What are Saturday Fireside Adventures?
Fireside Adventures begin each week at 11 am and will feature an exciting paddling destination. Learn about specific river routes to float in Iowa, how to plan a multi-day trip on a local river, what you need to know to plan a trip to the Boundary Waters, how to do you own weekend trip on a paddleboard, and much more. Each presentation will help you plan your own trip to the area, provide details on what you’ll see, explain gear you should take, and detail any special skills you should acquire. Destinations will be both local and to more remote locations. All trips presented will be suited for all level of paddlers from the beginning recreational paddler to the experienced adventurer.
Schedule:
Each week's schedule will be posted here every Monday and on our Facebook page. Check back each Monday to see what new topics, food, and afternoon skills session!
Potluck and Share Your Own Adventure
Come hungry, and if you’d like, bring a dish of your choice for the group to share. Also, come ready to share details regarding a recent trip you’ve taken or to ask a few questions about a place you’d like to visit. CanoeSport staff will moderate the session and provide guidance on making a dream trip become a reality.
Afternoon Clinic:
Following the Potluck and Shared Adventure Session CanoeSport staff or guest speakers will conduct specific services or clinics each week. Clinics will include topics like nhow to pack a sea kayak, cold water safety for Iowa paddlers, developing a better forward stroke, how to develop a kayak roll. Free services will be different each weekend and may include boat inspections, 303 Protectant Treatment, resealing of bulkeads, and refurbish your kayak with new bungee.
Movie Corner!
Starting at 1 pm there will be paddling destination and skill videos playing on our big screen TV to enjoy. Selections will be around 1 hour in length and will be a surprise every week!
Weekly Prizes and Grand Prize!
Each week you attend you may enter in our free prize giveaway. A winner will be selected each week and will be eligible to choose an item from our Prize Giveaway Collection. To see what specific items will be given away weekly check our website or stop by and see the items in person. In addition, each week you attend we will enter you in our Grand Prize Drawing which will take place at the end of the event on December 19. The Grand Prize is your choice of a Current Designs Kestrel 120 Kayak, a Current Designs Solara 100 Kayak, or $500 off a Northstar ADK Lt or ADK solo Canoe.
October 10
11am: Fireside Adventure: Full Moon Floats, Night Paddling, and Being in the Dark.
Going out after sunset is a great way to experience a different type of paddling. It provides opportunities to paddle under a Full Moon, experience the world on the water through sound more than sight, and can be an enjoyable time to escape the heat of a summer day. It also has a few legal requirements and some safety challenges. Jeff from CanoeSport Outfitters will talk about many of his after dark experiences, some planned and some not so much. He’ll discuss how staff handles the monthly Full Moon Paddle and what happened on the night they put more than 100 people on the water to see the moon rise. 2027 Full Moon dates will be available for registration!
12pm Potluck and Share Your Adventure
Jeremy will be bringing his own farm grown BBQ Chicken and Jeff will have Pumpkin Bars. Bring a side dish to share. Plates and utensils will be provided.
1pm Afternoon Clinic: Cold Water & Safety for Fall.
Fall is here and along with it comes lower temperatures and colder water. But don’t let that be the reason you put you canoe, kayak, or board away for the season. Learn how to prepare for the season so you can experience fall colors and stillness of fall from the water. Learn about rules to follow to avoid hypothermia, clothes you can wear to reduce cold water impact, and what skills are most important when the water gets cold.
1pm Movie Corner: Paddling and skills video on the big screen!
Afternoon FREE SERVICE: Free Boat Inspection & 303 Treatment. Bring any canoe, kayak, or board you own for our staff to inspect. If we see issues we’ll recommend repairs or maintenance options and if you’d like, schedule time to do the work. Regardless of what your boat needs or doesn’t need, we’ll treat it with 303 Protectant free of charge. 303 is a UV inhibitor that helps prevent fading, cracking and discoloration.
3pm: Weekly Prize Drawing!
Special Deal:
Royalex Spirit II, Sale Price $1,000
Although Royalex passed away years ago, canoes made from this material are still highly prized. Why? It’s highly impact resistant. Enough so, that it was used in almost all whitewater canoes for years. It’s also lighter weight than it’s T-Formex replacement. It provides a low-maintenance, hard to damage canoe in a manageable weight for many people. This model is 17’ long, 36” wide standard canoe with excellent stability. Great for families, river paddling, or even a trip to the Boundary Waters.
Check back each Monday for Saturday's Adventures, Clinics, and Deals!
GRAND PRIZE
Every week you attend Fireside Adventures your name will get entered to win!
Drawing held on Dec. 19
Winner may select 1 of the following:
* FREE! Current Designs Solara 100
* FREE! Current Designs Kestrel 120
* $500 off Northstar ADK or ADK Lt
Weekly Prize Drawings
Every week a winner will be selected and can choose from the following prizes.
(Once they've been claimed they won't be available the following weeks)
* CanoeSport Sweatshirt
* CanoeSport Tech T-Shirt
* 2027 Rental Punch Card (for 10 rentals!)
* Jet Boil Cook Set
* Big Agnes Sleeping Bag
* Bending Branches Kayak Paddle
* Inflatable PFD
* Hobi Live Well
* A FEW SURPRISES! Come and see for yourself!