Members of UMass’ Outing Club competed in the Connecticut River Challenge over the weekend, a 273-mile long canoe relay that spanned from Canaan, Vt., to Northampton.

Participants began their quest on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Vermont, and finished on Monday at 10 a.m. at the UMass Boathouse, braving the elements and some animal encounters along the way.

Twenty-five UMass students competed in the relay, with canoes being paddled at all hours of the day to complete the relay on schedule.

The relay is an annual event put on by the Outing Club during Patriots’ Day weekend, with this year’s event being organized by Nat Alonzo, Thomas Oberlander, Celia Harnish, Eric Bragg and John White.

Northampton Parks and Rec Basketball Skills and Drills

Registration is now open for Northampton Parks and Recreation’s Basketball Skills and Drills program. Youth entering grades 2-8 this fall can participate in this skill-based program led by Northampton’s own Coach Joe Mantegna.

Mantegna is currently the head boys’ basketball coach at Blair Academy in New Jersey, and also serves as a coach for both the South Sudan Men’s National Team and the USA Basketball Junior National Team. He brings his experience, knowledge and love of the game throughout this program.

Led by Coach Mantegna and current basketball players, this program will take place July 13-15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Smith Vocational High School gym.

Registration information can be found online at www.northamptonma.gov/recreation.