GAP Mission Statement

Girls at Play, LLC is committed to increasing the number of female enthusiasts in paddle sports and to using paddling to empower women in their daily lives. Girls at Play workshops, instructional tools and accessories create an environment where kayaking is accessible, fun, inspiring, adventurous and safe.

The Beginnings of Girls at Play

The process of creating Girls at Play began one sunny morning on the shores of the Ottawa River as I thumbed through a recently published instructional kayaking book. I really enjoyed the great instruction, beautiful pictures and layout, but was disappointed that there were only two photos of female kayakers.

I ranted a bit to my boyfriend (now husband) who suggested that I write my own instructional book for women if I wasn’t happy with the ones that already existed. I liked the idea, but the magnitude of the project was a little overwhelming. How would I fund it? Who would edit it? Is the kayaking industry ready for a women’s specific resource? It was a lot to ponder.

I decided that a video would be less time consuming than a book. I asked around to find out if women would be interested in seeing an instructional video made specifically for women. The response was overwhelmingly positive. I decided to pursue the project finding support at Helipress and securing the sponsorship funds I needed to start.

The rest is history. The Girls at Play Summer Tour followed, then workshops, adventure trips to Mexico and more DVDs. The process continues today with new ideas and new projects continually flowing. I feel grateful and honored to be on this continually evolving path of teaching kayaking and inspiring women to surpass what they believe is possible. I’m also very grateful to all of the sponsors, supporters and wonderful women who make it all possible.