Podcasts about American Canoe Association

The Pursuit – EP175 – Outdoor Alliance Outdoor Alliance is a nonprofit coalition of organizations that includes American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, The Mountaineers, American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, Colorado Mountain Club, and Surfrider Foundation. For 10 years, Outdoor Alliance has [...] The post The Pursuit – EP175 – Outdoor Alliance appeared first on Out Of Collective.

Capt. Jon Henson with Stafford Swift Water Rescue, April Peterson with River Rock Outfitter and Kelsey Bracewell with the American Canoe Association.

Discussion on how the ACA can help you--Kelsey Bracewell talks about their safety videos (and now some of those videos are in Spanish).  How the ACA is getting competitors ready for the Summer Olympics next year in Paris.  Around here, life jackets, paddle boards and what to do if you do fall into the water.  americancanoe.org

Hello again everyone, I'm excited to bring you Episode 388 of The Outdoor Biz Podcast and my conversation with Adam Cramer, founding Executive Director and current CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups breathing new life into the conservation movement by harnessing the outdoor community's passion. Adam has brought new sensibilities to conservation work that have resulted in hundreds of thousands more acres of protected landscapes and so much more . . . Facebook Twitter Instagram   The Outdoor Biz Podcast   Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!   Sign up for my Newsletter HERE.   I'd love to hear your feedback about the show!   You can contact me here: email: rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com   Or leave me a message on Speakpipe!   Presented to by: Show Notes Was there an adventure or maybe a person that inspired you to work in the outdoor biz? I've had a lot of adventures that have met a lot of wonderful people. but no, to precisely answer your question, there wasn't an adventure or a person that got me oriented in this space professionally, but, had a lot of inspiration from a lot of folks along the way. How did you get into it professionally? For me it was through kayaking and living in Washington DC. So I moved to DC 25 years ago right outta law school and, had a ton of law school debt, like a lot of people, and DC's an awesome place to learn how to be a lawyer. And it also is probably one of the best whitewater cities in the world. I've heard that. I've heard a lot of people say that. Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. Wouldn't think so, but yeah, it, [00:02:50] so moved here and got into it and have these two kind of pleasantly parallel lives, being a corporate environmental lawyer during the day. And, got pretty deep into the whitewater scene here. And how'd you get into kayaking? Yeah, that's a good [00:05:10] question. I was really deep into climbing. That was my jam for years. And I didn't really have any connection to DC at all. but I moved here for [00:05:20] work and I moved here with a girl I was dating in law school. And she had the idea, she said, let's learn something that's new for both of us. And we're living in a little basement [00:05:30] apartment and, And she's Hey, let's learn how to kayak. And I thought, all right, this is not gonna work out that well. It involves like a lot of gear. and we're in this little place. I'm like, all [00:05:40] right, whatever. So we go and we learn how to go into a pool session where you learn how to roll the kayak in a swimming pool. and she hated it. And I thought, wow, this is a lot of fun. Yeah. And, And then we split up and I had a lot of time on my hands. Yeah. so I just spent a lot of time kayaking. What was the inspiration for Outdoor Alliance? [00:08:00] Yeah. great question. I think, the idea was that, to diversify, the constituency for conservation. And, early two thousands, [00:08:10] this is before my time, before my involvement in outdoor lands, there is this concern that, to really make advancement, for conservation, you gotta bring [00:08:20] more people to the table. And from other perspectives. And the traditional conservation community, environmental community has done so much. for, for conservation and, protecting the [00:08:30] outdoors, but it could be divisive at times. And, there was some thought that, what other constituencies, what other communities could have [00:08:40] conservation values, but have a different identity, different perspective. And there was, an investment over time with the hunting and angling community to see if, folks that care about [00:08:50] fishing and hunting and, clean air and clean water. Could find common ground, about broader conservation issues. And that was the genesis for organizations like 50 [00:09:00] or Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and others. And Outdoor Alliance, the idea of it arose out of, arose out of that, like if you could get hunters and anglers to work [00:09:10] together for clean air and clean water. Was there original plan to just do something different and just evolve or just [00:09:50] feel let's, we need to do something, let's figure it out and do it. Yeah. Yeah. it was people, this one guy in particular, Mike Finley, who is a career park service guy, really [00:10:00] senior in the park service and ended up, Working for the Turner Foundation, Ted Turner And Sienna. And, the foundation's got this deep commitment to conservation, but also, coming [00:10:10] up with innovative approaches to it and Finley's perspective was that, we need to get other folks involved in conservation. And it was his [00:10:20] idea to reach out to the member organizations that eventually made up Alpha Alliance and see if they were even interested In working together. and that was, there was a theory [00:10:30] that they would, they, if they worked together and had some support, they could find common ground. If they found common ground, they could maybe make a go of this. But that was [00:10:40] it. It wasn't like, let's form an organization. Nah, it was, somebody had a good question. Figure out how to work together and then figure out where it goes from there. That's smart actually, [00:10:50] cuz all the, takes all the pressure off. who knew? there was a good, really wonderful all the organizations Access Fund, American Whitewater. And the have, really punched [00:11:00] above their weight and gotten so much done for their respective communities and protected different parts of the country harnessing the passion of their members in their broader community. What do you think it is about those connections that drive us then to protect them? The natural resources? Is it just because we want to be able to go back and show our kids, or is it a little [00:11:40] more, I don't know, raw than that something just drives us, that it needs to be protected for whatever reason? Yeah,it depends on what do you mean by [00:11:50] protection? do Yeah, that's true. For sure. Like these experiences, when you have an experience there, it becomes, depending on the experience and with whom you're [00:12:00] having the experience. it could be part of your identity, how you see yourself, what your values are, and you know what your identity is and [00:12:10] what's important to you, forms how you spend your time and resources. There's a lot of different things you could do. but if there's. If it relates to your identity, you're more likely to pay [00:12:20] closer attention. And find people that share that identity and share that, that perspective. So on, on one level, you ha you have an experience in a place [00:12:30] someplace is important. You wanna you to pick up, you wanna take care of it in a physical way. Mm-hmm. When When I, mm-hmm. When I I, hike out from, pipe back to the car after I'm done boating, if I [00:12:40] see a bottle, I pick it up and put it in my boat. But then,[00:12:50] all these places that we experience, or many of them are on public lands and public waters. And if you're gonna protect a place at scale in a way that's meaningful [00:13:00] and enduring, it goes beyond picking stuff up off the ground or working on a trailhead. You got involved in the, and being civically engaged. And [00:13:10] learning, about what conservation means and being involved and advocating for these places. And I think that, that type of work it arises is linked with. [00:13:20] Your sense of identity and your sense of values. And so you guys do a great job working with small organizations, but they can only do so much in terms of advocacy. How do you inspire them to work together? How do [00:14:50] you get that coalition of everybody working on the same thing? All right, so it's like the fish, right? The fish, these little fish by themselves, they're doing their thing. But when they [00:15:20] all get together and coordinate and they look like a big, giant fish, that's empowering and you can get a lot of [00:15:30] stuff done. And I think, these smaller organizations, and the member organizations at Alpha Alliance, they're, some of them are pretty, pretty stout, Big staff and big budget. But [00:15:40] they're, you, they all have a national network of local chapters. But the idea of, of, finding common ground across, other colleagues, it's not just limited to the [00:15:50] outdoor space. It's like that's how anything gets done In this country, In a democracy, you gotta find consensus. And I think it's a, this melding of passion for place, and whether it's rivers [00:16:00] or mountains or, trails or the shore, it's different versions of the same thing. And everybody within the community realizes that currency, like this connection of place.