Sunday, September 8, 2024

Raising Funds and Awareness for Adaptive Recreation Programs for People with Disabilities, Veterans, and Seniors

On September 8, 2024, a colorful flotilla will paddle down the Connecticut River from Sunderland to Northampton. Imagine being on the water with 100 other people in kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards! It's an amazing feeling, and a wonderful, fun, supportive event in which to participate. We paddle as a group toward one goal: raising the funding necessary to keep low- or no-cost outdoor recreation programming accessible to Veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities and their loved ones.

Following the river trip, our group size will swell to close to 200 people as family, friends, and community supporters join us for a party in Northampton with food an entertainment.

Read the details and FAQs, join us, or sponsor us!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Your support of this year’s Kayak-a-thon will help us to continue to keep our calendar filled with low-cost outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities, for seniors, and for veterans. Learn how you or your business can get involved as a sponsor (PDF).

2024 Sponsors

Please say a big "THANK YOU" to these businesses and organizations that have signed on for 2024. We'll be updating this list as we receive commitments!

We had a wonderful 2023 Kayak-a-thon. Visit our 15th annual Kayak-a-thon page for photos and sponsors.

2023 Kayak-a-thon Recap

2024 Kayak-a-thon Details

Date: Sunday September 8, 2024

Note: The event is rain or shine. In the event the forecast calls for conditions that would be unsafe (high wind, lightning, high water), we will adjust timing, locations, etc. as necessary for safety. We will make a final weather call by 4pm on Friday, September 6 and will communicate this by email to all registered paddlers. This means we may launch or land later or earlier, or adjust our launch and landing locations, in order to work around timing of unsafe weather. If there is no way to safely run the event on this day, we will have an alternate indoor celebration. Thank you for your understanding!

Distance: Two Routes to Choose From

You can paddle Sunderland to Northampton (12 miles) or Hatfield to Northampton (5 miles)

The main event is the 5 mile stretch from Hatfield to Northampton. For those who are seeking an extra challenge and who have previous paddling experience, we offer an early start in Sunderland for a 12-mile day. We recommend that only those with paddling experience and the ability to be on the water for 5+ hours begin their day in Sunderland. If you are unsure, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Day of Event Schedule

1. Launch from Sunderland at 10:00am
2. Arrive in Hatfield around 12:30pm
3. Launch from Hatfield at 1:15pm
4. Arrive in Northampton around 4pm
5. Stick around for a cookout from ServiceNet's Rooster Cafe and live music entertainment until 5:15pmish!

Registration (closes August 30)

Register before August 16th for an early bird discount and to guarantee a signature Kayak-a-thon t-shirt in your choice of size!

The registration fee includes an All Out Adventures Kayak-a-thon t-shirt (for paddlers registered before August 16th), snacks and the post Kayak-a-thon party.

We will provide a kayak, PFD, paddle, and adaptations to All Out Adventures program participants who need them on a first-come first-served basis.

Community members may reserve a kayak, canoe, or SUP to use in the event - limited by availability - for an additional $35 at registration to help us cover our costs for loading and transporting the equipment.

Need help navigating the registration page? Contact us, and we'll be glad to help out!

Minimum Fundraising: $150/person

In addition to the registration fee, we ask all paddlers to raise a minimum of $150 which directly supports the 200 low or no cost outdoor recreation programs that we run every year for people of all ages and abilities. Please note that paddlers must meet this minimum by Tuesday, September 3 to guarantee their place in the event. We will have a wait list of interested paddlers, and will need to cancel the registrations of people who haven't met their minimum in order to invite people off the waitlist

But don't worry! We're here to help! As soon as you've registered and created your fundraising page, we'll send you some helpful tips, tricks, and sample email and social media language you can use. You can reach out to us at any time for support with this!

Equipment

Required Equipment for all: kayak/canoe/SUP, properly fitted lifejacket (personal floatation device or PFD), paddle, snacks, water, sunscreen

All Out Adventures has a limited number of kayaks, canoes, SUPs, PFDs, and paddles for program participants on a first-come, first-served basis. People who are not program participants will need to supply their own boat or SUP or pay $35 at registration to rent one from us. We will loan PFDs and paddles to anyone who needs them.

Please note: everyone on the water must wear a properly fitted (snug and fully zipped) life jacket at all times! This is an insurance requirement to participate in the event.

Transportation

This is a one-way river trip from Sunderland or Hatfield to Northampton. Participants can either make their own transportation arrangements or take advantage of our shuttle after the event.

Michael's Limousine and Bus Lines will be transporting people who need a ride in their 24 passenger, wheelchair accessible, mini bus following the event.

Weather

If there is severe weather that will compromise the safety of the event will will communicate a weather plan to all registered participants and volunteers by 4pm on Friday, September 6. The event is too complex to reserve a rain date, but we will shift timing or locations, or offer up an alternative if needed for safety.

Support and Instruction

All Out Adventures staff and volunteers will provide paddling instruction and support on the trip. You should have some experience paddling a kayak, canoe or SUP, and feel confident in your ability to paddle the full distance for which you have registered.

Post Kayak-a-thon Cookout

Please plan to join us at the end for a gathering with food and beverages from the wonderful Rooster Cafe, a program of Servicenet,, and live musical entertainment. We encourage your friends and family also join us at the cookout. They should plan to arrive around 3:30pm so that they can cheer you on as you finish the event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there a fundraising minimum?

All Out Adventures is committed to providing low or no cost outdoor recreation programming to people of all abilities. We operate about 200 programs each year for just a nominal cost to participants. In order to continue to offer our programs for no or low cost, we must raise approximately $200,000 through different sources each year. The Kayak-a-thon is our signature fundraising event, and the $150/boat fundraising minimum ensures the continued success of the event and the viability of our organization.

The event has grown so significantly that we will have a waiting list for participation. We can only accommodate event participants who have fundraised or donated the minimum by September 3.

You are welcome to fundraise as a team with others! If you choose to participate as a team, we ask that the team raise an average of $150/boat.

How do I go about fundraising?

Our most successful fundraisers ask several people for a little bit of money. If you are kayaking 12 miles, you only need to ask 12 people to sponsor you for $1.50/mile! Co-workers, family, and friends would all be likely to part with $12.50 to support your participation in the event. Alternatively, you can approach a few people for more money. It would only take 5 people to each sponsor you for $30.

Still nervous? Give us a call for advice, tips, and encouragement! Or, join up with a team so you can share the fundraising responsibilities. We're here to help! We will supply fundraising information, including pledge sheets and assistance with setting up online giving, once you have registered.

Which distance should I pick?

Our most successful fundraisers ask several people for a little bit of money. If you are kayaking 12 miles, you only need to ask 12 people to sponsor you for $1.50/mile! Co-workers, family, and friends would all be likely to part with $12.50 to support your participation in the event. Alternatively, you can approach a few people for more money. It would only take 5 people to each sponsor you for $30.

12 miles is a long, but manageable distance. We strongly recommend that first-timers or those who are unsure of the best distance either choose the 5-mile option or opt to go in a tandem kayak with a more experienced paddler. Those who have good physical and mental stamina may choose to challenge themselves with the 12-mile option. Though we stop in Hatfield mid-way, those who choose the 12-mile option should be prepared to paddle the entire distance. We are not able to assist paddlers in ending the event early except for emergencies.

How long will the kayak-a-thon last?

We expect to arrive in Northampton around 3:30pm. However, many factors - including the kayaking strength of the group and the strength of the river current - impact our timing. You will want to allow plenty of time in your day's schedule for us to arrive in Northampton later than that. We typically wrap up the event around 5:30pm.