10 May 2026 Finding confidence in the current
By Phyllis Ormsby
Have you ever wanted to try something new but didn’t know if you would be comfortable as a newbie in a group of strangers? Rebecca Epperson hoped to foster a welcoming community in 2020 when she founded a Facebook group for women interested in kayaking. Since then, everything about the group — the friendly attitude, the helpfulness of the members and even the rapid growth in membership — has exceeded all her expectations.
“The group has been overwhelmingly positive,” Epperson said. “It’s been wonderful. I would like anyone, whether they are an experienced kayaker or just tried it a few times, at any skill level, any age, any diversity, to know they will be welcomed and nurtured as much as you want to be nurtured. Everyone is so eager to be helpful. The women in this group love to teach new people and love to learn from those who know more than them. Everyone is always open to learning new things or teaching new things.”
Epperson was a member of another Facebook group for kayakers that included men and women when she began hearing from some women that they might enjoy a women-only group. Sometimes a woman might go to a scheduled event and find that she was the only woman in a group of men, she said. When she created the group, she titled it “Arkansas Women’s Kayaking” as a placeholder, but everyone loved the name and it stuck. “I had over 500 members in the first 24 hours. It skyrocketed,” she said. “I added my sister and another person as moderators just to help approve all the membership requests. And as it turned out, the timing worked out great for me to nurture a group.”
It was during the COVID pandemic, and Epperson had just been temporarily laid off from her job at Arkansas Children’s Hospital because of it. Her daughter, a senior in high school, left for spring break and never went back. Her son was a student at Hendrix College, and the same thing happened to him. Her other son was also temporarily laid o685ff due to COVID.
“I was off for almost four months,” Epperson said. “I thought to myself, I’ll never have another opportunity like this again, to have all of us together like this. So, I bought kayaks for all of us on Facebook Marketplace. We were kayaking three or four days a week. It was a great opportunity to build a community when I had free time to put some effort into it.”
“This group was created because sometimes women feel more comfortable floating, shuttling and discussing certain topics with other women,” according to the Arkansas Women’s Kayaking Facebook page, which now has more than 7,000 members. The membership is limited to women, but men and boys are welcome at some of the events.
“The way the group works is [that] any member can host an event,” Epperson said. “Then everybody can comment and say if they are coming. It’s kind of a cooperative as far as events go. If you want to go float and there’s nothing planned, you can just create an event and see who will come with you. We don’t exclude men; if you have a significant other, he can come to some events. ‘Family friendly’ means you can bring kids. Women only means just that.”
Epperson is a long-time kayak enthusiast who was introduced to kayaking pretty much by accident when her kids were young. “I grew up in North Arkansas and the White River was three miles from my house. We used canoes when we floated rivers, but when my boys were in Scouts, they got to use kayaks. So we went on this trip, and one of the boys wanted a kayak. After a while, he got tired and wanted to get in the canoe, so I got in the kayak,” she said. “I bet I flipped that thing three or four times that first day. I had so much fun in that thing. After that, I was addicted to kayaks.”
Epperson’s daughter, Grace, now 24, said she loves seeing women taking their kayaks out on their own, bonding with and supporting one another. “I love kayaking, and I’ve done it for a while, but I still don’t know a whole lot about it,” she said. “Everyone is so willing to help you out with whatever questions you have. They are always super sweet and supportive and don’t judge you for not knowing everything.
“Every time I go, I have a really good time, and I always think, why don’t I do this more often? Not only is it a comfortable group because it’s mostly women, it’s really a safe space,” Grace said.
Pamela Ellwood, 73, said she loves being in the group for the fellowship and fun. “You can hang out and have a good time with other women, you can learn and just goof off, and you won’t have a man telling you that you’re doing it wrong,” she said, chuckling. “The other ladies don’t put you down and they’re not condescending.” Previously Ellwood has floated the entire length of the Buffalo River three times by herself, she said, a trip that takes about a week to complete. Due to arthritis in her shoulders, she has switched to inflatable kayaks since the reduced weight makes it easier for her to paddle.
Epperson said the group will welcome new members regardless of age or skill level. You don’t even need to own a kayak. Many members have extra gear that they are willing to share. She specifically encourages new kayakers to try several different kayaks before purchasing one.
The best thing about the group could be the friendships that are formed, Epperson said. “It’s wonderful to see people light up. This is something I notice at every event I go to, and I love it so much. You get a group of perfect strangers together, and they are best friends by the time the event is over. The main thing I want to get across is what a welcoming, helpful and informative group this is. It’s something I feel like anybody can enjoy.”