[00:16:10] And they, there's also this belief that if we work together now a track record, coupled with that belief that if we do work together, we get more stuff done. You could flex a little [00:16:20] more. You could. informed outcome in a more positive way than if you're just doing your own thing, thinking about, the world from a more of a provincial perspective, right? There's nothing [00:16:30] wrong with that, but the possibility of getting stuff done that's consequential and in line with your values is very alluring. So these next [00:16:50] two questions might be, somewhat similar. The first one is about how the outdoor alliance is structured, and then let's talk about the four directives. Talk about the structure first. [00:17:00] Yeah, for sure. So we're coalition, By, by design and by culture. And the way that we're structured we're, a 5 0 1 We're a non-governmental organization. [00:17:10] And, we're made up of these 10 member organizations. and then in the beginning it was just five, and then we expanded, to welcome in other organizations. So currently it's [00:17:20] the Access Fund, the American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, the International Mountain Bicycle Association, which of wild lands. [00:17:30] The Mountaineers, Winter Wildlands, Mazamas, American Alpine Club, Surfrider Foundation, and Colorado Mountain Club is our newest member. I think they joined back in 2018. [00:17:40] So we're 10 organizations. We've got a board of directors. Some of the member organization CEOs, sit on the board. they've got some seats that kind of [00:17:50] float with the organizations. and we have at large board members, so pretty conventional From that standpoint, but we make sure that leadership for the organization for Outdoor [00:18:00] Alliance is informed by, folks that represent the community directly. and then is also, informed by other folks that are not,work at Surfrider Foundation, for example, or, [00:18:10] so we've got a mix of board members. And, so that's the basic legal structure. and in terms of consensus, there's, I'll look at the world in a slightly different [00:18:20] way, but there's this culture of trying to find common ground. And it takes work. but we're able to find enough common ground. So that we've got plenty of things to do. And [00:18:30] it's like you don't agree on everything, but there's so much we do agree on. Yeah. Focus on that. How often do you get together? [00:18:40] So we get together as a board four times a year. Sometimes via Zoom, sometimes in person. And, and the [00:18:50] folks that are, the policy leads and the communication leads for the member organizations they meet on a weekly basis, Keeps everything current. So very consistent. Um,regular contact [00:19:10] amongst everybody within the coalition. You have four directives, and that meeting every week helps you achieve directive number one. Understand the [00:19:20] issues deeply. If you're getting together that often you can stay on top of them. Tell us a little bit more about what that means.  yeah. So we coordinate and run these weekly meetings with, [00:19:30] recall these, Folks, the joint policy shop, the JPS, and it's basically like a think pa, a think tank of outdoor dirt bags, who also are like [00:19:40] policy geniuses and strategic maestros, right? They're, it's like the policy and the comms leadership of all our member organizations. they're professionals, they're part of the community, and we bring [00:19:50] them together and we leverage that expertise to see, figure out like what's going on in Congress, what's going on with the forest service. And what do we think? What [00:20:00] are the opportunities? So that's what keeps things fresh and it enables, consensus and, a collective perspective. Yeah. Yeah. And meeting weekly just, that really [00:20:10] drives that home cuz you never have time to forget. You're back at it. You back at it the next week. That's right. It doesn't go stale. That's awesome. And you build long-term relationships [00:20:20] and trust with all these age people and agencies. How do you do that? Yeah, with, with meeting with people pretty regularly. And it starts with, [00:20:30] convening the leaders of the outdoor community. We meet with ourselves most importantly. cuz that builds trust and it builds a, common perspective on policy priorities. [00:20:40] And, if you're gonna get involved in policy and advocacy, you gotta get a sense of what do you want? What are your outcomes? What are your desires? What is, what does the community want? So we spend a lot of time with the, with [00:20:50] ourselves to figure that out. And then we spend a ton of time working with, policy makers from across the country, like legislators, people that have elected the Congress and their [00:21:00] staff, and. The administration, whoever's in the White House and all the folks that work in the administration and land management agencies like Yeah. Forest Service and Bureau Land Management.[00:21:10] and we meet with all these folks, like pretty consistently, like I think over the last several years we counted, we had about [00:21:20] 400 meetings Over the last few years with policy makers and their staff. And it's us and. the folks from the joint policy shop and that's what we do. [00:21:30] In terms of building these relationships, cuz if you, you just show up cap in hand and you're like, Hey, we want this. Yeah. Or would you consider that? Yeah. You show up every [00:21:40] three months. Yeah. That doesn't work. Yeah. You gotta do it consistently, build a dialogue. They understand your perspectives, who you represent and they know who you are. You guys know who [00:21:50] everybody is with that many times getting together. And that closeness, that's really the other part of it too, is just you really cement those personal relationships, which makes it [00:22:00] easier. Sometimes tougher, but easier in general, I would think. And you guys rely a lot on data to inform the approach [00:22:20] to conversation, who's data, whose conservation data is it? It's, I'm sure there's all kinds of people throwing data at you, right? Yeah, it started with like in the very early days[00:22:30] of Outdoor Alliance. I had a question for the, for the member organizations and it was, Like, where's all this? All the stuff [00:22:40] like where are all the trails, right? The rivers, like I know anecdotally where I go kayaking. And where good mountain bike happens to be. But is it mostly in the Forest Service, [00:22:50] national Forest or blm? Or how important are the parks? And I ask this question because we had to figure out like who do we build relationships with? Which agencies [00:23:00] are the most relevant? And nobody really knew. That anecdotal information AW. On the other hand AW, did know they had a, they maintained a national database [00:23:10] of River, river, Put ins and Whitewater runs. Aws, American Whitewater, we, American Whitewater. That's right. And we realized like, we need to figure this out. And, so we [00:23:20] built out this, GIS lab a number of years ago, and the design is that we would partner with entities that have data. That the [00:23:30] user community used like Mountain Project or Trail Works, and, would be able to use and aggregate that data for policy and advocacy purposes. So we partner with [00:23:40] entities that own the data and they license it to us so we could use it to inform and enhance our advocacy work. And it's been a game changer. So knowing [00:23:50] where climbing routes are if there's a wilderness. Proposed wilderness designation is important. It has an impact on fixed anchors. and then also if you could [00:24:00] immobilize the broader community to protect a place, to be able to get a sense as to, what the intersection is between a landscape and these different pursuits, and by [00:24:10] extension, these different communities is profoundly important. Going back to our earlier conversation, it makes it personal, right? We gotta know where the stuff is, We could [00:24:20] sort through all the things that are going on and identify the things that are the most consequential, the most relevant to our community. And those are the things where we could have the biggest impact.[00:24:30] That must be an amazing database. you guys just have everything in the catalog. It's fairly complete. Like I don't know. I don't think [00:24:40] there's another entity that's got access to, aggregate. All the human powered outdoor pursuits in the way that we do. That's amazing. Now it's not consumer facing. Like those, that's where the apps, if you [00:24:50] wanna know where to ride your bike, if you live in Minnesota, like you're not coming to outdoor lines. You go to the apps. But how much mountain biking is in,[00:25:00] the G mug national forest for the purposes of forest planning. We, that's important. And we were able to get that data and share it with the Forest Service to inform [00:25:10] their decision making. Yeah, It will impact mountain biking, so yeah, that's pretty cool. And you do a lot to [00:26:00] empower individuals to make a difference How does that happen? you guys get together a lot as groups it sounds like. Yeah. And then people go back and do their thing. Are they [00:26:10] empowered to go take what they've learned or what they know and interact locally? I'm sure you want them to do that. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And it's a great [00:26:20] strategic value for the organization to pursue our mission and we do that. Because, we're generous with our expertise. And, public policy is complicated. [00:26:30] Yeah. And there's, why should people know about all the nuance? And, but we do. So what we do is we educate the community and, about what's going on and provide them the tools to speak up [00:26:40] and take action. And community is, They've taken us up on this invitation at scale. over the last several years we've had, I don't know, a quarter million [00:26:50] messages from folks within our community to policy makers, on matters that relate to conservation and sustainable and equitable access. we connect the [00:27:00] dots between what's going on and people's passion. How to show up and they do. And that tell you, Rick, that's huge. Profoundly inspiring. So this next question is a little, uh, not sure. I think this came from a buddy of mine actually, but do policymakers and especially elected [00:27:20] officials really care about what the outdoor community thinks? It seems like sometimes it seems like they do, but then other times you look at what the [00:27:30] results are and go, wow, you didn't even listen to what they said. Y might sound strange, but, look [00:27:40] at the world from an elected official's perspective. Have a little compassion, they got 50 million things coming down. 