Hoosier Canoe & Kayak Club

With the concern over COVID-19 becoming something that has likely impacted the day to day activities of all of our lives, it is not without heavy consideration that the Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club has decided to move forward with cancelling all club supported trips and training sessions through May 31^st until otherwise noted.  I personally have been in contact with representation of all three of our fleets as well as our Safety/Education leadership and we are all of the same opinion that it is best for us to recommend that everyone continue with what is recommended by the Indiana Department of Health and the Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC) to best prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What this means is this:  We as the HCKC will be cancelling all trips planned through the end of May until otherwise noted.  This may be extended (hopefully not) and we will communicate if this plan changes in any way.

In the meantime, please follow ISDH and CDC guidelines, practice ‘social distancing’ and refrain from gathering in groups larger than 10 people for your un-official gatherings. 

If you do choose to venture out to the water, we ask you to think about the following:

If the trip requires a shuttle, consider the risk you are putting not only yourself but your shuttle partner(s).  Emergency services are on skeleton crew – if there’s a breakdown it may take much longer for assistance.

Meeting at the put-in…this puts everyone in close proximity which increases risk of transmittal

Please keep up to date for state/CDC restrictions in the area you plan to paddle

On the water – distancing will happen – but we are not always distant.  If there is an incident while on the water, or someone starts showing symptoms of COVID-19 while on the trip, everyone on the trip suddenly becomes at risk (first and foremost the trip leaders/safety boaters)

Please keep in mind, we all have loved ones that are affected by this outbreak.  Not only are our lives at stake, but those of our families – much to consider when planning a trip on the river.

With this being said, please do not take this as the club forbidding any of its membership to partake in the sport we love…just do it safely and within the National and state recommendations.  Be careful out there we want to make sure after all of this is over, we continue on stronger than ever!

Be safe and we will see you all on the other side of this challenge!

Your skipper

Toni Harris

Last night at the Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club monthly board meeting, the board voted yes (although not unanimously) to require wearing of PFDs on HCKC trips.  

In order to further forward our culture of safe paddling we are addressing a need the club has had for some time to make sponsoring and leading of our trips more consistent across all fleets in the club.  It is our goal and hope that the trip leader training planned for this Sunday will get us closer to that goal.  We discussed and will likely stress in the training this weekend that gear requirements be explicitly referenced in the trip description and that it be communicated before embarkation of each trip.  Other important subjects related to trip planning and management will be addressed such as writing trip reports and posting of events on the calendar, but so much more will be covered as time allows.  

If you have sponsored/led,  or plan to lead a trip (or are even just wanting to know what is involved in)...you should plan to attend this meeting.

It has been stated in the past that the HCKC strives to be considered the 'Premiere Paddling Organization in Indiana'...its time we rise up to the occasion and be the example and not a follower when it comes to being safe on the water.  

Pushing forward...with one voice

Your skipper,

Toni Harris

January and February are jam packed full of events as we kick off yet another year for the club.  January 25--trip planning meeting. Feb 9-trip sponsor meeting-come see what is involved and learn to help lead a great trip. Feb 14-16 Boat Sport and Travel Show--volunteers needed!!!!   Feb 15-weather permitting--hope for some cold weather, snow and then great sunny skies for our annual Ice Falls Trip on Sugar Creek.  Feb 22-23= Wilderness First Aid training.  And then Canoecopia in March!!!!   Check out the newsletter and come join in the fun.   

2020 Annual Planning Meeting

Do you have a favorite place to paddle or a paddle trip you have always wanted to take? We are always looking for new destinations, fresh ideas, event volunteers and trip leaders.

Bring your paddling ideas and get an early peek at our trip and events calendar for the year. Would you like to be a trip leader or some other type of volunteer but, you’re not sure what to do? Sign up anyway and we can guide and mentor you.     Our fleets will be laying out the 2020 trip calendar Saturday January 25^th at 1:30pm at Duane Garloch’s home.

Address: 2755 Sawtooth Oak Circle Westfield, IN 46074

Duane will provide chili. Bring a dish to share and BYOB.

Please register on our website for the event. Hope to see you there!!  https://www.hoosiercanoeclub.org/event-3668612?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=1/5/2020  Your Skipper Toni Harris

 

Well, Hello and Happy Holidays!  If you weren’t at the club’s Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, you missed a wonderful gathering - representative of the personalities, skillsets, boating interests that make up the cornucopia of what is all things Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club!  I was honored to have been accepted by those present to be your Skipper for the upcoming year.  Thank you to all that worked so hard to make the meeting a great success and I look forward to serving all of you.

A few highlights from what was discussed at the meeting: 

Membership – we are growing!  As of the Annual meeting our numbers have exceeded 350 memberships, four of which are new lifetime members who were honored at the meeting:  congrats and THANK YOU for being a formative part of the group to Tom Siddall, Patricia Bledsoe, Jack Mitenbuler, and Richard Coughenour.

