Join southeastern river professionals, students and chapter officers for an exciting educational weekend exploring the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Attendees will meet local experts and learn about the river's management, history, wildlife, ecology, and recreational opportunities. 

Richmond was recently named #1 Best Town to Visit in 2024 by CNN! The James River through Richmond is a remarkable section of river. The river has played an important role in American history (15 mins with NPS Ranger Mike Gorman on the James through Richmond). It's enjoyed by millions of visitors each year and is some of the best urban whitewater in the Eastern USA. Each spring, River Rock is the site of one of the largest outdoor sports festivals in the East, organized in part by former whitewater Olympian Jon Lugbill. When Richmond hosted the 2020 RMS Symposium, we had hoped to share our river with everyone in person. Sadly, COVID prevented that. But now we hope to get the chance!

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Itinerary

Saturday, Oct 19

Morning Educational Program - Managing the James River through Richmond ($10 / $5 for RMS members)

• 9:30 am - Meet in Richmond (location TBD)
• 10:00 - 12:00  - Programming about managing an urban whitewater river in Richmond, with a particular focus on park planning, managing use, and the new river permitting system that was very recently put in place. Featured speakers will include JRPS superintendent Kathryn Giles Garrison and Instructors from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Outdoor Leadership Certificate program
• 12:00 - 1:00  - Simple lunch provided by RMS

Afternoon Rafting the James through Richmond ($45 / $35 for RMS members. Free if BYO Boat)

• 1:00 - 4:00 - Rafting through Richmond (Lower James, or Upper James, or both - depending on water)

• 4:00 - 5:00 - Transition to VCU Rice River Center Environmental Field Station on the tidal James in Charles City Co.
• 6:00 - 9:00 - River professionals dinner at the Inger Rice Lodge. We'll invite local river professionals and organize some light networking.

Overnight Accommodations options at Rice River Center Inger Rice Lodge

• Accommodations in dorm & Sunday light breakfast - bring own linens - $35 / $25 for RMS members
• Camp at Rice Center next to dorms & Sunday light breakfast - $10 / $5 for RMS members

Sunday, Oct 20

• Light breakfast, head home

Registration

The deadline to register is Oct. 11, 2024. The trip is open to RMS members and non-members, and registration is discounted by up to $40 for members (the same price as an Associate membership!) You must be logged in to receive member rates. If you’re not already a member, we encourage you to learn about the benefits of membership and join online.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel on or before Oct. 3, 2024, we'll need to charge a $10 cancellation fee. If you cancel between Oct. 4 and Oct. 17, 2024, the charge will go up to 50% of what you paid. We will not be able to issue refunds after Oct. 18, 2024, unless the program is cancelled by the RMS SE Chapter.

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Questions