Trip - For those taking family float trips down the Black River of Missouri, are the young kids bored?

For those taking family float trips down the Black River of Missouri, are the young kids bored?

We have been invited to attend a float trip with other families through our church. It will be an all-day float trip, and I'm concerned my kids (ages 10-13) will get bored with just floating down a river. What would you recommend?

Public Comments

They won't get bored... Gee, that sounds like a good time, and a good chance to get out and explore nature.....
Kids get bored occasionally. It helps develop self disipline if you do not try to entertain them all the time.
stop and take swim breaks, bring lots to drink and snacks so you dont here them asking for them all day. bring floaties so they can swim behind you. be sure to take a life jacket. i got flipped and caught on a log. if it wasnt for my life jacket i would have died.
Hi we take a yearly float down the Black River every year. It is a great river for beginners and children because it is very easy to maneuver and there are not a lot of fast or hard spots. I however do not recommend taking the 6 or 8 person rafts. There are a lot of spots on the river which are low and you have to drag or carry the rafts across those parts. However the canoes do just fine and go right a crossed. A lot of families get canoes for the adults and supplies and let the kids loose on inner tubes. Again this is a great river for tubing. I would plan on bringing a lunch and some snacks so you can stop off at the different sand bars have something to eat and take a little dip. They do allow fishing on the river so if you all like to fish you might want to consider bringing a pole or two. Be warned you must get a fishing license they have them at Wal-Mart and some of the local stores down there. I would also bring some water guns, beach balls, and some other water games (which you can get at Wal-Mart, Target and places like that). Get a large mesh laundry bag to put the stuff in and that way you can tie it to the canoe in case you dump over. I would also bring some pads for your behinds in the canoes and to sit on the beach with. I just use those bleacher seat pads that you would take to a baseball game they are pretty cheap, they float and well if you loose them it really will not be a big deal. I think the kids will have a lot of fun and if there are other kids there they won’t get bored. I think you all would have a great time! The floats are not that long on the river I would say 6 hours with stopping and swimming. Be sure to take some hats, sunscreen, and some good water shoes. Happy Floating!