operations, he trains local kids from mississippi and across the river in neighboring arkansas under an apprentice program, teaching skills like hand carving canoes, outdoor survival and the ins and outs of guiding and the history of the river. most of these kids come from pretty distressed neighborhoods, and the hope, the intent, is that once trained up, they'll stay with the company. ♪ >> nice paddling, tony. you got the feather down. >> thank you. i'll be feeling that tomorrow. buck island. most of the island could be under 45 to 50 feet of flowing river water from april to june with the spring ice melt and rainstorms. >> we do a lot of cooking out here. >> multipurpose and indestructible. >> mm-hmm.