The Big River or Great Waters, known in the U.S. as the Rio Grande, runs from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico. During spring break, a Jackson Academy group explored, camped, and went canoeing on a Texas portion of this big river, specifically Boquillas Canyon’s 32 miles.
Thousand-foot canyon walls set a majestic backdrop for canoeing. The group slept under the stars in hammocks or in tents while at Big Bend National Park. Desert evenings can be cool, so SOAR Outdoor Director WT Taylor advised participants to bring both long-sleeved shirts for the cool nights and sunscreen for the bright days.
“Life is good when you can sleep in a hammock and wake up to this view,” Taylor commented on Monday of the trip.
Senior Gibson Cheney said he enjoyed being outdoors and camping, and he learned a bit more about canoeing. “I became more confident with my boating skills,” Gibson said. The trip included visiting state parks along the way to the river to refine paddling skills.
In addition to time on the river, the group hiked and camped at Heath Canyon Ranch on the banks of the Rio, hiked the Window Trail in the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park, and camped at Caddo State Park on the return trip. The JA group, which included Elizabeth Pedigo, Gibson Cheney, Bill Cheney, and WT Taylor, teamed up with a West Texas A&M University group of freshmen and sophomores for a portion of the trip.
“The SOAR trips are extremely interactive, and they are an amazing experience for students,” said Gibson. For more information about upcoming SOAR Outdoor trips, visit this link.
