General Information

In partnership with LEAP, Ukandu Teen Retreat takes participants white-water kayaking down the lower 55 miles of the Salmon River while camping on the river bank each night.

Please communicate with our Program Director, Robin Emerick, at remerick@ukandu.org. As much as possible, we will work with their oncology team and our river guides to accommodate a variety of mobility needs. 

LEAP, our partnering organization sets up camp each evening after we pull off the river and cooks dinner and breakfast at our camp. Lunch is “brown bag” style that we eat in the middle of the day when we pull off the river for a rest. There are a few sleeping options available: sleeping in a tent on top of a sleeping mat, or sleeping in your inflatable kayak under the open sky. The stars are an amazing bonus of sleeping in the kayak! Both options need a sleeping bag for warmth.

Patients, survivors, and siblings age 14-21 are invited to participate in Ukandu Teen Retreat. 

Teen Retreat is adaptable, and the difficulty level can be scaled up or scaled down as needed. 

Teen Retreat is led by a team of certified river guides who will provide instruction and guidance for all participants to safely navigate the river.  

There is no cell service or internet on the Teen Retreat. Participants are encouraged to leave their phones at home. Our guides will have satellite phones for emergency purposes only. 

Ukandu collaborates with LEAP’s certified river guides to create a successful and safe trip down the river.