By Sara Valentine, FBRA Girls Program Staff
All summer long, you’ll find FBRA staff exploring rivers and sharing adventures that fuel our passion for the outdoors, and that often means heading west on a US Forest Service river permit. With tens of thousands of lottery entries for these coveted river permits and only a handful issued, the odds are steep. But our own Jack Schroeder, 8th grade math teacher at the Boys Program and resident statistics guru, has beaten those odds, winning three permits in just two years! Most recently, Jack drew a July 2025 launch for Desolation Canyon, sparking plans for an unforgettable summer adventure.
Our seven-day whitewater rafting trip through Desolation and Gray Canyons took place on the Green River in Utah. These remote canyons, classically desert in appearance, offered a mix of flatwater and Class I–III rapids over the course of 84 miles. With steep canyon walls, warm water, and abundant wildlife, the setting was unforgettable. Our group of nine included fellow FBRA teachers, college friends, and friends of friends.
Preparing for The Green River Adventure
River trips require careful planning and logistics, so we rented rafts with oar rigs to carry all of the group gear, food, and personal supplies needed for seven days on the river. We mapped out a menu that could withstand 100+ degree desert heat, planned daily mileage and campsites, and researched the rapids in advance so we would know what to expect along the way.
The main reason I love river trips, especially with rafts, is that I get to experience the remote, quietness of the backcountry with all the perks of a “glamping” trip. Being out in the wilderness, away from cars, buildings, and other people, surrounded by a landscape so different from our mountains here in the Southeast, is something I’ll never take for granted. In a world that demands our constant attention, adventures in the wilderness allow us to focus on the present moment. Combine that with a raft big enough to carry all the glamping comforts of my heart’s desire? Count me in! Card table? Sure! Huge canopy bug tarp that all nine of us can fit under comfortably? Throw it on! Coolers packed with so much ice that our food will be kept cold for five days in the hot desert weather? You bet! A flamingo and a pegasus pool floatie for swimming the rapids? Yup.
In the Canyon
Rowing a raft with an oar rig is a whole different challenge than canoeing or kayaking. Each 14-foot raft can weigh close to 1,500 pounds, so navigating rapids, rocks, and sandbars in the Utah desert requires constant problem-solving and quick decisions. While the flatwater stretches could be long, the rush of steering cleanly through a rapid made every effort worth it.
The desert itself was unforgettable with steep canyon walls, surprising bursts of greenery, and abundant wildlife, from lizards and birds to a sun-bleached black bear. At one point, dozens of catfish surfaced around our rafts, feeding on insects in a scene that felt both strange and magical. With Lexi Chaize as our resident geologist, we also learned the story of the rock layers in the canyon walls that surrounded us.
Of course, some of the best memories are those made in camp. Campsites with shady cottonwoods and wave trains for swimming became playgrounds for our group. One favorite moment was piling onto pool floats and sleeping pads to ride a rapid together—pure laughter and play. Evenings were filled with card games, trivia, and stargazing after hearty dinners.
By the end, I returned home from Utah both tired and grateful, with a renewed love for river travel and adventure. At FBRA, we believe that adventures like these, whether on the Green River or here in the Southern Appalachians, shape lasting memories and inspire both students and staff to keep exploring.
What adventures did your family embark on this summer? And what adventures do you hope your students will take on as they grow more independent?
