Camp Cup

The world’s largest youth paddling event.

Register for Camp Cup – July 8 & 9, 2024

To register your camp and campers for the Camp Cup, please visit the official event page.

Register Now

All participants and volunteers will need to have event membership with the American Canoe Association. Thanks to a generous donation from the ACA, event membership is free for the Camp Cup. Alzar School recommends that camps help make sure every participant gets a t-shirt by contributing $5/person (camper and staff) that attends. Many camps, river companies, and other organizations donate to make the event possible.

July 8 & 9, 2024

Nantahala Outdoor Center, North Carolina

Over 100 young paddlers come from across the country for two days of noncompetitive whitewater paddling. Summer camps with great paddling programs come to the Nantahala River to participate in a Downriver Race, Freestyle Throwdown, Slalom Race, Ice Cream Social, Pizza Party, Free Raffle, and more.

Schedule

Monday:

• 10am – Registration starts
• 11am-3pm – Camps practice independently in gates or through the downriver course
• 3-4pm – Freestyle showdown at play wave
• 4:30-6pm – Ice Cream Social at Endless River Adventures

Tuesday:

• 10am – Registration and set up
• 11am-12:30pm – Morning runs (campers pick one lap through either the downriver or slalom courses)
• 12:30-1:30pm – Pizza Party lunch and Counselor Cup
• 1:30-3:00pm – Afternoon runs (campers can do a second lap)
• 3:30-4:00pm – Free Raffle and T-shirts
• 4:00-4:30pm – Camps pack up and head off!

Event Partners

This event is only possible with the support of national agencies, local outfitters, outdoor retail companies, and participating camps. These partners make it the fantastic event it has become.

Want to become a partner for this amazing event for more than 100 young paddlers? Email campcup@alzar.org.

History

In the 90’s, Kent Ford (an Alzar School Advisory Committee member) started Camp Cup as a way to bring together the many camps of Western North Carolina. Sometime around 2001, the event fizzled, but Alzar School was keen to bring it back to life in 2008, arranging a day of slalom and downriver races for almost 90 young paddlers. In 2009, the Camp Cup became a two-day event with guest coaches training campers in the gates and in Nanty Falls on the first day. That year attracted 112 participants. The growth continued through 2010 and 2011 with more than 140 young paddlers converging at the Nantahala for two more great events.

Each year, the event evolves to make it even more fun. In 2011, Endless River Adventures hosted an ice cream social for camps at their headquarters. The event won ACA Sanctioned Event of the Year in 2010. Camp Cup continues to be an awesome annual event!