| Carbon County residents participate in a canoe trip down the Green River on a day long Carbon County Recreation trip. |
After being in existence for over 20 years in the county, Carbon County Recreation is a well known cooperative effort that gains funding from Carbon County, local cities and the Carbon School District.
Director Steve Christiansen has been with the program for over 15 years. He has worked to expand the recreation opportunities available to the community during those years.
Many members of the community are aware of some of the programs that CCR runs. CCR has youth programs that include sport and cheerleading camps, tennis lessons and day camp, and adult programs with sport leagues and community first aid and CPR classes.
In addition to those programs CCR has an ever expanding outdoors program available to the community. The outdoor program has been in existence for about 12 years, and only a few activities were offered in the early years of the program. Those activities included rappelling classes and cross country skiing classes to name a few.
Over the years several grants were awarded that helped the program buy outdoor equipment to work with the youth-at-risk programs. Some items included white water rafts and mountain bikes. For several years CCR assisted in sponsoring the San Rafael Mountain Bike Festival. The Emery County Biking Group MECCA has taken over that event.
Six years ago the outdoor program really began to take off with the acquisition of rafts and kayaks. Over 300 individuals have participated in the kayaking program over the last 5 years, which consists of training in the Desert Wave Pool where they learn how to roll the kayak. There is also training on the Green River daily where they learn the fundamentals of running the river.
Safety and good fundamental techniques are an emphasis in this program. Other river programs include the family river workshop, which will teach the entire family the fundamentals of river running.
There is also a river workshop for youth ages 12 and up. There is also a river rescue work shop and an intro to white water canoeing.
If you just want to take a flat water canoe trip, CCR has many guided three day Labyrinth Canyon trips to choose from. Prices for these trips include everything from equipment and transportation to meals and entertaining river guides to help you safely down the river.
For those who already have good river skills and just need the equipment, CCR can rent what is needed to do a trip. There are eight new canoes this year, plenty of rafts and kayaks to go around.
CCR can also provide dry bags, life jackets and many other essentials to make a river trip successful. This is a great option for those who have out-of-town guests that may not be able to bring their own gear. The equipment can be rented for a quick day long trip to a full blown Grand Canyon trip.
The rock climbing and rappelling programs have expanded since their humble beginnings. CCR has a rock climbing wall that can be taken to almost any site in the community. It is available for rent and it travels to local schools and community events. The climbing program has gear to rent as well. The only equipment that CCR does not rent is climbing rope.
The rental program at CCR is one of the most extensive in the state. Not only does it have river and climbing gear, but rents tents, sleeping bags and back packs.
For those whose idea of an outdoor experience is less rugged, then look into the guided car tours that CCR offers. There are guided trips into Nine Mile Canyon and the San Rafael Swell. Nothing could be easier than to sit back and let CCR take you on a grand excursion to see sites that are unique to our area.
A new trip has been added this year and CCR is one of the few organizations able to offer trips into Range Creek. The scheduled trips have been filled up, but there is a waiting list for those who are interested. CCR is hoping to be able to expand trips into Range Creek before the summer is out.
The summer brochure for CCR activities and community events is out. For those who are interested, a copy can be obtained at many locations in the community or stop into the Carbon County Recreation office to get a copy. The flier lists many prices and activities, but for those who don’t see what they’re looking for, just ask.