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NAKED AND AFRAID ON THE KICKAPOO

Archive

Rustic Raft Rally Accepting Entries

“That was really cool, last year” remembered Kieran Katz, age 7, from Sun Prairie, about last year’s Rustic Raft Rally. “I like ships like the Titanic and rafts are a kind of ship,” he says. This year, Kieran and his brother, Hixson, age 9, will be helping their dad, Sam, build a raft to paddle down the Kickapoo River on July 27 for this year’s event at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, “It’s going to be like ‘Naked and Afraid’ on T.V.” exclaims Hixson, “They build a raft!” The Katz family will construct the raft from “wood from the forest,“ according to Hixson. His father hopes they can build it in one day. Hixson plans to name his raft “Ghost Ship” and fly a green flag. Watching last year’s rafts inspired the family to live the adventure themselves this year, or sink trying to!

The boys’ mother, Meghan, remembered that it was nice walking around the Reserve last year at the Raft Rally on a nature treasure hunt. “Each time we found something there would be a clue for the next one,” she said. There was also a popular scavenger hunt with a list of photos to collect via cellphone on the Reserve such as a six-petaled flower, mushrooms on a tree, etc. These fun activities for children and adults, plus kids fish for free, wagon rides, and nature hikes, will all be happening. The event is free and open to the public. Food will be available for purchase from Blackhawk Grill and Sacred Heart School.

All ages – groups, businesses, families, scouts, 4-H clubs, students! – are invited to build a raft from natural materials and float down the Kickapoo for 2.3 river miles – from Landing 12 at Rockton to Landing 14, the site of the main event. Launching begins at 1 p.m. If you’re not ready to float a raft, come to the event on Saturday, July 27, beginning at noon. Sponsored by Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

TO ENTER A RAFT: (608) 625-2960  Jackie.yocum@wisconsin.gov

Rustic Raft Rally

Archive

Does floating down a river on a homemade log raft seem like an adventure from long ago? For a scout group camping at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve last summer, it became an exciting reality. The troop of boys and girls learned about the Rustic Raft Rally on the day before the event and, in less than 24 hours, they had constructed two rafts using only natural materials. They floated, paddled, and poled the rafts down the Kickapoo river and over the finish line along with a dozen other rafters – families, scouts, students, adventurers.

Some rafters had worked for weeks on their rafts, working only with natural materials, other participants had built them quickly. Every raft completed the course from landing 12, by Rockton, to landing 14, about 2.3 river miles.

This year the Rustic Raft Rally will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2019. The event is free and open to all ages. Contact Jackie Yocum at 608 625-2960 or email Jackie.yocum@wisconsin.gov to receive more information and to register. Rafts will be limited to fifteen.

The Rustic Raft Rally will include free wagon rides on Old 131, nature hikes, fishing for kids, a scavenger hunt, yard games, and a campfire. Food will be available for purchase. This event is sponsored by Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

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