feelings — joy , fear , exhaustion and pride — just their first two-hour class ! I try to remember the way my brain acts when learning something new under pressure . I try to make each class challenging and difficult but still in sum fun .
When people reach out to me in the office and inquire about kayaking classes , I ’ ll ask what it is they want from the sport . Do they want a challenge ? Do they dream of going over a waterfall ? Do they want to experience their world from a different view , in this case , the river looking up ? Or do they want a sport that they can share with their whole family , one that goes beyond cheering on their kids from the stands ?
Kayaking has so much to teach us . My favorite part about it is how much it makes me think about myself : my motivations , my fears . The other day I was alone in an eddy , a calm area in the middle of a rapid , with roaring whitewater all around .
Ashley in green kayak with her students at Calleva ’ s River School .
Kayaking has also given me a solace , a place that I can visit when I need escape , something that I was incredibly grateful for during difficult times , especially during the isolation of COVID . The best part of kayaking , however , is being part of an incredible community of river people . Washington DC can be a massive and transient city . But the river community is stable and kind . Everyone I know paddles . If not , why not ?
also thought , if he struggled and he is stronger than me , maybe I wouldn ’ t make it … plus it looked so hard ! I peeled out and took another passage , through waves but not exposing myself to so much risk . Since then I have thought back , why didn ’ t I try it ? What is the worst that could have hap-
My friend had just taken a difficult pened ? How likely was I to make a line , getting stuck for a moment on mistake ? That type of factual risk a wave , before successfully disappearing around an island and down identifying fear , is a tool I have
assessment , acknowledging and
the other side . I saw the move used many times off the river . and I thought I could make it . I
I know whitewater kayaking
isn ’ t for everyone . But if you can swim , there is a place on the river for you . At Calleva we have flat water tours — when was the last time you saw a bald eagle and a beaver in the same day ?! We have sea kayaking classes — yes , learn to sea kayak on the Potomac and then explore coasts by boat ! We have kids camps and after school lessons , and you ’ ll find out just how quickly your kids get better than you . And if you can ’ t swim , well , sign up for swim lessons and we will get you in a boat shortly after !
Calleva ’ s River School is a great place to start a new passion . See you on the river !
Ashley McEwan is the Adventure Logistics Director for Calleva ’ s River School , in the Ag Reserve . When she ’ s not in the office helping people figure out their adventures , she out on the river teaching kayaking and sharing her enthusiasm for the outdoors with people of all ages . A native of Maryland , Ashley has also spent time living in Hawaii and California . She also enjoys skiing and hike long distances . www . calleva . org
42 plenty I autumn harvest 2021