A new, student-led kayaking club is offering ABAC students a chance to “touch some grass.”
At Club Rush, the Kayak Club booth aimed to bring adventure and nature to students. As president of the club, I have a personal connection to kayaking, growing up on ponds, lakes, and rivers.
From a very young age, I loved the feeling of freedom while gliding softly on the water. In late summer 2017, I went on a five-day, four night river trip down the Green River in Utah, where I am originally from.
We paddled 44.7 miles through remote wilderness, averaging 10 miles each day, stopping for lunch and the occasional hike, and setting up camp. It was just my family and the river—no vehicles, no cell service. We carried everything we needed and camped under the stars.
This formative experience, seeing lizards, frogs, Native American hieroglyphs, and ruins along the way sparked a life-long passion for nature. Now, I aim to share experiences like this trip.
Opportunities to paddle with other students and professors makes this club very exciting.
The first major outing is planned for Wakulla Springs, a location I know well but have never explored by kayak. My hope for the Kayak Club is that we can share the magical experience of nature’s beauty, comradery and fun–much like I did when I was on the Green River trip.
When we are out on the water, we can see things that we would not be able to see if we were on land or in a car, and we can see a different perspective of the world around us.
The Wakulla River, fed by one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, flows gently through moss-draped cypress trees and teems with wildlife, including manatees, which are now often seen year-round.
Dr. Branagan Webb, associate professor of English and humanities and one of the club’s co-advisors, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming trip: “We’ll be putting in at the Coastal Highway access point and paddling upstream to the CR365 bridge, where the Wakulla State Park boundary begins.”
Webb continued, “It’s about a four-mile paddle—two upstream and the return trip will be down stream, perfect for beginners.”
Webb is especially excited about Dr. Dave Nelson, ABAC professor of history, joining the group. “Dr. Nelson has served as a tour
guide at Wakulla Springs State Park,” Webb said. “I’m looking forward to gleaning information of the area from his wealth of knowledge, making the trip an organic, fun, and educational experience.”
Dr. Richard Matthews, assistant professor of biology and co-advisor of the Kayak Club, said, “Our biology majors and other students are excited to be part of this new club. It’s not only a great way to enjoy the outdoors, but also to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with real experiences in nature.”
“Kayaking gives them the chance to build community, relieve stress, and see the ecosystems we talk about in class up close,” he continued.
In echoing that sentiment, Dr. Webb said, “Dr. David Sarrette, ABAC’s former professor of health and physical education, and I took a group of students on this same route,” he said.
“I was amazed at how much trips like this bring to student life,” he continued. “I hope students can enjoy the experience and take a break from living in anxiety-driven environments through this club.”
With a strong foundation of leadership, faculty support, and a shared love of the outdoors, the Kayak Club is positioned to become
a meaningful part of campus life, one paddle stroke at a time.