03.31.2010– The first and leading manufacturer of kids’ performance whitewater kayaks is having a sale that aligns with the April celebration of Children and Nature Awareness Month.

Jackson Kayak is slashing $200 off the retail price of its Shooting Star and Sidekick models of kid-sized whitewater kayaks in its campaign to focus on getting more kids kayaking in 2010. Through the month of May, Jackson’s pint-sized playboats and river runners will sell for $499 instead of $699. Jackson’s all-purpose kids boats the Fun 1 and Fun 1.5 will still be priced at $699.

“Paddling with my kids is more rewarding on a personal level than all my world titles and competition wins combined,” says Jackson Kayak founder and four-time world freestyle kayak champion Eric Jackson. “Running rivers all over the world and competing at the highest levels, side by side with Emily and Dane, not only makes me immensely proud but strengthens our family in ways many parents envy.”

This year’s focus of Children and Nature Awareness month puts the spotlight on encouraging parents and grandparents to do their part to connect kids with nature. The Jackson clan could be the poster family for the campaign to eradicate “nature deficit disorder” a term Children and Nature Network founder Richard Louv coined as in his best-selling book, “Last Child in the Woods.”

Jackson Kayak has other products to encourage kids and families to get into paddling. In addition to creating boats that literally cut in half the age at which kids can start kayaking, the company also sells kids paddles and an extensive collection of instructional books and videos. Jackson Kayak’s Dynamic Duo, a performance-oriented tandem whitewater kayak, is another product parents are finding useful for introducing kids to more challenging water in a way that takes away the intimidation factor.

Jackson Kayak dealers and schools are also behind the Year of the Child campaign. Two such examples are Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe in Oregon and Jackson Hole Kayak School in Wyoming. Owners of both businesses agree, whether it be scout troops, summer campers or neighborhood kids at pool practice sessions, getting kids kayaking is a tremendous community benefit and quite simply “super fun.”

For the full line of products and to locate a dealer visit the company website. Family-owned and operated since it began selling kayaks in 2004, Jackson Kayak is the world’s leading seller of whitewater kayaks and is expanding into recreational and touring boats as well with its Daytripper (and MiniTripper for kids) all-purpose boats and the Journey for touring.

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