Your Smithfield Magazine Volume 6, Number 12 - July 2012

 

Blackstone

Valley Paddle Club

a fun way to explore area's

waterways 

Photo by C.Thompson Cameron

 

 By Leslie Jaffe 

If you've ever driven past Stump Pond on a warm day, you know that it's a popular spot for kayakers and canoeists. On July 31st, the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club will visit the pond, a destination which is part of the group's schedule every summer.

     "It's a favorite trip for a lot of people," explains Cheryl Thompson Cameron, club president. "They like to go under the bridge if the water is low enough. We explore the whole pond and enjoy the beauty- it's gorgeous there."

     Stump Pond is one of more than a dozen trips which the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club (BVPC) offers on Tuesday evenings between May and August each year. A training night is also offered at no charge one Thursday per month, and is open to anyone interested in learning basic paddling strokes (this month's class will be held at Bowdish Lake in Glocester on July 19th).  All trips and trainings begin at 6:15 p.m. and last approximately two hours.

     "This club is a perfect place to try out a new sport," explains Cameron.  "We welcome people of all ability levels, even those who have never been in a boat before. They can come, try it once and see if it fits. We help them in and out of the boat and teach them how to paddle. About a third of our trips are on the river (with the rest on lakes or ponds), We always offer an easier option, like the canal, for the trickier sections. We try to plan trips that are exciting but safe. We're a fun group- there's a lot of joking around."

     Cameron notes that the club, founded in 2000 by the National Park Service as part of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, "was created to raise awareness of the recreational opportunities of the river." While they partner with the Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association (RICKA), there are distinct differences between the two groups, RICKA's trips are generally longer, faster-paced, and go farther afield (such as the Adirondacks), while the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club covers the lakes and rivers in the area between Worcester and Providence. Approximately half of the trips are held in each of the two states, with park rangers leading one per month. A local historian accompanies several outings as well, in order to explain some of the historical significance of the area.

    While the non-profit BVPC still receives some support from the National Park Service, it is now volunteer-led. There are 24 leaders, with approximately 8-10 on any given trip.

    "We always delegate a couple of leaders to stay back with the slower paddlers, so that no one's left behind," Cameron says.

     She adds that the paddle club averages 100 members per year, with people joining from local towns as well as from the Boston area and as far away as southern Connecticut. They've had people in their 80s attend trips, as well as children (little ones ride in the boat with their parents). While many members bring their own boats, there is an opportunity to rent a kayak or canoe on the first and third Tuesday of each month and on training nights by calling the Blackstone Valley Outfitters (401-312-0369), the group's vendor, ahead of time. The boats are delivered directly to the launch site.

     In order to participate in the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club events, it is necessary to have a non-inflatable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket, (included with rentals). A membership fee of $25.00 is also required, which includes membership in RICKA. The fee is waived for those renting a boat. People who already own a canoe or kayak can come on one trip as a guest before joining.

    Membership information and this summer's schedule can be obtained at any club event or by going to RICKA's website, www.ricka.org and clicking on BV Paddlers. The BV Paddler section also includes a sign-up sheet for those interested in attending a training night, directions to the launch sites and information about the difficulty level of any given trip. Cameron notes that people with questions can call her at 401-647-5887 or e-mail her at stonefoxfarm@juno.com.

     Cameron, who grew up paddling with her father, says that the BVPC trip she considers the "most ambitious" of the summer is schedule for August 14, when they will cross over from Bold Point in East Providence, pass through the Hurricane Barrier, and follow the Providence River into Waterplace Park and under the Providence Place Mall. Her favorite trip, however, is the West River in Uxbridge, which will be held on July 24th.

    "I like rivers," she explains. "When you follow the river, you really get a sense of history."