I’m living proof that you don’t need years of experience — or even any tangible skill — to have a thrilling White River adventure.
Why it matters: As this summer continues to deliver high temperatures, a day on the water is a fun and accessible way for Indy residents to beat the heat while experiencing a moment of serenity.
The big picture: Getting outdoors is big business in the Hoosier state. With $15.7 billion generated by adventure seekers in 2023, Indiana ranked first in the Midwest and 12th in the U.S. for total value added from outdoor recreation activities.
- The industry also accounted for 3.2% of the state’s total employment with more than 105,000 jobs.
Driving the news: Earlier this month, I joined dozens of other novice kayakers on an outing organized by the Indianapolis chapter of Outdoor Afro, a national nonprofit committed to connecting Black communities with nature year-round.
- Founded in 2009 in Oakland, California, Outdoor Afro is in more than 60 cities across the U.S. and aids in the seemingly impossible task of helping grown folks make new friends.
- The group is also spending its summer combating disproportionately high drowning rates in the Black community by providing scholarships for swimming lessons.
Zoom in: We launched from Rusty Oar in Noblesville around 9am with kayaks and life vests provided by the White River Canoe Company, one of multiple outfitters that lead excursions in the Indianapolis metro.
- Our trip was a 6-mile, beginner-friendly route that takes between two and three hours to complete.
- The biggest obstacles were low hanging trees, large rocks and beer-chugging tubers that stretched across the river near Potter’s Bridge.
- Single kayak rentals cost $30, and tandem kayaks cost $60.
Context: I haven’t put an oar in the water since band camp. So any kayaking or canoeing know-how I developed back then is as long forgotten as my high school hairline…