Following a successful debut year, Paddling Magazine is thrilled to announce submissions are open for the 2026 Paddling Kids Story Contest! We are once again inviting the next generation of adventurers to grab a paddle, head out on the water, and share their most memorable summer tales.
The inaugural contest proved just how passionate, creative, and adventurous young paddlers can be. In our very first year, the community blew us away with:
- 85 inspiring story submissions
- Entries spanning 6 different countries
- Young storytellers aged 3 to 17
- Unforgettable tales of first-time canoe trips, wild kayak adventures, and sunny SUP sessions
- 3 very happy winners who walked away with fantastic prizes and bragging rights.
Building on that momentum, we’re ready to make this year even better.
What’s new for Paddling Kids 2026
To improve this year’s contest and ensure a fair assessment of every submission, we are introducing age categories with one winner per category. Judging stories across different developmental stages can be tricky, so this new setup will allow us to evaluate entries based on each age group’s writing and audio-recording abilities.
The new categories for this year are:
- Ages 3–7
- Ages 8–12
- Ages 13–17
How to enter
Did your kids, grandkids, or youth group spend the summer exploring from a canoe, kayak, raft, or paddleboard? We want to hear all about it.
Whether it was a backyard river exploration or a multi-day backcountry expedition, young paddlers can share their memories through written stories or audio recordings, complete with their favorite photos from the water.
Here are the key details to keep in mind:
- Submissions are open September 1–30: Mark your calendars. Entries will be accepted starting September 1, and must be submitted by midnight on September 30.
- Amazing prizes to be won: Winners will take home incredible gear and prize packages—plus the chance to have their story featured in Paddling Magazine to inspire outdoor enthusiasts around the globe.
- Open to ages 3–17: Kids of all skill levels and ages are encouraged to participate.
We need your help to reach young storytellers everywhere. Please share this contest with all of your paddling communities—from local canoe clubs to school outdoors clubs, youth camps, and paddling friends.
To learn more about submission guidelines and to enter when the window opens on September 1, 2026, visit paddlingmag.com/paddling-kids.
Get those stories polished and photos ready. We can’t wait to read about your summer adventures on the water!
For inspiration, here are last year’s winning stories:
