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See more photos from Fall Float on the Flint by Joe Cook.
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This month marks our one year anniversary with a new name and look that emphasizes our commitment to protect and connect people with Georgia rivers.
We are Georgia Rivers!
Georgia rivers start in humble headwaters, gather in creeks, and confluence with other streams to form mighty rivers. Thanks to you, Georgia Rivers is one mighty movement for river protection throughout our state.
You are an essential part of our work to protect rivers and inspire river recreation across the state. Thank you for being a part of Georgia Rivers!
Yours in river recreation and conservation,
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Rena Ann Peck
Executive Director
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It’s almost Georgia-Florida game time, the "War for the Oar"!
Did you know the oar is from the Okefenokee?! The 12-foot oar is carved from the remains of a 1,000-year-old cypress tree from the Okefenokee Swamp. One side bears the UGA logo, mascot and Georgia state crest, and the other has the UF logo, mascot and Florida state crest.
Today the oar can be seen a a symbol of UGA and UF fans united on the need to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from mining for heavy minerals along the swamp’s border.
| | World Heritage supporters - global peatland expert Hans Noosten, Muscogee Nation's RaeLynn Butler and Tracie Revis, and Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures boat pilot Dan Jones | | Georgia Rivers Supported World Heritage IUCN Visit | |
Georgia Rivers executive director Rena Ann Peck spent a week at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge with experts from International Union for Conservation of Nature as they determined next steps to designate the Okefenokee as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Together they toured the swamp by boat on the Okefenokee Wilderness Canoe Trails, hiked through longleaf pine forest, and studied the unique ecosystem.
Georgia Rivers wrote a letter that highlights the overwhelming public support for World Heritage inscription, the vast biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity.
| 10,300 letters of support were received by the Department of the Interior during the public comment period to nominate the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The DOI had never received so many letters of support for a World Heritage nomination. | Rivers, Rods, and Respect: The Origin Story of Fish Georgia Rivers | |
Fish Georgia Rivers has been years in the making, beginning with classes for skills and safety training and growing to include opportunities and resources for the greater river recreation community.
Read our blog post to learn how the Fish Georgia Rivers program evolved from the kayak angling community.
| Groups Delivered 23,000+ Petitions to Protect the Okefenokee | |
Georgia Rivers joined Environment Georgia and other coalition members at the Georgia Capitol on October 24 to deliver over 23,000 petitions to Gov. Brian Kemp to urge him to permanently protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
We are the fiscal sponsor of the Okefenokee Protection Alliance, Georgia Water Coalition, and Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition.
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Thanks for joining us for Fall Float on the Flint! Our annual fall weekend river adventure visited our favorite stretch of the Flint River near Albany.
We paddled 36 miles on Saturday and Sunday to explore blue hole springs, spot wildlife and monitor the water quality. Each night we enjoyed catered meals and educational programs at Rocky Bend Flint River Retreat!
| | TPL David Johnson, Rena Ann Peck, Lookout Creek water trail development leader Steve Bontekoe, and TPL George Dusenbury | | Georgia Outdoor Recreation & Trails Summit | |
Georgia Rivers highlighted Georgia's many water trails at the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition Trails Summit in Columbus.
Andrea White and intern Harsh Meka presented exciting upgrades to the Georgia River Guide free mobile app. Our app is the leading resource for those planning trips on over 50 water trails in Georgia! Learn more about the updates in a blog post by our partner Geomarvel.
Rena Ann Peck joined Levi Welling of Okefenokee Swamp Park to talk about the World Heritage nomination and the Okefenokee Wilderness Area Canoe Trails.
Georgia Rivers also presented with Trust for Public Lands on the benefits to developing the Tennessee River Canoe Trail from Lookout Creek to create a cross state water trail designation similar to the Appalachian Trail. This section was loved by all during this year's Paddle Georgia on the Tennessee!
See mapped water trails - including those in the Okefenokee! - on our Georgia River Guide app.
| PADDLE-A-THON WINNER REVEAL! | | |
Paddlers across the state and southeast paddled thousands of miles on Georgia rivers and water trails.
