- My name's Emily Jackson and on this episode of "Great Family Adventure," we're exploring Columbus, Georgia, and I'm competing in the US Freestyle Kayak Championship to make the US team.

- [Both] Columbus, Georgia!

(upbeat music) - [Nick] We are here in Columbus for the USA Freestyle Kayak team trials where they will be selecting the team that gets to represent the US for the upcoming world championships this October, also here in Columbus, Georgia.

- [Emily] I've been on the team for over 20 years and I've competed many a time, but it's all about performing and you only get 45 second rides, so it's an instant, people will make the team and people won't.

(upbeat music) Funding for Great Family Adventure is provided by Discover the World.

Collette offers small group explorations, tours, destinations and local experiences designed especially for small groups.

Explorations by Collette Guided travel since 1918 [Exciting music] In4Adventure.com inspiring, educating and encouraging outdoor adventure for 20 years, we've been fueling innovation on the water.

Our commitment is to improve the quality of life for people all around the world.

At ISLE We believe life on the water is a life better in balance and by these additional sponsors.

(upbeat music) We're in Columbus, Georgia because it's a great place to train for freestyle kayaking.

They develop the Rush South Whitewater Park, which is right in the heart of downtown and allows kayakers like me to come be in a downtown setting and train to be the best professional athlete in freestyle kayaking that you can be.

- [Nick] Everybody's kind of vying for their spot on the US team, so we'll have to see who's best ride makes the spot.

- [Emily] Rolling into Columbus, Georgia, one thing stands out and that's southern hospitality.

We literally got to park our truck and trailer right next to the river and stay there for our entire duration of training for the US freestyle high championships.

How cool is that?

(peaceful electronic music) - [Nick] As a family, one of our favorite ways to explore any city is to just hop on the bike and go check it out because it enables us to get into locations maybe you can't always go with the car and it really gets you on the cool back little trails and really you get to see more authentic version of what the city has to offer, and for us, with all the trails that Columbus has, it's the perfect way to get around town.

- We're having an epic day biking here as a family.

We're checking out the dragonfly trails and like Parker said, the only thing she wants to know is how do we find donuts, lunch, ice cream, all the important questions, right Parker?

- I'm gonna get donuts.

- [Nick] So today we were exploring the Chattahoochee River Trail.

It's this really unique environment where you're kind of out in nature and secluded, but you're also in the city at the same time.

So you kind of weave in and out between what feels like out in just exploring the wilderness and then back into the city all within one cool bike trail.

I see the turtle.

It's a really awesome opportunity to just go for a ride with the kids.

- I'm excited because we are going go and get donuts.

- [Nick] Who wants to get some donuts.

- What do you want baby?

Mommy and Parker.

- And go.

Oh my goodness.

(upbeat rock music) - We are getting ready to go check out the Coca-Cola Space Science Center.

- We've got Mathis with us today.

He's pretty excited.

I homeschool my kids, so when I find out that there's something as cool as the Coca-Cola Space Science Center here in Columbus, Georgia.

We've gotta make a plan for it.

- Hey everybody.

- How's it going?

- Good, thanks.

Good to have you here.

- Welcome to the Coca-Cola Space Science Center.

I'm gonna show you around, we're gonna show you some really awesome pieces of America Space program and then we're gonna have some fun.

You ready?

- Let's do it.

- Let's go.

Space is a gateway science, space is one of those sciences that really get kids excited about learning about science in general.

They like to hear about space, they're very curious about black holes, about the planets, about the stars they see in the nighttime sky.

And all of those things can begin to engage conversations that we can teach them a lot about all of the things that they need to know about science, - They start floating through things.

- That's right?

They're, it looks like they're floating, but really what they're doing is they're falling.

They fall around the earth.

- [Nick] Tucker definitely has a love for science in general and very much loves to ask questions about things that he doesn't know about.

So Parker, on the other hand, she's way more engaged with the flashy buttons and a lot more hands-on experience.

So she loved the different interactive exhibits that they had, whether you got to fly the planes or the spaceships.

- Wow.

- To me, hands-on experience is such a big part of education.

So if you want kids to appreciate something, you've gotta get them engaged.

- [Nick] We had a really great day in Columbus, and the best way for us to end the day is to get down to the river with the whole family, check out the sunset, and doing a little paddling.

(upbeat music) - [Emily] As a lot of people notice, I wear a lot of hats and sometimes I feel selfish when I'm going from one to another, but when I have the opportunity to go out and be on the water with the sun setting, my kids are playing outside, my husband's there, and all of it comes full picture.

Those are those really special moments for me as an individual.

That's what life's all about.

- Dad?

- Yeah?

- Is mom home?

(birds chirping) (upbeat music) - [Nick] We are just doing some breakfast here this morning and another beautiful day in Columbus, being that we spend so much time traveling, it's so nice to kind of be settled in a little bit, unhook the trailer, totally just relax, and be able to wake up in the morning, have nothing to do, but set up breakfast, hang out with the kids, and just have kind of a relaxing morning.

- Today's my kids' graduation party, so Tucker's gonna be graduating from fourth grade and Parker from first grade.

