State Park Reps Discuss Importance Of Park Paddlers Program & Life Enhancement Of Growing Sport
With an abundance of beautiful nature and expansive bodies of water, the Georgia State Parks are a “must visit” for any outdoor adventurist or nature loving traveler. One great way to visit a handful of these parks and even win a T-shirt and some bragging rights is through the Park Paddlers Club. This program is a fun and rewarding way for outdoor enthusiasts to really take advantage of all the beauty Georgia has to offer.
In this program, kayakers and canoers test their endurance with a combined total of 22 miles’ worth of gorgeous, scenic water routes. Paddlers ages 3 and up are able to pay an initial, one-time fee of 10 dollars in exchange for a punch card. From here on out the voyage is on them, with challenges offered throughout six different parks.
After each park is paddled, a punch is issued. Once the entire journey has been completed, a t-shirt is awarded. It is a unique design to look like water has been splashed up the back of.
Kim Hatcher, Public Affairs Coordinator for Georgia State Parks, explains that “it is something that must be earned and cannot be bought” marking the stamina of a true paddle-boarder.
Hatcher, who has completed these challenges herself, says that out of all of the parks, the Stephen C. Foster State Park is her absolute favorite. It is located at the entrance to the Okefenokee Swamp in Southern Georgia where you can paddle amongst lily pads and Spanish moss. Adding to the beauty of the adventure, the park is home to many owls.
One of the more challenging, from her point of view, is located in Southern Georgia at the Crooked River State Park in beautiful St. Mary’s. The twist is found within river’s changing tides. To complete the task, the paddle boarder will need to go out with the stream and return with it. Timing is crucial but can be effectively coordinated by contacting the Crooked River State Park office for a strategic advantage.
“I like being so close to the water’s surface,” explains Kim on the joys of kayaking, which she enjoys but, by extension, paddle boarding. “You see turtles, frogs, and fish from a different perspective. Blackwater springs are especially beautiful because everything reflects in the water.[Plus] it’s really great for photography.”
Another great park discreetly tucked away from busy city life is Sweetwater Creek State Park. Located only 15 miles away from Atlanta, this hidden gem provides an escape from urban life with its beautiful landscaping which includes 12 miles of hiking trails, campgrounds and a clear, blue, 215-acre lake that is the perfect spot for any water activity.
While Sweetwater is a great place to kayak and canoe, it is especially excellent for those interested in trying their luck at Paddle Boarding.
Elizabeth Shead, Sweetwater Creek State Park Secretary for the last 18 months, started leading the park’s paddle boarding program at summer’s end in 2015. She has helped develop the program even further to provide a unique bucket list experience for interested or intrigued sportsmen and women.
An avid paddle-boarder for nearly 3 years, Elizabeth has helped to expand the park’s “Intro to Paddle Boarding” class and, beginning in late May 2016, will be teaching a “Sunrise” class. This class, available to experienced participants ages 18 and up, offers a meditative take on paddle boarding by optimizing the serene environment with her students.
The key with many participants, as a basic rule of thumb, is learning the basics of paddle boarding: water safety, the different parts of the board, and how to hold the paddle. The second stage of the training after the “Intro” is taking the board out on the lake. The focus of this training is to teach users how to safely get on and off the board even if they fall off into deeper water.
Elizabeth says that paddle boarding is different from other water sports in many ways. Unlike with canoes and kayaks, paddle boarding requires its user to engage all muscles of the body. It also doesn’t require the same amount of space and equipment that a canoe, kayak, or water skiing would. Paddle boarding can be done in a variety of settings, including oceans, channels, and lakes-both small and large.
When it comes to achieving goals, including the Park Paddlers Club, Elizabeth has noticed that most beginners just need to get out on the water. Plus this kind of activity offers a break from the mundane routine of daily life and provides a dexterous challenge, both mental and physical.
The physical activity illustrated in paddle boarding highlighted endurance test…and stamina. While many people hit the gym to get their exercise in, paddle boarding feels nearly effortless while still engaging every muscle in the body to provide full health benefits-from cardio to muscle tone.
Ultimately though, the sport is about encouraging a sense of calm. “Paddle boarding invokes feelings of peace, joy, freedom, and serenity” relates Elizabeth. She loves being in the water, and notes that the connection to nature with paddle boarding is more extensive than with any other water sport she has yet to take part in. One of those true moments, for her, occurs lying out on the board…right in the middle of the lake. Therein, for her, lies a true connection to nature.
Lindsay Roundtree
Pursuing a degree at the University Of Utah in Psychology, Lindsay has written for Underground Barber among others. She enjoys hiking, coffee and cooking.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Crooked River State Park, located on south tip of Georgia’s Colonial Coast. It is the perfect spot for enjoying the Intracoastal waterway and maritime forest surrounded by Spanish moss-draped oaks.