The adventure logs you submitted gave us valuable data to show state officials where paddlers visit established water trails. Thank you!
As always, thank you for paddling with us and supporting Georgia Rivers!
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Most Money Raised - Individual
Joe Cook - $2,385
1. Brie-Lenn Abney - $1,855
2 Sandy Thiessen - $1,800
3. John McCoy $ 1,452
Most Miles Paddled - Individual
1. Darlene Ray - 1038
2. Hunter White - 780
Joe Cook - 519
3. Sandy Thiessen - 262
Most Money Raised - Team
1. Cinco del Rio - $2,400
2. River Rogues - $300
3. Kayak Georgia - $200
Most Miles Paddled - Team
1. Kayak Georgia - 982
2. River Rogues - 271
Fish Georgia Rivers - 130
3. Canoe Pirates - 55
Most Paddle Trips
1. Hunter White - 134
2. Darlene Ray - 89
Joe Cook - 41
3. Susan Ashburn - 28
Most Miles Paddled in a Georgia State Park
1. Hunter White - 323
2. Taylor Smith - 144
3. Philip Barkes - 55
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Most Miles Paddled on a Water Trail with the Georgia River Guide app
1. Hunter White - 346
Joe Cook - 361
2. Darlene Ray - 340
3. Taylor Smith -147
Most Miles Paddled Among Middle Georgia Kayaking Members
1. Darlene Ray - 1038
Joe Cook - 178
Kendon Townsel - 125
Most Kayak Fishing Trips among Georgia Kayak Fishing Members
1. Benjamin Young
Kendon Townsel
Most Whitewater Trips Among Georgia Canoeing Association Members
1. Hunter White - 128
2. Taylor Smith - 8
Most Pounds of Trash Collected
1. Hunter White - 45
2. Brie-Lenn Abney - 32
3. Kathy Vaughn - 23
Most Miles Paddled in Georgia Among Kayak Georgia Members
Joe Cook - 407
1. Darlene Ray - 404
2. Hunter White - 366
3. Brie-Lenn Abney - 115
| | Celebrating the Life of Laurel Sybilrud | |
Laurel Sybilrud was an intrepid adventurer who embodied the spirit of river recreation conservationists. Read about her love for kayaking and love for people in our blog post.
A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, November 8 at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, 1548 Mt Vernon Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338.
Laurel’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her memory to Georgia Rivers or the Emory Winship Cancer Institute.
| | Georgia Rivers Awarded 2025 National Paddlesports Committee Honor | |
Georgia Rivers was recognized by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators' Paddlesports Committee (NASBLA) for our contributions to promoting a culture of safety in the paddling community.
We were selected for our commitment to safe paddling practices—particularly through impactful online content—that help shape a more informed and responsible paddling culture. Read the press release here.
Wear your life jacket and practice safety first!
| | Georgia Rivers at Paddlesports Trade Coalition/ACA Paddlefest | |
Georgia Rivers recently attended the Paddlesports Trade Coalition and ACA Paddlefest events in Charlotte, NC.
Andrea White and Jeff Little presented "Converting Casual Paddlers to Committed Customers" to industry leaders to share ways brands, retailers and outfitters can build a community ecosystem with area nonprofits and help inform and educate beginners at every step in the customer experience.
Simultaneously, our friends Fletch Griffin from Westbrook Supply Co. and Tony Narcisse at Paddle for Tomorrow led a conversation on "Growing Participation in Paddlesports" and extending market reach through partnerships.
We presented the incredible progress in rolling out the ACA Paddlesports Angler Curriculum to the Kayak Fishing Community, including an on-water demonstration as part of the Swiftwater Rescue Conference. Jake Vitak and Fletch Griffin led the way with support from Andrea White, Jeff Little, Wade Clements at YakAttack, Jameson Redding from Roadtrip Angler, and former Georgia Rivers Board Member Francheska Hedben.
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