'em, There's so much going on, and they're [00:27:50] all accountable to at least like six or 700,000 people. You're a Congress person, right? Let alone a whole state, like California. If you're a [00:28:00] senator and it's a hard job, they gotta make these decisions on behalf of their constituents. You know what's in the best interest of the state and the district. And [00:28:10] there's no way you could know all those things. So it goes back to these relationships and you're not gonna make everybody happy. it's just the nature of the job. that's not the job, That's not the job. You gotta pull all the [00:28:20] information in and exercise your judgment and whether you do a good job or not as. revisited, every two years you're your congressperson or six years or four years for the president, [00:28:30] right? But that's the jam. So for them to exercise this judgment, they have to get perspectives and a diverse amount of perspectives and it's perspectives that are informed of people [00:28:40] that know a thing or two about, of protecting the place over what it means. So the, not only do they, they need to listen to us and not just us [00:28:50] to do their job. To be successful at it. yeah, to answer your question directly. Yeah. They very much do care and more so if you're a constituent. And even more so if you know what you're [00:29:00] talking about. Which is like all of us. Cuz we spend time in these places, from these firsthand experiences. And a lot of people might be intimidated to use their voice for advocacy and may end up not doing anything cuz they think their voice doesn't matter. How does their voice make a [00:29:50] difference? Yeah. if you don't show up, think of it this way. You don't show up and don't say what you think. You basically doubled the impact of somebody Yeah. That you don't [00:30:00] agree with. That does show up. So you could think you don't matter, but there are people who don't agree with you and they're showing up. [00:30:10] And it's part of living in a democracy. It's not just voting, it's, sharing what you think. you're helping these elected officials and, policy makers do their job. that's critical. But[00:30:20] think from the perspective of a brand, right? You think about your consumers, you think about your [00:30:30] community, and there's no way you could ever capture what everybody thinks. But it's a relentless pursuit. To figure out [00:30:40] what customers want And what they need. You're modeling things out and you're asking people and you're just like absorbing as much information and you're using that to inform business decisions.[00:30:50] So Congress people do the same thing. Yeah. And if you think that it doesn't matter, like a, policy maker doesn't care what you think, that's.[00:31:00] That makes as much sense as a business thinking that the customer doesn't matter. And the customer's perspective doesn't matter if you believe in that. If you think that's worthy. [00:31:10] Same thing. And how do you guys champion the idea that for businesses and individuals, it's not nearly as difficult or complicated as people think to get [00:31:20] involved? It's pretty simple, really. And you can make a big difference. the first thing is, you look at Congress, what's [00:31:30] 535 elected officials. You got a hundred hundred senators, And all these Congress people. But, you've got three in the federal government. [00:31:40] You've got your congressperson, you've got two senators, and the governor, let's say four. It's four people. It's not hundreds. And you're a constituent. So [00:31:50] that's one way to simplify things instead of just you've heard that, that, that phrase how to eat a whale. one bite at a time. don't try to eat the whole whale. But if you're able to [00:32:00] establish dialogue, with your elected officials as a constituent and as an informed constituent, with you're an individual or whether you're a business, [00:32:10] it's, it's your superpower. They need to listen to you. Just to break it down a little bit, it's, you don't have to do everything well, you have to keep showing up. back to that [00:32:20] baseball analogy, a player gets, I don't know, a thousand, 2000 at bats to bat 300, so they clearly don't get ahead every time, but you just gotta keep showing up and showing up and dropping [00:32:30] your message, that's how get it done. Being patient, thinking about the long game. Dropping your message, but also like listening To like how they're thinking about [00:32:40] things. yeah. What are their other, what their Cs are, right? Yeah. So working businesses and individuals find an organization that kind of reflects their values and partner with them. Do you guys have a big long list? You must,[00:32:50] The 10 members. Those 10. And then they got a big, yeah, they got bigger list. So like I'll, I think. [00:33:00] One, really good starting point is outdoor alliance. We find consensus right. Amongst the 10 member organizations, but the 10 member organizations, they're all like,[00:33:10] complete ballers in this space. They're amazing. And I think using what's important to you in terms of the different pursuits, the different communities, different geographies or typographies, [00:33:20] use that as a filter go hang out with people that you like. And that do things that inspire you. And that's a start. So Outdoor Alliance for sure. That [00:33:30] member organizations and then each of these member organizations, they've got, networks of local organizations Based on your geography. So you [00:33:40] want to go really local, look at one of the EMBA local chapters or a local climbing organization from Access Fund. you wanna look at the Get deep in national policy, [00:33:50] always where to go. Tell us about your favorite outdoor activity, obviously kayaking. Do you have another one? yeah. I love [00:34:00] whitewater kayaking. I compliment that with quite a bit of mountain biking. and as, as wonderful as DC is for, For Whitewater, it's it's not the best for, for skiing. [00:34:10] You gotta go somewhere. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. Yeah. we've got some local stuff. but, so those are the pursuits, my doing it with people that I care about, my [00:34:20] friends with my kids, that's just what puts it over the top. Do you have any suggestions or advice for folks wanting to work in conservation? for sure. [00:35:10] I think like realizing that conservation and politics are like, They're intertwined in this country. You can't really do [00:35:20] one without the other. And that's because, there's so much of outdoor recreation and kind of the outdoors are on public lands. And public lands are gonna be what happens on public lands. [00:35:30] Whether you can serve these places or develop these places, it's part of a public process. So you can have this desire to protect, but you gotta couple that with a [00:35:40] clear and eye understanding that you know, you gotta get involved in advocacy and. Specifally engaged. And feel okay about that and realize that you're not alone. There are a lot of [00:35:50] organizations that get this space and find some organizations and people that you like, and the path will be, will be made apparent. [00:36:00] Yeah. And if you're listening to this podcast, you probably know a number of people that are doing it already. So you have friends and family just to go help you get in. yeah. [00:36:10] Yeah. learn what you can. from, after Alliance and the member organizations and whoever is doing work that inspires you. There's a good chance they're an NGO and that they're adept at [00:36:20] working with volunteers and people that care about places. you talking about the baseball analogy? Yeah. Showing up, not just to show up at a congress person's office, call your local chapter Surf Rider. [00:36:30] Foundation. That's great. Bonds. Yeah. yep. Yeah, that's how to do it. let's have a little fun now. not that way. What's your [00:36:40] favorite outdoor gear purchase? Under a hundred dollars. Oh my goodness. Under a hundred bucks. Yeah. Huh? yeah, I'd probably [00:36:50] say, A Cliff Bar. Do you have any, do you have a couple of favorite books that are your go-tos all the time? Good with friends and stuff. I think one of my, one of my favorites, one of my favorites is, I love James Baldwin. he's a phenomenal author. The Fire Next Time [00:37:30] is, I think one of my favorites. It's really short. It's like a, it's essentially a letter to his nephew. It's a beautifully written book and, That's maybe 120 pages or something like [00:37:40] that, Oh, wow. Okay. That's just a, that's a wonderful read. and then I think it came out like you wrote in the sixties and that, and something a little more, but it's timeless. yeah. Anything [00:37:50] by James's Baldwin. and then, I guess more, more recently I read this book, the End of the Myth by Greg Grandlin. And, It's a kind of an exploration of this [00:38:00] idea of the frontier in American culture and history and, fascinating. I've learned so much. it's so amazing too, how that [00:38:10] continues, after all these years that this country has been around, how the frontier still drives just something deep down in us that, we just, we all embody it.[00:38:20] Oh yeah. And how it's not just, it was a physical thing and then it became like a cultural, political thing. And, just a fascinating book. Oh, cool. [00:38:30] and I guess one other, now I'm thinking something I've read recently Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Yeah. She, it. Beautifully written book. [00:38:40] Fascinating. okay, so those are three. Yes. For one, those are three, yeah. Perfect. Got 'em. Awesome. We'll link to those all in the show notes. Yeah. as we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to say to, or ask of our listeners? [00:38:50] Oh, just an expression of, of appreciation for all the folks that we either dipping into conservation and advocacy [00:39:00] or the ones and some encouragement to anybody that's curious, It's a warm and welcoming space. We need all the help that we could get and, it's a lot of [00:39:10] fun. I was gonna say, there's a lot of fun to be had while you're doing it too. Follow up Outdoor Alliance Instagram Twitter Facebook Linkedin Adam Linkedin  

