Join VSDC: Halloween Rafting & Dinner at Kelley Farm Kitchen, Harpers Ferry

Join VSDC and friends for our last scheduled rafting trip of the year, taking place in beautiful Historic Harpers Ferry!

This will be a spectacular autumn trip, featuring stunning fall colors along the river corridor, a different river route, and the option for Halloween attire.

The weather is expected to be quite pleasant, and we will have insulating layers available for everyone.

Led by Jeff Cogle of Appalachian Guidance, our journey combines class II/III whitewater, wildlife viewing, river education, rejuvenating movement, and an optional post-rafting dinner at Kelley Farm Kitchen.

Friends & full body care: We’ll start with a meet and greet and an easy full-body warm-up. This will include gentle yoga and/or qi gong techniques designed for optimal spinal movement and relaxed breathing.

Rafting Fun: We’ll then shuttle together to where we will first embark on a popular class II/III section that is upstream from Washington DC, and meanders through beautiful Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

Optional Dinner at Kelley Farm Kitchen:
Kelley Farm Kitchen (aka KFK) was named Yelp’s #1 restaurant in the country in 2021! At KFK, we will arrive approximately 5pm and each attendee will order from KFK’s normal menu and pay the restaurant directly, based on what is ordered. Check out their big menu!

Cost & Registration:

The price of this event is $108 (discounted from Appalachian Guidance’s standard $149 price). Payment must be made to Appalachian Guidance directly:
https://www.appalachianguidance.com/plant-powered-adventure

IMPORTANT: Note that RSVPing here does not guarantee a spot on a raft. You must contact Appalachian Guidance directly using the link provided above. Space is very limited, so please make your reservation as soon as possible.

Once you register, there will be a follow-up email sent with basic event details as well as a standard ACA waiver. Completing the waiver in advance will save some time (and paper).

About Your Guides:

Jeff Cogle is one of the most experienced raft guides in the country. He regularly guides rafts on class 5 rivers and currently trains other aspiring raft guides and leads raft guide instructor trainings. With 38 years of experience, he is recognized by American Canoe Association as a Raft Guide Instructor Trainer Educator (the only one on the East Coast), Swift Water Rescue Instructor, as well as Whitewater Kayaking Instructor.
VSDC member Sarah Kellett is an environmental activist who has been vegan for 26 years and has worked extensively to protect waterway health. She aims to inspire the whitewater community to consider a more plant-based way of life in order to help protect and preserve our precious rivers. She is also the vice president of the local whitewater club and has been training in various whitewater modalities since 2019, including training with Jeff since 2021.

What To Bring:

• Synthetic pants, or leggings. No cotton clothing.
• Quick-dry shirt and long-sleeved fleece top (that you don’t mind getting wet)
• Waterproof jacket or shell for an extra layer
• Sneakers or sport sandals with good tread that will stay on your feet. No flip flops! Any laces should be neatly tucked in.
• Optional fleece socks to wear with your sneakers or sports sandals. No cotton!
• Hat with brim or visor
• Wearing contacts is preferable to glasses
• Optional sunglasses. Be sure to have a strap to keep them on your head
• Dry change of clothes (leave in your car)
• Towel (leave in your car)
• Sunscreen and insect repellant (spray-free and natural please!)
• Water bottle – 24 ounces recommended
• Snacks (especially fruit, which is hydrating): We’ll stop for a quick bite on the river.
• Do not wear loose or sharp jewelry (the less worn the better)
• Please avoid bringing peanuts due to allergy concerns

There is very limited space in the dry bags on the river, so please leave all non-essential items in your car. Please note that changing area options are limited, so it’s best to bring items that are relatively easy change into.

For Halloween costumes:

1. Remember that you will be wearing a PFD (personal floatation device) and a helmet.
2. No excessively loose items or bulky outfits
3. No complete face masks. Please consider using face paint instead.
4. All glitter MUST be plastic free and biodegradable.

For safety reasons, all costumes will go through a final inspection before the trip.

Note: For the special occasion, we will have some items available, such as sensitive skin face paint, biodegradable face glitter, and tape.

For more information, please see the FAQ section in the Appalachian Guidance link above.

VSDC: More Than A Meetup
We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that VSDC is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits?

With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.

The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! Join today!

Ways to Stay In Touch with Us:
Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to:

• Become a VSDC member to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle.
• Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter to hear more about our activities.
• Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to engage with us.

Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?
VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, please visit our website.

Only Vegan Food, Please
While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources.

Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct
When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge VSDC's Liability Waiver and commit to follow the code of conduct found at Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC.

VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.