Redball and White Waters

By Will Chalfant & Kyle Gaffney
August 31, 2026

Barrels swept down the stream, and we did the only thing that we were certain we could do: hoisted them into the canoe and looked for other items that ripped down the current. The rescue whistle had only sounded moments before, but we had already sprang into action to help our boat in need. While the situation may have been new, our reaction had certainly been curated. We strived to be there for one another, lift each other up, and pick up what others can no longer carry, both the physical and the mental.

Items continued to pour down the river, and water still flooded the canoe. Despite all that, Will and Joe shared the same look in their eyes. Some might say that it was a look of shock, but we all knew that was not the case. It was a look of happiness and a look of trust. For even though all had gone wrong and their boat was underwater, they knew that we could lend a helping hand. Everything was out of their control, yet everything was in the group’s collective control. It took less than two weeks to build that connection, and it all began just miles up the river.

This swimming episode occurred on the second-to-last day of the inaugural paddle trip on which students participating in St. Lawrence University’s Adirondack Semester, an experiential program, develop their skills of outdoor leadership and deepen their sense of community. During the semester, students live and learn in an off-the-grid yurt camp known as Arcadia, take several courses, immerse themselves in the outdoors, and become familiar with the Adirondack region in northern New York. But all of that remained ahead of us as we scrambled to right our canoes and continue our journey.

It was only about a week-and-a-half prior that we first gathered to begin the semester. No Arcadian conversations had been spoken, no canoes had hit the water, and the yurt village still sat silent. We were all greeted by the same word on a sign, “Canaras,” which is Saranac spelled backwards. We Arcadians had been awaiting this moment for so long and built up so much anticipation. This would be the location where we would do our wilderness first aid training before embarking on our eight-day canoe trip. A whole new way of life lie just beyond: a phoneless world, off grid, surrounded by people we barely knew. It didn't take long for us to begin the process of breaking the ice, but one game would expedite that process.

The crew was eager to become more acquainted with one another, so any time granted was free time utilized. Kyle Gaffney, who stayed at Canaras previously, did some scouting the last time he was there. In doing so, he uncovered the pool table on the property. When he told Will Chalfant of the pool table’s existence, Will knew what needed to happen. There are few games more perfect for the circumstances in which the Arcadians found themselves than “REDBALL.” Redball is a game played on a pool table and can be played with an unlimited amount of people. The goal is to hit the red ball into the pocket with the cue ball by rolling it with your hand. If the red ball goes in when it’s your turn to hit it, you get a letter. Letters are bad. If your letters add up to spell the word REDBALL, you are out. The game is thrilling and fast moving. 

Will explain the rules to everyone around the table and their skepticism turned to pure excitement. People began showing pieces of their personality as the game transpired. Evie Hopper would spring into the air with her hands raised when she sunk the ball in the pocket. Spencer Kavanagh would clamber over the table and hit a through-the-legs shot while getting out of the way fast enough to not interfere with the ball’s path. Joe Frankenfield was calm, cool and collected and would defiantly sink shots at an impressive rate. All of these tendencies were indicative of things to come as these individuals shared more and more of who they are to the group. The game was a terrific tool in ripping off the band-aid for our social dynamic. Everyone was so caught up in the thrill of the game that they didn’t have the brain space stress about first impressions. Nonetheless, impressions were made, and we grew fonder and more comfortable with each other as we geared up for the trip.

Assistant Directors Nate Trachte and Nicole Panek also provided a framework for the soon-to-be Arcadians to click fast. Each day of the canoe trip, we were given a new paddle partner, a new chance to get to know one another on a more personal level. Our new partners for the day were decided by the order in which we got out in a short game. The short games ranged from Simon Says to lining up in order of the longest to shortest stick after being given a minute to scavenge. The authors of this blog were partners that day. We’ll let you guess how we fared in the game. Each game was thought up by the day’s G.I.V.E.R.s, an acronym for Goals, Itinerary, Vibes, Essentials, and Route, all of which were responsibilities bestowed upon two handpicked Arcadians for the day. The short games fueled the vibes portion of the escapade. Throughout the many days, G.I.V.E.R.s were given an opportunity to lead the entire group on their voyage, testing their collaboration and leadership tendencies, and so each pillar was fulfilled. This framework gave folks a chance to know how their fellow Arcadians act in a pressure-filled environment, an incredibly valuable practice given the close quarters we were soon to share. 

