Pirates Academy Rafting Trip

Agenda for the Pirates Academy Rafting Trip

Every participant must complete his waiver for the rafting trip. Links for the waiver are on the previous page.

Please take a look at some footage from a pervious rafting trip. This is the same flow of the river for most of the trip. Here is a video that a participant made from the 2019 rafting trip. Please remember that the logistical video for Pirates Academy has helpful details for the trip.

RAFTING TRIP PLANS:

WEATHER: If we experience lightning, the standard safety procedure is to pull to the side until the storm passes. If the forecast calls for thunderstorms all day, we will move the trip to Thursday. If the forecast is for rain throughout the day without lightning, the plans will remain in place. If the river is at a dangerous flood stage, we will cancel the trip.

Parents drop their sons off at the Smithfield Beach National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania at 10:15 am. (Search for that name in your gps application or gps device.) The entrance is not well-marked so please look at this Google Map link. If you are running a few minutes late, DO NOT STRESS because this venture does not have rigid times. If fees are being collected at the entrance, they will be waived since parents will not be staying – unless parents want to do so. It is important to note that the cell service at Smithfield Beach is poor. (If your son cannot attend the trip because you cannot get him there, please email Peter Durning at pdurning@shp.org and we will try to arrange something.)
Parents are welcome to wait around until we get in the water. Please feel free to listen to our short presentation we give before we push off.
Adventure Sports will put us in the water in their rafts – faculty members will be in canoes/kayaks for mobility.
Parents can stay at Smithfield Beach or drive right down to the Gap, but here are some other options:
1. A parent HIGHLY recommended the Farmhouse Eatery in East Stroudsburg for lunch. It is pretty close to the pick-up location.
2. Visit The Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville, PA.
3. Hit some golf balls at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort.
4. Go hiking. For parents who enjoy aggressive hikes, you might opt for the Mount Tammany Trail hike accessible at the Dunnfield Creek parking lot.
The rafting will end at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center at that Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. (The exit off Route 80W is Exit 1, “Millbrook Flatbrookville” and at the bottom of the ramp you will hook back under Route 80 and get onto River Road. Stay left to the Visitors Center.) Students pull the rafts up to the beach, clean out their garbage, and then go home with their parents. ONCE WE ARE IN THE WATER, THE TRIP TAKES ABOUT 2.5 HOURS. This depends on the amount of swimming that takes place.

Important notes:

We will have a great time, but we also need to be aware that others on the river will be looking for a peaceful trip down the river. Please be sure to have good rafting etiquette when around others.
Phones allowed on rafts at your own risk. The water barely ripples, but you should still store a phone in a sealed case or bag with a strap.
Pirates Academy participants must wear their life-jackets on the river at all times.
You can assume that every item you have on you or with you will get soaked unless it is protected.
Please see the next page for the check list.

×	Checklist
	Towel (not for the raft). The towel should be in the parent’s car to sit on and clean off sandy feet.
	Lunch (during raft). I am putting my lunch in a reusable container and I will put that inside a sling bag or backpack. Do not bring napkins. They get wet and nasty in the raft. We are asking every student to have their lunch packed in completely reusable containers. (This even refers to potato chips and other snacks.) As our groups have moved down the river, we have left a trail of plastic. This has been completely accidental, but we cannot continue to pollute the river. Therefore, we are asking that every family honor this request. Since students need to clean out their rafts at the end of the trip, this will also make the cleanup a breeze.
	Backpack or sling bag
	Water shoes, junky sneakers, or sandals for raft (You will most likely step into the river.) *No flipflops since you will lose them in the river.*
	SUNBLOCK - Your thighs and shins will get roasted.
	Hat optional, but highly recommended
	Attire: T-shirt CASUAL shorts that can get wet. You can wear a bathing suit the whole time. Many students like to wear compression shorts under their shorts.
	WATER in a reusable container.
	OPTIONAL phone (in a protective case). These pouches are great. Also might try this case.