New River Academy Whitewater Kayak School

Hiking Los Lagos

As the days pass since returning from the parents’ trip to Chile with the New River Academy, I can’t help but reflect on the "beyond belief" experience. First of all "beyond belief" is the description a friend of mine uses just to describe the concept of an internationally travelling kayak high school. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity we were pleased to be able to offer our son David as a post graduate gap year, before he enters the University of Puget Sound later this year. Disappointed at having to miss the China trip, Steve and I jumped at the chance to join the other parents, Beth West, Paul Johnson, and Horace Holden and travel with our children through the Lakes Region of Chile, one of the premier kayaking destinations in the world.

Chile is a country full of dramatic and beautiful diversity, in the natural beauty of the land, in the Chilean people, their culture and in their lifestyle. The scenery was stunning and gorgeous. Volcanoes were visible looming above the horizon each day, some with glaciers, some oozing smoke and on the last two days one spewing lava down its sides visible from the porch of our hosteria at night. The weather was hot, dry and dusty, yet water was everywhere. Huge crystal clear aqua blue lakes were fed by multiple rivers. Some were cold and glacial fed, others warm flowing from hanging mountain lakes that cascaded their warm waters through lava formed canyons and falls. Wild fuschia and other flowers grew along the trails.

Casa Blanca Student Meeting

Equally memorable as the landscape were the people. Chileans are a quiet, friendly, happy, proud and hard-working people. My most treasured memory occurred while driving down the road not far from Casa Blanca where the students stay. We passed an old farmer, whip in hand, moving his ox drawn hay wagon down the side of the pavement. I had to have a picture so we pulled over. I start clicking away trying to get a picture including the volcano in the backround. He motioned me over to see his great animals up close. More pictures. As I show him the pictures our encounter ends with a hug and kiss on the cheek. What I will never forget is the deep twinkle of pride in his eye and look of contented pleasure on his face that I have never before seen from anyone while working in the US.

Farmer and Ox Cart

Traveling with the school and hosted by David, we enjoyed a week of unending adventure, fun, laughs, great food and a little Chilean wine. Between running rivers, climbing volcanoes, and sight seeing we were able to share a few meals with the whole school, sit in on some classes, spend an evening with the staff and even meet with all the students to hear their individual concerns and share ours as well. Our children are in good hands under the guidance of David, Kyle, Eleanor, Ian, Andrew and Tino. They go out of their way to individualize all the students’ needs and respond to them. Beyond the fine academics and kayak instruction, our children are learning to be leaders, how to work together, how to respect differences, how to resolve them in positive ways. With this staff as role models our adolescents are getting an education rarely offered outside the home. They are gaining a set of tools that will serve them well as they enter the adult world. This is priceless! Also priceless was watching roles reverse and see these young people step up to instruct, encourage, film, congratulate and set up safety supports as their dads pushed their limits and accomplished kayaking firsts. (For everything else there’s dollars and pesos.)

New River Academy Trailer Trash

After traveling with our students for a week, what repeatedly returns to my thoughts are how these "beyond belief" experiences will change my perspective of life and that of the NRA students who have such a wonderful opportunity to travel in this way. Steve and I feel our son David’s experiences with NRA as a gap year have offered him so much more than we had expected. For that we thank you all.

Beth Ruhle

…and that has made all the difference

All Photos Copyright of Beth Ruhle

Rio Fuy's 30-Foot Falls

The Moms, Beth West and Beth Ruhle

The Upper Rio Fuy Put-in