AMC Boston Paddlers Community - Recent Posts

2026 NewYears Day Icicle Run on the Winni has been cancelled

Conrad Nuthmann — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 15:59:05 +0000

I just got a message from Nancy Gero that the 2026 New Years Day Icicle Run on the Winnipesaukee River has been cancelled due to lack of water. She asked me to tell Boston AMC. I put a note on the FB Group. I'll go on the web and post elsewhere as well.

SYOTR, Conrad

Cleanup Boston Harbor Islands

Jeff Barrell — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:33:59 +0000

The park service is sponsoring Stewardship Saturdays this 2025 season where volunteers clear invasive plants, trail work, and habitat improvement. See the park calendar for which Saturday is at which island. For example, May 24 is at Grape island. Sign up through the park service website. They provide tools and gloves as well as transport to the island (we can arrive on our own).

https://www.bostonharborislands.org/volunteer/

Becoming a Trip Leader with the Boston Paddlers Committee

Marty Jensen — Mon, 19 May 2025 20:53:34 +0000

We are always on the lookout for qualified trip leaders to lead paddling activities for the AMC Boston Chapter Paddling Committee (BCPC).

Trip leaders are responsible for trip planning, registering and qualifying guests, and safely leading the trip from put-in to take-out.

The Committee runs trips in 4 main categories:

Flat water paddling (ponds, lakes, and slow moving rivers)
White water paddling (Class 1-3 technical white water)
Sea Kayaking (Coastal and Open Water sea kayaking)
Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP)

Anyone with appropriate skills and a willingness to lead groups for the AMC is eligible to be considered as a paddling trip leader. The process to become a trip leader is outlined below.

Becoming a Trip Leader

Join or renew your membership with the AMC. Trip leaders must be AMC members!
Engage with the Paddling Committee to learn more about us and how we operate ...
- Sign up for our newsletter
- Attend a virtual committee meeting
- Participate in paddling trips and get to know the leaders on the water.
- Discuss trip leadership with current BCPC leaders.
Submit a request to the Paddling Chair to be considered as a Leader-in-Training (LiT)
- Include a brief bio and resume of your paddling background
Complete an Outdoor Leadership Training program
- AMC's Outdoor Leadership Fundamentals (OLF) course
- AMC Boston Chapter Leadership Workshop
- Trip Leader training through the BCPC
- Other outdoor leader training from a recognized source (NOLS, ACA, BCU, etc)
Consider First Aid Training
- The AMC strongly encourages their leaders to have current First Aid or Wilderness First Aid Training
Register on the BCPC website (amcbostonpaddlers.org) and request Trip Leader membership
- This allows you access to leader-specific material on the website
Co-Lead at least three (3) AMC trips with at least two (2) different paddling leaders
- Find a mentor to help guide you through the process of becoming a BCPC leader
- Under the guidance of a current leader / mentor you should
  - Learn to plan and post trips on the AMC's Outdoor Connector (OC)
  - Screen participants for suitability to the trip requirements
  - Assess weather and other safety considerations, make go/no-go decisions, and communicate with trip participants before the trip
  - Manage group briefings, launchings, landings, group cohesion, and the roles of your co-leaders on your trips
  - Gather post-trip data and direct participants to the BCPC participant survey form.
- Demonstrate specific paddling skills related to the category of paddling you wish to lead. These might include ...
  - Safety and rescue skills
  - Paddle using a variety of strokes and techniques
  - Paddle confidently in different conditions (waves, wind, current, etc)
  - Reading the water and assessing conditions
- By the end of your training you should be able to successfully plan and execute a trip with the BCPC with only observation by your leader or mentor.
At the completion of your training, with the recommendation of your mentor, apply for leadership status to the BCPC chair or Training Coordinator. Your application should include:
- List of your training (co-lead) trips including date, location, and leader/mentor
- Paddling background and prior experience
- Leadership training dates and certification received
- Other paddling training (ACA, BC, Paddle Canada, etc)
- The type of paddling and level of paddling trips you are interested in leading.
Your application will be reviewed by the senior leaders in the BCPC
- If the senior leaders are satisfied with your leadership and paddling skills, you will be approved as a BCPC Trip Leader ... Congratulations!
- If the senior leaders feel you are not yet ready for leadership with the BCPC, you will be "continued" with an action plan to build your skills and capabilities as a leader.

If you're ready to get started, reach out and let's put you on the path to BCPC leadership!

takeout on Knightville dam run (Westfield River)

Jonathan Schlefer — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 20:05:30 +0000

The takeout we've always used, a public pull-in/picnic area a little south of Huntington, no longer works. Signs say they'll tow you except for live parking, and from what we heard on the April 2024 trip, it's true. We sneaked a car behind some bushes on a grass drive to St. Thomas Cemetery, but that could be dicey. Nearby Gateway Farm & Pet was closed and blocked Sunday morning. The closest real parking place is in Huntington, a good half mile plus away -- and unfortunately an unpleasant and not too safe hike beside a fast road. We winged it, but future leaders should look for a better solution. Sorry we didn't find one!

RE: Hingham Town Ramp

Rory K — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:56:44 +0000

Dennis and I were just there today with a group. Parts are mucky yes. Bathing Beach and the boat ramp are still good places to launch from. Muck can be avoided if you're careful.

New England Ski for Light Water Adventure Day at Hopkinton State Park - SUPPORT DEI AS A VOLUNTEER!

Kyra Sweeney — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 21:46:19 +0000

New England Ski for Light promotes outdoor access for visually impaired participants through adaptive sports. On Saturday, June 29, NESFL will be going to Hopkinton State Park for a day of kayaking, standup paddle boarding, paddle boating, swimming, and hiking. We need at least 8 volunteers to join us!

Volunteers will help to guide participants in boating (for example, in double kayaks) as well as walking around the park and hiking on the trails. No guiding experience necessary - we hope you will join us for a day of fun and community!

When: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Where: Hopkinton State Park, 164 Cedar St., Hopkinton, MA 01748.

Cost: $50 (this covers boat rentals and lunch)

Transportation: Carpooling is recommended - if you need to find a carpool or can drive a carpool, please let us know.

Parking: $8 for MA residents, $30 for non-MA residents.

Lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehQEjezAB1k_KWzes0dQvpm08v39BNKIjtCdqlaV0Vyr_O4A/viewform

If you have any questions, please contact Kyra Sweeney, one of the trip organizers, by phone (call or text) at 310-430-3817 or by email at kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com.

YouTube Instruction

Jeff Barrell — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:12:00 +0000

Nice instructional video describing paddling basics, but not too basic and describing it well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ikPpBxhQ0

RE: Hingham Town Ramp

Marty Jensen — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 21:51:26 +0000

Should have updated this a while back. Construction was completed on the Hingham town ramp. The new ramp and dock makes launching from the little beach to the right of the ramp pretty awkward. Best to launch off the beach in front of the parking area. As always, low tide launching/landings are spectacularly mucky affairs.

RE: Kayak Rolling Clinics

Marty Jensen — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:44:06 +0000

Hi Tim,

Our white water group plans on running pool sessions again this winter, although the details haven't been confirmed. Typically, we'll start pool sessions after the holidays and run until April.

The best way to stay in touch is to make sure you're signed up for our email list and keep your eye on the event calendar on the website where the event listings will be posted.

Kayak Rolling Clinics

Tim Coogan — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 01:34:00 +0000

Hello,

Will the AMC be offering any kayak rolling clinics this winter in Massachusetts?

I appreciate any info you can provide or any directions you can point me in.

Thank you,

Tim