Soggy cardboard may mean a missed Amazon delivery to you, but in our village it means we had an amazing day of fun. I was introduced to the American Canoe Association while helping organize cardboard boat races for Hudson Crossing Park of Schuylerville, NY. Many calls to insurance companies ended after the affirmative response was given to the question, “You put people in cardboard boats?!”
The ACA was the appropriate fit to bring this event to life. They understand the desire to get kids and adults out on the water for paddling adventures. In our version, you have to create your own boat out of cardboard and race it across the Hudson River. After completing our 20th year racing cardboard, our Titanic award winners, those who sink with the most flair, are still as much fun to watch as the speediest racers.
Hudson Crossing Park has been involved in accessibility training for the last year and a half. Our group was awarded grants from AARP and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation to install an accessible kayak launch, which has been an incredible asset. The universal design of our new kayak launch benefits everyone who uses it.
Paddling on Champlain Canal
The other avenue that has led me to the ACA was pure coincidence. I was experiencing burnout as a veterinary assistant, so I changed my profession to environmental educator at the local State Park. The timing was impeccable because two days in I was sitting on the water as part of a flatwater kayak instructor training. I was very fortunate to stumble upon something so valuable.
New York State Parks focus on wellness as a motivation for getting outside. We use that to create programs for taking people out on the water and creating a space for them to paddle on quiet waters while enjoying the views of wildlife. Guiding patrons on flatwater has a common effect on everyone: lowering of their cortisol level, heart rate, and overall stress.
Living in the watershed of any river for a few weeks leaves markers that can be traced in the human body. No blood test would be necessary to prove to me that I carry the Hudson and Niagara rivers with me. I’m glad that I’m able to introduce the joy of paddling to the community, young and old.
About the Author
Julie White has been an ACA member since 2013 and is a kayak instructor and environmental educator at a New York State Park. She helps organize the Hudson Crossing Park cardboard boat races in Schuylerville, NY, and leads wellness-focused paddling programs for people of all ages. Her favorite paddling is on quiet flatwater with little motorized boat traffic.
This story is published as part of the 2026 ACA Story Project, a month-long collection of stories written by ACA members. Without opportunity, these stories wouldn’t exist. That’s what the ACA does. Through education, stewardship, competition, and club support, we create opportunities for paddlers of all abilities. Your gift helps write the next chapter. Help us raise $25,000 by December 1 for the next paddler, and the one after that.
