With school officially and finally out for the summer, summer’s days freedom and adventure have commenced. Sunny skies and high water are traditional beacons of this magical time of year, as is an abundance of outdoor activities offered to celebrate. Most notably this week in Durango is the annual Animas River Days festival – a four-day celebration of the many and varied functions the river serves as a vital community resource. The festival, which begins Wednesday, offers as wide a range of activities to choose from in celebrating the Animas River.

This year’s event is an inaugural one, of sorts, with the $1.3 million reconstruction of Durango’s Whitewater Park just completed before spring runoff began. The park features reconfigured rapids and waves that offer new challenges to boaters familiar with the river’s old behavior over Smelter, Clocktower and Corner Pocket drops, among others. As the water has risen in the last few weeks, rafters have been learning the cold, wet way how the river runs now. Animas River Days will offer professional and recreational boaters alike a challenging and fun introduction to the Animas’ new landscape.

Beginning Thursday with a film night and kickoff party at the Smiley Building, Animas River Days combines community involvement with a robust menu of river-based competition, family fun and conservation education. All of the events honor the importance of the Animas to the community, and this year’s ample flows will add an element of excitement to the festival.

That component, though, is cause for even greater respect of the Animas River. With flows above 4,800 cubic feet per second over the weekend, the Animas has been offering wild rides to all comers. It is a fortunate coincidence the Animas is flowing mightily during the festival, as world-class boaters competing in slalom, boatercross, downriver and kayak rodeo events will be challenged by the churn at the Whitewater Park. Spectators will have plenty to take in during Saturday’s and Sunday’s competitive events.

The high water should also give competitive and recreational boaters a healthy dose of respect for the river’s force, reminding all who take part in river-related activities that safety needs to be the primary concern. The Animas is prime for rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, river boarding and other such adventures, but only for those who take the proper precautions, use the proper safety equipment and have sufficient knowledge and skill to navigate the river at high water. No such activity should take place without a life jacket. A helmet is advisable. Knowledge of what to do in case of an unexpected swim in turbulent water is essential.

There will be much to take in over Animas River Days’ course, whether as a participant, observer or both. Aside from the boating events, there will be fetching contests – in and out of the water – a film festival and children’s activities. Combined, these events and the conservation message that overarches Animas River Days frame a community event that celebrates a treasured and essential resource. The growing annual festival is the work of a committed core of local conservationists and river enthusiasts whose work has yielded increasingly impressive results, drawing far-flung participants to the celebration. With temperatures expected to be in the ’80s all week and beyond, take some time to enjoy as well as care for the Animas River and the newly reconfigured – and all the more challenging – Whitewater Park.