Know Before you Book with Living River
Requirements Before Arriving
Food at Living River
Living River does not provide food service. We have a caterer that we can connect you with who can provide your group’s food for an additional cost. Or, your group can bring its own food and cook for itself or hire your own catering service. If your group hires a catering service, the cooks can use a motel-style room free of charge.
Linens at Living River
Your group needs to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. All beds are single beds except for the queen beds in three of the motel-style staff rooms.
Healthcare Provider
It’s recommended that your group bring a licensed healthcare provider, especially if there is anyone under the age of 18. Your licensed healthcare provider can use a motel-style room free of charge. There is a stocked healthcare room attached to a motel-style cabin room.
Lifegaurd
Living River’s Waterfront Policy requires that all people in the lake or river wear a life jacket and that there be a lifeguard present anytime someone goes into the river or lake. For canoeing/ kayaking, an experienced small craft adult or currently certified lifeguard must be present with the group.
Ask Living River with enough advance if your group would like us to provide you with a lifeguard. Your group will compensate the lifeguard directly at $20/hour. Our ability to provide a lifeguard will depend on their availability, so the earlier we try to schedule with them, the better.
Living River’s Educational Partners
Living River’s environmental education partners currently include the Cahaba River Society, the Cahaba Riverkeeper, the Alabama Forestry Commission, and the Bibb County Extension Office. These educational partners can be scheduled to come and work with your group to enhance your experience at Living River. Some of them will have their own additional program fee associated with their service. If interested, please let Living River know as soon as possible so that we can check their availability and get your group on their schedule.
Service Projects at Living River
If you’re desiring for your group to spend time at Living River doing a service project for the land or facilities, please let us know in enough time to coordinate a project and have supplies ready. It is not guaranteed that there will be a need or available leadership during your group’s time at Living River, but we’ll do out best to work it out! Groups coming just to do a project may be subject to a per head “Day Use” fee that covers staff labor and facilities upkeep.
Civil Rights Learning Experiences
Living River is within an hours drive of Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuscaloosa, all important cities during the peak of our nation’s struggle with civil rights for all races of people in the 60’s. Groups are encouraged to use some of their time at Living River for a day trip to one or more of these cities. Please let us know in advance if this is your group’s intention and the Living River staff can help you coordinate your experiences and group reflection time.
- A signed Rental Agreement and $300 deposit is required to secure your group’s date and facilities needs.
- A Certificate of Insurance naming Living River as an additional insured is required 30 days before arrival.
- A Facilities Form asking which buildings and for the number of motel-style cabin rooms your group will use will be sent two weeks out from your dates and is required back one week out from your dates.
- A signed Hold-Harmless Form for each participant is required upon departure. The weekend host will collect these. Anyone under the age of 18 must have theirs signed by a parent/guardian, so it is best to have these signed before arrival.
Food at Living River
Living River does not provide food service. We have a caterer that we can connect you with who can provide your group’s food for an additional cost. Or, your group can bring its own food and cook for itself or hire your own catering service. If your group hires a catering service, the cooks can use a motel-style room free of charge.
Linens at Living River
Your group needs to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. All beds are single beds except for the queen beds in three of the motel-style staff rooms.
Healthcare Provider
It’s recommended that your group bring a licensed healthcare provider, especially if there is anyone under the age of 18. Your licensed healthcare provider can use a motel-style room free of charge. There is a stocked healthcare room attached to a motel-style cabin room.
Lifegaurd
Living River’s Waterfront Policy requires that all people in the lake or river wear a life jacket and that there be a lifeguard present anytime someone goes into the river or lake. For canoeing/ kayaking, an experienced small craft adult or currently certified lifeguard must be present with the group.
Ask Living River with enough advance if your group would like us to provide you with a lifeguard. Your group will compensate the lifeguard directly at $20/hour. Our ability to provide a lifeguard will depend on their availability, so the earlier we try to schedule with them, the better.
Living River’s Educational Partners
Living River’s environmental education partners currently include the Cahaba River Society, the Cahaba Riverkeeper, the Alabama Forestry Commission, and the Bibb County Extension Office. These educational partners can be scheduled to come and work with your group to enhance your experience at Living River. Some of them will have their own additional program fee associated with their service. If interested, please let Living River know as soon as possible so that we can check their availability and get your group on their schedule.
Service Projects at Living River
If you’re desiring for your group to spend time at Living River doing a service project for the land or facilities, please let us know in enough time to coordinate a project and have supplies ready. It is not guaranteed that there will be a need or available leadership during your group’s time at Living River, but we’ll do out best to work it out! Groups coming just to do a project may be subject to a per head “Day Use” fee that covers staff labor and facilities upkeep.
Civil Rights Learning Experiences
Living River is within an hours drive of Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuscaloosa, all important cities during the peak of our nation’s struggle with civil rights for all races of people in the 60’s. Groups are encouraged to use some of their time at Living River for a day trip to one or more of these cities. Please let us know in advance if this is your group’s intention and the Living River staff can help you coordinate your experiences and group reflection time.
