Navigating My First Road Scholar Experience

I am a kindergarten teacher’s assistant at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. My school’s entryway features a life-size mural of Lewis, Clark, Sacajawea and Seaman the dog. And soaring high above them is an ephemeral artistic rendition of one of their expedition canoes. And it was only natural that this program would further kindle my lifetime of admiration for Lewis and Clark. 

It seemed fortuitous that I found this program (or did it choose me?) and discovered Road Scholar’s Professional Educator’s Assistance and Recognition (PEAR) Scholarship opportunity on their website. It’s financial assistance specifically for educators. I completed my application and selected this program to learn more about Lewis and Clark. I was thrilled to hear that I received a scholarship for the learning adventure. The scholarship covered most of my program costs. I was overjoyed that Road Scholar values educators this much! As a single, older worker living on a small budget, it was extremely helpful to have this financial assistance. 

On July 14, 2024, I packed my car and drove to Westport, Oregon, to take a ride across the Columbia River to Cathlamet, Washington. Once in Washington, I had only 15 minutes of driving until I reached Skamokawa, which turned out to be charming and beautiful, offering a sincerely slower pace of life. I entered the quaint general store to see about checking into my hotel room. Once I got my key, I moved my gear into my room, which was a sweet, simple spot with a view of the river.

I had just dumped my suitcase when Andrew Emlen, one of the Columbia River kayaking instructors, greeted me on the stairs with a big grin and encouraged me to go to the kayak shop to get outfitted for the next day. He set me up with the right kayak (red — my favorite color), a lifejacket, kayak skirting and waterproof bags.

Our first dinner as a group of 10 was relaxing and nourishing (soup and salad). We ate all of our meals —except picnic lunches — at the Duck Inn, a locally owned eatery a short walk from the hotel. We had our own dining area, which was great for giving introductions and sharing stories and laughter. The evening’s presentation was a talk on local history by Andrew, with participants peppering him with interesting questions during his slideshow.

On Monday, it took us a while to figure out how to don our gear and enter the kayaks, but the instructors were patient with us and demonstrated safe techniques to get from the dock into the watercraft. We spotted a Great Blue Heron while kayaking in the creeks and sloughs for several hours. In the afternoon, Andrew took us hiking at his farm, where we saw incredible forests and streams. We learned how he successfully reforested this farmland decades ago. Irene Martin, author, historian, Episcopal priest and gillnetter, gave the night’s talk on the Swedish and Norwegian people who moved to the area in the 1860s.

Tuesday brought brilliant sunshine and 90-degree temperatures. We started out from the docks in Cathlamet on a glass-like river and kayaked for four hours, learning about the basalt cliffs, cormorants and osprey along the way. It was so hot during our picnic lunch that I dove headfirst into the river, something I’ve never done in my two years of living right on its banks. It was wildly exhilarating and refreshing.

After a Taco Tuesday dinner, we were in for a joyous evening with the Skamokawa Swamp Opera, including our instructors Andrew and Kyleen Austin and other musicians. They regaled us with songs of the lower Columbia and had us clapping and laughing with delight. “Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Report” is one of the most hilarious songs I have ever heard. 

The band performed two nights with two different sets of music, and listening to their songs was one of the best experiences of the entire program. The musicians’ love for the place they call home is evident in all their songs, especially one that Kyleen wrote, “Why Not?” A special line in the song is, “I am free in this place.”

Wednesday dawned rainy, followed by sun and wind. We kayaked up Steamboat Slough just in time to hear thunder off in the distance. The concerned instructors corralled us back to the resort to eat lunch in safety. We tried again, traveling Brooks Slough until a big wind rose at our backs, but in the meantime, we spotted osprey, eagles and another Great Blue Heron.

We had a Road Scholar-only visit to the local museum, located in an 1890s schoolhouse. We were free to explore on our own and learn more about local history, particularly about the dairy farms that had once peppered the area.

The evening’s presentation was Kyleen’s fascinating true story about her 2019 solo kayaking expedition from Ketchikan, Alaska, to Puget Island, Washington.

Our final day on the river found us crossing the shipping channel on the mighty Columbia, where we saw a line of pelicans, eagles and flocks of cormorants. As huge boats navigated the river, we learned to turn our kayaks perpendicular to the waves they created so we could avoid getting tumped over.

Upon returning to the resort, three of us volunteered to help clean the kayaks and gear to get them ready for the next group. Kyleen taught us exactly how to wipe down and spray the boats. We put in several hours of hard work but enjoyed helping and learning the proper methods for putting kayaks to bed. We enjoyed a final dinner of locally caught Chinook salmon with rice, vegetables and Asian salad.

It was a great few days of being in nature, spending time on the water and getting to know new friends through Road Scholar. Our group shared photos and we all let each other know when we arrived home.

I learned so much about nature, history and culture of my own area. I absolutely loved kayaking. The instructors watched the weather and tides and timed everything just right. I had kayaked in my younger years, but I wasn't sure about it now. Our instructors coached and nurtured us until we gained confidence and ability.

Andrew and Kyleen were knowledgeable about every facet of the journeys and made everything educational, inspirational and fun. We learned about native plants, trees, shrubs, insects and more. The one caveat is Andrew and Kyleen are retiring, so new owners will be taking over Columbia River Kayaking, but I’m sure they will leave their longtime business in good hands.

Receiving a Road Scholar Pear Scholarship was beneficial not only to me, but to my students as well. I plan to share my new knowledge with my students and colleagues. I will offer after-school history presentations if the teachers are interested and will start collecting local history books for the school library. I also hope to spend more time on the river, whether kayaking, boating, canoeing or walking more along the shore.

Thank you, Road Scholar, for sharing the gifts of the Columbia River with me and my students!

If you or someone you know is actively teaching or retired from teaching, please learn more about Road Scholar’s PEAR Scholarship. You may, like Nancy, receive the learning adventure of a lifetime.