Drawing of the future cabin

Camelot Bunkhouse Project

A core part of the MITOC community, and in particular our access to the mountains, continues to be our well-loved “Camelot” cabin, located in central New Hampshire. As you may know, Camelot was built in the 1970s (on a shoestring budget), and it is nearing the end of its useful life. Since 2013, the Outing Club has been working to build new, safe and modern sleeping quarters on the Camelot property, which will ensure that MITOC can fulfill our mission for decades to come.

MITOC partnered with Maclay Architects to design a new bunkhouse for Camelot which will be located approximately 100m from the existing cabin. The new bunkhouse will contain five bedrooms (sleeping ten persons each), a large central hallway, and a covered deck. We anticipate the cost of the new bunkhouse to be approximately $500,000.

With the design now complete, we are actively seeking donations. If you are able, please consider donating to help us hit our fundraising target in 2025. We broke ground on site preparation in 2024, and fundraising permitting, we will complete the new bunkhouse in 2025. This project will ensure we can fulfill our mission for the next generation of MITOCers.

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Whitewater

Why Whitewater Is Awesome

Whitewater kayaks are small, fast, and fun. Unlike other boats, they ensconce you into boat-body unit, rather than being vehicles you must externally control. These boats move with you, becoming an extension of yourself. Rather than sheltering you with their stability, they allow you to take the reins and tame the chaos of the river. They open you to the current, giving you the precision you need to slice through waves and carve turns, for an intimate experience of the rapids.

Whitewater kayaking is highly technical, highly thrilling, and highly rewarding. Paddlers live by the motto: do something that scares you every day.

How To Get Started With Paddling at MITOC!

  1. Join MITOC and get on the paddle mailing list.
  2. In the spring, sign up for Pool Sessions. These introduce you to the boat, how to exit it safely, and how to roll.
  3. Attend a Gear & Safety classroom session. These introduce you to basic skills and gear you need to run a river, and the safety considerations you have to know.
  4. Attend a Beginner River Trip (watch for announcements on the paddle list and check the events calendar on the website).
  5. To rent boats on your own, attend a boathouse training session and get in touch with the whitewater chair to request a boat. (Must establish that you will be able to use the gear safely).
  6. If you can competently run class II rapids, you can sign up for class II/III “independent” trips that are often posted to the paddle list. (Participation is up to the discretion of the trip leader however).

Pool Sessions

These typically take place in February, March, or April. Organizing roll sessions is a lot of work, so if you’re interested, offering to help clean / transport / organize for the session can’t hurt.

River Safety 101

This is a micro synopsis of what is covered in the Gear & Safety class, at Pool Sessions, and on the river.

  1. How to Swim

    So, you’re out of your boat – what do you do? First, feet up! Avoid getting a foot caught under a rock (serious drowning consequence). Swim on your back and steer your way to the nearest eddy. Hang on to your paddle if you can! Blow your whistle if no one has yet come to help out to get your boat to shore. It’s good practice to bring chocolate or beer for your rescuers at the end of the trip. (Start with a 6-pack your first season, and work your way towards having them to yourself at the end of the day. You know you’re doing well when you end up with a surplus of beers from ones other people gave you!).

  2. What to Never Do
    • Stand up in the current
    • Paddle without a PFD and helmet
    • Run rapids without scouting (if on your own)
  3. River Features to Avoid
    • Strainers: obstacles that letter water through but stop you, for example, a tree in the river. Less obvious: a sieve.
    • Nasty holes. Read river descriptions before you go, and avoid ones that are shaped like frowns. Holes that are “keepers” will retain your boat, or even you when out of your boat. Your best strategy when in one of those is to curl into a ball and hope you sink deep enough to catch the tongue of current on the bottom.
    • Pinning rocks or undercut rocks. Again, read a good river guide and go with someone who knows the river. Learn to identify funny-looking water and other cues that something is amiss. As a general precaution, when approaching a rock you can’t avoid, lean towards it. You’ll be able to push off and move on.

Gear You Need to Run a River

*=Available to rent from MITOC

Choosing a boat

Volume. Larger boats are more stable but offer less control. Too little volume for your weight, and your ends will sink.

Length. Longer/narrower boats are faster (both good and bad…) and easier to roll, but harder to turn.

Aggressiveness. More aggressive boats have sharper edges, allowing you to make faster, more precise moves. They are also flipped more aggressively by river features.

Interior fit. Regardless of volume, you should fit snugly inside the boat, with your feet touching the footrests and your hips well in contact with the sides of the boat and thighs solidly in the thigh braces.

Whitewater Kayak Rental

When you join a beginner trip, we assume that you need gear, so we start at the boathouse and get you outfitted before taking off to the river. For independent trips, you must follow standard boat rental procedure, described in detail on the boathouse webpage. Due to the rather hazardous and technical nature of the sport, the white water boats are restricted equipment. Obtain permission from the whitewater chair first.

Please note that, like all rentals, boathouse keys are due back 7 days from when you take them out. We have very few boathouse keys, so we expect members to return keys promptly.

Questions?

Contact boathouse-mgr@mit.edu.