On behalf of L.L.Bean, the ACA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Club Fostered Community (CFC) Grant program. Each of the organizations listed below have shown dedication to increasing accessibility and equitable paddling opportunities for their communities. We look forward to witnessing and sharing in the success of these organizations and programs. Stay tuned for their lessons and examples that you can bring back into your community.
Canyon River Instruction – The “NariNauka” Women’s Whitewater Guide Training program has been designed to create the first ever female raft guides on the Ganges River in India!
Community Boating Center – EcoAdventure Community Boating Center’s (CBC) youth “EcoAdventure” program provides funding for low to moderate income children and teens to attend paddling and sailing lessons at CBC. CBC is a leader in the efforts to bring paddling to at-risk youth in order to improve social, physical and mental health and educational outcomes, through fun and engaging out-of-school programs. EcoAdventure funds are awarded according to financial need. CBC is committed to serving Greater Providence and Southeastern MA youth and families of all representative races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. Children from different cultures and backgrounds work together, learning tolerance, trust and respect. Our focus is on enabling youth to experience the joy, wonder, and confidence that result from learning how to paddle and sail, while also experientially acquiring key STEM competencies; skills that youth will rely on for the rest of their educational and professional careers.
Georgia Canoe Association – Alongside our partner Georgia River Network (GRN), the Georgia Canoe Association feel a personal responsibility to foster inclusion in our paddling community through the Bridging the Outdoor Recreation Gap in Atlanta and Across Georgia project. To this end our goal is to identify and empower emerging recreation leaders in underrepresented communities to provide training opportunities to fine-tune paddling skills with the goal of coaching these individuals to complete the ACA instructor certification process.
La Raza Explorers – Organized by Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers, La Raza Explorers provides the growing Hispanic population of Tampa Bay with educational paddling opportunities in their language and cultural representation.
‘Ohana Wa’a Laulima – The third annual King Kamehameha Awesome Athletes Inclusive Canoe Race as well as safely showcase IDD canoe athletes on the world stage at the IVF World Sprint Championship.
Pride Day on the River – Pride Day on the River will take place on the Deerfield River in Charlemont, Massachusetts. All LGBTQ+ people and allies are invited to paddle, make friends, and create community connections.
Team River Runner – Team River Runner (TRR) provides veterans and their families with opportunities to participate in paddlesports all over the country. TRR’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will be hosting a LGBTQ+/BIPOC Affinity Paddling Clinic. This event is an overnight wilderness whitewater paddling clinic on the Lower Deschutes River in Oregon for LGBTQ+/BIPOC identifying veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Wild Science Explorers – Nez Perce Natural History and Paddling Project aims to expand rafting access to Nez Perce Native American teens on the nearby Lower Salmon River, which has been traditionally used by the Nez Perce for hundreds of years, and incorporate Nez Perce natural history into rafting trips for low income teens.
To learn about past L.L.Bean grant recipients and projects, please click here.