Your Champion: Julie Storck
I Like Big Boats joins the race again! After a legacy of just missing the podium, this year is the year. Big Boats take the gold — and ultimately we will paddle our hearts out for the real winners — the kids! Let’s support getting underserved kids outdoors to learn science, math, and more in an authentic, hands-on way. With our support, more than 15,000 Minnesota kids will experience place-based education while paddling on their local waterways. (Look at the pic above to see how easy and fun the race is!)
I feel so fortunate to work for an organization that I love and truly believe is making a difference. In addition to getting kids outdoors, we connect people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to meaningful outdoor experiences. When people from different races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds travel together, perceived differences fade away and we find our common humanity. I have seen this happen again and again through Wilderness Inquiry trips and I think our world needs this now more than ever.
Our school trips bring learning alive for kids as they learn academics while paddling, camping, testing water quality, and more. In addition, kids build confidence as they discover they CAN do something they have never done before. It’s not uncommon for kids to go from tears (before stepping into a canoe for the first time) to laughter upon return.
I appreciate your consideration of supporting Wilderness Inquiry through the Great River Race — I think it’s a fun way to get your own feet wet while also making a difference and raising money for others to have these outdoor experiences. There is no individual race fee for participation (boats are sponsored by companies and families for $3,000) but we seek individual support to assist with race costs and go back to the program! -Julie