On breezy, sunny summer days there is nothing better than getting the chance to get out on the water. The Connecticut River Conservancy is no stranger to hosting kayaking and paddling events for volunteers and children’s programs, which is why we have had a partnership for a number of years with the Compass Youth Collaborative. The Compass Youth Collaborative is a Hartford based organization dedicated to providing high-risk youths aged 16-20 with the tools they need to create sustained behavior change and transition successfully into adulthood.
Through our partnership, these youths have the chance to kayak, many for their first time, in Wethersfield Cove. Kayaking can be a great experience for many youths as it can foster a relationship with nature and spark a new hobby or interest in their lives. The collaboration in the summer spans from July to August every Wednesday and we paddle around the cove and sometimes out onto the Connecticut River!
Our staff helps the youths get situated with life vests, water shoes or flip flops, and we provide our foldable kayaks for them to use. The Compass Youth Collaborative staff doesn’t shy away from joining us out on the water either! It is a few hours of great fun and conversation as the youths learn how to paddle and navigate the water, frequently led by Tim Lewis, avid paddler and CRC Trustee, and Barry Gorfain, an Appalachian Mountain Club instructor. Volunteers from the Great Meadows Conservation Trust also join us to help with boat safety and to ensure a positive experience.
One of the highlights of the summer was when the weather and water level were just right, and the youths felt that they wanted to kayak further than the cove. Tim led the way along with our staff and we set out onto the river and had a blast showing the youths another environment to kayak in.
Rhea Drozdenko and Ava Gandhi have helped strengthen the partnership this summer by communicating with the Compass Youth staff and ensuring that this activity is as safe and fun as it can be. We are looking forward to another successful summer next year!
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