So while we have a lot of other things going on, I'm really excited for the party tonight.

Parker even wrote Tucker a little card.

The kids are excited.

It's just a big opportunity for 'em to celebrate with people they love, the fact that they graduated these grades.

- Disaster, Juan exploded the escape pod, wee, black hole boom.

- [Nick] After breakfast, we thought we would pack up the kids and go check out the Columbus Collective Museums.

(upbeat electronic music) - Hey.

- Hey.

- How's it going?

- Hey y'all.

Welcome to Columbus Collective Museums.

Are y'all here to get a tour?

- Sure.

- Yeah.

We'd love to check it all out.

- Are you excited?

- This is awesome.

- Yes okay, well, we're gonna go right this way.

(upbeat music) - Return of the Jedi, Indiana Jones.

- [Emily] We're here inside the Lunchbox Museum.

It's actually a part of the Columbus Collective Museum.

So that's seven museums under one roof.

So the kids got to explore and just see seven different collections, a ton of history, and for me, the highlight was definitely this room right here, the Lunchbox Museum.

- [Nick] A lot of lunchboxes.

Which one's your favorite?

- For me, visiting the Columbus Collective Museum, which is a great opportunity to show the kid some of the things from the past.

You know, they had so many cool collections of a lot of things that are part of history.

(upbeat music) You gotta dance.

- Now dance.

- Dance Tuck, you gotta.

(upbeat music) - [Nick] Another cool thing was this radio museum and the coolest part in my opinion, and something the kids really liked was the phonograph.

They thought this was super cool because they live in the world of iPads and iTunes and just everything streaming.

They certainly have never seen something that where you have to crank up to get music to play.

- When I first put my head in I thought I was going die though.

- [Emily] You thought you were gonna die when put your head into the phonograph?

- So loud.

- Yeah.

- You hear that?

Don't mess with the phonographs.

Stick your head in there.

You could die.

- Next up, we headed over to the Dinglewood Pharmacy for the world famous and unique to Columbus Scramble dog.

- We're going to a pharmacy that has hot dogs.

- Let's check it out.

- Welcome to Dinglewood.

- Thanks.

- We're here at the Dinglewood Pharmacy.

This place is founded in 1918, so it's got the traditional counter diner style here.

The kids are getting the full experience with their first root beer floats.

And something that's unique to Columbus, Georgia is this scrambled dog.

Honestly, I was slightly terrified of the entire concept, but I have to say it's quite delicious.

We've got a hot dog underneath a pile of chili, oyster crackers, pickles, and our edition was some jalapenos.

- This is awesome.

- [Nick] So being that it's graduation day, we wanted to do something a little bit special for the kids, and Tucker's best friend Mathis thought the best thing that we could do was head to the local candy shop.

And what do you got there, Tucker?

- Dad, you have an extra bag?

- [Nick] No, I don't have an extra bag.

Oh my God.

What do you have there?

What is that?

It's the biggest lollipop I think I've ever seen.

(upbeat music) - [Emily] Family's really important to me.

So any opportunity I have to celebrate with my dad, for example, my kids' grandpa and their graduation is really special to me.

The kids, I wanna make sure they have long lasting memories of having fun with grandpa, for example.

- [Nick] So we're all here for the US team trials.

Everybody's gathering around.

It's gonna be the big thing this weekend, and obviously the fact that the kids graduated this week, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to all get together, have a big hangout, and just have a great big shindig altogether.

(upbeat electronic music) - On Friday, Tucker actually graduated fourth grade, (crowd cheering) and on Friday, Parker actually graduated first grade.

(crowd cheering) Each one of you here, and many of you have played a big role in educating and teaching my children.

So I just wanna say a heartfelt thank you.

So I love all of you, I appreciate all of you, and I'm gonna stop talking so I don't cry.

I'm so proud of you guys.

(crowd cheering) Now who wants to eat some donuts off a string.

(upbeat music) (rain pounding) - [Emily] It is Friday morning, day before competition, and it is pouring rain, not just raining, but thunder lightning happening right now.

So today's supposed to be the main day for training to get ready for the competition, but definitely having a lazy family morning where we're all reading books in bed and hiding away from the weather until maybe this passes.

Look at that.

That is a waterfall coming off that roof.

(upbeat music) (water splashing) Today's the day before competition, so that's when the anxiety a little bit starts settling in.

You know, I've done a lot of these events, competed for over 20 years at this point, but every event just an opportunity to help showcase what you're capable of and just have a lot of fun.

(upbeat rock music) - Emily's gone practicing as the team trials is a big event for her.

She is a veteran to competition and honestly, I think she's gonna do amazing.

She's very skilled, has a lot of competition experience under her belt, but it's a big deal 'cause I know she really wants to make the team and come back here for the world championships.

(upbeat rock music continues) - [Emily] So there's 12 women trying out for five spots.

There's a lot of people here that I coach, and so including women in my own field.

And so part of the intimidation or the nervousness about getting ready for the event and so forth is not just how I'm gonna do, but how are my friends and family gonna do too.

