Join our Paddle Team!

Are you looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity that gets you out paddling more, meeting community members, and helping people explore by canoe in our watershed?

What is Paddle Team?

The Columbia Slough’s Paddle Team helps lead our free year round paddle events. Events can either be public or private and includes paddles with local community groups, youth & student groups, and Cleanups!

You don’t need to be an expert paddler to join the Paddle Team. We provide training that will teach you everything you need to know, from how to give basic paddle instruction to serving as an on-water guide and safety monitor. 

If this all sounds great but you’re more interested in helping on land, we always need general volunteer help for event set up, registration, and clean up too.

Bilingual Volunteers

We currently offer paddle events in Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian. If you are bilingual, in these or another language, we would like to offer more free paddles in your language. Your participation on the Paddle Team as a Bilingual Leader will provide more opportunities for community members to access the Columbia Slough Watershed and have positive experiences in nature. Bilingual Leaders can earn a stipend for translating at events.

Watch a video about this program with subtitles in Spanish here and in Russian here

Read more about the Bilingual Leaders here.

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Requirements

  • Be 16 years of age or older

  • Be able to lift 20 pounds

  • Volunteer at least 2 events each year

  • Complete steps 1 - 4 below

Step 1: Watch the 2024 Webinar Orientations - available in English and Spanish.

Step 2: Submit the required Paddle Team Agreement and Background Check to Liz Coll at lizzy.coll@columbiaslough.org.

Step 3 OPTIONAL: Attend the Paddle Team Q&A Webinar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Step 4: Sign up for a Buddy Shift! You’ll be paired with a Paddle Team Leader who will provide information on how to set up, lead groups, and clean up at the end. Buddy Shifts will be available throughout the paddling season - find them on our Event Calendar.

Following your Buddy Shift you will:

  • Receive a password to access the Paddle Team Portal.

  • Have access to our Paddle Team Calendar (located in the Portal) where you can view and sign up for shifts.

  • Be added to our Bi-Weekly Paddle Team Newsletter.

For general questions contact Amanda Gallegos at, amanda.gallegos@columbiaslough.org, or Lizzy Coll at, lizzy.coll@columbialsough.org.