Hood River, Oregon (August 7, 2012), Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge was blessed with beautiful weather on Sunday, August 5th for their first ever Stand Up Paddling Clinic in Nichols Basin, hosted by the Big Winds SUP Junior Elite Team.
Though the sun was hot and the water was warm, one Little Sister begged her Big Sister, “Don’t let me fall in!” Despite her uncertainty, she went from sitting on her Big Sister’s board to standing and paddling on her own board within minutes.
Approximately 20 Bigs and Littles from Hood River, Wasco, and Klickitat counties participated in the clinic where they learned the basics of Stand Up Paddling. By the end of the class, Big Winds’ volunteers looked on as participants put their skills to the test in a head-to-head relay race.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, a program of The Next Door, provides children between the ages of 6 and 14 with one-to-one mentoring relationships with adult volunteers. More than 15 boys and girls in the three county service area are waiting for mentors. To become a volunteer mentor or to refer a child, contact Justine Ziegler at (541)490-9979.
