Morning, early August. It’s going to get hot, but it isn’t yet, and anyway, it’s always cooler down by the river. You’ve gotten up early to get to the Schmidt Boat Launch in the East End, where hundreds of people in water sandals and shorts and bathing suits are gathered. Everyone is finding a canoe or kayak, grabbing safety vests and paddles. You all slip into the water one by one. Adjust yourself in the hard kayak seat, arrange your feet and knees and your paddle, make sure you have sunblock on and push into the current.
And there you are, at water level, in the middle of the mighty Ohio River. The current might be lake-like, or actually pretty brisk. You can paddle as much as you want. You can even get there early to participate in a race. Or you can mostly let the current carry you.
It’s Paddlefest, one of the most Cincinnati of traditions, with a joyous summer vibe. While you’re enjoying it, you can take a minute to imagine that near you on the river, there’s a teenager paddling, too, with a smile on their face, because Paddlefest is a fundraiser for Adventure Crew, whose aim is outdoors for all.
For the 25th year, commercial traffic on the river is halted for a nine-mile stretch so that paddlers get their chance. Usually, we see the Ohio from above or afar. But this human-powered experience gives you a chance to see both nature and the city in a different way. Past riverside homes, along parks, as well as facilities for transport and industry, past tall buildings and undeveloped green banks, I always feel the importance of this river to our city’s history and soul. I get the motivation behind Paddlefest’s founding, that the best way to appreciate and want to conserve a river or anything else in nature is to experience it.
It’s an easy paddle. The first time my husband and I did it, we took the short 4.5-mile choice, taking out at the Public Landing. But we’ve moved up to the 9-miler, ending at Gilday Recreation Complex in Riverside, and it is quite doable.
Recent fests have included about 1,800 people. But this year, for the quarter-century anniversary, they hope to launch 2,000 paddlers and set a Guinness World Record for “Largest Paddle Craft Party.” And unlike some other large parties and events, like a ballgame or a festival, no one’s drinking or yelling or running into you. You’re all out there for a wholesome morning outdoors.
I think the very best thing about Paddlefest is that you’re also helping make it possible for young people to enjoy exactly what you are: getting exercise outdoors, enjoying nature with friends and often having an eye-opening experience.
Maybe even a nudge toward a direction in life.
Paddlefest is organized by and benefits Adventure Crew, a nonprofit that believes in breaking down barriers to getting outdoors, opening nature to everybody. The agency provides free nature adventures for teens in grades 7-12. They come from 33 schools in Cincinnati and in Northern Kentucky. Many of these teenagers are low-income, from families who don’t have the resources for outdoor activities.
The process starts with weekend outings during the school year like canoeing or kayaking, skiing and biking.
“It’s about having fun, experiencing joy, learning a skill,” said Libby Hunter, the organization’s executive director. It’s also a break from relentless, online life. “It can be an uphill battle to get kids off their phones,” Hunter said. “But they acknowledge themselves that phones can be isolating.”
If participants want to get better at skills like snowboarding or rock climbing, they can move to the Discoverer phase. “They feel joy from accomplishing,” said Hunter. “You can see it especially with skiing. A lot of kids don’t swim well, so we see them get real confidence from it. They can say: Nobody else did this for me.”
From there, in the Pathfinder phase, some kids get very interested in nature conservation and ecology. As they stay in the program, “We create opportunities for developing leadership skills,” said Hunter.
For instance, Adventure Crew worked with the University of Cincinnati Action Research Center to help kids create and administer a survey about the program: to find out what participants like and want more of, and make plans for the organization based on their report.
The kids who are really into it may apply to go on wilderness adventures (still free to them). They might paddle the Boundary Waters in Minnesota or go to Colorado, where they set up camp, live in the mountains, summit a 14,000-ft. peak – and these are kids who may never have seen a mountain.
All you have to do is paddle nine miles down a river, work out your obliques and abdominals, and help set a record.
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