Summer of Paddling 2012

A new buzz phrase has been introduced on the Mississippi River, “Summer of Paddling 2012.” Connecting the presidential initiative America’s Great Outdoors with the growing sport of paddling, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered with the National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers and several local and state organizations to create the Summer of Paddling 2012.

The Summer of Paddling 2012 is a series of events designed to get Americans outside to enjoy the Mississippi River via canoe, kayak, rowboat or standup paddleboard. Paddlers of any skill level can join a refuge ranger or other trained paddle guide to explore the river and all its wonder on full to half-day trips.  Paddlers will leave land to splash through the backwaters, bayous and braided streams on America’s River. But be warned, you might create a lifelong craving for outdoor adventure. I know because paddling is one of the outdoor sports that I’ve enjoyed my entire life.

I began paddling at a young age with my friends and family on Lake Tahoe in California. We would spend long days out on the water getting in splashing fights but also taking the time to admire the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I now appreciate the opportunity to paddle when I was young because I know the activity contributed to the conservation ethic I carry with me today.

Having a strong connection to the silent sport, I knew it was a natural fit for the America’s Great Outdoor initiative. But the Summer of Paddling 2012 didn’t just come from my experiences as a young boy on Lake Tahoe. It all started one day during a conversation with Cindy Samples (Visitor Services Manager at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge). We reminisced about the importance of paddling to our lives and wanted to make paddling accessible to others. We decided one way would be to highlight the America’s Great Outdoors initiative in our part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

That initial, informal hallway meeting led us to an initiative that now involves 10 states, multiple Fish and Wildlife Service regions, local agencies, NGO’s, and one of our partnering organizations – the Mississippi River Connections Collaborative. Each organization involved in the Summer of Paddling 2012 helped make up the theme: “1 river, 10 states, 100 events.”

The Summer of Paddling comes from a lifelong connection to water sports and the ingenuity of creative minds like my colleagues Cindy Samples and Cortney White, who don’t limit their thinking opportunities to conventional wisdom. They continue to remind me of the good things that can happen when you think big.

I hope you get the chance to be active and get outside this summer on a paddling adventure. If you’re interested in learning more about the Summer of Paddling 2012, please visit www.SOP2012.org. All events will be listed on this website and you can register for events by contacting the host listed on each event’s description.

Paddle on!

By Kevin Foerster

Refuge Manager, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Kevin Foerster is a member of the Communications Implementation Team for the Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation vision process.