The ACA Story Project - ACA
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Beyond the Paddle: The ACA Story Project

The ACA Story Project is a month-long opportunity to remember, share, and celebrate the people and moments that make paddling great by publishing stories from ACA members. Our hope is that you read the stories, they bring a smile to your face, and if you are able and willing, you give back to paddlesports either through a donation or your time. When we all do this, we ensure the future is even brighter than the past.

This year, we are collecting stories about how ACA members found their way to paddlesports or to the ACA. For some, this may be the same story! For others, their journey from their first stroke to the ACA may be a long one. We will be publishing member stories throughout the month of November. If you would like to contribute a story for the 2027 ACA Story Project, you may do so here.

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Featured Story: Wellness on the Waterways

Wellness on the Waterways by Julie White

Soggy cardboard means a missed delivery to some, but in Schuylerville, NY, it means a day of fun on the Hudson River. Julie White shares how cardboard boat races, an accessible kayak launch, and flatwater paddling help her community find peace on the water.

Read Wellness on the Waterways

Coming November 7

A Life on the Water by Kay Henry

Kay Henry’s life on the water has taken her from a summer camp pastime to co-founding Mad River Canoe, helping create the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail, and paddling expeditions across Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, and Africa. Read her story for inspiration and her top tips for a successful expedition.

2026 Story Project Library

Unidentified Floating Objects by Maurice Van de Maele

Read Unidentified Floating Objects

Broken Trailers and UFOs by MacKenzie Holbrook

Read Broken Trailers and UFOs

Finding My Place on the Water by Arseni Mashko

Read Finding My Place on the Water

More Than Paddling: A Life on the River by Holly Orr

Read More Than Paddling: A Life on the River

Interlink by Nico Harman

Read Interlink

Sweet Spot by Robert Kauffman

Read Sweet Spot

2025 Story Project Library

Physical copies of the 2025 ACA Story Project can be purchased here.

Thank you to each of the donors who contributed to this fundraiser in 2025! We appreciate you all!

Kirk Havens, Cheryl Johnson, Taylor Tupy, David Mason, Hillari Freireich, Robert Pope, Mark Allio, Susan Norman, Robert Morris, Jaqueline Austin, E Laguardia, Mona Barbera, Charles Albright, Erin Shaffer, Steve Kelly, Deborah Nolan, Mike Aronoff, Lisa Deziel, Kaycee Maas, Joseph Pulliam, Pamela Dillon, Joel Smoker, Robin Blumer, Brett Mayer, Lynne Andrus, Antonio Busalacchi, Risa Shimoda, William Kent Ford, Susan Eda, Colleen Austin Crino, Patrick Schnell, Marc Hunt, Michael Kohr, DAF giving 360 on behalf of Guy Newhall, Bert Hinkley, Loren Edelson, Dana Dacus-Hare, Janie Law, Jack Ditty, Tom Potter, Eric Slough, Beverly Cosslett, William Ferry, Carlos Ifarraguerri, Steve Cuddeback, Matt Drayer, Beth Spilman, Jedediah Hinkley, Bill Demong, Carl Van Loan, David Reichel

The Ride of a Lifetime by Bill Endicott

Read Bill's Story

Learning from the River by Jeff Oxenford

Read Jeff's Story

Finding Great-Grandpa’s Island: A Massasauga Adventure by Eric Slough

Read Eric's Story

Following Waters by Brett Mayer

Read Brett's Story

Paddling: A Life Transformed by Risa Shimoda

Read Risa's Story

Chronic Illness Took My Freedom: Kayaking Gave it Back! by Kelly Rudolph

Read Kelly's Story

Falling Into the Deep End in New York City by Tom Potter

Read Tom's Story

It Started with a Merit Badge by Bob Bofinger

Read Bob's Story

Hurricane Helene’s Silver Lining by Adam Herzog

Read Adam's Story

Calm Within the Chaos by Taylor Stoudnour

Read Taylor's Story

A Special Love for the French Broad River by Marc Hunt

Read Marc's Story

Born in the ACA by Marilyn Vogel

Read Marilyn's Story

Generations of Award-Winning Paddlers by Kirk Havens

Watch Kirk's Video

A Lifetime of Leadership On and Off the Water by David Mason

Read David's Story

The Steak’s Sizzle by Robert Kauffman

Read Robert's Story

Boy Meets Kayak and Drowns by Michael Gray

Read Michael's Story

Somebody’s Gotta Do It by Charles Albright

Read Charles' Story

Glitter Freckles and Gate Poles: How One Paddler Sparkled Her Way Into Canoe Slalom by Colleen Crino

Read Lucy's Story

Olivia’s Story and Two Voices by Wayne Douchkoff

Read Wayne's Story

My ACA Journey by Sam Fowlkes

Read Sam's Story

From a Beer Label to the Allagash: A Solo Canoe Adventure by Will Law

Read Will's Story

An ACA Life: Teaching Paddling by Mike Aronoff

Read Mike's Story

Keep Your Boat Out of Storage by Michael McHugh

Read Michael's Story

Paddling’s Pivotal Role by Mike Mather

Read Mike's Story

Teach Like Lives Depend on It by Adrianne Burke

Read Adrianne's Story

A Whitewater Safety Journey by Charles Walbridge

Read Charlie's Story

The Paddle That Changed My Life’s Course by Loren Edelson

Read Loren's Story

Speed Demon by Kianna Morse

Read Kianna's Story