Mississippi River Canoe Camp - Boys
Rite of Passage on the Wild & Wonderful Lower Mississippi River
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 979 "Voice of the Lower Mississippi River"
Last week was boys. This week girls. Quick update from summer camp:
Mississippi River Boys Canoe Camp: a life-changing rite of passage experience for 2 voyageur canoes full of middle and high school youth from various counties across the Mississippi Delta.
“I could do this every day!”
Quote on final day from 11 year-old "Junior" De'Andre Jones (Charleston, MS)
Magical Encounter with Momma Mississippi Map Turtle
During boys canoe camp last week, we had an amazing encounter involving a large Mississippi Map turtle that seemed to follow us to camp.
We made landing on a long swooping sandy beach, freshly scrubbed clean from last month's high water, and pulled out a mountain of gear from the canoes for kitchen setup, and dry bags full of tents, sleeping bags and personals. Momma turtle made a landing a 100 feet upstream of us, and crawled up the wave splash line and then turned on top of sandy ridge to face the river. We thought maybe she was getting ready to lay eggs. The boys broke up into groups, and started setting up tents amongst the young cottonwoods that have sprouted up along this open bar, creating a delightful campsite. Momma turtle kept her position.
After camp was complete, and firewood gathered, it was time to swim. Several boys and I started up the beach to jump in the river and swim back downstream with the flow, in a "lazy river" sort of way. We walked up close to Miss Turtle. She swam off. We swam off back to camp. She returned. As if seeking attention. We returned to make another swim. When we got a few steps away from her, she once again swam off. We swam off following her. This time she swam past camp, and then returned to shore and made landing downstream, maybe 100 feet away. We thought she was a mother, wanting to lay eggs. Some of the boys went for a nature walk around the south side of our giant beach. On the way back they spied Momma Turtle still sitting on shore. One of the boys got down on all fours, and snuck up behind her, and caught her, and started yelling for us to come look. We all ran up and discovered she had a badly mauled rear leg, hanging on by a thread.
Maybe this is result of a boat propellor. Maybe a big alligator gar caught her. Maybe she was trying to lay eggs and coyote caught her. Regardless of source, she got away -- but at the expense of her left rear leg. I did an emergency surgery and now she is recovering on the shore nearby, where she seems to know she is safe. Now she is a 3-legged turtle.
We played a game of beach ball as she sat on beach and seemed to watch us. She knows she is safe around us. We took another nature walk going the other direction, she stayed close. We cooked a shish-ka-bob supper, and then followed up with schmores over the glowing coals. She maintained her position. The mosquitoes appeared in force at dark (around 9pm). Before disappearing into my tent, I checked on her one last time. She was till maintaining vigil. As I lay in the evening cool and watched fireflies and stars, and listened to the frogs talking, I reminisced about Momma turtle, and feel like she was purposely seeking us out for help. Why else would she stay so close to us -- repeatedly? -- All day long? The next morning, before we pushed off, I moved her to a nearby wetlands full of other turtles where I think she'll be safer than she will be on the banks of the main channel of the river.
PS: I've found other turtles with 3 legs doing just fine. She should be good. Plenty of pep in her! Angry in a turtle kind of way. Hissing at us!
National Mississippi River Day
Yesterday, June 2nd, was the very first, but not the last, National Mississippi River Day! Thanks to One Mississippi (which we belong to), we now have a day each year to celebrate our beloved queen mother Momma Mississippi, and all of the creation and vital habitats she nurtures and fosters in her 2350 mile long meandering floodplain from the North Woods to the Piney Woods of the South, from Minnesota marshlands to Louisiana estuaries. Purpose: The day aims to unite communities and stakeholders to recognize the river's significance and work towards its protection. Significance: The Mississippi River is a crucial part of American history, culture, and economy, and it supports a vast ecosystem. Activities: National Mississippi River Day is marked by various events, including celebrations, clean-up efforts, and educational programs. Ongoing Effort: The day is part of a larger national effort to raise awareness about the river's challenges and promote solutions for its preservation.
Parting Quote:
(About the Mississippi River) “It’s all the best and worst of these United States … it is more American than any other thing.” -Albert Tousley Where Goes the River (a 1928 canoe adventure from the Mississippi’s headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico)
~ Quapaw Canoe Company ~ Celebrating 27 Years of Service ~ ~Custom Guiding & Outfitting on the Lower Mississippi River~ ~ Winner of the SBA 2024 Small Business of the Year Award ~
What great work.
Wish I was there!