The Big Paddle: Two Cities, One River Challenge with Riverways Collaboration
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Join Riverways and our partners for our second annual Big Paddle! The Two Cities, One River Challenge serves to highlight the importance of equitable access to clean, healthy waterways in both Philadelphia and Camden’s communities by empowering people of all backgrounds and comfort levels to get on the water and explore their cities from a new perspective. With rest stops located along the Tidal Delaware River Trail, the paddle also aims to introduce participants to new spaces and places to engage with nature and their waterways.
Whether you’re paddling with us or providing on-water or on-land support, there’s a place for everyone in the movement for clean, healthy waterways.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering for this event? Need support to cover your ticket cost? Email Mayci Shimon at mayci@riverways.org for more information.
Riverways Collaboration is a consortium of non-profit organizations working together to create connections between the local waterways and communities in the Philadelphia-Camden region. Riverways works to increase safe access to the region’s on-water trail network and empower local youth to be catalysts for change within their communities while establishing greater awareness and use of the waterways.
When
🗓️ Saturday, September 12, 2026
🕑 9:30 am – 3:00 pm
*Rain date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Start
🌳 Pyne Poynt Park (Camden, NJ)
Finish
🌳 Pleasant Hill Park (Philadelphia, PA)
Distance
🛶 ~10.5 miles
Transportation
🚐 A free shuttle will be available to take participants parking at the finish line to the starting line in Camden from Pleasant Hill Park.
Fee
💲 $50 Early Bird Ticket (until 8/16/2026)
💲 $75 General Admission (until 9/09/2026)
💲 $0-75 Pay What You Can* (until 9/09/2026)
* reach out to us if you need assistance covering your ticket cost!
Additional Ways to Support
Volunteering/Staff Support of Rest Areas, Start & Finish Lines, & On-Water Safety
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Start-of-Day: Loading in boats and event registration at the starting line, event registration, and shuttle coordination from the finish line to the start line for those who park first.
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Rest Area: Possible safety boats to demarcate rest areas, provide snacks/refreshments for participants that stop to rest, assist with load in/out for break.
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Encouragement Zones: 2-3 people who cheer on boaters from the banks at encouragement areas.
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End-of-Day: Load out boats and assist participants with returning vessels to cars or rental partner, refreshments/first aid for participants.
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On-Water: Motorized safety boat support (if available) and/or non-motorized safety participation in paddle.
Recruitment of Participants, Partners, Donors, & Sponsors through Networks
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Goal: Raise funds to support participants who might not be able to afford the ticket price/vessel rental price, as well as to raise funds to support Riverways and our partner organizations.
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Identification of partners that can provide day of support or in-kind donations.
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Spreading the word for the event to ensure higher ticket sales and event success.
Provision of Supplies
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Including: first aid kits, vessels for rental, motorized safety boats, safety equipment, and more.
Event & Safety Planning
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Identifying vendors for the finish line
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Determining safety restrictions and guidelines for participation.
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Spreading the word for the event to ensure higher ticket sales and event success.
Current Partnerships
We are supported by a consortium of six non-profit organizations throughout Philadelphia and Camden, including:
