Today we had a really cool opportunity to go kayaking at the Downings Bay and hear from the owner of an adventure sports company. Very few of us in the group had been kayaking, and even fewer had been kayaking in water like in Downings Bay, but it was an amazing experience that we got to experience- with the surprisingly warm water and the beautiful view, it was something I’ll never forget! Before we embarked on our kayaking adventure, we heard about the effects of seasonality on a business like one that focuses on adventure sports. During the offseason it’s often too cold to do any outdoor activities like kayaking, and even in the peak season weather is a major concern- like if it rains one day the location of an activity might need to be delayed or changed, which can take a toll on a small business. One thing that the business does really well is that it shifts its target audience slightly during the season change. During the peak season, their focus is on tourists and on running kids camps during the summer; but it shifts to a more community centered target market in the offseason. For example, there are additional camps offered periodically throughout different parts of the offseason, as well as slightly different activities offered to the locals. All in all, the adventure sports offered something new for our group, and while many fell in, it was a safe and enjoyable exercise!

Something that our group considered after hearing about the tourism brough to the area by the adventure sports business, was the ripple effect on the local community. When tourists come to town to go kayaking, or paddle boarding, or whatever it might be- they often stop to shop around and get something to eat, similarly to our group. After we kayaked, we walked up to the coffee shop to get a coffee or light snack before continuing with our day. A larger business like the adventure sports company brings more tourism, and revenue, to areas like Downings, and the surrounding towns overall by contributing to the local economy.