This content was published: June 20, 2002. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Retrace Lewis and Clark's Journey Via PCC's Kayak and Canoe Tours
Photos and story by James Hill
ST. HELENS, Ore. – From the front-row seat of a canoe this summer, you can traverse the same path as Lewis and Clark once did in Columbia County. Portland Community College will also offer opportunities to explore the environment and experience the "Great Canoe"in a series of non-credit waterway tours beginning in June.Instructor Steve Gibbons will lead both beginning and experienced paddlers to rekindle the spirit of discovery in three tour formats:Lewis and Clark Waterways Paddling Tour: Explore early activities of Chinook Indians, settlers, multimasted ships and crew along the Columbia County shores and waterways. Students can sign up for individual tours, offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays, June 26 through Sept. 15. Tuition is $10 with a $65 fee payable to the instructor.Eco-Quietwater Kayaking Tour: Take advantage of a great opportunity to explore the environment and protected wetlands of Scappoose Bay and Creek. This tour has been designated a "Leave No Trace" class, which is dedicated to establishing a nationwide code of outdoor ethics by which to shape a sustainable future for natural lands. Students can sign up for individual tours, offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, June 20 through Sept. 7. Tuition is $10 with a $58 fee payable to the instructor."Great Canoe" Tour: Few people today get the opportunity to experience the history and freshness of the Columbia River and its waterways as paddlers did 200 years ago. A 31-foot replica of a Northwest native dugout canoe, Scappoose Bay Interpretive tours will provide that opportunity. Students can paddle if they like, or just ride along to listen and learn the area’s rich history from two onboard interpreters. Discover the Chinook Indians, the British and French explorers, Hudson Bay fur trappers, and of course, Lewis and Clark. The "Great Canoe" is a spiritual experience that at one time was taken very seriously as a connection to both family or community respect and the major means of inter-tribal involvement. Students can sign up for individual tours, offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to noon, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends, June 15 through Sept. 14. Tuition for each tour is $10 with a $30 fee payable to the instructor for the two-hour tour, and $60 payable to the instructor for the six-hour tour which includes lunch.Tours will be held on the Scappoose Bay and Multnomah Channel. All safety equipment is provided. For more information on meeting sites and class times, please call Community Education at 503-397-1311.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »