"A record 650 volunteers Saturday came out to Terry Hershey Park to “clean it like you mean it,” the slogan for Trash Bash 2011, sponsored by the Bayou Preservation Association (BPA).

"People from toddlers to senior citizens joined forces on a warm, breezy day to beautify the upper banks of Buffalo Bayou between Highway 6 and Beltway 8 by removing trash and debris..."

"When Europeans came to North America they found a world of water and wood that had to be navigated. Native Americans had faced the same situation and created kayaks and canoes light enough to be portaged over the land between lakes and streams. Now the newcomers both copied the Indians, and went their own way.

"The familiar rowboat (or skiff) is stable, fairly heavy, and meant for service on one lake or stream. It's pure European. But canoe adaptations are more interesting -- like the big cargo-carrying canoes of 18th-century Canadian trappers, the Voyageurs.

"European newcomers also adapted their own tools and skills to create new forms. While the Indians built a light wooden frame in a bark or hide skin, the Europeans adapted their traditional use of planking laid on ribs. At the same time they created new hydrodynamic designs and they invented lighter structures..."

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Thompson
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 2:41 PM
Subject: Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium- Registration is now open!

Hello Friends!
Registration is now officially open for the 2011 Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium! To register please call 906-226-7112 and one of our staff would be more then happy to answer any questions and sign you up. Be sure to check out all of the new events we have planned this year
on our new web site!

www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.com

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gasp@paddlewise.net  On Behalf Of Kenneth W. Johnson
Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 11:30 PM
Subject: GASP! Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium- Registration is now open!

Gulf Area Sea Paddlers - GASP!

This is one of the best, most professional, and beautiful kayak symposiums in the U.S.   4 day event (July 13-17, 2011) for $189 if you register early (save over $100).  Fee includes all trips/tours, instruction, new kayak demos.  Great instructors (Doug Van Doren and Helen Wilson included http://www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.com/ ).  Pics of my last trip up there for a symposium are at http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/45478653BZFKAR

Pics of my trip up there for this in 2010 with Stephen:
https://picasaweb.google.com/johnsonkw1/PicturedRocksNationalParkMichigan

Symposium info:  http://www.greatlakesseakayaksymposium.com/

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be hosting a public meeting at the Texas A&M Galveston Campus. The department is seeking public input for the Galveston Island State Park Master Plan. This master plan will develop a new vision for the park and will provide the guiding framework for its rebirth after being severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.

At the public meeting, members of the community will have the opportunity to learn more about the master planning effort and provide their input on the future needs of the park. They will also be asked to react to some of the information collected by the study team as part of the process. All local residents, business owners, civic groups, schools and universities, recreational groups, and anyone else with an interest in the future of Galveston Island State Park is invited to attend.

More Details Here.

"Paddlers and nature tourists will soon be able to enjoy everything from a relaxing journey down a shaded creek or across a wildlife-rich wetlands pond to a wide-open paddle across a placid lake or an exciting run of Trinity River “whitewater” within view of the Dallas skyline when seven new Texas Paddling Trails open on May 10 throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex..."

"Thousands of miles of coastal shoreline, 3,700 named streams, and 15 major rivers in Texas all beg to be explored, and kayaks offer a great way to do so.  Easy to paddle and maneuver, kayaks put you right on the water, the better to see what lives in and on it. Most people get the hang of paddling smooth water and gentle rapids in a matter of minutes. If you’d like to see Texas’ natural wonders from a new perspective, try kayaking..."

The story features Houston's own Buffalo Bayou paddling trail, among others.

"The newly redesigned ACA (American Canoe Association) website has just launched!

 

Please visit www.americancanoe.org

  

"It might take some time for the new website to populate all the internet browsers, so please check back often and when you see the above header on the ACA website, you know you're surfing the new one!"

"As the ACA continues to provide valuable services to our membership and the greater paddling community, we listened to your feedback and have just launched a completely resdesigned website. 

 

"Whether it is reporting courses online or searching for a nearby paddling club or watertrail, we hope you'll enjoy the easier navigation and enhanced features of your new ACA website.

 

"If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact any of the National Office staff.  Thank you for your continued support of the ACA and paddlesports." 

 

Sincerely,

Wade Blackwood, Executive Director
American Canoe Association