Campus Activities Kayaking on Labor Day

On Monday, Sept. 2, the Campus Activities Board sponsored a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, that included paddleboarding over the French Broad River and exploring downtown Asheville. 

Jason Onks, director of campus activities, led the trip. Onks described the trip as a “lovely drive over the mountain, then paddleboarding over a section of the French Broad that passed by the Biltmore.” 

Holly Lay, a sophomore political science major, went on the annual Labor Day trip for the first time this year and subsequently tried a new activity. 

“I had never been paddleboarding before. The first 50 feet I tried to stand up,” Lay said. “I decided that was not going to work so I sat down until the end.” The river was calm and the water was about waist deep, making the ride smooth and enjoyable. 

“The first part of the river splits the Biltmore property so we could see the big house (referring to the Biltmore Mansion) for a little while, which was pretty cool,” Onks said, “And we were blessed with phenomenal weather.”

Both Onks and Lay said that the view was magnificent, and they had an enjoyable time with the group. “As nice and busy as Asheville is becoming, you couldn’t really hear the traffic for the two-and-a-half hours we were on the river,” Onks said

After paddleboarding, the group traveled to their next destination. “We all finished and ended up eating together after we left the river and arrived in downtown Asheville,” Onks said. 

According to Onks, the trip was successful. “Some of the students that went were new or not from the area or both,” Onks said. “It was really cool for them to go out and experience the area.” 

It is one of Onks’ goals each year is to travel somewhere that is close to campus, but still gives the students an opportunity to get out and experience creation.

above image: Holly Lay and Emily Harper paddleboarding