Melanie Seiler is the founding Executive Director of Active Southern West Virginia, with 20 years of experience in business ownership and management. Melanie has an Associate's degree in Adventure Sports and a Bachelor's in Adventure Recreation Management. She is also certified in CDC Work@Health T3, Diabetes Prevention Program, American Canoe Association stand-up paddle boarding, Professional Ski Instructors of America telemark skiing, and a WV Division of Natural Resources river guide. Melanie was named one of West Virginia Executive Magazine's Generation Next 40 Under 40 professionals in 2017 and a 2019 West Virginia Living Wonder Woman.  

Capt. Jon Henson with Stafford Fire and Rescue's Swift Water Rescue Team, April Peterson with River Rock Outfitter and Kelsey Bracewell with the American Canoe Association talk about safely enjoying the river this year.  respecttherapp.com  

Guest: Adam Cramer is the founding Executive Director and present CEO of Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition of outdoor recreation advocacy groups that has breathed new life into the conservation movement by harnessing the outdoor community's passion for place and combining it with a modern approach to organizing and digital engagement. During his time as CEO, Adam has brought new sensibilities to conservation work that have resulted in hundreds of thousands more acres of protected landscapes, improved management for outdoor recreation, and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts awakened to conservation and advocacy work. He is an avid whitewater kayaker and mountain biker, but is always on the lookout for a good skatepark. Adam lives in Maryland with his wife and two kids   Show notes: On Friday, August 12, 2022, Congress passed the largest ever climate package in the Inflation Reduction Act, an absolute landmark piece of legislation. Channel Mastery has never done an episode on any sort of legislation before today; but know that this show was prioritized. Why? Because of the landmark impact that the IRA is destined to have on our businesses. What's more, this is a far-reaching (both in scope and timeframe) bill that will create new awareness among our consumers – the outdoor recreation enthusiast. Channel Mastery is 100-percent about understanding our brand fans and target consumers and this bill will ‘train' them to expect more responsible businesses and brand practices concerning climate mitigation going forward.    The bill is sweeping and complex, and we've procured the perfect guide for our episode today in Adam Cramer, the CEO of the Outdoor Alliance, the only non-profit organization in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands and ensure those lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. The Outdoor Alliance connects conservation with climate, which positions Adam's perspective as critical to you, Channel Mastery's executive audience of outdoor rec business leaders. The Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of national advocacy organizations that includes American Whitewater, American Canoe Association, Access Fund, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, the Colorado Mountain Club, and the Surfrider Foundation.    The Inflation Reduction Act will be on President Biden's desk by the time you listen to this show, but the interview you're about to hear in episode 192 is evergreen in that it underscores a tipping point moment in climate and conservation. Paul Krugman, Opinion Columnist with The New York Times, in his piece “Did Democrats just Save Civilization?” wrote: “This is a very big deal. The act isn't, by itself, enough to avert climate disaster. But it is a huge step in the right direction and sets the stage for more action in the years ahead. It will catalyze progress in green technology; its economic benefits will make passing additional legislation easier; it gives the United States the credibility it needs to lead a global effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions.” Senator John Hickenlooper (D) Colorado, summed up the bill in his newsletter by describing it as the largest climate rescue investment by any country ever.    The Outdoor Alliance website has informative summary blog posts about the IRA, outlining how the $373 billion funding package will mitigate climate change through investments that will accelerate our transition to clean energy. The bill also includes billions of dollars for wildfire mitigation, forest management, and conservation.    While this hard-fought legislative win most certainly benefits humanity as a whole, it's crucial to highlight what this means to the business of outdoor recreation and how we, as corporate citizens, have an opportunity and responsibility to step up and heap on awareness and visibility of what's going to emerge from this game-changing legislation. Whether it's sharing the details and impact of the IRA on the health of the planet and the places we cherish as outdoor recreationalists with our internal teams or on how your brand and reach can further the traction on climate change mitigation, the time to elevate this to our important stakeholders in our outdoor rec businesses is now.    Also, note that consumers will vote with their dollars more than ever before as the road to doing the right thing will be highlighted in the coming months and years, thanks to the IRA.    The Channel Mastery podcast is presented by Verde Brand Communications and Life Time, Inc., owner of the Sea Otter Classic and producer of the Sea Otter Classic Summit outdoor recreation executive gathering, taking place April 18-20, 2023, in Monterey, Calif.  Links: Show sponsors: Verde Brand Communications, Life Time, Inc.  The Outdoor Alliance website makes it easy to thank local / state Lawmakers and has numerous blog posts about climate and conservation, and the many bridges between the IRA and outdoor recreation The New York Times, Did Democrats just Save Civilization? August 8, 2022, Paul Krugman  The National Wildlife Federation writes “Inflation Reduction Act a “Historic” Win for Climate, Wildlife As Congress funds high-tech climate solutions, it also bets on a low-tech one: Nature

