Mississippi River Summer Canoe Camp 2025
Boys Camp: May 26-29; Girls Camp: June 2-5
Parents, students: there are still open Seats on Canoe Camp 2025 for Mississippi, Tennessee and Arkansas High Schoolers. Apply now and reserve your place!
These are first-ever, and still the only summer camps offered on the Lower Mississippi River! We have created opportunities for youth who normally can’t attend this kind of high-quality, traditional camp experience in the beauty and inspiring/healing ways of nature. Made possible through grants and private support. Partnership between Quapaw Canoe Company and the Lower Mississippi River Foundation.
About the Organization The mission of LMRF is to promote stewardship of the Mississippi River through deep engagement. The organization is focused on providing in-depth opportunities for people to interact with the Mississippi River and develop a sense of connection to the natural world. Read more about foundation here.
About the Mississippi River Summer Leadership Canoe Camp The Leadership Canoe Camp began in 2018 in partnership with Quapaw Canoe Company. Students travel in voyager canoes on the Mississippi River for 4 days, camping each night on islands along the river. Students learn how to pilot a canoe, as well as survival skills for a changing world, and outdoor skills needed for camping.
High School Students and Parents: to apply for summer camp, go here and fill out an online application!
From LMRF Board Members:
From Board Member and Camp Founder, Shannon McMulkin: The Mississippi River Summer Leadership Camp is an opportunity for youth from the Mississippi and ArkansasDelta to experience the river that runs through their backyard. Over the 4-day trip, students learn to canoe and camp as well as about the history and ecology of the Mississippi. Each day, they take on more responsibility as they learn the skills they need to make an expedition in a voyageur style canoe. The Leadership Camp started in 2018 with 6 brave students. It was not easy to convince kids and parents that spending a week in a canoe on the Mississippi River was a good idea. Most of the students had never been camping and none of them had ever canoed before. The first year was a success and each year the camp has grown. Last year, we added a second camp, just for young women. This year, we had more applications than spots and have 18 young men and 18 young women who will be joining us for this life-changing adventure. We are already planning to expand the number of camps next year so we can serve more students and connect more young people to this wild and beautiful river. We rely on the support of donors to make these camps possible. If you would like to support this work please consider making a donation to the Lower Mississippi River Foundation so we can continue to connect youth in the Delta to the river that connects us all! Shannon McMulkin Canoe Camp Founder 2018 LMRF Board Member since 2019 How to Donate: Mail check to: Lower Mississippi River Foundation PO Box 127 Helena, AR 72342 Donate Online at www.lowermsfoundation.org/donate
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 975 "Voice of the Lower Mississippi River" Helena, AR ~ Clarksdale, MS ~ Vicksburg, MS ~~~SBA 2024 Business of the Year Award~~~
Come meet board members, camp leaders, and camp director tomorrow, May 15th at our Artist’s Fundraiser in Clarksdale!
May 15th Artist’s Fundraiser for LMRF Canoe Camp, Community Canoe: Thursday, May 15th, 5-8pm -- special once in a decade — Artist's Fundraiser for the Lower Mississipi River Foundation at the Cutrer Higher Education Center in Clarksdale, MS — in partnership with Coahoma Community College and Quapaw Canoe Company. Featuring artists Diane Washa, Robin Whitfield, Thad Lee, Rory Doyle, Amana D’ja, Lisa Webb, Yolande Van Heerden, Euphus Ruth, Jennifer Ruskey, Birney Imes, Michael Davidson, Joey Young, Church Goin Mule, Andre LeMoyne Miller, Robby Johnston, Pat Brown and "Driftwood Johnnie" John Ruskey. Live blues performance by the Delta Blues Princess (DBP)(Abee Hudson). Author Boyce Upholt will sign and donate Great River books to the cause (you can purchase at event). Gallery talks, food and music. Please join us in thanking all of the community-minded artists who are all willing to donate 50% of art sales to foundation programming (which includes annual summer Canoe Camp and monthly Community Canoe). Note: some artists are making outright donations, 100% of proceeds going to foundation. Thanks to "Red River Otter" Heather Crosse for setting up sound for fundraiser event! Following May 15th event: you will find live music in downtown Clarksdale, at Ground Zero Blues Club (kickoff for Women in the Blues Weekend with Heather Crosse's Heavy Suga & the Sweetones) 8-11pm, and at the at Holy Moly 7-9pm with Cody Ruth (cello) and Ken Waldman (fiddle).