Connecting others to rivers

Lake River isn’t a large, well-known or wild river — but it has given me many hours of pure pleasure. Located just north of Vancouver, WA, it provides a wonderful setting to connect others to a river. As a Sierra Club outings leader and longtime American Rivers member, I’ve been leading instructional sea kayak outings for many years for beginners and novices. This isn’t only to teach them the basics of paddling a sea kayak, but more importantly to share with them what a river can offer to their well-being and peace of mind. During these outings, I do a short “conservation element” to encourage them to get involved in protecting rivers. Rivers have enriched my life, and I believe they can do the same for others.