Ashley Brown teaches Coastal Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and Instructor Development at the College of Charleston. She has developed these paddlesports courses over the past decade to include Sustainability Literacy and a First Year Experience course with a Biology class. Learning about sustainability and sharing it with the students led Ashley to start a Masters of Art at Prescott College in Outdoor Education Leadership. She only has a few more classes before she finishes her degree. Ashley shares her passion for teaching kayaking at all levels and challenging people to test their limits while learning and having a ton of fun. She has been developing a curriculum in Kayaking, SUP, and Instructor Development at the College of Charleston, where Ashley serves as an Adjunct Professor.  Ashley is the recipient of the American Canoe Association 2019 Excellence in Instruction Award.  This award is presented annually to an ACA member for outstanding contributions to paddlesports education and instruction. She earned the prestigious Level 5 American Canoe Association Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor Certification and is also an ACA Level 4 Kayak Instructor Trainer, Canoe Instructor, and L2 Standup Paddleboard Instructor. Ashley serves as a member of the executive committee of the Safety, Education, and Instruction Committee for the American Canoe Association. She loves to travel and has gone from Canada to Mexico and beyond, sharing her talent and knowledge with clubs, groups, schools, outfitters, events, and symposiums. Residing in Charleston, SC, she enjoys welcoming guests from all over the world to paddle in Charleston's beautiful waterways.  One of her favorite venues is the “Edge of America”, the Atlantic Ocean off Folly Beach.  She provides paddlers an opportunity to have an exciting experience and widen their perspectives. Today we're talking about how and why she got diagnosed, how an ADHD/ADD brain can often serve as a prerequisite, and what being buoyant may do for the ADHD in you! Enjoy! ——  In this episode Peter and Ashley discuss:   00:45 - Thank you so much for listening and for subscribing! 00:50 - Apologies for the near horrid audio- Peter is in a tourist-filled lobby today. 01:05 - Intro and welcome Ashley Brown! 01:53 - When were you first diagnosed and how did it happen? 03:00 - What was the first big change you felt after your diagnosis? 03:56 - What inspired you to seek out aquatic sports & activities; and to teach them? 05:33 - Do you experience sort of a rebirth every time you go kayaking; like I do when skydiving or running? 06:00 - On the good kind of exhaustion and a completely focused flow.  07:18 - How does scanning a wave, being outdoors and on the water help your ADHD? 08:56 - I had never thought of ADHD/ADD as a requirement for something! For what else could ADHD possibly be a prerequisite? 09:40 - On the importance of physical movement! 11:30 - How can people find more about you? [Ashley isn't a public figure but you can check into her courses via Web: www.wavepaddler.com and on their Facebook page here] 12:34 - Guys, as always thanks so much for subscribing! Do you have a cool friend with a great story? We'd love to hear. I'm www.petershankman.com and you can reach out anytime via email at peter@shankman.com or @petershankman on all of the socials. You can also find us at @FasterNormal on all of the socials. It really helps when you drop us a review on iTunes and of course, subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already! As you know, the more reviews we get, the more people we can reach. Help us to show the world that ADHD is a gift, not a curse!  19:08 - Faster Than Normal Podcast info & credits  — TRANSCRIPT via Descript and then corrected.. somewhat: [00:00:38] Peter Shankman good morning. I am coming to you today from the lounge at a Hilton in Midtown Manhattan because, uh, my apartment was supposed to be finished two weeks ago for all my renovations and it's not, and I am living the Dylan McKay life here in New York Hilton in Midtown. For those not old enough to understand what the Dylan McKee lifestyle is? Well, look it up. Your parents knew. Anyway, welcome to another episode Faster Than Normal. Uh, I apologize in advance for all the background noise. Ashley Brown is joining us today. Ashley, get this we're going outdoors today, even though I'm sitting in a lounge in mid Manhattan, we're going outdoors. The great big ocean. to the coast. We're gonna talk to Ashley Brown who teaches coastal kayaking standup paddle boarding and instructed development of the college of Charleston. She's ADHD. She's developed these paddle sports courses over the past decade to include sustainability literacy and her first year experience course to the biology class. This is a very, very cool stuff. She got diagnosed when her kid did, as we hear so much about .Ashley, welcome to Faster Than Normal. Let's talk about some outdoors and how it relates to ADHD.  [00:01:39] Ashley: Hi! Hi, thank you so much for having me. And, um, I am really excited to talk to you. I've enjoyed listening to your podcast and I have to admit I'm a bit nervous. I hope that I hope this goes well.  [00:01:51] Peter: . You're gonna be, you're gonna be fine. Don't worry about it. So tell me when you tell me when you first got diagnosed and how did it happen?  [00:01:56] Ashley: Um, my daughter was in around third grade and, um, she had hit like unbelievable benchmarks in, in, in intelligence as a, as a little kid, you know, when they do those, pull you out, testing things to put 'em in gifted and talented and stuff. And then suddenly she couldn't read, you know, she wasn't reading, uh, at her, at her pace had had had just stopped. So we discovered that she had dyslexia and, uh, ADHD, and, uh, as we are moving through all those, those categories, I'm going, yep. That's me. That's me. That's me. And of course, this is something that, um, I, I understand a lot of adults have had that experience. So, so I got diagnosed when she got diagnosed and, uh, same thing, dyslexia, ADHD, and, uh, it's, it's interesting to hit it at, you know, 40 versus eight, you know, so  [00:02:55] Peter: I was gonna say, so you lived your life, not knowing anything about it, sort of similar to the way I did. I didn't get diagnosed in my late thirties and, um, what was the, what was sort of the first cha big changes that you saw in yourself once you, once you got that diagnosis?  [00:03:06] Ashley: Um, changes in myself, I guess, I guess maybe just like forgiving myself for being me, I don't know. Um, like suddenly. [00:03:20] Peter: That's actually a, that's a pretty huge answer. A pretty huge answer. Cause a lot of people don't realize that I, I went through the same thing. [00:03:25] Ashley: Yeah, no, I, uh, I always just, you know, why can't you do your taxes on time? Why can't, why do you have to work at a de at a critical deadline? Like, why can't you do this ahead of time? Like, um, so many of. So many other things that ADHD, people struggle with. Like, um, and I, I guess I cut myself a little more slack, not enough, not, not enough, but a lot more slack than I used to. Like now I have a reason, you know? [00:03:53] Peter: Well, we'll never cut ourselves enough slack that's for darn sure. But, okay. So tell me about how outdoors, how did you, first of all, how'd you get started in, in the classes of paddle boarding and kayak and all that, all that stuff outdoors. And what prompted you to say, Hey, there should be, there should be a school or classes. [00:04:07] Ashley: Well, um, so it, the, all the school and the classes are there it's, um, I didn't create that, but I just brought it in a different venue. So, um, I, um, I was, I, my first career was an artist and an art teacher and I was, uh, teaching. and it, it just, it just, you know, it, it's a pretty punishing, um, field. Uh, and I, I, I never was super successful with it. And then teaching children and then having children, it was just so many children and so much mess in my life that I, uh, I had a neighbor who said, Hey, you should come kayaking. And I went kayaking with a bunch of adults who I didn't have to clean up after. And I was like, ah, I can do this. And I, um, I just made some, made some major changes and I really went. Uh, full force into kayaking and stand and, uh, and then loved it. And I live in a place I live in Charleston, South Carolina, and, um, there is nothing but water around here. So there's so many places to explore and so many, uh, dynamic environments to, uh, get to know. So, um, I shifted from teaching, uh, children to taking people on kayak tours and all this stuff. And then, um, I met an instructor with the College of Charleston and, and. Uh, opened up some doors to me and I, I ended up with a full-time job teaching, uh, paddle sports at, uh, college level.  [00:05:31] Peter: I'm gonna go into a limb and say that paddle boarding or paddle sports or anything like that is similar for the brain as skydiving or running is for me. Would that be correct? Are you, is it a rebirth for you every time you do.  [00:05:42] Ashley: Rebirth. Hmm. I don't know. I don't know, rebirth and it, and it, and it is exciting and fun. And particularly when you do surf, so I'm guessing that skydiving and, and actually hearing that crashing wave behind you kind of stuff is this is similar. [00:05:57] Peter: Tell me how you feel when you're done. You come back to land.  [00:05:59] Ashley: The good exhaustion. Just space, that's it? Yeah. That's yeah. Um, so, and, and when I, when I bring people into it, I love their, uh, reaction to it. And I love the layering cuz. And I think that this is one of the things that I was that I wrote to you and the reason I wanted to, to talk to you, and I think that the layering of, of understanding the environment and watching the student and understanding where the student is is, has it. It it's that flow, right? Where you, where your brain is working on all the levels in the environment you're in. This is, this is probably the only thing I've ever done, where I wasn't also having a conversation with, you know, somebody from a year ago and writing a grocery list, you know, at all three going on at the same time. So, so it is the only place where my entire, where all of my attention is, is layered into there. So, so I love that. And then that puts me in that good exhaustion. [00:06:56] Peter: Well, there's a level of focus there, right? I mean, you absolutely, you have no choice. You have to look at what you're doing. You have to focus on what you're doing. You have to pay attention to what you're doing. You can't do a hundred of those things. It's the same thing with skydiving and, and for people with ADHD, we don't often realize that we realize that is the, the level at which we thrive!  [00:07:11] Ashley: Right. Exactly. Exactly. It's um, it is definitely the level where you thrive. [00:07:18] Peter: Tell me about, um, how it helps, how doing that helps your ADHD. Tell me about, uh, sort of how your brain reacts to that kinda stuff to, to being outdoors, to being on the water, to, to scanning the wave.  [00:07:29] Ashley: Okay. Um, so, so I came in to ADHD later, I did not understand the dopamine thing. Um, Prior to it, but now I understand and I, and I seek the, and I identify the things that give me that pleasure, that dopamine rush. So sometimes you're bored out of your mind of course, but then when you, when you can find the things that are giving you pleasure, like the, like moving very quickly through the water or looking at a reflection of a surface and, and, um, and so seeking those things has, or, or, you know, seeking that experience through somebody else's experience. So I'm watching, I'm watching 20 year olds figure out how to make their body work in a new way and how to make a boat, move, move through waves and stuff in a, in a, um, in a, something that they're not familiar with. It is, it is exciting in, and then that really does feed the, um, that dopamine receptor, I suppose. And, um, gives me a pleasure that, that, uh, I don't know that I, that I, I guess I had is with an art with art, but I had gotten so done with it with art. But anyway, um. [00:08:40] Peter: That's a good answer. I wanna read something that you wrote in, in your email to me, you said, I think that or ADHD is practically a requirement for outdoor educators. They problem solve on the go keep people safe while putting them in intentionally risky situations and manage their expectations to keep it engaging, but not scary. You know, I've never thought of it that way. ADHD is a requirement for something, right. We always look at it as a gift and, and, and something beneficial. I've never thought it as a requirement. I wonder what other things a ADD could be a requirement for? What do you think?  [00:09:08] Ashley: Um, gosh, I don't know. Um, the, the it's back to that multi layering thing, it's, it's, it's seeing some body and their process and a situation that needs your undivided attention as well. So probably teaching someone to skydive or teaching someone to do other things that are risky. Um, Ropes courses. Those are, yeah, those,  [00:09:32] Peter: I mean, I think, I think along the lines that, that, you know, one of the things about ADD & ADHD is we have that incredible power to hyper focus. Right. Right. When we want to focus on something, we are there 100%. And I don't think that a lot of, a lot of people, without ADHD, really understand how that works. And so I think in that regard, it's probably very beneficial for us. Um,  [00:09:50] Ashley: you know, and also the busy bodiness like the, the physical, um, Busyness is, is, uh, is key. So I think a lot of people that, that engage in that, like that come to an outdoor education experience and enjoy it, but don't want to be in it constantly. They need to think while sitting still or being still. And I, and I, I don't know how you are, but I never stop moving so it's a, it's a perfect thing for me to, to keep moving, to keep thinking. I,  [00:10:22] Peter: I think it's the same it's same reason. Yeah. It makes perfect sense. It's the same reason that, you know, my, my parents always told me as a kid, no listening to music while you're studying, but it turns out that listening to music is actually the best possible thing. Someone like us could do. No question about. [00:10:33] Ashley: Absolutely. And like, um, um, teaching kids. Well, my own children. Teaching kids like the multiplication tables or reading stories out loud or whatever, when they were tiny. If they, it, my, my little one was jumping around the whole time and, and I, and I would go, you know, what did I just say? And she could repeat it, back like just like word for word. But if I, you know, she just couldn't sit still to do that. So. No question. And, and I related to that, so I didn't try to get her to sit still. I went to Catholic school and I was required to sit still. So ,  [00:11:09] Peter: I went to school in the seventies and I was, yeah, in the seventies, it was sort of the same way. And lemme tell you something that didn't work really well for me either. No. And that was a public school too.  [00:11:17] Ashley: Not a big fan of the sitting still  [00:11:20] Peter: Ashley, how could people find out more? How can they find you? Do you have an Instagram, you have things where people could find your great, you sent me some great photos of paddle boarding and all that stuff. The places people could find this stuff? [00:11:28] Ashley: Um, so I have a website wave paddler.com and, um, I am, I, I actually am not I'm, I'm not a public personality in the, in this, in the way that you are. I don't have something that I'm trying to convey to people. [Ashley isn't a public figure but you can check into her courses via Web: www.wavepaddler.com and on their Facebook page here] Um, I just loved your show and I wanted to talk with you. And, uh, and, um, I don't know. I really do appreciate my ADHD! [00:11:51] Peter: Good enough. Yeah. As you should, we're trying to change the world. Not everyone has to be a celebrity and everyone has to be, uh, famous. We could be like, you know, regular normal people, just, just doing the best they can with the tools that they've been given. Ashley Brown. Thank you so much for sticking around and coming on the show and, uh, stay on the water and keep having fun! [00:12:07] Ashley: Thank you. You too! Come and paddle with me sometime.  [00:12:09] Peter: Most certainly will. Guys, as always, we've been listening the fast than normal. Sorry again about the background. Apparently every loud person, who's a tourist in New York happens to be in this lounge right at this very moment. But I'm hoping that the next time we talk, I'll be back in my apartment where it's much quieter. We will see you next week. If you like what you heard, leave us a review in any of the stations, any of the places you download your podcasts. My name is Peter Shankman  @PeterShankman all the socials. And thank you for listening. We'll see you next week. ADHD is a gift not a curse. Credits: You've been listening to the Faster Than Normal podcast. We're available on iTunes, Stitcher and Google play and of course at www.FasterThanNormal.com I'm your host, Peter Shankman and you can find me at shankman.com and @petershankman on all of the socials. If you like what you've heard, why not head over to your favorite podcast platform of choice and leave us a review, come more people who leave positive reviews, the more the podcast has shown, and the more people we can help understand that ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Opening and closing themes were composed and produced by Steven Byrom who also produces this podcast, and the opening introduction was recorded by Bernie Wagenblast. Thank you so much for listening. We'll see you next week!

