Phone: 303.945.2490 Fax: 866.592.6911 Email: [email protected]
621 Kalamath St. Ste 175, Denver, CO 80204
As we head into our 25th year of healing adventures this holiday season, our goal is to raise $50,000 to help fund transformative experiences for young adults impacted by cancer and MS.
To achieve our goal, we rely on the generous support of donors like YOU to Give the Gift of Adventure. Thank you for making our life-changing work possible!
First Descents is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN #: 81-0539964
JOIN US FOR A 2026 HEALING ADVENTURE!
Registration opens early spring 2026. The First Descents community will be notified via email. To join the FD community and receive updates when Programs are open for registration, sign up here!
Kayak the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina! Nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, Bryson City offers some of the best whitewater kayaking in the American Southeast. With a rich history in the kayaking world and one of the greatest kayak learning centers in the country, this is an unbeatable place for your First Descents kayaking adventure!
During the day, the beloved instructors at Nantahala Outdoor Center will teach you new kayaking skills and guide you through one of the only temperate rainforests in the entire continental United States. Then, after a day of paddling down turquoise rivers, you’ll kick back at the Watershed Cabins to enjoy chef-made meals, stories over the campfire, and new FD friends! This program is a First Descents classic, and you won’t want to miss it!
Program dates and communities served will be posted in early 2026.
WHERE: Bryson City, NC
WHAT: Whitewater Kayaking
WHEN: Summer 2026
COST: Free!
FOOD: Professional chef-prepared meals
AIRPORT: Asheville, NC (AVL)
TRAVEL: Participants are responsible for getting to/from the program. Travel scholarships are available through the registration form.
HEALTH & SAFETY: Read about our 2025 policy here.
