Canoe Cruisin’: Bowie State Local Park Outing to Bladenburg Waterfront Park

On Saturday, October 26th, Kenneth McMillan and Brian Dickerson hosted the first National Park Trust Outing with the Bowie State University Outdoor Club of the 2024-2025 season. 15 Students ventured to Anacostia Park in Washington, DC, for a paddling adventure. Students paddled by Canoe for 4.0 nautical miles upriver to Bladensburg Waterfront Park. While paddling, participants sang songs, had a friendly race/competition to the landing point, and overall bonded with one another.

They chose this location for the outing due to its close proximity to the university, as well as its geographical significance, being located in our nation’s capital. Washington, DC, is a special city, and they appreciate their proximity to such a great city that offers so many opportunities for them to explore different offerings. The Anacostia watershed is a historical and important river system. Many sights can be viewed from the river, such as Kingman Island, The United States National Arboretum, and the National Museum of the Navy. Many different kinds of wildlife were also spotted, including cormorants, great egrets, great blue herons, waterfowls, turtles, and otters.

The outing was fun, educational, and engaging. It was a great way to get students excited about the BSU outdoor club and get them outdoors doing something many had never done before. A few students mentioned how this was their first time on a boat of any kind, let alone a canoe. The weather was perfect, not too windy or cold, and the 4.0-mile paddle from Anacostia Park to Bladensburg Waterfront Park felt like the perfect distance, as no students mentioned being fatigued after the paddle. It took around an hour and a half and gave the group plenty of time to bond, get to know each other, laugh and sing songs.

At one point, toward the end of the trip, the students started singing the intro songs to their favorite childhood shows, and it was a silly and very laugh-worthy moment, but it made them all feel closer and brought a sense of nostalgia and camaraderie. The participants are sure to remember the time they went canoeing with the BSU outdoor club, and are sure to be on the look out to future BSU Outdoor Club events!