I enjoy kayaking, and I enjoy learning new things, so when I found out that the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (www.irwp.org) was sponsoring an educational float trip on the Illinois River, I applied to be a participant. As you can see from the number of boats in the photo below---dozens of other folks also wanted to participate!
Our group started at the Siloam Springs Kayak Park (www.siloamspringskayakpark.com), on a beautiful autumn day:
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When it first opened, there were no restrooms at the park, but that has changed. Now there are restrooms adjacent to the parking lot, and they can be seen in photo below, behind the gentleman giving us our "river float plan"
I do not know if this large expanse of rock levees and "piers" shown below are natural or man-made, but they provide countless opportunities for guests to the park, to explore and experiment, during various seasons of the year.
The photo below shows the rocks extend well out into the river, and create a bit of a "white water" channel for the more adventurous paddlers.
There is a second "white water" channel farther down the stream, and some folks chose to put in below that "challenge opportunity" (including me!)
Our instructor shows us the kicking/digging maneuver, that is used to sir up the tiny critters that live in this water habitat, so they can be scooped, using the net he is holding.
Then using a strainer, we put the creatures in a white container, so they could be easily seen:
We inspected the results, throwing out the leaves and sticks and pebbles. (If you have been through the Arkansas Master Naturalist training program, this procedure is an integral part of your classes)
Notice all the spectators below are wearing different colored hats, which I thought made an "artsy-type" photo opportunity! The photo can also be a metaphor for all the different "hats" stake-holders wear within the Illinois River Watershed. When a river runs through more than one state (which is the case for the Illinois River), there are usually inevitable conflicts between the "upstream" vs. "downstream" users. This has certainly been the case for the Illinois River, with extensive litigation occurring since the 1970's, that even ended up in the Supreme Court. One can read more details on the various lawsuits, on www.wikipedia.org and www.EncyclopediaOfArkansas.net. 
One of the major issues discussed on our trip, was stream bank erosion, and its effects on water quality. This photo below shows an example of how the stream is eroding away a pasture, and exposing tree roots. The degradation on the ground results in the tree falling across the river, impeding floating by paddlers. The erosion also affects land value. A long-term study showed that Northwest Arkansas is losing 20 acres per year, along this watershed, due to stream bed erosion. This calculates into 102,822 additional tons of sediment going into the river per year!
The speaker's comments caused me to notice that I am also losing acreage on my property, from steambank erosion. (photo below). Knowing the effects of sediment buildup in rivers, a Scripture verse I came across took on new meaning. The prophet Isaiah warned "The rivers will turn foul; the brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up." (Isaiah 19:6) None of us want that to happen!
After measuring water quality during out stops, we got back in our boats and continued our float down stream. Photo below shows I am still dry, and I have managed not to roll over, so far. However, those downed trees I mentioned earlier did cause me an issue. A huge one was hidden, slightly submerged under water, such that I floated over it, and the inflatable kayak I was in "high centered" on top of it. In my normal kayak, I can usually scoot and rock my body to get me off of such an obstacle. However, it was a different story in an inflatable kayak! I would probably still be there, if one of the rafts carrying four people, had not drifted by and pulled me off the submerged log!
The IRWP works to promote good water quality, promote storm-water friendly practices to help avoid flooding/stream bank erosion, to help farmers, to assist with septic tank remediation issues, to provide both in-person and on-line educational programs, and to maintain a website with information on best management practices, easily accessible. Thanks to their efforts, folks are able to recreate on a clean stream, framed by the changing seasonal colors, of the deciduous trees along its banks.
Our group exited on river right, very close to the Highway 59 bridge:
There was a sign telling us where to exit, which is very helpful because I have been on river floats before, where we missed the takeout location because there was no sign!
This simple word "Gypsy", is a clue that we are at Gypsy Camp and Canoe (www.gypsycampcanoe.com), which is an outfitter that rents kayaks and canoes.
The vans and kayak haulers from 37 North Expeditions were awaiting our arrival:
Our group then took the short stroll up to the Gypsy Camp Historic District, which you can see many more photos of, on their Facebook page. I had read some on the history of Gypsy Camp, and learned that it was a summer camp for girls, started in the 1920's.
The camp consisted of four cabins for campers, a dining/recreation hall, and three residential structures.
The camp operated from 1921-1978, and its 11.5 acres have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. According to historical data I read on line, the camp was attended by some girls who went on to become well-known citizens, including actress Mary Martin, Walmart heiress Alice Walton, and attorney Dana Daniels Nixon.
Remember the camp was started before electric air conditioning was common in rural areas, so these gals had some formative experiences of "roughing it", through the hot and humid summers of Arkansas!
