The Rockbrook Rapids!
In addition to the paddling offered during our regular camps, Rockbrook has 2 special 1-week camp sessions that focus on whitewater kayaking— the Rockbrook Rapids.
These whitewater kayak instruction programs are perfect for girls who have enjoyed kayaking and want to do more, including spending every day kayaking.
Girls Kayak Instruction
Led by Leland Davis and other experienced instructors, these kayak camps combine overnight camping trips with in-camp accommodations. They emphasize safely having fun on the water while gaining personal skills and confidence in a friendly, cooperative and non-competitive atmosphere. And being Rockbrook Camp sessions, they are guaranteed to be a zany good time!
Girls who have finished the 5th grade up to the 10th grade are eligible to attend these kayaking intensive camps. Enrollment is limited to 8 girls per session.
Rockbrook is located in the Southeastern US, a breathtakingly beautiful area that is home to the highest concentration of beginner and intermediate rivers found anywhere. There’s a huge variety of whitewater challenges, making this an ideal environment to learn kayaking, to play and have a good time on the water. Beyond the rivers here in Western North Carolina, we’ll also travel to nearby states (SC, GA, AL, TN, VA, and WV, for example) to camp and enjoy other appropriate rapids and river flows for each group.
Whitewater Action
Kayaking Camp
The Sessions
June Kayaking Camp: This session begins on Class I-II whitewater, refreshing and honing basic skills before progressing to Class III rapids towards the end of the week. This session is perfect for girls who have a good wet-exit and have done any previous kayaking in a whitewater boat, who are eager to learn more skills, explore new rivers, and want to experience camping out near the river.
July Kayaking Camp: This more advanced session starts with a skills review on Class II water before quickly progressing to Class III and when appropriate will provide opportunities for kids to try their hand at a few Class IV rapids. This week is for girls who are comfortable on Class II water, have tried some Class III, and want to step it up. This week will also feature multiple overnight camping trips near the rivers we paddle.
How to Register
Visit our Session Dates and Rates page to learn more and sign up!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve never been in a kayak, this is probably not the program for you. We recommend coming to a regular camp session and spending a bit of time on the basics before you sign up for Rockbrook Rapids. These kayak camps are for girls who are comfortable with their wet-exit and have paddled a whitewater kayak before.
Rockbrook Rapids Kayaking Camps are for girls who have finished the 5th through 10th grades. This means that if you are a High-Up in your regular camp session, you can still sign up for Rockbrook Rapids!
Rockbrook has a full fleet of modern kayaks and a supply of high quality kayaking gear. Girls who have their own kayak and gear are welcome to bring it, but we will provide any other essentials. There are a few personal clothing items that we will recommend you bring such as rash guards for sun protection and possibly a warm river layer or two.
Rockbrook Rapids campers will split time between our campus near Brevard, NC and camping out near the rivers we paddle. We also have an outpost near the Nantahala River where the campers may stay. In camp, Rapids campers will stay in a cabin together with a cabin counselor on duty. When out of camp Rockbrook will provide shelters, but the campers will be responsible for bringing their own sleeping bags.
On the rivers, Rockbrook maintains a ratio of at least 1 instructor for every 4 campers. During the Rapids program, we will have at least 3 instructors present with a maximum of 8 campers. At least one instructor will be a certified Wilderness First Responder.
The cost covers instruction, lodging, all meals both in camp and out, transportation to and from the rivers, and all necessary kayaking equipment.
In camp, we will eat in Rockbrook’s dining hall, which serves tasty, balanced meals that campers eat “family style” with their cabin-mates. In addition to the hot meal at lunch and dinner, we always have a salad bar, vegetarian option, and a peanut butter and jelly station. Throughout the day, we have fruit and snacks available to keep us going. While out of camp, we will do a mix of eating out and cooking our own meals while camping. Nobody goes hungry at Rockbrook!
We’re lucky that Western North Carolina is home to possibly the highest concentration of beginner and intermediate rivers anywhere. We will do a variety of rivers, often choosing on the fly in order to paddle rivers with the most appropriate difficulty and water levels for each group. If conditions are not perfect in NC, we might range as far as 5 hours from camp to find appropriate conditions in SC, GA, AL, TN, KY, VA, and WV.
