Volunteer Spotlight: Thank You to Our River Guides

In this month’s edition of our newsletter, we would like to recognize the efforts of a small and dedicated group of individuals who faithfully support our organization. This group is our River Guides. Started as a group of people who loved to paddle the Wolf River, this spark was recognized by Conservancy management as a clear and easily understood mechanism to introduce people to the mission of the Wolf River Conservancy. After all, what could be a better reflection of this mission than physically getting out on the Wolf River and experiencing the soul of the river while refreshing your own. The results of this strategy resulted in such actions as the assistance in saving the Ghost section of Mr Babe Howard and the spread of the knowledge of that section by the editor at the Commercial Appeal newspaper, Angus McEachran. Admittedly it was a very rag tag group of individuals that provided very critical support.

During 2011, the loose nature of this program would undergo a major change. With the goal of having the guides still fill their critical mission role, Dale Sanders formalized the River Guide Program and established guidelines for admission. Dale also marked the program through personal evangelism as well as the establishment of the First Saturday paddling event. Initially, this paddle would take place on the Ghost section only. As the years passed, other sections would be clear for recreation and we are now able to paddle approximately 85% of the Wolf. Most areas upstream from the river crossing Highway 72 are still “swamp walks” while pulling your canoe. Today, over 3 dozen individuals provide some form of assistance in the River Guide program.  

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