Summer Solstice Celebration - ACA

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Summer Solstice Celebration

Win big prizes this summer solstice. To celebrate all that is paddling we are providing opportunities to connect with your community and reflect on what draws us to the water. By entering into our short essay and photo contest, you can show off your creative side and tell the world why you love to paddle. 

Get to know your paddling community better by organizing or attending a paddling event over the Summer Solstice! Publicize your event on the ACA Website with this Event Calendar Submission Form and we will help get the word out.

Want to get involved but not sure how? Contact our Communications Coordinator with any inquiries.

2023 ACA Summer Solstice Celebration Events

June 20 – 24 | Paddle Under the Midnight Sun | Palmer, Alaska

June 20 | Summer Solstice Kayaking 101 – Paddle Perry | Tell City, Indiana

June 21 | LA River Summer Solstice Paddle – Los Angeles Kayak Club | Los Angeles, California

June 21 | Party at the Playwave | Cañon City, Colorado

June 21 | SYOTR Summer Solstice on the Farmington | Simsbury, Connecticut

June 21 | Community Paddle with Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers | Dunedin Causeway, Florida

June 21 | Paddle into the Summer Solstice | Tampa, Florida

June 21 | Hui Wa’a Kaukahi Summer Solstice Paddle | Kapolei, Hawaii

June 21 | Quad Cities Kayakers Group Summer Solstice Paddle | Cleveland, Illinois

June 21 | Kansas City Summer Solstice Paddle | Shawnee, Kansas

June 21 | Summer Solstice Paddle with Green Waters Paddling | Stanford, Kentucky

June 21 | Summer Solstice City of Birds Kayak Tour | Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 21 | Summer Solstice Heart of Minneapolis Kayak Tour | Minneapolis, Minnesota

June 21 | Level 1: Flatwater Kayak Safety and Rescue Skills Assessment | Gulfport, Mississippi

June 21| Adventure Days: James River Kayaking | Springfield, Missouri

June 21 | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse Summer Solstice Celebration | Hoboken, New Jersey

June 21 | Adult Kayak Lesson with Breakaway Excursions | Auburn, Ohio

June 21 | Summer Solstice Sunset Paddle | Mount Vernon, Ohio

June 21 | Solstice Pop-up Paddling | Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania

June 21 | Summer Solstice Paddle Day at Congaree National Park | Gadsden, South Carolina

June 21 | Boy’s Home Leader Training Paddle | Daleville, Virginia

June 21 | Remada de Solsticio | San Isidro, Argentina

June 21 | Summer Solstice Paddle Meet-up on the Sarapiqui River | La Virgen, Costa Rica

June 22 | Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking Skills Course | Gulfport, Mississippi

June 22-25 | Freshwater Paddler Sea Kayak Symposium | Cornucopia, Wisconsin

June 23 – 25 | DemoFest – Zoar Outdoor | Charlemont, Massachusetts

June 24 | Summer Solstice Paddle | Gurabo, Puerto Rico

 

Essay & Photo Contest

This Summer Solstice, the ACA is wants celebrate paddling and our wonderful community. Submit a short (max. 750 word) essay and photo about why you are choosing to spend the longest days of the year on the water, paddling. 

 

Prompt:Today is the longest day of the year, and I am paddling because… 

 

Theme: Unity – We are a unique and eclectic group of people unified by our love of paddling. We want to know what makes paddling special to you and why it is important to protect the waters that we love to paddle.

1st Place Prize

2nd Place Prize

  • $500 NRS Gift Card

3rd Place Prize

Submit Your Essay and Photo 

Terms and Conditions: 

Essays Requirements

  • Less than 750 words 
  • Original 
  • Non-fictional 
  • Unpublished 
  • Written in English 
  • Submissions accepted April 22 – June 30

Judging Criteria (Points/100)

  • Relevance to the theme – connection to the prompt (20 pts. possible)
  • Comprehensiveness – how complete the writer’s description and explanation of why they love to paddle (20 pts. possible)
  • Originality – uniqueness, novelty and authenticity of ideas (20 pts. possible)
  • Insights – a fresh way of looking at things, critical exploration of what makes paddling special  (20 pts. possible)
  • Quality image accompanying essay (20 pts. possible)

If Selected

  • Winners will be announced on July 21
  • Winning essays will be published on the ACA website 
  • Winners will be contacted by email 
  • Prize will be sent via mail or email as appropriate within 1 month of notification 

Agreement

You retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you grant the ACA a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of paddlesports through the ACA’s website, social media accounts, and email correspondence. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible.

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