Riverside State Park’s Nine Mile Recreation Area on Lake Spokane (Long Lake) will once again host this free, family event designed to introduce human-powered paddling sports to children and youth in a fun, safe and supervised setting. Families can participate in a hands-on outdoor activity completely free of cost or obligation to see if boating fits into their family’s lifestyle. All types of paddle craft are available for use, including canoes, kayaks, stand up paddleboards and a voyager canoe. All equipment, including paddles and personal flotation devices, are provided. A Washington State Parks Discover Pass is required and will be for sale on-site. All on-water participants or their parents must sign insurance liability waivers.
This is the Spokane Canoe & Kayaks Club’s 5th annual Paddle Splash and Play event. The number of participants has grown annually with last year’s event doubling in size to 178 new paddlers. This degree of success and popularity presented a dilemma to SCKC as the insurance cost, charged per person, was becoming prohibitive. Thankfully, the Seattle Boat Show, a subsidiary of the Northwest Marine Trade Association, granted $950 in unrestricted funds to augment the budget. The event fit hand-in-glove with the Seattle Boat Show’s “Grow Boating” and “Youth Boating” grants criteria. Long term supporters and sponsors of the Paddle Splash and Play event include AVISTA Utilities, Spokane Parks and Recreation, Mountain Gear, and Out There Monthly. And the event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of individual SCKC volunteers who share basic paddling skills and water safety. Learn more at www.sckc.ws. //