Kelsey Bracewell talks about the Fredericksburg-based organization and safety on the water.

There is no better way to experience the Alaska wilderness than from the seat of a sea kayak. Clearly, as professional sea kayak guides, we are biased in that opinion, but that doesn't make it untrue. On today's episode, we go in depth on the subject of sea kayaking, its origin and resources available to you the listener if you have any desire to jump in the cockpit of one yourself. We invite friend of the pod Russ on the episode who just took a sea kayak instructor course through the American Canoe Association to share some of his insights as well. How old is the sea kayak? What should you know before you go? And what incredible encounters might you experience if you jump on board? It's the episode that will make you question your career choice! Alaskan Beer of the Week: Mocha Porter by Valdez Brewing [http://valdezbrewing.com] Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley] Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

There is no better way to experience the Alaska wilderness than from the seat of a sea kayak. Clearly, as professional sea kayak guides, we are biased in that opinion, but that doesn't make it untrue. On today's episode, we go in depth on the subject of sea kayaking, its origin and resources available to you the listener if you have any desire to jump in the cockpit of one yourself. We invite friend of the pod Russ on the episode who just took a sea kayak instructor course through the American Canoe Association to share some of his insights as well. How old is the sea kayak? What should you know before you go? And what incredible encounters might you experience if you jump on board? It's the episode that will make you question your career choice!Alaskan Beer of the Week: Mocha Porter by Valdez Brewing [http://valdezbrewing.com]Music By: Blackwater Railroad Company [www.blackwaterrailroad.com] and Scott Buckley [https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley]Support Us on Patreon: [www.patreon.com/thelastfrontier]

Lt. Jon Henson with Stafford's Swift Water Rescue Team, Katie Brady with Stafford Fire and Rescue, Kelsey Bracewell with the American Canoe Association and April Peterson of River Rock Outfitter talk about the importance of wearing a life jacket and other water safety.

