About The OuttaSight Series
The Outtasight series seeks to get blind and visually impaired butts in boats! There is a large population of blind and visually impaired (B/VI) veterans who can benefit from outdoor recreation such as paddle sports and we continue to reach more of them with this Outtasight series! To guide and support the B/VI participants, TRR teaches sighted disabled veterans to be their instructors which increases the camaraderie and training.
We recently started a branch of the Outtasight series called KAOS(Kids Are OuttaSight), where veterans teach kayaking to blind and visually impaired children! This program allows veterans to use their paddling skills learned through TRR to help those in their community!
If you know a Blind and/or Visually impaired veteran that would be interested in learning or getting involved with TRR, please send an email to celiann.gonzalez@teamriverrunner.org
The Clinics
OuttaSight Whitewater Leadership Clinic
- One week in Montana on Yellowstone River. Supported by the Paradise Valley community
- New blind or visually disabled veterans who have no experience and strong desire and physical ability to paddle twice each day in solo kayaks.
- Instruction starts on flat water and proceeds to build skills up to running class 3 wave train rapids on the Yellowstone River
- Veterans who participate are encouraged to take on leadership in TRR in their community or nationally using leadership ideas covered in daily discussions offered by Clinic Coordinators
OuttaSight Flat Water Leadership Clinic
One week in Florida Keys on both ocean and bay. Supported by the Key Largo community
Participants: new blind or visually disabled veterans who have no experience and strong desire and physical ability to paddle twice each day in solo kayaks.
Instruction starts on flat water and proceeds to build skills up to paddling several hours across long stretches of coastal water
Veterans who participate are encouraged to take on leadership in TRR in their community or nationally using leadership ideas covered in daily discussions offered by Clinic Coordinators
KAOS: Kids are OuttaSight
- This is a local Chapter supported community program for blind and visually disabled youth
- Length: depends on Chapter scheduling; generally one day or a weekend
- Part of the TRR VSC (Veterans Serving the Community Program) programming TRR encourages throughout the Chapter system.
- There is a Coordinator; Jennifer Eaton, located in the Susquehanna Chapter. She is available by email or phone with additional information. Jennifer.eaton@teamriverrunner.org
OuttaSight Flat Water Leadership Clinic
One week in Gulf Shores Alabama on both ocean and bay and local flatwater rivers. Supported by the South Alabama TRR Chapter
Participants: new blind or visually disabled veterans who have no experience and strong desire and physical ability to paddle twice each day in solo kayaks.
Instruction starts on flat water and proceeds to build skills up to paddling several hours across long stretches of coastal water
Veterans who participate are encouraged to take on leadership in TRR in their community or nationally using leadership ideas covered in daily discussions offered by Clinic Coordinators
There is a Coordinator; Dr Tonya Butler, located in the South Alabama Chapter. She is available by email gulfcoastregion@teamriverrunner.org
OuttaSight Whitewater Vision Team Clinic
- 3 to 5 day intensive paddling skills clinic
- Rolling and whitewater instruction on increasingly higher level rapids
- Participants: blind or visually disabled veterans who have been paddling in previous clinic, their local TRR Chapter, or special invite by clinic coordinators
- Vision Team participants become part of National TRR Ambassador Team, encouraged to help TRR in outreach and PR to stakeholders in national program.
- Click here to learn about 2018 Grand Canyon Vision Team Adventure
OuttaSight Blind "B's" Football Team
All visually disabled or blind veteran are encouraged to participate in TRR National Kayak Football League (NKFL) tournaments
Team Captain is Joe Mornini; other Blind B Captains should contact joe@teamriverrunner.org
OuttaSight Flat Water Team Clinic
- 3 day intensive paddling skills clinic
- Rolling and/or flat water paddling instruction on increasingly longer paddling excursions
- Participants: blind or visually disabled veterans who have been paddling in previous clinic, their local TRR Chapter, or special invite by clinic coordinators
- Vision Team participants become part of TRR National Ambassador Team, encouraged to help TRR in outreach and PR to stakeholders in national program.
OuttaSight Blind Slalom Competition
A series of buoys anchored to bottom of an area 40 yards wide and roughly 75 yards from shoreline
Sounds are projected from each buoy one at at time as blind paddler approaches
Paddlers navigate each buoy alternating ear at each successive buoy
- Video clip of the blind slalom test below and read more about how it was created here
