“Leadership 101” presentation and Club meeting Tuesday June 19 @ 7:00 pm

We will be having a Club meeting on Tuesday June 19 at 7:00 pm at Jimmy’s Pub in East Lansing. The topic of the meeting will be “Leadership 101”. We will be discussing the characteristics of a professional leader and the tasks that need to be considered when deciding to organize and lead a trip. LOAPC Board members will be the presenters.
Please arrive early to order food before the presentation.
Map to Jimmy’s Pub: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=16804%20Chandler%20Road%2C%20East%20Lansing%2C%20MI

Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds Kickoff Meetings in June

MGROW (formerly Grand River Expedition 2010) would like to invite all LOAPC members and friends to either of MGROW’s two Kickoff Meetings (same content at both, dual locations are for convenience)

Dates: June 1, 2012, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in Lansing (RSVP by May 29)
Map here

OR

June 15, 2012, 3-5 p.m. at the Clinton County Courthouse boardroom in St. Johns (RSVP by June 12)

MGROW recently obtained tax-exempt status and wants to expand its mission beyond conducting the GRE every 10 years. We want to bring together local communities, watershed groups, and other stakeholders in the Middle Grand watershed toward a greater understanding of and stewardship for the river.

The meeting is open to local watershed groups, educators, governmental agencies, and any individuals with an interest in protecting and preserving our part of the Grand.

To RSVP, send an e-mail to reception [at] mitcrpc [dot] org, or call Kathy at 517-393-0342. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

http://mgrow.org

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore open water paddling, June 29-July 1

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore open water paddling, June 29-July 1.  Explore the spectacular coastline of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, while you get experience paddling open water in the safety of a group.  You need to have a kayak at least 12 feet long with at least one sealed bulkhead and a sprayskirt, appropriate clothing for the weather and water temperature (still a little chilly in June), the endurance to complete a 10-mile day with breaks, and a willingness to try paddling in moderate wind and waves less than 2 feet.  We will car camp, and set a shuttle for a point-to-point day paddle each day, weather permitting.  A group campsite for LOAPC is reserved at DH Day Campground, with a maximum capacity of 25, for Friday and Saturday nights.  You must email Linda Savage, savage@msu.edu, to reserve your spot.   If space is available, club members who do not want to do the open water paddle are welcome to join us at the campsite.

May 15 Club Meeting and Presentation

There will be a Lansing Oar and Paddle Club Meeting and Presentation on Tuesday May 15 at 7:00 pm at Jimmy’s Pub in East Lansing.

Map to Jimmy’s Pub: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=16804%20Chandler%20Road%2C%20East%20Lansing%2C%20MI

Please arrive early to order food prior to the presentation.

The May meeting will feature a presentation on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is located in northern Minnesota. The Boundary Waters contains more than 1 million acres, 1,000 miles of canoe trails and 2,000 campsites, making it one of the premier paddling destinations in all of North America. Phyllis and Jeff Kacos have taken four trips to the area, and for our program Jeff will be sharing the trip that they took last summer, including a report on the Pagami Creek fire that was burning when they arrived.

Looking Glass River – Wacousta to Portland

Saturday, May 26, 2012, 10:30 AM

By: Tony Kuhlman 

Looking Glass Valley Park

13450 Wacousta Rd., Grand Ledge, MI (edit map)

 

On this trip, we will paddle about 16 miles from Looking Glass Valley Park, near scenic downtown Wacousta, to Portland, the city of two rivers.  We will take out at the old mill site on the Looking Glass river, about 500 feet upstream of where it empties into the Grand River.  The take-out point is directly across the river from Duke’s Cajun Bar and Grill, always a popular place to celebrate a successful trip.

I am told that there are 3 or 4 snags on this stretch of the river that will likely require us to portage, so allow AT LEAST 5 hours to make this trip.  Pack a lunch and drinks, and we will stop somewhere on the river for lunch.  You may want to bring a snack or two also. You will also want to bring a change of clothes in a dry bag, too.  And always dress for the weather that day!

 

SHUTTLE DRIVERS NEEDED

I will need some people to volunteer to leave a vehicle or two downstream to shuttle drivers and/or boats back to the put-in point.  Please let me know if you can help out, and how many people you can carry.  The drive from put-in to take-out is about 20 minutes, and maps will be available.  I would like to meet the shuttle drivers by 9 AM that morning, at the put-in, so that we have plenty of time to spot shuttle vehicles and be back in time for the launch.  I live nearby, so you can leave your boats, gear, etc at my house, rather than at the park, while dropping vehicles downstream.

GPS coordinates:

put-in:  N 42 49.286, W 84 42.038 (park entrance – turn left after entering, and drive about 500 feet to the launch point)

take-out: N 42 52.233, W 084 54.025 

As always, all LOAPC trips require that participants sign a waiver before participating, and ALL paddlers must have AND WEAR a USCG approved PFD.

