Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

  • About Us
    • Meet
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Council
  • Donate
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Report a concern
  • Songs 2023
  • HERYN PROGRAM
  • Partners
  • Nature Book Club
  • Gift Shop
  • Watershed Opportunities
  • Floating Classroom
  • Hellbenders
  • Survey
  • Vernal Pools
  • Sentinels
  • Kayaking/Fishing Resources
  • Video Lessons
  • Photos 2020
  • Other Events
    • Sunrise Sunset Susquehanna
    • Bridges Over Troubled Water
    • Dumplings At Dusk
  • Issues
    • Signed Support Letters
  • Engage
    • News Alerts
    • Songs 2021
    • Song Project
    • Photo/poetry contest
  • 2018 PA River of the Year
  • 10 Fun Facts
  • For Children
  • Prison Project
  • Contact Us
  • Crossword Puzzle
  • Songs 2022
  • About Us
    • Meet
    • Board of Directors
    • Advisory Council
  • Donate
  • Blog
  • Podcasts
  • Report a concern
  • Songs 2023
  • HERYN PROGRAM
  • Partners
  • Nature Book Club
  • Gift Shop
  • Watershed Opportunities
  • Floating Classroom
  • Hellbenders
  • Survey
  • Vernal Pools
  • Sentinels
  • Kayaking/Fishing Resources
  • Video Lessons
  • Photos 2020
  • Other Events
    • Sunrise Sunset Susquehanna
    • Bridges Over Troubled Water
    • Dumplings At Dusk
  • Issues
    • Signed Support Letters
  • Engage
    • News Alerts
    • Songs 2021
    • Song Project
    • Photo/poetry contest
  • 2018 PA River of the Year
  • 10 Fun Facts
  • For Children
  • Prison Project
  • Contact Us
  • Crossword Puzzle
  • Songs 2022

Riverkeeper Reflections

Teen paddler shares how kayaking has opened doors for her future

12/1/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
​​As the chaos of current events continues to swirl, 15-year-old Lila Oast, of Bloomsburg, finds her escape in a kayak.

"It's like the real world disappears and all you're focused on is catching fish," she said.
Lila, the daughter of professional YouTube kayak angler John Oast, was introduced to paddling at a young age.

"I have been kayaking my whole life -- I've basically been raised around the water," she said. "I enjoy the freedom it gives you when you explore the waters. You get to enjoy seeing a lot of wildlife. We've seen eagles, a mink or two, fish, foxes, groundhogs and that sort of thing."

Lila spends much of her kayaking time on the Susquehanna River, but has expanded her paddling list to waterways in Virginia and beyond -- as far south as Florida -- thanks to joining the kayaking angling circuit and promoting equipment sponsored by NuCanoe.

"I get to see new places and use their gear while in the water," she said, adding that it has been a fun way to bond with her father. "It is a lot of fun going on road trips while hanging out, seeing new places and trying some new foods."

One of those adventures got her up close and personal with a curious raccoon.

"We were taking a short break and walking in the woods, and the raccoon came up from behind us," she said. "I was eating popcorn and it snatched some out of my hand."

Kayaking, she admitted, is a very safe activity if you take the necessary precautions, such as "wearing your lifejacket and carrying a safety whistle."

While many of the sights while kayaking are exciting and positive, she admits that an increasing amount of trash has been concerning to her.

"We have seen a lot of garbage on the river -- it's almost becoming normal to see that much litter," she said.

Lila's goals moving forward is to keep enjoying her time paddling, catching big fish and hopefully go to college with opportunities that have come from her kayaking experiences.

"It is a lot of fun, and can really take you places," she said. "You get to reconnect with nature while disconnecting with things like your phone. It really is a lot of fun, and I recommend giving it a chance!"

Listen to Lila's interview in the newest episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast:
Help other young people experience the therapeutic and recreational opportunities of kayaking by contributing to the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association's #GivingTuesday campaign.
1 Comment
Lipto shajin link
8/4/2022 10:06:32 pm

Really nice article . thank you for sharing your experience in Kayaking. it is more and more interesting . Like this we also shared the holiday experience in Kayaking visit it by the below link
https://www.whistlingwoodzs.com/holiday-experience-of-kayaking/

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    John Zaktansky is an award-winning journalist and avid promoter of the outdoors who loves camping, kayaking, fishing and hunting with the family.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    Topics

    All

    RSS Feed

Your Pollution Hotline Number:
​570-768-6300

SUPPORT OUR WORK

BY BECOMING A SUSQUEHANNA NEIGHBOR TODAY.
​FROM CLEAN WATER FLOW THRIVING COMMUNITIES.

Middle Susquehanna RIVERKEEPER® is a member of WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE. RIVERKEEPER is a registered trademark and service mark of Riverkeeper, Inc.
and is licensed for use herein. WATERKEEPER is a registered trademark and service mark of Waterkeeper® Alliance, Inc. and is licensed for use herein.