Camps Come to the Nantahala for Camaraderie, Canoes, and Competition
"As one of the primary sponsors, NOC welcomes the youth summer camp programs that participate in the annual Camp Cup Challenge! This event is organized by the Alzar School." The Camp Cup Challenge is a whitewater paddling event involving several summer camps from North Carolina and other states. Campers will meet for two days of canoeing, group activities, and community building on the Nantahala River. Monday is set aside for familiarizing campers and camp staff with the race course and slalom gates, and for spending time with friends on and off the river. Tuesday is race day, and camps cheer each other down the course, practicing the Olympic ideals of Friendship, Fair Play, and Doing Your Best.
The event is an opportunity for young paddlers to meet and develop friendships with like-minded youths, and gives kids a venue in which to build a community of active, engaged, and enthusiastic peers. Event highlights include a beginner-friendly slalom race on the Nantahala Bridge Gates as well as a downriver race through Nantahala Falls. Over 120 young paddlers participated in the 2011 Camp Cup Challenge, which was spearheaded by Sean and Kristin Bierle of the Alzar School, based in Boise, ID. Bierle, an alumna of Camp Green Cove in North Carolina, says "It was probably one of my favorite days of camp, and I wanted these campers to have the same experience I had and be exposed to new ways of paddling."
In years past, former US Canoe/Kayak Olympian Wayne Dickert has been onhand to offer encouragement and coaching advice, as well 1992 Olympic gold medallist Joe Jacobi and Juliet Kastorff, owner and instructor at Endless River Adventures, and one of the coaches of the Nantahala Kids Club. According to Dickert, "This event continues to grow each year because of the concept: It's not about the competition; it's about getting together and boating."
The Camp Cup Challenge is regularly attended by the following: Camp Kahdalea, Camp Glen Arden, Falling Creek Camp, Camp Carolina, Camp Chosatonga, Camp Green Cove, Camp Highrocks, Camp Illahee, Camp Kahdalea, Camp Merrie-Woode, Camp Mondamin and Camp Wayfarer.
Event sponsors will provide prizes, and names will be drawn from a hat to ensure that everyone recieves a gift.
For more information on the Camp Cup Challenge, or to get involved, please contact the event organizer, Alzar School. You can reach the Alzar School's Head Teacher, Sean Bierle at
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