Teen Tastic’s River Adventure

A warm summer evening, calm water, and plenty of smiles—that was the scene when Teen Tastic headed to Cook Family Park for a day on the Tualatin River with Adventures Without Limits (AWL).

AWL, a nonprofit dedicated to making the outdoors accessible for people of all abilities, came ready with everything our friends needed: kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and friendly guides. Before launching, they gave a quick water safety briefing and a fun talk about the wildlife they might spot along the way.

Cook Family Park’s accessible set-up made getting on the water simple. Some teens paired up to paddle on their own, while others shared a kayak with a caregiver. The Tualatin River was smooth and peaceful—perfect for an evening of steady paddling and soaking in the summer scenery.

A special shout-out goes to Soraya, one of our adult regulars, who volunteered to help out and set a great example for the teens. Another shout-out goes to Radha, one of Teen Tastic’s leads, for making the connection between GiGi’s Playhouse Portland and AWL.

By the time the teens pulled their kayaks back onto shore, arms pleasantly tired, the sunset was underway. It was a real river adventure—teamwork, independence, and inclusion in action, all at no cost to families. If you’d like to help make more outings like these possible, head over to our Fall Fundraiser page!