Being a G.I.V.E.R. totally changed how Arcadians approached the day. “I was worried about the group’s needs more than my own,” said Eric Kniple. “I was certainly more focused,” said Luke McChesney. “I knew that one moment in which I slipped up could have a ripple effect on the whole group.” The amount of energy the givers would lend to the rest of the group was sometimes startling, which was cause for reflection. Kyle Gaffney and Peyton Hunsicker spent much of the day out in front of the rest of the group, sacrificing quality time spent nurturing the vibes of the community. It was give and take, however, as they got us to our campsite just twenty minutes before a massive thunderstorm. The best part: this campsite had lean-tos. The group was incredibly thankful for their efforts after the fact, and vibes were raised as a result. Krish Gupta, who had already changed his clothes twice that day, fell neck deep into the river while retrieving water for his cook group. His first words after suffering such a fate were, “That was awesome.” Positivity seeped through every corner of what we did as a collective, and much of that can be attributed to the work of the G.I.V.E.R.s. A lot of it can also be attributed to the genuine joy we all brought each other through song, laughter, and games out on the water. What brought some of the laughs was the personification of one of our baby pickle barrels. Mr. G. began as an acronym for M.R.G. (Mystical Red Group) but soon transformed into a stout veteran against foreign wars who doesn’t enjoy being hauled around everywhere. The creative minds of the group came to life in such a unique way, and we gained a twelfth Arcadian in the process.

 We grew as a people and we grew as paddlers. The first day of the paddling trip could be described with one word: circles. Our paddling left a lot to be desired. Canoes traveled in zig zags, wind spun the bows, and progress was tedious. On the second day, things were more or less the same. Progress was slow, but there was still forward movement. Canoes began to spin less as the miles poured on and we all became more efficient. As the journey continued, we learned new strokes, explored new lakes, and paddled with new partners. Days went by and tent sites became memories, but one new challenge still laid in our way: rapids.

Anything that needed to stay dry got sent ashore and the briefing began. Nate and Nicole gave us three options, the first being to bypass the rapids and walk the canoe down; of course, nobody chose that option. The section option was a straight shot down the rapids, requiring some careful maneuvering to avoid the rocks that peaked above the unusually low water. The third, final, and unrecommended line was known as the boneyard. For this line, the paddlers had to enter the rapids on the far left before shooting far right, avoiding the rocks that reached out to T-bone our canoes.

Following the rapids, the river still offered a few challenges, but nothing that we didn’t think we couldn’t handle. Jokes began to fly, and we again began to sing, but little did Joe and Will know that their fate had yet to be decided. They were feeling confident after their descent of the rapids and skipped a few steps while reloading their boat. Items were not strapped down because they thought the biggest threat lay behind them. That was until a swift bit of current shoved them onto a shallow rock. This sent them spinning counterclockwise into oncoming traffic, which was when the vessel of Krish Gupta and Emily Helterline came speeding by, nicking the bow of the spinning canoe, leaving it teetering back and forth before the left gunnel dipped beneath the water’s surface, flipping the boat. Luckily, Will’s PFD did its job and kept his head above the water. Previous lessons from Nate and Nicole immediately went into play as Will and Joe kept their feet up to avoid getting them stuck on rocks and having their limbs moved in undesirable ways. As expected, Joe and Will’s unstrapped belongings began to float downstream. They looked at one another in utter disbelief as all week they had been asking Nate and Nicole if anyone had ever flipped on the canoe trip. Eva-Jo Nielsen and Garen Steiner had been mentioned from the year prior, but no definitive answer had been recounted to us.

Will and Joe both reflected on this mishap as they floated on, and soon they both broke into laughter, enthralled by the fact that it was them, the two people that were so confident they didn’t feel the need to strap in a single hiking boot. It was the first spill of the whole trip, on the second to last day. They joked about how they would criticize that day’s G.I.V.E.R.s for how long it took to get to the campsite, making fun of themselves in the progress. Pride was out of the equation in this group. There was so much humility present in every small task, from lending a tortilla to helping a fellow portager with an extra paddle, even collecting runaway XL white helmets that could fit an orange hat and yellow bandana. This crew picked each other up at every juncture, both physically and mentally. We are closer for that.