim’s helpful instructions and two days of practice, Isabel and I both learned how to steer the boat from the stern. Although at first, we were zig-zagging our way across the pond.

A large part of our certification as Paddlesports Safety Facilitators was learning safe paddling practices and rescue techniques. Isabel and I were thrilled to capsize our canoe and swim in the cool water. As we practiced, we made sure to count down and jump out of our boat in an organized fashion, which is not very realistic when it comes to capsizing a canoe. However, Adam adopted a different practice and capsized the canoe without giving Matt any indication. All four of us worked together and learned how to drain a canoe of water and help the capsized swimmers get back into their boats. Jim reminded us how important it is to communicate, stay low in the canoe, and always prioritize your own safety and that of the other paddlers. 

Our lodging at Zoar was rustic but cozy. We stayed in cabin tents, which could be likened to camping—we just slept on beds instead of the ground. We didn’t spend too much time in our tents, as we wandered to a neighboring campsite for hot showers after our class ended. After our showers, we headed into town to explore our dinner options. The town center was quaint and overlooked a wide river, which made for a nice meal with a view. 

We found food at a delicious Middle Eastern food truck, scoring some shawarma and falafel. It hit the spot after a long day out on the water. We settled into our beds after dinner and made sure to lock the door; we preferred not to wake up with a new black bear roommate.

On our second day, we spent the morning in the classroom discussing how to plan a paddling trip. Jim broke it up into three sections—pre-trip, during-trip, and post-trip. We discussed all the fundamental aspects of leading and planning a trip, such as developing a safety talk and a post-trip evaluation. We quickly learned we have many important steps to take before we launch our programs, but thanks to Jim’s thoroughness, we now have an exhaustive to-do list. In the afternoon, we drove to a reservoir and practiced the skills we learned the day before. Jim set up an obstacle course, and we put our new techniques to use. After paddling forwards, backwards, sideways, and in circles, we successfully completed the course!