"As of 2008 more people lived in cities than the countryside. That marked a huge moment in human history, and it means one of two things: Either the human connection to nature will continue to fade, or it means the beginning of a new kind of city."
In his book The Nature Principle, Richard Louv talks about how we no longer have a strong connection to the natural world. He calls it "nature-deficit disorder." The disorder is rooted in a loss of connection with nature, overuse of electronics, and a general, pervasive fear of going outside because of the violence we constantly see through the media.
Last spring, I was feeling the disorder. I was answering hundreds of emails a day, traveling for work several weeks of the month, and had no time or energy for the gym, much less for spending an afternoon in nature. I had been working for startup companies on both sides of the Atlantic for twelve years, helped independently release three of my husband's records, and renovated three diamond-in-the-rough houses on Nashville's east side. I'm proud of what we accomplished but all together it was a lot. I wasn't eating well. I was drinking too much. My mind and body were fried and out of sync. I needed a break.
I quit my corporate job and decided to take a leap of faith: if I felt this way, certainly there were others who did too. I'd been kayaking with a group of friends (our beloved #rivergang) and spending time last year out on different rivers around middle Tennessee. These trips made me healthier physically and spiritually, more connected with nature and open spaces, and provided calm and solace from a fast-paced and hyper-connected world.
I wanted to create a way for people in Nashville to share this feeling. People who would love to see our beautiful city from a new perspective using only a paddle to guide them. People who wanted, just for a little while, to trade their phone's incessant buzzing for gliding in a kayak with the sun shining on their backs (with proper sunscreen, of course). And, really, people who just want to have access to a little more fun. Who doesn't like fun?
Thus, River Queen Voyages was born. River Queen is my moniker in the aforementioned #rivergang and Voyages comes from last year's obsession with Jenny Lewis's latest album, "The Voyager." (you should listen to it; it's great.)
I'm proud to say that River Queen Voyages will be the first company in Nashville to offer kayak tours down the Cumberland River. There will be a tour-guided beginner level float from Shelby Park to Riverfront Park (3 miles) and a self-guided intermediate level float from Lock Two Park to Shelby Park (8 miles). We want you to be part of the outdoor fun in Nashville this year!
COME FLOAT WITH US!
What We Need & What You Get
If you've been following along on Facebook, you know that we've already gotten the kayaks. There are 12 single red kayaks and 3 tandem yellow kayaks just waiting to be reserved as your personal river vessel!
We are pre-selling discounted river floats with first access to booking on the reservation calendar in order to raise start-up capital for:
- THE VAN: We'll need a way to shuttle all you voyagers up the river to the put-in ramps at Metro Parks. A van costs anywhere from $6,000 used to $30,000 new so the more we raise, the better the van will be!
- THE ACCESS: Metro Parks fees will be $450/month to access the ramps.
- THE GAS: We'll be running 2-3 trips per day 5 days a week and if the van could run on fun and good times we wouldn't need it, but we've gotta fill the tank and have estimated this to be $3,500 per season.
- THE MARKETING: We want to be able to tell people about all the good-timin' floats they can have -- but if they don't know they can't get their butts in boats! Any additional money raised after the goal will be put toward radio ads, print ads, promo days, flyers, coupons, and all sortsa stuff to get the word out. We'd love to raise at least $2,500 for getting the word out to both locals and tourists.
Whew!
So what do you get for believing in the project and being a backer?
- Discounted kayak tours!
- River Queen Voyages stickers!
- River Queen Voyages t-shirts and tanks!
- First access to the booking calendar to snag the weekend you want!
- A chance to name one of the boats!
(subject to approval -- Robby suggested the boats be named after old sitcoms like Mr. Belvedere, Gimme a Break, Going Places, Dawson's Creek, Perfect Strangers... anyone?)
- The Maiden Voyage Package!
Exclusive donor day includes the very first float with River Queen Voyages from Lock Two Park to Shelby Park (8 miles), snacks and beverages during the trip, and a cookout at our house on the Cumberland River in Madison for dinner that evening with an exclusive private musical performance. We are hoping it's going to be everyone's favorite pirate band, Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers! Includes an RQV t-shirt or tank and RQV sticker.
The Impact
It's hard to measure the impact of this campaign in numbers and figures -- how do you quantify the feeling you get when you're gliding smoothly down the river... your arms feel a little stronger from paddling, you're breathing fresh air, and you round the bend to see the Nashville skyline up ahead? I don't know if there is a number for that feeling but I know it's worth doing.
River Queen Voyages has also partnered with Nashville Metro Parks and the Cumberland River Compact to create community days to allow low income and disadvantaged groups to get on the water, and has committed to participate in events throughout the year to keep the river clean. We are carving out our little part of the community and plan to be here for a long time.
I'm so excited to bring this dream to life. Your support for this campaign means so much. Thank you.
Risks & Challenges
It's possible that I won't raise enough money to get this project off the ground. It's possible that there will be unforeseen costs that I haven't factored into this campaign. It's possible not enough butts will go in boats.
But I feel confident that this service is a deserving missing piece to our fair city's outdoor activities and will enrich the lives of the locals and tourists who want to experience life from the river. The risk is worth it.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you want to help in other ways, please spread the word! Share this campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, from the stage, or from the loo where you might be reading this. Send the campaign to friends or family living in or planning to visit Nashville -- people are always looking for fun things to do! Every little bit helps.
And if all else fails, just send along some good juju.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!
