Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point

Hi All:

I have read most of the threads that people have written. I'm new to kayaks and
paddling, I'm not new to the outdoors. I have spent the better part of 30 years
outdoors doing something. I have never had a sport that has gotten my attention
as much a kayaking. I see a problem here that is the people that have been
kayaking for "X" amount of time blaming the new kayakers for the over crowding
and the waste that is left behind. Did the people that started kayaking 10 years
think how they would impact the environment and the other kayakers? No. Maybe?
Now the people that have been doing it for 20 years saw these new people and
said Why are these people doing this (starting into kayaking). For the very same
reason that they started 10 years before. Did the people that came across on the
Mayflower think about the impact? No the Native people did. Now wee call them
historical cites. We think that the place that we think is special to us  now,
that no one else should use it, what about the memories about sharing these with
a person. Then now matter what happens you and your special place will always go
full circle. What you taught that person will be taught again and again. I will
teach my children to respect nature and not to destroy it for others.

A possible answer to this problem is that we start a big brother, big sister
program that way they can teach the newer kayakers. Maybe put a  very small
sticker on you boats designating which you are the teacher or the student. Then
only the people that want to teach or learn would participate. We could have a
sponsorship that only those that were sponsored could go into areas set aside
for this. Set up a standard to teach  and also learn, before the student becomes
the teacher. If WE all do are part we will all feel that we were the first one's
there. I know that there is no clear answer to the problem, but we all can make
the best of the circumstances that we have. Half full or half empty?


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