Some of the best adventures with kids don’t require an elaborate plan. Sometimes you just need a beautiful place to explore, some kayaks and paddleboards, a little preparation, and the freedom to discover what happens along the way.
A few years ago, when I was leading Summer Camps, I offered the a Lake and River Outdoor Camp. One of the days of the camp we took a group of 15 campers, ages 5 to 12, out for a day of paddling and exploring Estacada Lake.
We rented kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, while some parents met us there with their own gear. Before anyone got onto the water, though, we spent time getting ready.
Everyone put on a life jacket, pulled the straps tight and checked the fit. We made sure each PFD had a whistle and explained that whistles were for times when we really needed to get someone’s attention—not simply for making noise all afternoon.
Of course, we still needed to make some noise.
We found long pieces of grass and practiced making our best squeaks with those instead.
Next came a few minutes of water safety. We made sure the kids were comfortable in the water and practiced swimming, treading water and turning onto their backs. We talked about what we would do if someone fell off a paddleboard or kayak and made sure everyone knew our plan.
It was a hot summer day, so every camper also had water—and each child carried a water bottle on their own vessel.
Then we looked at the river trail together.
The kids could explore, but the younger campers needed to remain close to an adult. We partnered everyone with a buddy and encouraged them to stick together. After all, exploring is usually more fun when you have someone beside you to say, “Look at that!”
And there was plenty to look at.
Turtles, Herons and Seaweed-Covered Kayaks
Off we went in tandem kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks and SUPs.
It didn’t take long before a couple of campers spotted turtles sunning themselves on a log. Everyone became quiet as we slowly floated closer, trying not to disturb them.
Then a huge great blue heron peeked out from the tall weeds.
We listened to red-winged blackbirds calling from the shoreline as they flew among their nests. Some of the kids discovered long pieces of aquatic vegetation and began decorating their kayaks and paddleboards. Others joked that they were collecting the very best “seaweed” for our snack later.
Soon our little fleet was decorated for the occasion.
When we reached a dock at Timber Park, some campers wanted to try the kayak launch and jump from the end of the dock. We checked the area and conditions first, and then came the enormous splashes—and, naturally, a few impressive belly flops.
Back into the boats we went.
Little waterfalls appeared along our route, and sunlight through the mist revealed a rainbow. Ospreys dove into the water in front of us searching for fish, which immediately reminded everyone that we were getting hungry too.
A Waterfall Picnic
Eventually we reached a beach near a waterfall.
We pulled our boats onto shore, secured them together when needed, and suddenly everyone was off exploring again. Some kids swam with their life jackets on while others investigated the waterfall.
Then we pulled out our snacks and lunches and had a picnic sitting on the fronts of our kayaks and SUPs.
We drank more water, reapplied sunscreen and slowed down.
It was one of those perfect summer afternoons.
We discovered fresh blackberries near the water’s edge. Some campers identified flowers and plants growing around us. A couple of girls began making daisy chains and added them to the seaweed decorations already covering their boats.
There was laughing. There was singing.
And there wasn’t any need to entertain the kids.
The lake was doing that for us.
Finding Courage Along the Way
Some of the older campers wanted to continue upstream to explore a jumping area, so we climbed back into our vessels and paddled farther.
After assessing the conditions, the kids who were ready for it began climbing up.
Then came that familiar moment.
You get to the edge. You look down. And suddenly the jump that sounded so exciting from the water looks a whole lot higher from above.
We counted down from ten.
Ten…nine…eight…
Sometimes courage isn’t about eliminating fear. It’s about learning that you can feel afraid, pause, breathe and still decide to move forward.
Then—splash!
They came back to the surface laughing and suddenly realizing just how cold that water felt.
We only lost one pair of sunglasses during the transfers back into the boats, which I’d consider a pretty successful day with 12 campers.
Discovering What We Might Otherwise Paddle Past
We continued exploring and stopped to look at nurse logs—fallen trees that become places where new plants and flowers can take root and grow.
The kids paddled and wiggled their boats around logs and quiet little spaces while we admired the basalt cliffs rising beside us.
Sometimes everyone raced ahead.
Sometimes everyone became quiet.
That’s another beautiful thing about taking kids outside: they begin noticing things.
They hear birds they wouldn’t hear indoors. They feel the temperature of the water. They smell plants along the shoreline. They notice the shape of a cliff, the texture of a log, a tiny flower growing somewhere unexpected or a turtle that an adult might have paddled right past.
Eventually some campers were paddling faster while others were beginning to slow down. We knew it was time to turn around and head back toward Timber Park.
On the return trip, there were races, water fights, laughter and plenty of time to simply take in everything surrounding us.
And remember those ospreys we’d watched fishing earlier?
Now there were three flying above us.
It almost felt as though the entire osprey family had arrived to guide our little fleet home.
The Adventure Becomes the Memory
Taking a group of friends—or an entire summer camp of kids—to Estacada Lake or the Clackamas River can become an experience they remember for years.
And one of my favorite parts is that you don’t experience the day only through what you see.
Someone else sees the turtle.
Another person hears the red-winged blackbird.
Someone notices the rainbow.
Another discovers the blackberries.
One child wants to race.
Another wants to sit quietly and watch the cliffs.
Someone is afraid to jump and discovers they can be brave.
When we explore together, we begin experiencing nature through one another’s eyes, ears and imaginations.
That’s what made this particular day so special.
We paddled. We swam. We learned about water safety. We explored plants and wildlife. We ate together. We laughed. We challenged ourselves. We took care of one another.
And we came home tired, wet and happy.
Healthy. Fun. Together.
Those are the kinds of summer days worth cherishing for years to come.