When Chuck Lee’s ten-year-old son told him whitewater kayaking is for old people, Lee set out to find small boats and equipment to bring more kids into the sport, starting close to home in PincherCreek, Alberta. From a no-show first year to now entering its 25th year, today Lee’s 3 Rivers Rendezvous remains a family-friendly event at heart.
From zero to 300: behind the scenes of the 3 Rivers Rendezvous
When Lee moved to the Pincher Creek area in 1993 he began paddling with his kids. It wasn’t long into paddling the area when Lee started to dream of inviting other paddlers to Pincher Creek and organizing a paddling weekend. Lee and his family of four set to picking dates, organizing camping and food for a weekend – and no one showed up at all – just Lee, his wife and his son and daughter attended the earliest iteration of the 3 Rivers Rendezvous.
“It was so disappointing that nobody came. Everybody said, well, just don’t do it. Nobody will show up,” shared Lee. “Well, the next year we had 12 people show up and I insisted, we’re going to put this on. We’re going to have burgers and we’re going to have a fun weekend.”
From the initial group of 12, the 3 Rivers Rendezvous expanded with friends inviting friends until numbers swelled to nearly 300 attendees. In 2025, the event celebrates its 25th anniversary having taken two years off in the wake of the pandemic.
So how do you get kids into whitewater anyway?
Lee knows firsthand how hard it can be to get kids into paddling.
“My son, after a weekend of kayaking with some of my friends, he looked at me and said, dad, I hope you don’t take it this the wrong way, but this sport is really about old people. None of my friends do this sport. It’s no fun for me because I don’t have any friends that do this,” said Lee.
Rather than embrace that whitewater kayaking is for adults, Lee took a different approach and looked for ways to involve his son’s friends in the sport and to help his son meet other young paddlers both through clubs and meetups.
As for getting sometimes nervous kids into whitewater, Lee explained that kids are willing to take on a bit of risk if it is introduced in a progressive manner.
Lee suggests starting in warm water in the summer when possible, and focusing on finding the right sized boat and equipment. Local clubs can be a good place to start, or events like the 3 Rivers Rendezvous where equipment is available to borrow or rent. Lee also added that framing the kayak as a swimming tool can be helpful for getting kids used to the different aspects of the kayak.
When it comes to the 3 Rivers Rendezvous itself, Lee shared that the family-friendly aspect came naturally as paddlers in the area had families and sought ways to find time on the water with their kids.
“You start off with having lots of kids around, and the more kids you get, the more fun they have,” Lee shared, adding that by the age of five or six, kids are starting to paddle with their parents in a tandem or raft, experiencing whitewater for the first time. By age seven and eight, they’re on the lake and in the pool and before long, kids are able to run the river alongside their parents.
“It was always more of a family event as opposed to a hardcore competition,” Lee added. “It has never been about the competition. It’s always been about bringing people together and exploring the region.”
This year’s 3 Rivers Rendezvous will take place May 16-19, 2025 for their 25th anniversary. Find registration information here.
Editor’s Note:
Having only been to the 3 Rivers Rendezvous once as a whitewater instructor trainer, I am excited to go back in more of a participant role this year with my children aged seven and four. I could see the stoke, the camaraderie and the endless options of river runs to join in on for all ability levels.
View this post on Instagram
Currently, my children are motivated by food and I also remember this being a memorable piece of the festival with five meals included over the weekend. You are going to get your money’s worth even if you decide not to paddle – what? Not paddle? Who said that…
Stay tuned.
– Brenna
