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Category Archives: White Water Rafting

White Water Rafting Builds Confidence, Friendships and Develops Skills at CCB

Here at Camp Carolina we aim to take all of our campers out of camp in the first week on an exciting all day rafting trip to either the Pigeon River or French Broad River. We have commercial permits on both of these rivers as well as a fleet of self inflating rafts to get the campers out on the rivers for some high adventure fun in the sun!

We conduct a 3 night/4 day white water rafting training course with several of our counselors to ensure they are trained to the highest standard and have plenty of experience setting up, guiding and packing down the raft trips so when the campers arrive the trip runs like clockwork. The training trip covers all aspects of water safety, preparation and focuses on ensuring that the campers have a fun and safe experience paddling down either  river.

This week we have had the Newts, Dogs, Manders and Huggers all out on a white water rafting trip. The trips leave CCB right after breakfast on the big yellow school bus for a 1-2 hour scenic drive. The campers arrive at the river and the counselors set up the rafts or get lunch ready before the big trip! The campers are generally on the river for 2 hours and work as a team to get down the river smoothly. The rapids range in grade from 2-4 depending on the river and give the campers periods of high adventure and excitement where everyone in the boat works as a team. Our guides ensure during the flat periods of the river that the campers get out for a swim, play the famous pirate raft wars and set up a raft slide on some rocks along the way. We then pack up the rafts, load up the bus and head back to camp-just in time for the vita-pups! That evening at dinner time we have the famous “Rocky” award. Parents-Ask your sons…

Campers are placed in rafts with their new cabin mates and so team work and cooperation are encouraged right from the start of the session. Friendships and bonds also develop and strengthen during the raft trips between the counselors and campers as a cabin group setting them up for an awesome session here at Camp Carolina.

 

 

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Dogs Whitewatering and Barbecued Lola!

The second Tuesday of the June session saw one of the best days for the Dogs Tribe yet! It all started with an announcement at breakfast. “Finally, we have an all day Whitewater Rafting trip for the DOGS!!!” The boys went wild, and we soon found ourselves aboard “Big Richard” on our way to the Upper Pigeon! The anticipation of the awesome trip to come could be felt as we excitedly chanted, sang, and put the finishing touches on our tribal song for that night.

Before we knew it we had arrived at the river! We had some lunch, sun-blocked up, and each grabbed a life jacket, helmet, and paddle before setting out down the mighty Pigeon! The rapids were huge – much bigger than on the Lower Pigeon that some of the boys had done as Newts! “All forward” was the call as we approached the raging torrents, and the boys paddled their hardest to ensure we all got over the rapids safely! “Left forward, right back!” was the call on the flats, as we spun the rafts in circles, invaded other rafts, and swatted away the beaver sharks with our paddles! “All backwards” was the call from raft guide Mark as he accidentally ran his raft aground – Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! “All forwards!!! Go hard!!!” was the call as we approached the epic “Hawaii Five O” rapid at the end of the section, and we all hurled over it with water spraying over our bodies and big smiles on our faces!

WHAT AN AWESOME TRIP!!!

The dogs enjoying their rafting adventure!

But the fun wasn’t over yet! Once back at camp we tucked into some delicious dinner, and then it was time to perform the song we had prepared for the tribal song contest! Our song was to the tune of “Forget You” by Cee Lo Brown, but it was instead called “Barbecue” and was a comedic song about the temptation to cook and eat owner Alfred’s daughter Bren’s pet pig “Lola”! The boys gave a rousing performance, with lots of energy and enthusiasm, and even remembered all the words! Bren wasn’t very impressed, but the judges were, and the Dogs were awarded best tribe song! The boys feasted upon their reward of pizza and soda until their bellies were heavy and their counselors were done pulling them down from the walls. What an amazing day for the Dogs tribe at CCB! And the amazing thing is, it only gets better from here!

Lola in her element!

BOY AM I ENTHUSIASTIC!  WHAT A DAY!  WHAT A DAY!  WHAT A DAY!

www.campcarolina.com

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2011 in White Water Rafting

 

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