RiverGuides

The innovative RiverGuides program has employed 4-8 Camden youth as Cooper River guides since summer 2016. Throughout the summer season, the RiverGuides take approximately 300 Camden community members on 10 ecology history paddle trips on the Cooper River. Each one of our RiverGuides helps guide these community paddles by providing safety briefings, teaching paddling strokes, and by sharing historical information at 9 sites along the Cooper River.

The program is special because it provides Camden youth with valuable and unique job experience, and because it makes on the water experience accessible to Camden community members. Our youth employees are able to practice their public presentation skills, to build confidence, and to feel senses of community ownership and pride during their time as RiverGuides. Meanwhile, the program provides an opportunity for Camden residents to see their city from an entirely new perspective. Together, RiverGuides and Camden citizens can experience the natural beauty that exists in Camden. By coming out and experiencing one of our paddles, you are supporting passionate youth who want to share the beauty of their surroundings with others.

On a RiverGuides paddle, you are likely to see blue herons, double crested cormorants, and other animals that call the Delaware River watershed home. Not to mention, beautiful wooden boats built by youth in our Urban BoatWorks boat shop!

To book a paddle, this click link    http://www.urbantrekkers.org/paddlingtrips

RiverGuides: Camden teens rediscover the Cooper River from UrbanTrekkers on Vimeo.