Submission #28336 by Anshe Emet Men'S Club - Chicago, IL (608)
2023
I have read the 2023 Torch Awards Program Guidelines.
Kayaking on the Chicago River
Health and Wellness
Page 1
Post pandemic revival of of annual program combining exercise and nature. We meet at a boathouse on the Chicago River about 15 minutes from the synagogue on a Sunday morning in September. Program includes coffee/hot chocolate and bagels/cream cheese provided by our club, followed by a brief tutorial and approx. 90 minutes of paddling up and back on the north branch of the Chicago River. We typically see herons, egrets, ducks, geese and other water fowl. Program is open to families with children ages 10 and up.
We begin advertising 3-4 weeks in advance of the program, careful to schedule around the holidays and back to school timetables. The only cost is what the kayaking provider charges us (each attendee pays onsite after we finish on the river, typically $20-30 boat). We bring coffee and bagels for all as well as hot chocolate for the younger participants (we usually have 1-2 father/son/daughter teams). We can choose single or tandem kayaks, as well as canoes. Not only is there great comradery amongst the paddlers, but we learn to appreciate our city from a completely different perspective (namely that the big city is not just about traffic and noise, but also offers serenity and wildlife). Paddlers can choose how far they want to paddle - if they get tired they can turn around sooner.
Page 2
Original Program
Bronze