Personal Growth through Physical Challenge

wolfcreekadventures@yahoo.com

     2005 was a good year for Wolf Creek Adventures, Inc.  We were able to raise enough money to purchase six tandem canoes and all the equipment needed to outfit them. We also were able to purchase the gear necessary to put twelve youths safely in the boats.  Two groups received instruction on Lake Julian during July and we were able to take a trip down the French Broad River in late September once the water levels receded from their unusually high levels during the summer.

     We will start working with youths from the YWCA in January.  They will receive instruction in the ACA course Introduction to Canoe.  We will use two Dagger Cascade
C-1's donated during the summer.  This instruction will give them a head start for the summer sessions which will focus on the ACA course Essentials of Canoeing.  We hope to continue our association with the Boys and Girls Club of Asheville and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Asheville and Hendersonville, so it looks like the summer of 2006 will be busier for us.

     In the meantime, our insurance costs will increase significantly in 2006 as a result of changes at the ACA.  I am working on grants to cover the purchase of some solo canoes, better safety equipment for use during our Basic Whitewater course and the increased insurance fees we will have to pay.  I am also waiting to hear about some Fun Passes from the NOC that can be raffled off at different events during the spring and summer.  In the meantime, your donations have been our life blood and we look forward to your continued generosity in 2006.

     Thank you for believing in our mission!

October 14, 2005

     We spent our second week of instruction with kids during the third week of July.  One afternoon was spent with a Big Brother/Little Brother pair and we included the kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Asheville for the second afternoon in an attempt to give them more practice before getting on a river.  The time was well spent.  We created a course for them to navigate and it was clear that some of the youths had developed some impressive boat control.

     We were unable to take any river trips during July and August because of excessive rain and unusually high water levels on the French Broad River (and other rivers as well).  The levels finally came down to a safe/fun level for beginners in mid-September.  By that time, we had lost touch with the kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Asheville.  We did manage to maintain our connection with the Big Brother/Little Brother match and they enjoyed a trip down the French Broad River on September 24th.  Photos will be posted once we get them developed.

     I am currently making contacts with the YWCA, YMCA and Eliada Homes for Children to schedule indoor sessions using a couple of Dagger Cascade C-1's that were generously donated to us during the summer.  This will give us a head start on skills before summer starts and allow us to make more progress on our river trips next year (water levels willing).

July 15, 2005

     The boats are outfitted and we have made all the arrangements necessary to have our events covered by the ACA.   A cadre of volunteers has been assembled to help with instruction at Lake Julian and with instruction and safety on the river trips.  I received certification as a Red Cross instructor in First Aid and CPR as planned in May and I provided CPR training at low cost to Carolina Canoe Club members at their Week of Rivers event earlier this month in appreciation for their donation to our cause.  We are working on plans to provide the same low cost CPR training to their paddling instructors prior to their N/I clinics next May.

     We spent two afternoons on Lake Julian this week with a group of 9 youths from the Boys and Girls Club of Asheville.  Some pictures were taken during the lake sessions and will be posted once the roll is completed and the pictures are developed.  It's tough teaching and taking pictures at the same time.  Unfortunately, the river trip we had planned for tomorrow had to be cancelled due to high water in the area.  We are working with the Boys and Girls Club to reschedule the trip for later this month.

     We will be working with a group from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Asheville and Hendersonville next week.  The forecast calls for continued storms through next week so it is not clear if we will be able to paddle next Saturday, either.  However, we will be flexible and make sure that every effort is made to get these river trips scheduled while the weather is still warm.

May 1, 2005

     Our fund raising activities have been successful to the point that we have been able to purchase six tandem canoes from Mohawk Canoes.  We now own two XL-15's, two XL-14's and two Probe 14's.   The outfitting of the boats has begun.  The Instruction and Mail Order Departments of the Nantahala Outdoor Center have been very generous in providing free used equipment and discounts on new equipment needed to outfit the boats and prepare for getting on the water.

     We are currently making contacts with agencies and organizations in Asheville and the surrounding area working with at-risk youth in preparation for identifying the youth who will participate in our programs this summer.  Information and a questionaire will be sent out to prospective volunteers this month as we start planning coverage for our events.

     The broad plan for our events is to hold weekly sessions consisting of two half days of instruction on Lake Julian during the week followed by a trip on a Class I river that Saturday.   This will allow us to serve four groups during the month of July.  Sessions will continue on rivers with a select group every other Saturday as weather permits through the end of September.  One of the follow-up sessions will include River Rescue Training.