17 Organizations. Countless Connections. One Shared Commitment to Making Paddling Accessible to Everyone.
What happens when passionate community organizations receive the resources they need to open doors, remove barriers, and welcome more people onto the water? New paddlers discover confidence. Friendships are formed. Future leaders emerge. And communities grow stronger, one paddle stroke at a time.
In 2026, the American Canoe Association (ACA), with the generous support of L.L.Bean, funded 17 organizations through the Club Fostered Community (CFC) Grant Program, supporting innovative initiatives that expanded access to paddlesports for underserved and historically underrepresented communities.
From adaptive paddling experiences and youth development programs to instructor training, cultural education, and international drowning prevention efforts, these projects demonstrated that paddling is about much more than recreation. It’s about belonging, opportunity, empowerment, and connection.
As we celebrate the conclusion of this year’s funded initiatives, we’re excited to share the 2026 Club Fostered Community Grant Report, a collection of stories, achievements, and meaningful outcomes from organizations making a difference in communities across the country and beyond.
Celebrating Our 2026 Funded Organizations
Breaking Barriers Instruction Team – BIPOC Introduction to Whitewater Paddling
Breaking Barriers hosted a first-of-its-kind, two-day whitewater kayaking experience on the Potomac River, bringing together BIPOC participants and certified instructors in a supportive, culturally inclusive learning environment. By providing equipment, transportation assistance, and mentorship from experienced instructors of color, the program helped participants build confidence, develop new skills, and envision their own futures in whitewater paddling.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse – NYCHA Family Days
Through four free Family Paddle Days, Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse introduced hundreds of New York City residents to kayaking, with particular outreach to families living in nearby public housing communities. Additional trained volunteers and guides made participation more accessible to young paddlers while strengthening connections between urban residents and their local waterways.
Cal Poly’s Adaptive Paddling Program – Central Coast Adaptive Paddling Community Expansion
Cal Poly continued expanding inclusive kayaking opportunities for participants with disabilities through individualized instruction, adaptive equipment, and a welcoming environment. The program demonstrated how thoughtful adaptations and ongoing community support can help paddlers of varying abilities experience independence, confidence, and lasting enjoyment on the water.
Collegiate Whitewater Fest
Collegiate Whitewater Fest brought together 108 racers, including 77 students representing 22 schools across six states, for an exciting celebration of whitewater competition and community. Supported by more than 40 safety volunteers, the event created opportunities for students to develop their skills, connect with mentors, and build friendships that extend far beyond the racecourse.
Colorado Outrigger Canoe Club – She Paddles Denver
The She Paddles Denver initiative introduced 24 teenage girls and women to outrigger canoeing through four instructional clinics, more than doubling its original participation goal. By removing equipment barriers and offering mentorship, coaching, and continued club involvement, the project helped establish a foundation for sustained participation and future women’s paddling opportunities.
Diversify Whitewater – Pacific Northwest Progression Program
Diversify Whitewater provided free, progressive whitewater instruction to 28 paddlers of color, helping participants advance from foundational skills to river-running experiences. The program’s emphasis on mentorship and community connection encouraged continued participation, with former participants returning as volunteers and emerging leaders.
James River Women
James River Women delivered 33 community paddling opportunities throughout the 2026 season, engaging 90 unique participants in 220 paddling experiences along Virginia’s James River. Powered by 22 dedicated volunteers, the organization helped new and returning paddlers build technical skills, overcome fears, and discover a welcoming community of friends and mentors.
Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club – All Kids on the Water
Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club expanded adaptive paddleboarding opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through specialized equipment, therapeutic partnerships, and family-focused programming. Seven occupational and physical therapists received training, helping establish sustainable opportunities for individuals with disabilities to experience the confidence, connection, and enjoyment of paddling.
Páah Áama Paddle Club – A Celebration of Indigenous California Canoe Carvers
Páah Áama Paddle Club brought six Native American youth onto Humboldt Bay for a unique experience combining sea kayaking, Indigenous cultural education, and environmental stewardship. Through partnerships with local instructors and the Wiyot Tribe’s cultural center, participants strengthened their connections to ancestral waterways while learning about traditional canoe culture and Indigenous history.
Paddle Boston – Em(barco): Paddle the Mystic River
Paddle Boston partnered with the Mystic River Watershed Association and Latino Outdoors Boston to host three community events combining recreational paddling, bilingual water safety education, and environmental stewardship. Participants discovered new opportunities to explore their local waterways while volunteers helped protect the Mystic River through invasive plant and litter removal.
Paddlesports Institute – Queer Affinity Certification Course
The Paddlesports Institute continued its commitment to inclusive leadership development through a nine-day LGBTQ+ affinity-based Swiftwater Rescue Instructor Course on the Potomac River. The initiative certified three new instructors and provided rescue training to eight additional paddlers, demonstrating how welcoming educational spaces can strengthen confidence, technical skills, and representation in paddlesports leadership.