Your HCKC Board consists of seventeen members whom meet monthly through the year to discuss topics related to club outreach, education, current relevant projects going on in the Hoosier state, and exchange ideas on how the club can better serve its membership.  I am thankful to have been a part of the board for four years now and am proud of the work that’s come out of the group.  I want to give a heartfelt thank you to Duane Garloch whom has served us well these past two years and I hope to build upon the good work that’s been done under his leadership.  Duane has been a member of the club for over fifteen years and has been an integral part of our Intro to Paddling classes as well as a beloved part of the Sea Kayaking fleet!  I also want to give a shout out to our newest board member Tim Owens. 

Always a fun time, there were several awards given out during the meeting…the most notable (and long time coming in my opinion) was to honor our Newsletter Editor Dwayne James for the tremendous work he has done month after month of putting the newsletter together in addition to all the other volunteer work he has done for the club over the years.  Thank you Dwayne for everything you do!

These are the things I am most excited about for 2020:

• ·         We have some INCREDIBLE Instructors!!  Over the past few years the number of ACA and Voyageur Certified Instructors has grown significantly – currently we have thirteen certified instructors in the club, most of which hold multiple certifications in more than one discipline.  Last year the club provided not only the always popular Intro to Paddling classes and weekly pool practice sessions, but added an ACA Swiftwater Rescue class with plans to add more opportunities in upcoming years.  The club now has a Safety and Education Committee that is working on Trip Leader education and more consistent instruction across all of our fleets.
• ·         Outreach opportunities and Amazing Volunteers – the Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club has always been incredibly connected to the community.  Whether it be supporting the Triathalons at Eagle Creek Reservoir or taking kids out on their first canoe ride and talking to them about being safe on the water, we have had some amazing club members come forward throughout the year to represent the club and spread the word about our favorite pastime. This year we have opportunities to work with Veterans through the Team River Runner program and have several members involved in the Voyageur Canoe program.  I am thankful for the time and effort you’ve all put forward for us and look forward to hopefully working alongside each and every one of you again this year!

THANKFUL for a SUPER 2019 and EXCITED for 2020!! 

Your (Newest) Skipper

Toni Harris

I have been honored to serve as you Skipper, and look forward to the upcoming leadership of Toni Harris and the new board.  Next year will bring new trips and more training opportunities for members.  Be sure to come to the annual meeting on November 16^th to meet the new leadership, meet other members in person, check out some fun presentations and some great food.

As Fall get going in October, we still have several padding trips scheduled.  The sea kayak group is having a paddle on the Ohio River on the 5^th and traveling to Land Between the Lakes on the 18^th.  The canoe kayak group has trips scheduled to Grayson Lake and also Raccoon Creek during the Covered Bridge Festival. The whitewater group is heading to the Ocoee last release.  Looking ahead, our Annual Meeting is on November 16^th.  Checkout the newsletter and the events calendar online for more information.

As always, Please send your trip announcements and trip reports, or something else you’d like to share in the newsletter, to Dwayne James (dwaynesjamesa1@hotmail.com) by the 17th of the month. 

See you on the water!  Duane

As Summer comes to a close in September, our paddling season does not! Coming up we have our annual trip sea kayak trip to South Manitou Island and white water trips to the Gauley, along with a flat water trip on the Wabash River. Remember that September 24^th is your last chance to use the Eagle Creek pass this year.  Check the calendar for details for these trips along with other events in September. Looking ahead, lookout for information on our Annual Meeting on November 16^th.  Checkout the newsletter and the events calendar online.

As always, Please send your trip announcements and trip reports, or something else you’d like to share in the newsletter, to Dwayne James by the 17th of the month. 

See you on the water!  Duane

With the heat of summer, what better way to cool off than paddling!  August starts with the 34th annual Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous.  The touring kayak group will be heading to Pictured Rocks National Seashore and Monroe reservoir.  The canoe and kayak group will be paddling the Mad River and the Lower Tippecanoe River.  Beginners trips on the Pigeon River and the East Race are one 5he schedule for whitewater paddlers.  There are two more triathlon events in August that are always in need of volunteers.  Checkout the newsletter and the events calendar online.

As always, Please send your trip announcements and trip reports, or something else you’d like to share in the newsletter, to Dwayne James (dwaynesjamesa1@hotmail.com) by the 17th of the month.  

See you on the water!  Duane

 

Once again, July brings multiple paddling options every weekend.  Whitewater starts the month by the New River and ends the month at Rock the Yough.  Sea Kayak will be going to Warren Dunes.  Canoe and Kayak will be paddling the East Fork of the White River and joining the Sea Kayaks at Cataract Falls for a full moon paddle.  Check out the calendar on our website for more.  If you have questions, contact the trip sponsor.

We are always looking for help at the Eagle Creek Triathlons.  We are offering kayaking skills clinic on the 20^th of August.

As always, Please send your trip announcements and trip reports, or something else you’d like to share in the newsletter, to Dwayne James (dwaynesjamesa1@hotmail.com) by the 17th of the month.

See you on the water!