Canoeing on the Catawba

It was a sunny day on the Catawba River in Morganton, N.C. when students of Woodlawn School ventured down the river in canoes and kayaks. It was slow starting, but once the boats hit the water, there was no stopping the Trailblazers. One-person kayaks led the way, with tandem kayaks and canoes close behind in a two hour adventure through fast-moving waters and small shallow rapids. A number of students experienced the cold river first hand as they either jumped, tipped over or were knocked from their boats by low hanging branches. "I loved it," said one third grader. "I tipped over three times," remarked a very wet sixth grader, while one fifth grader was overheard saying, "This is way better than kayaking on the lake!" Whether dry or wet, one thing was certain - everyone had a great time.