Jacki, Our New WOR Clinics Coordinator

Jacki, Our New WOR Clinics Coordinator

a Carolina Paddler Article

By Alton Chewning

∞ With the 2025 Week of Rivers only a few short months away, our thoughts turn to what rivers to run, what old friends to see and what new ones to make. Maybe our curious side considers new pursuits to try.

Throughout Week of Rivers all sorts of experiences are available. Is it finally time to make the long drive to Chattooga and try 3.5 or 4?  What about Hiwassee, another long drive but very pretty? Hey, will the Tellico finally be accessible?  Baby Falls, anyone?

Closer to the home base at Smoky Mountain Meadows, we have lots of opportunities to flex unused muscles. Battle it out with the Pirates of the Tuck. Go costume-crazy at the Bad Idea Theater. Dominate the Great Not A Race.  Or finally suck it up and try slalom.

Clinics are another way to improve your skill base and right-size your ego. Clinics can help a newcomer refine the fundamentals of paddling life: Car-Topping, Rope Toss and Combat Rolls. For accomplished boaters, new challenges await. Try hand paddles, new lines at Nantahala Falls or boat-based rescues. Maybe a class on slicey boats or slalom.  Are you curious about pack rafts or OC1’s?  Clinics for all these pursuits were offered at past WORs.

This year we are fortunate to have a new WOR Clinics Coordinator, Jacki Zevenbergen. Jacki is building on the experiences of past coordinators, including the multi-year run of Donna Murphy.  Jacki is very enthusiastic about the possibilities for this year but she needs your help and participation.

A bit about Jacki

Jacki has been coming to Week of Rivers for five years. In addition to the CCC, Jacki is a member of the Three Rivers Paddle Club in Pennsylvania and the Keel Haulers in Ohio. She’s a trustee with KH. As you may have gathered, Jacki is one of the caravans of people who come from beyond North Carolina to be a part of the fun and variety of WOR.

Jacki is retired from managing a conservation education program in Ohio. She lives in Cleveland, when she’s not on the road skiing out West or paddling the rivers of the Mid-Atlantic.

Friends in the KH and TRPC told Jacki about WOR and insisted she go. One trip and she was hooked.  Jacki shares, “I really loved WOR from the beginning and it gets even better as my abilities improve and I can join my friends on more rivers. I love the way CCC does so much more than just plan trips at WOR. Out of area members can make new friends and begin to offer trips at the morning meetings as they learn the rivers. The opportunity to meet new paddle buddies from a different region is wonderful. It’s always great to see someone from WOR at a festival in PA or WV.”

In Jacki’s previous career, she organized events to educate teachers, students, public officials, and the public about watershed health. Sounds like a perfect training ground for involvement with the WOR. In addition to skills clinics, Jacki hopes to have one or two conservation minded events during the week, in addition to Tom Womble’s traditional Tuckaseegee Clean-Up.

A speaker from the Mountain True organization is scheduled for the night of Monday, June 30^th. Mountain True is leading many of the clean-up efforts on rivers damaged by Hurricane Helene. They hire out-of-work raft guides to lead volunteer groups in half day and full day clean-ups. The MT representative will focus the talk on the French Broad and how our club members can help as individuals and as organized groups after WOR is over.

Why was Jacki drawn to the Clinics Coordinator job? She explains, “I have attended clinics and really liked them. I found clinics especially helpful when I was new and could only paddle a few rivers in the area. I have a lot of experience coordinating events that involve many different instructors or exhibitors. I just retired in October of 2024 and thought I would have plenty of time. I have since realized that time seems to disappear when you are retired, lol.”

Jacki will need our help to make the clinics a big success.  We need to participate by attending the courses but we can also help in organizing clinics. Jacki admitted, “I’m a little nervous because I don’t have the extensive contacts in the Carolinas that I have back home. That said, I’m looking forward to establishing those new friendships.” She’s off to a good start. Past coordinators have provided information and contacts. Donna Murphy shared “an amazing spreadsheet” of past clinics, instructors and contacts. Tom Womble, aka Mr. WOR, and Rick Steeves, our very capable Cruise Chair, are there to help with the scheduling and administrative tasks. Jacki is confident, “I definitely think that my experience organizing workshops and student events that rely on a variety of professionals will translate into success in recruiting instructors and coordinating clinics.”

Carolina Paddler sat in on Jacki’s initial conversation with Jack Henderson, leader of Mountain True. Jacki was impressive–cordial and a good listener. Very organized in her approach, going directly to what was needed and what wasn’t. Jacki was careful in considering the  many other events and activities of WOR. She helped Jack fine tune the scope of MT’s presentation and keeping the time allowed and agenda in a realistic framework. She also considered both the short- and long-term objectives of the talk and the impact on individuals and the clubs. She’s going to be good at this organizational and educational job.

The clinics will be fun. Several popular programs are under consideration. The favorites seem to be Combat Rolls, the Nantahala Falls Clinic, Boat-Based Rescues and Slicey Boats. Do you have a topic in mind?  Pack Rafting/Inflatables, Hand Paddling, Ferry-Edging-Eddy fundamentals. Can you or someone you know lead these clinics?  The clinics are traditionally led by qualified teachers, some of whom are certified, some who have demonstrated clear competence in a discipline.  We’d also like to include businesses who would like to offer an appropriate clinic.

We can help Jacki by registering for clinics ahead of time and then showing up. Sometimes people sign up but skip the clinic when another opportunity arises. Organizers and instructors are devoting their time to provide these clinics and we should be reliable in participating.

Jacki is excited about this year’s Week of Rivers. She feels the clinics will be a win if people make new friends and wonderful memories and they have a safe and healthy experience. “Participation in club events is what makes you a member. The supportive friendships are priceless.”