Eric Caravella of Packrafting Adventures joins the show today to talk packrafts, their use in adventure racing, and the journey that brought him to be the founder of Packrafting Adventures. Thank you to the United States Adventure Racing Association for partnering with The Dark Zone to offer a playlist of companion videos. Link to the companion video playlist - https://tinyurl.com/USARAPackraft (USARA Packrafting Video) - https://tinyurl.com/USARAPackraft Shownotes: https://www.packraftingadventures.com/ (Packrafting Adventures) - www.packraftingadventures.com The https://www.usara.com/ (United States Adventure Racing Association) - www.usara.com https://www.packraftingadventures.com/emwc (Eastern Mountain Wilderness Challenge) - https://www.packraftingadventures.com/emwc https://aquabound.com/ (Aquabound paddles) - https://aquabound.com/ https://wernerpaddles.com/ (Werner Paddles) - https://wernerpaddles.com/ https://alnk.to/58k84XE (Alpacka Rafts) - https://alnk.to/58k84XE (https://alnk.to/58k84XE) https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com (Hyperlite Mountain Gear) - https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com/ https://astraldesigns.com (Astral PFDs) - https://astraldesigns.com/ https://eezycut.com (EEZYCUT Cutting Tools) - https://eezycut.com/ https://www.nrs.com (Northwest River Supplies (NRS)) - https://www.nrs.com/ https://americancanoe.org (American Canoe Association) - https://americancanoe.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Mountain_Wilderness_Classic (Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Mountain_Wilderness_Classic http://www.untamedne.com/_/ (Grant Killian) - http://www.untamedne.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYLNETY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 (Dick Griffith) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AYLNETY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 https://thingstolucat.com/ (Luc Mehl) - https://thingstolucat.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S1TFTRY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 (Roman Dial)- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S1TFTRY/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 For adventure mapping: - https://caltopo.com/ (Caltopo.com)

This week Clint and Dawson sit down with Joe Pulliam. Joe, is best known as co-founder and long-time CEO of Dagger, Joe began canoeing in the late 1960's, and started building and paddling kayaks in 1973. He entered the outdoor industry full-time in 1982 as director of marketing and sales of Perception. In 1988, with three others he founded Dagger, which became one of the most successful paddlesports businesses in history. Joe led a successful sale of Dagger in 1998, then worked for Watermark Sports, the acquiring company for seven years, as executive vice president, and was deeply involved in several acquisitions made by Watermark. From 2005 until 2017, he was an independent consultant, focused primarily on the outdoor industry, with the final 8 years of that span focused entirely on Jackson Kayak. Joe also co-founded The Whitewater Company, a rafting outfitter on the Pigeon River in Tennessee. He has served on numerous paddlesports boards, including the American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, various national trade organizations and local river-related organizations. He was the recipient of ACA's J Henry Rushton award, the President's award and is in the ACA Paddlesports Hall of Fame. He is in the International Whitewater Hall of Fame, and was named by Paddler Magazine as one of the top 100 American paddlers of the 20thCentury. He was named by Sports Style magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the sporting goods industry, and has been featured in publications including Southern Living, Business Week, the Wall Street Journal, Paddler, Blue Ridge Outdoors, and the American Whitewater Journal. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Starting a business can be scary. When Jennifer started her business ten years ago, fear reared its ugly head. Rather than let it stop her, she asked, “how can I get around this?” and learned to work WITH fear instead of running from it. Her focus on problem-solving and a dedication to the people she serves kept her outdoor business open and growing (even during COVID!). To learn how to embrace challenges and keep moving forward, you gotta listen to this one. Can't-Miss Moments From This Episode:Who said your business had to match your background? In Jennifer's case, a complete change of pace made perfect sense (could it make sense for you, as well?) What's your “pixie dust”? Jennifer's out-of-the-box approach makes her adventures truly one-of-a-kind. You'll want to borrow this strategy to find the “secret sauce” for your own biz So the goal or plan you had in mind didn't work out — now what? Stop? Jennifer has a way better strategy you can use  24/7 hustle-and-grind: the myth I want to die in a freaking fire. Truth time: you don't have to work around the clock for no pay to build a successful business When fear, imposter syndrome, and worry start to take us over… here's how Jennifer and I shift our focus. It certainly helps me get a handle on my fear-based bull$h*t (and it can help you, too)!This one is jam-packed full of advice. Don't miss out - listen now!Jennifer's Bio:Jennifer is an outdoor recreational enthusiast and professional who loves sharing her passion with others. Her passion for the environment and thirst for the outdoors motivated her to change careers at the age of 35 and start her own recreation-based business. Jennifer has a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Recreation with a focus in Outdoor and Environmental Education. Jennifer is an American Canoe Association instructor and instructor trainer. Because she recognizes the need to provide safe learning environments for her customers, she believes in spreading best practices in paddle sports education through her instructor certification program. On top of her American Canoe Association Instructor certifications, Wilderness First Responder, she is a licensed trainer for CPR and First Aid through the American Red Cross.In the off-season you can find Jennifer teaching our future recreation and outdoor adventure professionals at Ithaca College as an assistant professor in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department where she enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge and professional experience.Although, Paddle-N-More and Finger Lakes Adventure Camp are her passion, Jennifer also teaches and leads outdoor excursions and adventures, such as backpacking, mountain biking, and backcountry travel. She loves to be outdoors and if the wind conditions are not right for paddling, you'll often see her kiteboarding just off of the Myers Park location.Resources and links mentioned:Jennifer's sitesPaddle-N-MoreAdventure CampThe E-Myth by Michael GerberCome kick ass with me:Permission to Kick Ass websiteAngie's Facebook PageAngie on InstaAngie on YouTubeDownload this episode

Daniel Buitrago, Brandon Fifield, and Jack Lau float conversation on boater safety with Olivia Drown and Kosette Isakson   Boaters Safety, Life Jacket selection, Coho Rodeo, Heather's Choice, Inflatable LJ options,   Practice makes perfect, Mustang Suits, Drowning vs Hypothermia, Stages of cold water immersion 1) Cold Water Shock 2) Incapacitation 3) Hypothermia, Hypothermic Rescue, Throw Rope Practice, American Canoe Association, Swift Water Training, Alaskaboatersafety.org, Trivia, NASBLA, Departure Checklist, Novice to fill in Captain, Vasodilation, Wet waders and belts, Boating safety learning options, Alaska Water Wise, Cold Water Paddling, Alaska Boater Safety, Stay Calm, Pro Tips 1) Wear Life Vest 2) Carry Signaling Device 3) Share Float Plan 

Have you ever stopped to wonder when your favorite outdoor activity or hobby became mainstream? How lesson and training programs get started? Where the threshold is that gets crossed, making it apparent that training instructors or guides has to happen so that newbies stay safe and maximize their enjoyment?My guest today, Cathy Piffath of H2Outfitters in Harpswell, Maine, is ready to fill you in.Obviously people of the Wabanacki Nations had been paddling the coasts of New England for centuries before outdoor enthusiasts decided that sea kayaking was a hot new thing. But when those of us who didn't have generations of experience to fall back on started tempting fate off-shore in tiny little plastic or fiberglass boats in the 80s, someone had to step in to protect us from ourselves.Cathy Piffath and her partner, Jeff Cooper, were the people that The American Canoe Association turned to for intel specific to sea kayaking, since they had recently started taking groups out to paddle the waters around their home base on Orr's Island. So if you've ever gone out sea kayaking, or taken a lesson from an ACA-certified sea kayaking instructor, you've got Cathy (and Jeff) to thank!I so so SO love hearing and sharing stories from women who are just quietly living their best life, doing things they love, with people they love, in places they love! Totally got all the feels from this one.I hope you'll check out all of Cathy and Jeff's cool offerings at H2Outfitters.com, or @H2Ooutfitters on Instagram and Facebook - they've got a very fun sounding Women's Retreat coming up in mid-August, among a million other things. But be forewarned, once you go out with H2Outfitters you'll probably be hooked, and have to go scrounging around for your own gear.... And kayaks are kind of a b*tch to squeeze into the gear closet, just sayin.Some useful links from our conversation:Orr's & Bailey Islands Fire DepartmentPopham BeachAmerican Canoe AssociationPerception KayaksMountain Travel SobekPerformance Sea Kayaking (you can watch for free!) - Kent FordApogee AdventuresTow BeltEskimo RollEpisode with fellow guide training dev OG, Tami Rogers of Maine's Outdoor Learning Center!

