Читать книгу Carolina Whitewater - David Benner - Страница 11
ОглавлениеClubs and Organizations
There are a number of local and national organizations of which the paddler should be aware. We have listed those groups that we know are active in the surrounding area.
Most local clubs have as their main objectives training members to canoe more safely and preserving the streams on which they paddle. Generally they have regularly scheduled trips throughout most of the year and periodically publish newsletters, which are a valuable source of information for the canoeist.
For those who wish to improve their skills in a boat, it is almost a necessity to paddle with those having greater experience. In many areas the local club will be the only source of such experience.
Many of us begin paddling to get away from today’s busy life; to get back to nature; to see things that few others see; or to engage in an activity that few people do. For these reasons joining a club and participating in organized trips might seem alien to us. However, the fact remains, without organizations that are willing to work and fight to preserve our free-flowing streams, there may be none to enjoy in the future. We don’t care to see our rivers become the L.A. freeway at rush hour, but can we afford to be so selfish as to want to keep our favorite streams all to ourselves? How much weight will a handful carry when the Corps begins surveying for the best dam site? Your interest may be an occasional quiet float trip down your favorite stream with one or two close friends, but we hope you will see fit to support an organization in your area that may help you save that stream someday. We can save our rivers only if our numbers are large and we are well organized. Not quantity alone, but quantity with quality is needed. A good source for determining whether or not there is a club in your area might be your canoeing outfitter.
Carolina Canoe Club
P.O. Box 12932
Raleigh, NC 27605
Catawba Valley Outing Club
P.O. Box 895
Hickory, NC 28603
(828) 345-0066
Coastal Canoeists
P.O. Box 566
Richmond, VA 23218-0566
Georgia Canoeing Association
P.O. Box 7023
Atlanta, GA 30357
Lumber River Canoe Club
P.O. Box 7493
Lumberton, NC 28359
(910) 521-9321
groups.yahoo.com/group/lumberrivercanoeclub
Palmetto Paddlers
P.O. Box 984
Columbia, SC 29202-0984
(803) 653-8134
Tennessee Scenic Rivers
Association
P.O. Box 159041
Nashville, TN 37215-9041
(615) 230-9251
Triad River Runners
P.O. Box 11283
Bethabara Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27116
Western Carolina Paddlers
P.O. Box 8541
Asheville, NC 28814
NATIONAL
American Whitewater Affiliation
1424 Fenwick Lane
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Composed of boating clubs and individuals interested in whitewater paddling, the AWA promotes conservation, cruising, and wild water and slalom competition on national and international levels. American Whitewater, the journal of the affiliation, is published six times yearly.
American Canoe Association
7432 Alban Station Boulevard, Suite B-226
Springfield, VA 22150-2311
Comprised of individual members and clubs organized into regional divisions, the ACA conducts canoe and kayak cruises, promotes canoe sailing, encourages and sanctions competition, and has conservation as one of its prime areas of interest. Paddler, the official magazine, is published six times a year.
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
We are losing our free-flowing rivers and streams one by one in the frantic push for development. Whether that development is by damming, channelization, or dredging, many miles of wild, wonderful water will soon be lost forever. One of our most precious resources is going down the drain slowly but surely. We all must stand up and be heard if we are to stem the tide and save some of these waters for our future generations to know and enjoy.
There are many national and local organizations that have as one of their primary objectives the preservation of free-flowing waters. We list only a few of these in hope that the reader might see fit to join in and support the cause.
American Rivers
1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 720
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-7550
Founded in 1973, American Rivers publishes a quarterly newsletter that contains articles about recent action in Congress dealing with wild and scenic rivers and with water resource projects. Also covered are the progress of wild and scenic river studies being performed by federal agencies and state scenic river programs.
In addition to reporting on current events, the newsletter gives suggestions on how individuals can help protect rivers.
Conservation Council of North Carolina
P.O. Box 12671
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 839-0006
The Conservation Council of North Carolina is a statewide organization that coordinates activities of the many conservation groups within North Carolina. A monthly newsletter is published commenting on the various environmental concerns in the state. Among the many special committees of CCNC is the River Preservation Committee.
Sierra Club
85 Second Street, 2nd floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 977-5500
The Joseph LeConte Chapter of the Sierra Club is composed of members in North Carolina and currently has active groups within the chapter in most of the more populous areas of the state. Many of the groups have canoeing activities throughout the year.
