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Winter Roll School Coming Soon

You too can learn the invaluable skill of rolling your kayak or canoe. And it's actually fun!

What?

For many years TSRA has held a winter roll clinic in the comfort of a heated pool. You’ll receive instruction and support from an experienced instructor in a friendly, non-threatening environment. Learning this unusual skill makes kayaking and canoeing easier and more fun! If you already know how to roll, this clinic is great for sharpening up your skills before spring paddling begins. Please bring your own equipment.

For questions, please contact Stacee Irwin at 209-535-6218 or stacee.irwin@gmail.com.

Where?

We're still hard at work securing a location for 2019's Roll School, but it will likely be in the Nashville area. The indoor pool at Tennessee State University, our past location, is currently closed for repairs.

When?

Dates are dependent on location, but we're aiming for one weeknight for six consecutive weeks during February and March.

Cost?

You must be a TSRA member to attend this school. In addition, you must either be a member of the American Canoe Association (ACA) or pay the ACA event fee. Costs are:

Roll School Fee: $50

And if you are not a TSRA or ACA member:
TSRA Annual Membership: $25 PLUS
ACA Annual Membership: $25 OR ACA Event Fee: $15

Registration?

Online registration should open in January, once we confirm location and dates. Watch Facebook and the TSRA website for an invitation to register.

Read More about Roll School

Last Chance for TSRA Swag

Join TSRA or renew your membership by January 3 and receive some sweet TSRA swag!

Help protect Tennessee rivers in 2019: Join TSRA or renew your membership now!

Join or renew your TSRA membership by January 3 to receive a special gift. If you are already a TSRA member, your membership will be extended by a year upon renewal.

If you are unsure about your membership status, please contact Jessica Graham at ops@paddletsra.org.

Join TSRA or Renew Your Membership

2019 Board of Directors and Officers

Congratulations to TSRA's 2019 Officers and Board of Directors!

Gary Weatherford, President
Sally Barr, Vice President
Vincent Finamore, Secretary
Deborah Gilbertson, Treasurer
Jessie Beckett
Daniel Boone
Wesley Brown
Philip Byard
David Cole
Vinson Dill
Steve Morris
Rachel Newcomb
Jonathan Ryan
Donnie Safer
John Schneider
Patty Shultz
Charlie Wilkerson
Kaylen Wilson
James "Woody" Woodall

The Board will elect two more members at its January meeting.

Wilderness First Aid with REI/NOLS February 16-17

Are you prepared to handle an outdoor emergency? You can learn skills and abilities to make sound decisions in emergency situations at the REI/NOLS Wilderness First Aid Class February 16-17 at Long Hunter State Park. This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in fewer than eight hours. Read more about the class and register here.

Find TSRA on Social Media

or join TSRA Paddler Chat!

TSRA Paddler Chat on Facebook is a place where friends and family of the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association come together to talk about boats and gear, plan paddle trips and tell river stories.

In order TO JOIN THIS GROUP you must:

1) Request to join the group, and
2) Sign a waiver to acknowledge that the trips we plan here are just groups of Common Adventurers enjoying the river together.

*The good news is that you can sign this waiver once and it will cover all TSRA Common Adventurer trips from now on!

TSRA EVENTS
ONLINE CALENDAR

February-March: TSRA Winter Roll School
February 16-17: REI/NOLS Wilderness First Aid

April 3-7: TSRA Rendezvous

Policy and Regulations Affecting
TN Paddlers

Tennessee paddlers face two critical opportunities to influence public policy regarding paddling in Tennessee. Policy makers need to hear that paddlers are alert, engaged and interested in helping find solutions to current problems and future challenges. Public comment on two separate fronts is an immediate way you can make a difference.

1. TWRA Regulations: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has proposed commercial paddlecraft regulations that include launch fees, penalties and safety education requirements for many flatwater outfitters statewide and for companies operating on the Pigeon River (outfitters under permit from the Cherokee National Forest are exempted from TWRA regulation).

TSRA encourages all paddlers, even those who don't use commercial outfitters, to read the proposed regulations and submit comments that promote responsible public policy. Speaking up now may help paddlers have a seat at the table in the future. Comments should be emailed to Chris.Richardson@tn.gov by January 11.

TSRA's Take on the Proposed Regulations

Email Comments Here!

TWRA will hold a public hearing on the regulations on January 18. The rules as amended at that hearing will go on to the state legislature.

2. TN H20: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is accepting public feedback on TN H2O, a plan for future water availability in Tennessee. You can read the entire plan here (recommendations for water-based recreation and tourism are on p. 36). The appendix on water-based recreation and tourism should be of particular interest to paddlers because it makes little mention of paddling related tourism and its impact in Tennessee. The final TN H20 plan will be a framework for further planning, legislation and policy, so this is a chance for paddlers to join the conversation before it's too late. Feedback on the plan will be accepted until February 28, 2019. You can submit comments through the TDEC website.

TSRA Rendezvous
April 3-7, 2019

Save the date! TSRA Rendezvous will be April 3-7, 2019. Rendezvous is TSRA’s family-friendly paddling celebration and annual fundraiser. Paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels meet at Camp Nakanawa in Crossville, Tennessee. Then, over the course of five days, groups large and small spill out across the Cumberland Plateau and surrounding areas to tackle their favorite adventures!

Hiwassee/Ocoee State Park
Photo Contest

Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park is hosting a photo contest for the next year. Each month will have a designated theme; photographers must submit their entry no later than the first of the following month. The winning photos will be featured on the park's Facebook page and in a 2020 calendar available for purchase at the park's gift shop. Read the complete rules here, or contact the park office at 423-263-0050. The theme for photos taken in December (due by Jan. 1) is sunsets.

River Talks Winter 2019

Cumberland River Compact has announced its schedule of Winter 2019 River Talks. The series features a variety of educational talks on the history, culture, environment and protection of the Cumberland River. These events bring experts, artists, researchers, professionals and characters of the river together to share their knowledge and experience. All events (at the Cumberland River Center in downtown Nashville) are free and open to the public! The series runs from January 17 through February 28. The talks are also live streamed through Facebook Live on the Compact's Facebook page.

Daddys Creek Go Fast Day

Daddys Creek Go Fast Day is an annual grassroots celebration of the Obed Wild & Scenic River watershed. The event consists of a race through the spectacular Daddys Creek canyon and a clean up of the put-in and take-out areas, and occurs the first Saturday in January that Daddys Creek has a flow between 1.4’ & 2.4’ on the Antioch bridge gauge. This means the race could happen as soon as January 5.

Watch the Daddys Creek Go Fast Day Facebook page for an announcement about the event date. In the meantime, check out race day instructions or watch a video of the 2017 event. If you don't want to paddle, they always need spectators and volunteers.

Read More and Watch for a Date Announcement Here!