37 North Expeditions had set up tables and chairs for us at the camp, so we had a delightful outdoor catered lunch:
After our lunch, one of the officials from the Oklahoma side of the Illinois River, told us about the work her agency is doing to promote water quality in their state. In that state, the Illinois River is designated as a "scenic river", and has a bigger impact on tourism there, than it does in Arkansas.
The rock arbor shown in photo below is part of the Gypsy Camp Historic District, and I read that "The Arch" was often the designated "meet up" location for various camp activities.
The view of the blue waters of the Illinois River is seen in the distance, framed by that arch, and the goal is to KEEP it blue! Let's all do our part to make that happen, so that like me, the generations to come will be able to have Illinois River paddling trips that give "MILES OF SMILES"! Tricia
There was a sign telling us where to exit, which is very helpful because I have been on river floats before, where we missed the takeout location because there was no sign!
The vans and kayak haulers from 37 North Expeditions were awaiting our arrival:
Our group then took the short stroll up to the Gypsy Camp Historic District, which you can see many more photos of, on their Facebook page. I had read some on the history of Gypsy Camp, and learned that it was a summer camp for girls, started in the 1920's.
The camp operated from 1921-1978, and its 11.5 acres have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. According to historical data I read on line, the camp was attended by some girls who went on to become well-known citizens, including actress Mary Martin, Walmart heiress Alice Walton, and attorney Dana Daniels Nixon.
37 North Expeditions had set up tables and chairs for us at the camp, so we had a delightful outdoor catered lunch:
After our lunch, one of the officials from the Oklahoma side of the Illinois River, told us about the work her agency is doing to promote water quality in their state. In that state, the Illinois River is designated as a "scenic river", and has a bigger impact on tourism there, than it does in Arkansas.
The rock arbor shown in photo below is part of the Gypsy Camp Historic District, and I read that "The Arch" was often the designated "meet up" location for various camp activities.
Addendum:
While doing research for this article, I learned from Facebook, that one of my Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters from college, Dana Daniels Nixon, had a connection to Gypsy Camp for Girls. She graciously texted me copies of some of her vintage photos from that place, and gave me permission to include them with this blog.
Photo below shows Dana's mom, when she attended the camp in 1939.
Photo below shows expansive yard in front of the camp buildings. This is the same space my IRWP group used decades later, to have our outdoor catered lunch.
Photo from Happy Birthday celebration for camp founder:
The names on this photo show Dana Daniels, and fellow camper--Alice Walton--, standing in line for hot dogs. Although I was not a camper with Alice Walton, I did have the opportunity to visit the home she grew up in, at Bentonville, Arkansas. Alice's mom, Helen Walton, hosted several youngsters from our Harrison, Arkansas, Presbyterian Youth Group, for an overnight retreat at their expansive home. As Mrs. Walton was showing us where our sleeping quarters would be, we got to take a peek inside Alice's room. All I remember about that room was that the walls were covered with blue and red silk prize ribbons/medallions she had won demonstrating her equestrian skills at horse shows and fairs around the country. The other thing I remembered from the Sam and Helen Walton home was that Mrs. Walton said we could use any of the seven bathrooms she showed us. I was overwhelmed and amazed, because the house where I lived only had one bathroom. This church youth retreat took place in the midst of the sixties civil rights disputes, when many people of faith were working to show that God loves every one---"red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in HIS sight". Since the Harrison church youth group only had Caucasian kids, the church leaders of Northwest Arkansas wanted us to meet some Christian youth, that were a different color than we were. Mrs. Walton did her part in making that a reality for us Harrison kids. I am very thankful to her for her gesture of hospitality and improving race relations. I read in the newspaper some time after that weekend experience in the Walton home, that it burned to the ground, but the family rebuilt a new one-- bigger and better, with even more restrooms! Decades later, Alice Walton built Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, in Bentonville. I have been there many times, and it is my goal to go to each ladies' rest room on the campus there, which I can assure you is considerably MORE than seven!
Dana said it was okay to quote her regarding what she learned during her time spent on the banks of the Illinois River, participating in Gypsy Camp activities: "To respect the awesomeness of nature and humankind at the same time. To embrace competition and learning, while learning to lose gracefully. To be independent, but to support teammates. To love with all one's heart." A big THANK YOU to Dana for these photos and her remembrances about Gypsy Camp for Girls.
Likewise, on the IRWP educational float trip, I was reminded of the awesomeness of both nature and humankind, and how it is up to us humans to be good stewards of the awesomeness of Arkansas, THE NATURAL STATE!
MILES OF SMILES!! Tricia
