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SIX OR TWELVE DAY RIVER ADVENTURES

MIDDLE FORK AND MAIN SALMON RIVERS, IDAHO

7 Reasons why your kids need a river trip

And why YOU need one too!

Camping:

Spending time outside is the best thing we can give ourselves in today’s world of computers and smartphones, Netflix and Amazon Prime, Play station and Wii. Outdoor activities fuel the imagination and foster creativity. Today, KIDS NEED THIS MORE THAN EVER! They need to learn how to pitch a tent, sleep on the ground and play in nature without the distractions of i-pads and video games. Invaluable skills are gained by sharing space with other people, learning to work together and being considerate of others. Camping gives us the opportunity to realize how little we really need, to be comfortable and happy. It also gives us time and space to get in touch with ourselves and each other, unhindered by the busyness of modern life.

Nature:

Mother nature provides endless excitement through weather, beauty and fun opportunities. Elk, Deer and Big Horn Sheep roam the hillsides while Mink, Martin and Otter frolic in the river or peruse the shore. Eagles, Osprey, Falcons, and Hawks soar through the sky on the perpetual hunt, while King Fishers and shorebirds, flit about, looking for their next tasty meal. Wildflowers color the hillsides and fill the air with wonderful smells and the Geology changes around every corner.

Playing in the water:

What kid doesn’t like to play in water?  The river is all about water, morning, noon and night. During the day there are endless opportunities for kids to jump off of rafts and rocks, to have water fights and to swim. Alongshore there are beaches, pools, logs, rocks, and waterfalls. The river is like Mother Nature’s waterpark!

Playing in the wilderness:

When it’s time to dry off, the wilderness beckons. Stoic Ponderosa and Douglas Fir pines line the banks of the Salmon, while Huckleberries and Thimbleberries hide in the bushes. Ferns and Wild Prim Rose make for creative props in games and charades. Fallen logs and branches are just yearning to be built into forts, and sticks can’t wait to be a sword or a wand. An outdoor classroom, full of exploring, playing and creating!

Learn new sports:

A great place to try out new river sports is on a pool and drop river that’s rated class II-III, like the Main Salmon. The characteristics of a pool and drop river, provide for stretches of flat water with intermittent rapids. Class II-III whitewater is friendly and safe and a great place for beginners and intermediates to try out different types of crafts. Popular today are Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP) and Inflatable Kayaks (IK). Hone your skills through the flat water and test your skills through the rapids. Other options include building your teamwork skills on the paddle raft or testing your strength and coordination on an oar raft. And if you are really feeling brave, be one with the river and swim a rifle in your PFD (life jacket).

Social skills:

What a better place to learn social skills than living with 30 people for 6 days on the river. As a sort of tribe, we move down the river, exploring, eating, playing and camping. It’s a great opportunity to learn about compassion, sharing, personal space, privacy, and appreciation.

Unplugged from technology:

Is it easy to just let the kids put on a program, watch cartoons or play video games? Do you feel guilty about allowing this more often than you’d like too? Well, you can change that, at least for a week or two on the river. The beauty of river trips is there is NO CELL SERVICE, which means NO INTERNET EITHER. There’s also no electricity, so the natural world takes over.

IMAGINE….. campfire stories, star gazing, slumber parties, fort building, sand castle building, beach games, yard games, dress up and performances, water fights….all in lieu of digital entertainment.

 Immerse yourself and your kids in NATURE!

More about the Main Salmon River

 

About Greg McFadden

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