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It’s pronounced ECCKF

Never know what you will see in a campground or at a festival.

By: David Shook + Save to a List

It’s pronounced ECCKF  

 

Attending ECCKF I have witnessed sword play, a US Coast Guard helicopter rescue demonstration, Fiddler on the Roof performed by campfire, and took part in a Greenland harpoon simulation. And I can’t wait to go again this year. 

 

ECCKF stands for the East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival and will be April 20-22 at James Island County Park near Charleston, SC. The festival will include lectures, on-water classes & demonstrations appropriate for novice and experienced paddlers. It is the best place to try before you buy with over 40 Commercial Exhibits. Boats, paddles, and accessories are all available to test. The other 2 primary components of the festival are four classrooms running simultaneously throughout the three-day event and On-Water Classes taught by leading instructors in the paddling world. The classes offered are diverse and plentiful. Classes include chart and tide reading, trip leading, cooking, the mechanics of the paddling stroke, selecting or repairing equipment, and slide show of exotic paddling locations. Unique to the festival are the Greenland Paddling demonstrations and classes. 

  

Kayaking originated in Greenland, where its roots and traditions are fiercely preserved. Greenland has a paddling competition annually. Only a handful of Americans have ever been invited to compete, all are at the festival giving classes and demonstrations. One gentleman gives a harpoon demonstration in which he asks volunteers to run pulling a rope attached to his boat. In Greenland tradition, he turns his kayak on his side and halts the volunteers in their tracks. This demonstration shows how early hunter tired their prey and kept them from escaping. Fun, especially for the kids, is Greenland Rope Gymnastics. Performed on two ropes suspended between two poles, it is how the Greenlanders stayed in shape and practiced kayak rolls in the off season. 

 

ECCKF also includes paddling trips, pre and post festival courses/kayak fishing tournament, Kid’s Camp (ages 6-9 & 10-12), Friday Night Social, climbing wall and a Saturday afternoon Concert in the park. Stay for the weekend and experience the whole festival. Cabins and a full service campground are some of the overnight possibilities. The primitive camping is the way to go if you want the possibility to see sword play or hear Fiddler on the Roof by firelight. 

 

Every year we stay in the primitive camping area. Located in a huge rolling field, it is has randomly place fire rings and picnic tables. Toilets are centrally located and showers require a short hike into the full service campground. Everyone is friendly and it’s a very quiet picturesque setting with tents sprinkled about, until one year when the Samurai and Troll showed up. 

 

A couple of years ago as we returned to camp from dinner, I passed a Jesuit Priest and a young woman dressed like a medieval princess. Not far from our tent site was a small group of college age students dressed in similar costumes, including a samurai and a large fellow dressed like a troll. Some were setting up camp, some were sword fighting, and some were helping a young man with a pipe and a guitar write lyrics to a song. The group was from the College of Charleston and was part of an organization called Amt Guard. They simply had fun role playing with foam covered swords and foam axes. The troupe even armed young kids watching and taught them how to safely sword fight. Unfortunately, they all ganged up on the very large but kind hearted Troll. He surrendered after only a few moments. That night, the Troupe began singing and taking song requests around their campfire. Thinking myself clever, I asked for Fiddler on the Roof. They performed and sang the opening scene. I assume they were theater majors. Typical of people you meet camping, they were the nicest group of students you’ll ever meet. Every year we hope they will return to keep us entertained. 

 

If any of this sounds interesting, check out www.ccprc.com/eccf for complete details. 

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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