Lt. Jon Henson with Stafford Fire and Rescue Swift Water Rescue Team, Kelsey Bracewell with the American Canoe Association and April Peterson with River Rock Outfitter talk river safety and the launch of Respect the Rapp and the website www.respecttherapp.com

This week Clint and Dawson sat down with Steve Scarborough. Before the show Dawson was telling Clint what a legend Steve is and how excited he was to do the podcast. Steve is one of few who shape shifted the canoe and kayak industry. Steve Scarborough escaped from his Dublin, Ga. roots to the Chattooga River of Deliverance fame after serving five years as an engineer and manager with AT&T in Atlanta. He survived as a river guide, canoe instructor, and wood paddle builder at his Dagger Paddle Company, a precursor of Dagger Canoe Company, which he, along with Joe Pulliam, Roy Guinn and Pete Jett, founded in Tennessee. Having previously designed canoes for Blue Hole Canoe Co., Steve served as the main boat designer for Dagger and produced canoe and kayak designs for whitewater, recreational flatwater, and sea kayaking. He also worked with the USA National and Olympic whitewater teams. With dozens of designs to his credit, his RPM kayak design is considered the best selling whitewater kayak in history. Steve has served on the Board of the American Canoe Association, as Chairman of the TN Conservation Commission, and, today, serves on the board of Conservation Fisheries, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to preserving the fish and aquatic diversity of streams in the Southeastern USA. He and his wife, Annie, live in Whites Creek Gorge on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau and devote much of their time to building trails, conservation issues and preserving the greater watershed of Whites Creek. Thanks for listening! Find all our episodes at dayfirepodcast.com This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

Monika Kelly talks to Andrea White, Tennessee Director of the American Canoe Association about paddling safety.

Monika Kelly speaks to Andrea White, the Tennessee State Director of the American Canoe Association about paddling safety.

Cliff Jacobson is one of North America's most respected outdoors writers and wilderness canoe guides. He is an outdoor skills instructor and a professional outfitter and guide, a canoeing and camping consultant, and the author of more than a dozen top-selling books on canoeing and camping. In 2003 the American Canoe Association presented Cliff with the Legends of Paddling Award and inducted him into the ACA Hall of Fame. In 2009 Cliff was awarded the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America. Canoeing, camping and sharing his experience has been a lifelong passion for Cliff. He seems to have paddled every river in North America, certainly in Canada. His wilderness experience is massive and the relevance of the conversation this podcast goes far beyond the context of canoe tripping....

Today we are chatting with Andrea White from the American Canoe Association. We will cover topics related to paddlecraft regulations for life jackets and lights, ramp and river etiquette, resources available if you are on the water and you need help and training available across the state for boaters from our boating partners. TWRA Boating Education coordinator, Betsy Woods will also join us to chat about boating education in Tennessee and the Wear It Program. All this and more right here on Tennessee WildCast. www.tnwildlife.org #tnwildlife Check out the most recent post from ACA Tennessee’s Facebook Page about the paddling and rescue training opportunities across the state in 2019. https://www.facebook.com/908672292499853/posts/2499863720047361/

https://www.youtube.com/user/WrightStateU The sounds of clapping, cheering and laughter filled the Natatorium inside the Student Union at Wright State University. Almost a dozen participants and volunteers attended a kayak training session to better prepare them on the open water. Wright State University has partnered with Adaptive Sports Connection and The American Canoe Association since 2006 to offer training to Miami Valley residents, including people with disabilities. “I couldn’t do it without them,” said Mark Pierson, a participant who studied at Wright State in the late 1970s. Pierson uses a wheelchair and needs assistance from several volunteers to enter a kayak. “It frees Mark up from his wheelchair,” said Dene Berman, a graduate assistant with the Outdoor Resource Center at Wright State. “He becomes as mobile on the water as anybody else.” Volunteers say that kayaking is not only good for participants with limited mobility but is also great exercise for people with autism. Many people with autism have challenges with balance and coordination and kayaking helps you gain those skills. All upcoming Adaptive Sports Connection events are open to the public and the Wright State community. To register for an event go to adaptivesportsconnection.org. More at http://webapp2.wright.edu/web1/newsroom/2018/08/10/open-water/

The Patrick Lalley Show on Friday, July 6, 2018. Guests include: Dave Bernstein, one of the founders of Saturday in the Park in Sioux City; The Buffalo Maiden on Weird Friends; Thea Miller Ryan of the Outdoor Campus and Cory Diedrich of the American Canoe Association on floating the Big Sioux River. I talk about environmental degradation.

Today’s podcast guest Kenny Howell might just be the ultimate renaissance paddler. In his 38 years of paddling Kenny has been in virtually every type of kayak in every type of condition. A long time Californian with blue eyes, blond hair, and aura of a man who knows adventure,  his backyard includes the infamous Mavericks break in Half Moon Bay, so suffice it to say, Kenny has seen seen a few. Kenny has decades of sea kayak and white water experience, but his passion for the past several years has been all surfski. Kenny currently works as the West Coast sales and marketing rep for Epic Kayaks.   In addition to his work with the Epic Team,  Kenny has been working with the American Canoe Association to have surfski recognized as a unique paddling discipline, a critical step to pave the way for future growth of the sport. In this podcast we try to cover the full 38 years of Kenny’s paddling life and wild experiences on the ocean including: His introduction to paddling at the age of 17Paddling the Sea of CortezRunning a kayak guiding business in Baja for 10 yearsMoving back to Half Moon Bay and getting mixed up with the Tsunami RangersHow Kenny won a couple of the legendary and insane Tsumami Ranger Races and earned ahonorary membershipRacing MolokaiKenny thoughts on downwind padding and his eloquent blog describing the conditions he often paddles in Details on the surfski instructor training courses being offered this year via the ACA along with the official announcement as posted on Surfski NewsKenny’s Experience paddling the new V12Thoughts on the new V8 DoubleKenny’s most memorable moment ever the water (hint - it doesn't involve downwind)The 3 foundation pillars of surfski paddling that Kenny learned from Jasper Mocke and keeps on his phone at all times for quick reference I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to catch up with and go deep with Kenny on all sorts of exciting paddling stories.   I'm certain you will as well p.s.  check out these cool videos of Kenny surfing his brains out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC1Ratu5uqs

A packed New Year’s Eve Special from the Lake of the Ozarks. Chris Stec from the American Canoe Association talks about a new series of educational videos. Mike Kenagy has details of the LOTO Marine Dealers Overland Park Boat Show. Plus, Robert Smith of MYMIC will be chatting about marina safety training. Bob’s No Wake Zone is America’s number one radio show about recreational boating.

In The ripple effect : the fate of freshwater in the twenty-first century, Alex Prud'homme explores how people in the U.S. and around the world use and abuse water, and how our actions impact the earth's limited water supply. Steve Scarborough, one of the founders of Dagger Canoe Company, discusses the book and his views on the problem of water quality. Scarborough has been active in river and water issues for 40 years. He is a former board member of the American Canoe Association and now sits on the board of Conservation Fisheries. He is working on a project to establish conservation easements on White's Creek Gorge in Rhea and Roane counties. (Recorded January 18, 2012)