We are seeking paddlers with kayaking experience who can arrive at 6:45 AM and volunteer until ~8:30. No boat or PFD required, and more details about safety protocols, compensation, and signing up can be found below!

 

Safety paddling involves being the swimmer's eyes, ears, and direction support while they are in the water and having fun at the same time. Safety paddling isn't providing lifeguarding or swimmer rescues - we rely on 911 for that. 

 

On weekdays the team swims at 7 am, 7:45 am, or both, and cross the Willamette channel. The number and timing of the sessions depends on what part of the summer season we are in. Saturday swims are at 9am and go north/south along the east bank of the river. The season start date varies each summer based on river flow and temperature conditions (usually late June or early July). The season ends sometime in September.

 

Paddlers can sign up for shifts ahead of time when they commit to being a volunteer. River Huggers fundraises to be able to pay paddlers a stipend for those who would benefit from it. Contact us to find out more/sign up. 

 

Paddlers arrive 15 minutes before the swimmers to get ready and get in the water. One shift is roughly an hour commitment. Completing both shifts is roughly a 90 minute commitment. We pay $30 per paddle session - you can get paid to paddle!

 

Read on below for the paddler's guide, the safety tips, and watch the related videos to learn more. 

This section describes the big picture of what to keep in mind. Please download this safety checklist to follow when you are paddling. We revisit it during orientation and may make changes during the season.

 

Your Paddling Vessel

• Try to find a kayak to use for RH paddling. There are many unused kayaks gathering dust out there. We encourage you to check with friends, family, and neighbors. You are welcome to store your boat in the container.
• If you are borrowing a boat, please be gentle, avoid dragging, and store it carefully.
• If your boat is not available for others to borrow, please mark it accordingly.
• Many boats are difficult to tote solo, so grab other paddlers or swimmers to help.
• Please leave the storage container as you found it, and if your boat has a dolly, make sure it’s attached when back in storage.

 

Required Gear

Paddler-provided (you bring it)

• A personal floating device (PFD) with whistle (try to find a PFD for yourself, but there are usually extras in the container box)
• Cell phone in a waterproof container–paddlers need phones to call 911 in case of an emergency
• Sunglasses (optional), sunscreen, water, hat, jacket and other protection from the elements

 

Provided by River Huggers (in the dock box)

• A walkie talkie, turned on at full volume, set to channel 12 (be sure to turn your walkie talkie off when the swim is done to save the battery). If channel 12 is static filled, we confer to find a different one that works.
• A safety kit for swimmers (containing flip flops, emergency blanket, snack, hand warmers, and mustard packets for cramps)
• An air horn
• A life ring (we only have three, so there aren’t always enough for every boater)

 

Important Scenarios and Tasks

 

Look for swimmers who are having a hard time in one way or another. Note: new swimmers (“newbies”) wear hot pink caps and are important to keep an eye on. Each newbie swims with an “angel” buddy swimmer. 

 

Please review the following scenarios and the steps to take should they arise:

 

Slower (relative to the rest of the swim pod) Swimmer: 

We swim as a pod to ensure a paddler can reach a distressed swimmer in time to prevent drowning. If you’re in the back of the group with a swimmer and they are halfway across the river span by the time the rest of the group reaches the opposite shore, they should be turned around. Use your best judgment if you think a swimmer may have difficulty due to speed in reaching the shore, and feel free to make the call to turn around. It’s important to do this to keep the group on schedule, especially during the first swim.

 

Steps for turning a swimmer around:

• Get the swimmer’s attention, and let them know what’s happening. Make sure to let them down easy and not make them feel too slow, it’s just for the sake of the group
• Offer a safety ring if they need it in addition to their buoy
• If the swimmer isn’t next to their buddy, ask for their name + buddy’s name, and radio their name to the swim captains/paddlers at the shore.
• Offer a chance to rest, since they won’t be able to take a break at the shore. They can use their buoy and/or life ring and/or hold onto either end of your boat 

 

Distressed Swimmer: 

First, if you are concerned about a swimmer and can get their attention, check with the swimmer by patting your own head and awaiting a mirrored response (indicating, “I’m OK”). Alternatively (or in addition), if a swimmer stops swimming from fatigue, injury, loss of consciousness, or other reason you cannot ascertain, and cannot swim back to the dock on their own:

• Radio another paddler to call 911 and send a captain or other swimmer to the distressed swimmer for assistance in keeping their airway clear in the water using flotation device(s)
• Paddle to the swimmer to stay with them
• Do not get out of your boat
• Remaining captains and paddlers turn pod around to the dock

 

Looking Out for Boats

One of our primary roles is to scan up and down the river for boats and to stop the pod to prevent injuries. Boats cannot always see the swimmers despite bright colored caps and buoys because of weather conditions and positioning on the water. 

• For a slow or medium speed boat moving in the general direction of the pod: communicate to other paddlers and monitor it (e.g, “slow boat, upstream, west side”)
• As the slow/medium speed boat gets closer but danger is not imminent, you can try to wave your paddle high to get the boat’s attention
• For a fast moving boat heading in the direction of the pod, alert other paddlers by radio IF there is time. Whether or not other paddlers have been alerted,
  • Blow the air horn for at least 8 seconds to alert the swimmers (and the boat!)
  • Once all swimmers have stopped either have them tread water until danger has passed or point your paddle in the direction you want them to swim.

 

Debris/Obstructions

Before swimmers get in the water check for debris such as floating trash and logs. If it’s possible for one or more paddlers to clear the debris before the swim, do so. If not, alert swimmers to where it is. 

• Safety paddler stay next to logs poking out of water (e.g. east side of the river between FireStation dock and Morrison Bridge) and wave swimmers around the obstruction to prevent injury
• Paddlers try to stay between swimmers and the pylons to prevent collision

 

Weather Challenges

We don’t get in the water if there is significant debris flow, a harmful algal bloom, or river flow is high enough to create strong eddy lines. Captains will check river flow, if temperatures are below 62 F (that's our low temperature threshold), or if there is a storm. Captains and paddlers have authority to cancel a swim if there is any indication that it might be dangerous. They will confer with each other to make that decision. If a storm arrives in the middle of a swim session captains and paddlers may also choose to cancel for safety.

 

stay tuned for a video for paddlers and captains!