Hope Wanders and Taiters Kayak have partnered for a full season of good times for a good cause on the Great Miami River. CONTRIBUTED
Paddle, party and Prince – the Purple Rain Paddle promises to be a good time for a good cause.
Hope Wanders and Taiters Kayak, in conjunction with the City of Miamisburg Parks & Recreation Star City Concert Series, will offer a concert float on Friday, May 22 on the Great Miami River. Paddlers will launch from West Carrollton and enjoy a scenic sunset paddle down the Great Miami River, arriving in downtown Miamisburg just as “The Prince Experience,” a Prince tribute band, takes the stage at the Ginkgo Amphitheater.
“They can float on the river and listen, pull out and tailgate or sit in the amphitheater and enjoy the concert,” said Jess Urton, Hope Wanders founder. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
Finding hope
The great outdoors was a life saver for Urton when she escaped an abusive situation with her then young daughters a decade ago. She is now dedicated to paying it forward through the nonprofit organization Hope Wanders
“Our mission is to make sure outdoor adventures are accessible to all, especially women who have navigated difficulties in life, and to create a supportive outdoor community for everyone,” Urton said. “I cannot say enough about how helpful being outdoors was, and still is, for me and I want to be able to connect women from difficult life situations with outdoor adventure.”
The Purple Rain Paddle is a signature fundraising event for the organization as money raised helps fund adventure grants that enable women to participate in nature-based healing experiences, big or small, free of charge.
“If you know or are a deserving woman, please share a little about yourself and apply for an adventure grant that would cover the cost of one of our adventures,” Urton said. “Each one of our trips has a spot for a scholarship.”
Having fun
The partnership between Hope Wanders and Taiters Kayak all but guarantees a good time.
“We are 100 percent about encouraging people to try new things,” Urton said. “I want people to be using and enjoying the Great Miami River.”
The Purple Rain Paddle is one of two upcoming concert floats including the Parrot Head Paddle on July 24. The beginner-friendly events are designed with safety as well as fun in mind. Urton is an American Canoe Association (ACA) certified kayaking instructor who provides on-land safety briefings and on-water coaching to help all paddlers feel knowledgeable and confident.
“Once they get out there, they realize they can do it,” she said. “And with each trip, their confidence grows.”
Beyond the concert series, Hope Wanders offers a full slate of paddling experiences for the 2026 season. With a large fleet of single and tandem kayaks supplied by Taiters – as well as life jackets – the paddles are accessible to a wide range of ages from children, their parents and, even, grandparents. For more information, visit https://hopewanders.love.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.daytondailynews.com ’
