My Kayaking Adventure

Last month I stepped WAY out of my comfort zone.  In an attempt to get closer to my subject- coastal wildlife- I decided I needed to start photographing from a kayak.  As a single mom to two young kids, I needed to figure out how to do this safely.  Somehow I found Artist Boat, an organization in Galveston, TX dedicated to coastal conservation and using art as a means to learn from and connect with nature.   Clearly these were my kind of people.  So despite not being at all comfortable on and around water or in a kayak, I signed up for their three-day kayaking course.

A few days before the course started, I got an email with videos to review, homework, and an assignment to teach part of the class.  (I'd only ever been on a kayak once before.) It was then I realized that I was grossly underprepared for the intensity of the program- which honestly I found pretty hilarious.

The first day was incredibly and comically challenging in ways I can't possibly include in this blog.  Somehow, I survived to the second day where I had to capsize my kayak to practice assisted and self rescue.  I can't stress enough how uncomfortable I am in water- I don't even like pools.  So despite my wearing a life jacket and being surrounded by people who could help if needed, every part of my being fought against my purposely flipping the boat and plunging into the cold water,   The more I faced the idea of capsizing my kayak, the harder I laughed, feeling the fighting forces within me. 

Finally, I said to myself, "You gave birth during a global pandemic.  You can do this!"  And I did.  And it was exhilarating. The memory of this experience lives in my body, and I can recall it- and often do- each time I face something I need to do but want to run away from. 

Amy, the Operations Director of Artist  Boat, was also taking this class.  During one of the breaks I asked her, "Why Artist Boat?"  She told me about the founder being an artist, recognizing the power of creating art as a means to engage with and learn from nature.  She told me about their conservation efforts to acquire and preserve land for wildlife and getting to share that with people- especially children- who have no other experience with anyplace that's so wild.  As she spoke the tears started streaming down my face.  I couldn't help it- I tried. I was so moved by the mission and success of this organization.  I am in awe of this work and the women who made it a reality.  

To learn more and support their efforts, visit ArtistBoat.org.

April 2024