River Runners | 4th - 8th Grades

Children who love canoeing maximize their time on the Charles as a NEOC River Runner! This week-long, canoe-focused experience includes developing or advancing canoeing skills, individual and team challenges, and lots of fun on-the-water games. Campers change canoeing partners throughout the week, which encourages both friendships and mentoring. Each Thursday is a day-long adventure on the river!!
Camp days are divided into five activity periods, plus lunchtime. Three to four of the activity periods are spent on the water learning or practicing canoeing skills, tackling challenges, playing games, or learning about the river ecosystem. Examples of on-land activities are arts and crafts, field games, field sports, meditation, outdoor survival skills, trail walks, and water games.
Campers work together to carry canoes and equipment to and from the canoe launch each day, and rinsing equipment as needed, to develop their sense of responsibility.

Please know that late drop-offs and early pick-ups are strongly discouraged for campers in River Runners, especially on their trip day.

Structure of a Week

To ensure the safest experience, River Runners begin their week with two land-based periods where they get to know one another and establish rules and behavior expectations. Soon enough, they are on the river learning or polishing the basic canoeing strokes, and getting to know their initial paddling partners. The day wraps up with both on-land and on-the-river games and challenges.
Tuesday includes personal goal setting, practicing basic strokes, working on more advanced strokes, and working with new paddling partners. In the afternoon campers typically tackle an on-river obstacle course or treasure hunt.
On Wednesday, campers prepare for their day-long river adventure by pairing up to practice their strokes, learning to portage, planning the field games to play at their lunchtime picnic spot, and strategizing how to divide the food and equipment needed on the trip. Of course, there are plenty of on-land and on-the-river games and challenges sprinkled through the day!
Thursday is the big trip day! (unless thunderstorms are predicted, in which case the trip will move to other day)
On Friday, campers work on any remaining elements to achieve their personal goals and earn their certificate. Favorite on-land and on-the-river games are played and campers face a final river challenge. The week wraps-up with time on the NEOC giant slip-n-slide and s'mores.

Certification Program

River Runners set personal goals to achieve canoeing certifications:

  • Intro to Canoeing
  • Stroke Mastery
  • Essentials of River Canoeing
  • River Canoeing
  • Advanced River Canoeing

Rates

2024 Rates

You won’t see a better rate than you see today! As summer gets closer, each future promotion will never be quite as awesome as the one before it.

We offer a sibling discount on bus service which is $10 less per week for each sibling. Please use the pricing calculator to estimate your rate with bus savings.

Read a full description of our billing, cancellation, and changes policies.

Register for River Runners
Select Dates
View 4 Reviews
Services
We offer THREE family-friendly, convenient services: Early Drop-Off, Extended Day, and Bus! You can add-on services after you've selected your camp weeks and entered the checkout process. Learn more
Available River Runners Dates
Please select your child's age/grade as of Fall 2024
Registration is only open to current families for Priority Registration. Please log in to register.
Week of Jul 15, 2024
Week of Jul 29, 2024
Week of Aug 12, 2024
Close
Registration is only open to current families for Priority Registration. Please log in to register.
Week of Jul 08, 2024
Week of Jul 22, 2024
Week of Aug 05, 2024
Close

See what our customers think...

The River Runners camp counselors were excellent. One of them made it a point to encourage my son and point out positive aspects of the day. I really appreciated his expertise and positive mentorship. He made an impact, and it was only a five day camp!" The River Runners camp counselors were excellent. One of them made it a point to encourage my son and point out positive aspects of the day. I really appreciated his expertise and positive mentorship. He made an impact, and it was only a five day camp!" S.S., Wellesley (8/6/2023)
Our kids — in the River Runners and 2nd grade programs — had a great experience at NEOC! Each day they would (without prompting) share many details about activities, friends they made, and camp counselors they loved being with. Canoeing, archery, slip and slide, and Friday s'mores were the favorites... Show full review Our kids — in the River Runners and 2nd grade programs — had a great experience at NEOC! Each day they would (without prompting) share many details about activities, friends they made, and camp counselors they loved being with. Canoeing, archery, slip and slide, and Friday s'mores were the favorites but they enjoyed all of the activities!" A.S., Arlington (8/1/2023)
The big canoeing day on Thursday of River Runners camp was a huge highlight. Each day of the week was thoughtfully preparing my daughter mentally and physically for the big day. She had a deep sense of achievement. The s’mores gathering and patches made it extra amazing for her. She proudly shared h... Show full review The big canoeing day on Thursday of River Runners camp was a huge highlight. Each day of the week was thoughtfully preparing my daughter mentally and physically for the big day. She had a deep sense of achievement. The s’mores gathering and patches made it extra amazing for her. She proudly shared her patches with family." K.L., Wellesley (7/24/2023)
Canoeing on the river was a peaceful activity. The counselors were great!!" Canoeing on the river was a peaceful activity. The counselors were great!!" N.M., Needham (7/23/2023)