Norm Fred, a retired dentist, saw a need and worked tirelessly to fill that need. Norm oversees the Boardman River Clean Sweep (BRCS) event each year. This past year was the 8th annual river clean up event that removed about 1000 pounds of trash and raised over $800 to support our work on the Boardman. But the need that Norm saw had nothing to do with cleaning up the river, it had to do with getting kids involved with paddling the river.
Over the past several years, we have offered a very popular education program called the Kingsley Canoe and Hike for the Kingsley Middle School. Students float from Sabin Dam down to the YMCA, then enjoy a guided hike back to the Nature Center. The students learn about the natural world that exists both on land and in the river. They also learn how to canoe and about water safety. For many kids, this is their first exposure to canoeing.
Rounding up the canoes each year from the YMCA and Ranch Rudolf consumed a great deal of staff time. Norm, a member of the local paddle club and GTCD volunteer, decided to take it on his own to seek the donation of eight used canoes from private individuals and liveries. The ones from the liveries needed repair but that didn’t stop Norm. He not only obtained the canoes but he also spent his own time and money to repair them as well. On top of that, Norm purchased a used canoe trailer through the BRCS and donated it to the GTCD with the understanding that he could use it for the River clean-up event.
With the proposed removal of the Boardman River Dams, the canoes have also proved valuable to use while collecting stream data and conducting project tours.
Thank You Norm.