Contact:  tkuhlman56@yahoo.com

Looking Glass River – Babcock Landing to Wacousta

Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9:00 AM

Meet at the put-in off Babcock Road near the intersection of Chandler Road and Round Lake Road west of Laingsburg at 9:00 a.m. Take out at Looking Glass Riverfront Park, 3899 West Herbison Road, DeWitt Township. This trip is about 12 miles long. We will meet at the put-in and drop off one or more vehicles at the takeout so we can go get our cars after the trip. There will be a lunch stop around midday.

There are at least four portages on the trip because of fallen trees, so expect to get your feet wet and deal with river mud. Please attach a rope or strap at least 15 feet long to the front of your canoe or kayak to help with portaging, and bring a change of clothes in a dry bag in case you swim (unless you’re wearing a wet or dry suit). A PFD must be worn. If you don’t already have a current trip waiver on file, you’ll need to sign one.

Trip coordinator:   lorettacrum@borealpress.com or got to the Meetup page from www.loapc.org for more info.

Pennsylvania Whitewater – Memorial Day Weekend

Let’s paddle some classic southeastern whitewater!  On Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-28) we’ll be leaving the Lansing Area on Friday night after work, and returning on Monday night. We’ll be headed to Pennsylvania and hitting some Class II-III whitewater, so you should have some whitewater skills and experience. 

The rivers we might paddle on this trip are:

• Slippery Rock Creek
• Casselman River
• Youghiogheny River

Participants are expected to provide all of their own gear which includes but is not limited to: a whitewater boat with adequate flotation, life jacket, helmet, paddle, spray skirt for kayaks, wet or dry suit for the cold water we’ll encounter, and river safety knowledge.  The water will be cold and the air may be cold too, so cold temperature preparedness is essential.

“Whitewater skills and experience” means you can:

• Catch eddies, peel out, and ferry in class II whitewater
• Safely swim in rapids
• Attempt self-rescue (bow rescues or a roll)

We’ll be car-camping on this trip, and eating some meals in camp and some meals in restaurants. I’ll provide more information on travel and lodging as the trip comes together.

Contact Todd Leigh (517-712-9083, toddleigh@hotmail.com) for more information.

KAYAK CLASSES ON LAKE LANSING THIS SUMMER

Learn paddling basics and more – discover kayaking at these fun, information-packed workshops at the MSU Sailing Center on Lake Lansing.  You will learn:

•         All about types of kayaks, equipment , appropriate clothing, and safety gear

•         Launching, landing, and transporting kayaks

•         How to efficiently maneuver a kayak in lakes and quiet rivers

•         Common hazards faced by kayakers and how to avoid them

•         What to do in case of a capsize:  safety and rescue skills on the water

 

Each class is a 3 ½ hour one-session workshop, including dry land topics and lots of on-the-water paddling.  All equipment provided:  the latest new demo kayaks from Summit Sports, paddles, and life jackets.

 

Beginner sessions:  for those with little or no experience, or who have never had any formal instruction.

Women’s Clinic:  a uniquely supportive and fun special session taught by and for women. 

Advanced Strokes:  for those who have taken the beginner session or other formal instruction and want to improve their technique, and learn more advanced strokes and maneuvers.

Recovery and Rescues:  for students with some experience with basic strokes who want to work on recovery skills (balance, edging, and braces), and learn assisted and solo deepwater rescues.  Plan on getting wet!

 

DATES: 

Wednesday, May 23, 5:00 – 8:30 pm:  Beginner session

Wednesday, May 30, 5:00 – 8:30 pm:  Beginner session

Saturday, June 9, 3:00 – 6:30 pm:  Beginner session

Wednesday, June 13, 5:30 – 9:00 pm:  Beginner session

Saturday, June 16, 3:00 – 6:30 pm:  Women’s Clinic

Wednesday, June 27, 5:30 – 9:00 pm:  Advanced Strokes

Wednesday, July 11, 5:30 – 9:00 pm:  Beginner session

Wednesday, July 25, 5:30 – 9:00 pm:  Recovery and Rescues

Wednesday, August 1, 5:30 – 9:00 pm:  Beginner session

Wednesday, August 22, 5:00 – 8:30 pm:  Recovery and Rescues

 

COST:  $50 per one-evening 3 ½ hour session.

 

Class location:  MSU Sailing Center, on Lake Lansing in Haslett

 

Students should bring:  water shoes, a windproof jacket or raincoat, and a synthetic shirt for warmth – not cotton.  Be prepared to get wet!  Also recommended:  sun hat and/or sunglasses, eyeglass retainers if needed, and water.

 

Please pre-register:  and for more information, email lainstkayaking@gmail.com, or call 517-333-9716