(upbeat rock music continues) Training for me is really important.

I'm a professional athlete for freestyle kayaking, so getting my workout in is really important to me, but it's also an opportunity for me to take my kids to come get some exercise or PE class while I'm working out as well.

(upbeat rock music continues) - [Nick] Being that we're a paddling family and that Columbus is such a paddling destination, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to all go hit the river together.

And what better to go get led down the Chattahoochee River than with our friends, the Hargroves.

(upbeat music) - [Emily] It's nice weather, and why not use this opportunity of having our friends all in one place to get the kids out on water with some of their friends?

'Cause that's one of my favorite parts of competing is being out of the water with my friends.

So now my kids have the opportunity too.

I mean, check this out.

- Let's go!

What is this is all about right there, dragging friends around to go kayaking with you.

(peaceful music) - [Nick] One of our favorite things to do here in Columbus is actually to float the Chattahoochee River with the whole family, it's such a family friendly river, and the fact that we got to go do it with the Hargrove family, all of our friends, it really makes the whole experience such a win-win and positive experience for the whole family and all the kids.

(water splashing) - But it is the evening before team trials.

That means tomorrow I find out whether or not I made the US team.

So that's kind of a big deal, but it's also a big deal 'cause I coach so many people here.

So it's a big deal for everyone here, all 50 competitors.

It's a big deal for my brother.

It's a big deal for my dad.

It's a big deal for a lot of different people.

So Nick is already on the team.

Parker's not old enough to try out yet.

Are you gonna try out for the team when you're older?

- Mm, I don't know yet.

- You don't know yet.

What do you think Tuck, are you gonna try out for the team when you're older?

(upbeat music) (crowd chattering) So today's the day, it's day one and really the only day that matters when it comes to the US Freestyle kayaking team trials.

We're here to try to make the US team to represent our country at the World Championship held in the same location in October.

So the US team in general is about 25 people.

So each class has a certain number of people that will get to participate at the world championship.

So for the men and women senior classes, those are the ones that my dad and brother and myself compete in.

There are five people that get to represent.

So five women and five senior men.

(upbeat music) - Each of them are 45 seconds and you get the most points that you can.

So each trick that you do out there has a point value to it and you can get some bonuses on top of that for huge or air or even clean if you don't use your paddle but you're really just trying to accumulate as many points as you can within that 45 second ride and whoever has the most points wins.

- [Emily] When I get to competition day, I'm not only focusing on myself, my dad, and my brother are also competing.

So for me it's a big high stakes day because it's gonna determine who gets to paddle and compete at the World Championships back here in October.

(upbeat music continues) - [Nick] Good luck.

Give her a kiss.

- I did watch it, but I don't remember.

(upbeat rock music) Go, Mom, go!

- [Announcer] All right, the next thing you're gonna hear are results for the senior women.

We wanna know who's on the team.

- 451 points making fifth place is Rachel Shuppy.

- Whoa.

- 473 points ahead of her, Darby McAdams.

In the third place we have Olivia McGinness 490 points.

In second place, Emily Jackson with 513 points and rounding out the top- - [Nick] So Emily did it.

She made the US team.

I'm super proud of her.

Just loved to see that she made it yet again, I don't even know how many years in a row that she's been making the US team and really just proud of her for all that she does.

Being an incredible mom, an incredible athlete.

As her husband, I'm just couldn't be more proud of her.

- [Emily] I felt super supported here at this event.

I mean, I have friends, I have family, I have my husband, I have my children.

At the end of the day, all those people love me regardless of how I paddled and how I performed so.

- [EJ] I dunno what to say about the kids other than obviously I'm very proud of the way they paddle, but more than anything, I'm proud of who they are, and who they've become.

They've just been amazing ambassadors for the sport, ambassadors just for what good people should be like.

So very proud of the kids for definitely more reasons than their paddling.

(crowd cheering) - [Emily] When we come back here in October, Nick's gonna be here representing Canada.

My dad and my brother are gonna be representing the USA and they're all gonna be competing against each other.

(crowd cheering) (upbeat music) - We are gonna be competing against each other, but still as family.

It's friendly competition, but there's only gonna be one person that gets to take home the gold.

So excited to come back and compete for the World Championship title.

- And that's a wrap.

Team trials are over.

I've officially made the team.

That means I get to come back here to Columbus, Georgia in October and represent the USA at the World Championship.

Can't wait.

Gonna be an exciting event.

Get to compete with multiple family members and so many fun things to do here.

I just absolutely love the downtown atmosphere and doing one of my favorite sports ever, whitewater kayaking, here we go.

We'll see you guys back here in October.

(upbeat electronic music) (peaceful music) Funding for Great Family Adventure is provided by Discover the World.

Collette offers small group explorations, tours, destinations and local experiences designed especially for small groups.

Explorations by Collette Guided travel since 1918 [Exciting music] In4Adventure.com inspiring, educating and encouraging outdoor adventure for 20 years, we've been fueling innovation on the water.

Our commitment is to improve the quality of life for people all around the world.

At ISLE We believe life on the water is a life better in balance and by these additional sponsors.