Rocky Mountain Canoe Club – Colorado Kids on the Water
Rocky Mountain Canoe Club partnered with BeyondHome, a transitional housing community, to introduce children and families to paddlesports through four summer outings in Colorado. Through volunteer-led instruction and opportunities to explore different paddlecraft, young participants grew from hesitant beginners into enthusiastic paddlers while developing meaningful relationships with volunteers.
Safety and Rescue Instructor Alliance – World Drowning Prevention Day
The Safety and Rescue Instructor Alliance mobilized an extraordinary international network of volunteers for World Drowning Prevention Day, providing free, potentially lifesaving water safety education to more than 1,850 individuals through 42 clinics across 13 countries in five languages. By substantially exceeding its original goal of reaching 1,000 participants, the initiative demonstrated the remarkable impact of collaboration, volunteer leadership, and a shared commitment to preventing drowning.
Sovereign Waters – A Community Pathway to Water Confidence
Sovereign Waters expanded culturally responsive paddling and water safety opportunities throughout Minnesota, reaching historically underserved communities through multilingual education and welcoming recreational experiences. From Mississippi River outings to community celebrations and a memorable Full Moon Paddle, the organization helped participants and families build confidence, connect with nature, and discover a sense of belonging on the water.
Trinity Coalition – L.E.A.D. Program
Trinity Coalition invested in developing community paddlesports leaders through hands-on training in trip planning, risk awareness, and group leadership. By equipping participants with the skills and confidence to introduce others to paddling, the program created opportunities for continued growth and greater access to North Texas waterways.
Team River Runner – Denver Chapter
Team River Runner’s Denver Chapter guided wounded and disabled veterans through its From Pool to River program, progressing from introductory kayaking skills to lake activities and a multi-day Colorado River adventure. Through adaptive instruction, teamwork, and shared outdoor experiences, participants developed confidence, celebrated personal accomplishments, and strengthened supportive relationships with fellow veterans and volunteers.
True Patriot Outfitters – Tier 2 Field Operations
True Patriot Outfitters provided free kayak fishing and camping opportunities to approximately 60 veterans and first responders, including 18 individuals experiencing kayaking for the first time. Through accessible outdoor adventures, environmental stewardship, and meaningful peer connections, the program offered opportunities for recreation, personal renewal, and lasting friendships.
Beyond the Numbers: A Lasting Investment in Community
While the participation numbers, certifications, clinics, and community events tell an impressive story, the greatest impact of the 2026 Club Fostered Community Grant Program cannot be measured by numbers alone.
It’s reflected in the child who discovers the confidence to paddle independently. The veteran who finds a renewed sense of freedom, purpose, and friendship. The aspiring instructor who finally sees someone like themselves leading the way. The family experiencing their local waterway together for the first time. And the volunteer who discovers that sharing a passion for paddling can change someone’s life.
Since 2002, the ACA and L.L.Bean have partnered to support grassroots paddling organizations, investing nearly $200,000 in more than 195 waterway stewardship initiatives. In 2021, that partnership evolved into the Club Fostered Community program, with a renewed focus on removing barriers and making paddling more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming. Since that transition, the ACA and L.L.Bean have invested an additional $121,850 in 63 community-based projects, empowering local organizations to expand their reach, introduce new audiences to paddlesports, and create lasting opportunities for connection, confidence, and belonging on the water.
The 2026 projects are a powerful reflection of what can happen when we invest in organizations that already know their communities, understand their needs, and have the passion to make a difference. We extend our sincere gratitude to L.L.Bean for its continued generosity, to the 17 funded organizations for their creativity and commitment, and to the countless instructors, volunteers, community partners, and participants who brought these projects to life.
We invite you to explore the newly available 2026 Club Fostered Community Grant Report, featuring project highlights, participant experiences, photographs, and inspiring stories from this year’s funded organizations.
Explore the Full 2026 Club Fostered Community Grant Report.
The Ripples Keep Growing
The conclusion of a grant cycle is not the end of these stories. It is the beginning of what comes next.
The equipment purchased this year will introduce new paddlers to the water for years to come. The instructors trained will share their knowledge with future generations. The friendships formed will strengthen clubs and communities. And the confidence gained by someone taking their first paddle strokes may inspire them to become tomorrow’s instructor, volunteer, advocate, or leader.
That’s the true power of investing in community: one opportunity creates another, one paddler inspires the next, and a single experience on the water can create ripples that reach far beyond the shoreline.
Together, we’re not simply helping more people go paddling. We’re building a future where everyone has the opportunity to belong on the water.
