| Local canoe clubs in New England are valuable resources for you to meet other paddlers and mutually benefit from each other's accumulated expertise in paddling technique and safety. Various clubs focus on whitewater, flatwater, coastal exploration, wilderness trips, slalom, poling, sailing, and more. Many outfitters (see Cruise page) also offer organized activities. | |
ALL STATES:
APPALACHIAN MTN. CLUB: 5 Joy St., Boston, MA 02108. 617-523-0636. They have
divisions in all the New England States, and run whitewater and flatwater
cruises during the season.
CONNECTICUT:
APPALACHIAN MTN. CLUB, Connecticut Chapter:
Chair: Jean Trapani, phone: 203-221-7439,
http://www.ct-amc.org/flatwater/flatwater.htm
Members: Lisa Spencer, Robert White
E-mail: flatwater@ct-amc.org
Pool sessions in the winter and Spring and Summer trips.
COLUMBIA CANOE CLUB:
Sue Audette, 41 Pine Woods Ln., Mansfield Ctr., CT 06250, 860-456-0558.
Full paddlesport club: Whitewater/Flatwater/Sea Kayak/Olympic/ICF Racing/youth.
Heavy emphasis on youth participation with very successful youth
programs.
HOUSATONIC AREA CANOE & KAYAK SQUAD (HACKS)
Clarke Outdoors, 163 Rte. 7, W. Cornwall, CT 06796, 860-672-6365.
Real enthusiastic whitewater people. Activities including heavy emphasis on
slalom racing and fun river running treks. Also a heavy emphasis on youth
development, with top training. Great newsletter.
www.bestweb.net/~keech/hacks.htm
NEW ENGLAND CANOE RACING ASSN. (NECKRA) Formerlv CCRA.
Jim Miller, 14 Fenton Drive, Southwick, MA 01077, 413-569-3183.
Serves Southern New England for the sport of flatwater marathon and downriver (whitewater)
canoe racing. Organizes four competition series for both, with big
prizes that all qualifiers are eligible for in a drawing. Also training, and
cruises. An emphasis on getting greater participation by women and youth through
family participation. Great newsletter. Net:
www.necanoe.org
CONNECTICUT SEA KAYAKERS (ConnYak)
www.connyak.org
With the surge in sea kayaking popularity, its mission is to encourage and
support recreational paddling opportunities within and outside Connecticut as
well as to network members, trips, launch sites, education and safety. ConnYak
runs day trips and overnighters both inland and open ocean. Trips vary from
beginner to advanced. ConnYak also schedules various guest speakers as well as
instruction and pool availability.
EAST COAST OUTRIGGER RACING ASSN. (ECORA)
Blake Conant, Milford, CT 203-877 -4130
Large ocean "canoes." A relatively new sport in our country. For
details on races and other activities see the Racing/Outrigger page and/or call.
MAINE:
MAINE CANOE & KAYAK RACING ORGANIZATION (MaCKRO)
Earle Baldwin, RFD 2, Box 268, Orrington, ME 04474, 207-825-4439.
Emphasis on downriver canoe and kayak racing, and marathon flatwater racing.
Training, cruises, and sponsorship of a downriver and flatwater racing series.
Great newsletter. Web Site: www.mackro.org
PENOBSCOT PADDLE & CHOWDER SOCIETY
Bangor area paddlers who do trips on everything from wilderness lakes to Class V
whitewater in canoes and kayaks. They also engage in other outdoor activities.
See their website for a listing of the annual trips and much more at
http://www.paddleandchowder.org
MASSACHUSETTS:
WESTFIELD WILDWATER CANOE CLUB
Jeff DeFeo, Ingell Rd., Chester, MA 01011, 413-354-9684.
Strong emphasis in establishment of downriver whitewater racing participation as
both a fun low key, and a high competition sport. Sponsor of three great
whitewater clinics in the spring, and one of the most successful whitewater
races in the East. In addition to separate novice and expert races, they have
established a "Pro" class (ABS canoes) with lucrative cash prizes for
30 places. Training sessions also sponsored.
RIVERWAYS PROGRAM
Maria Van Dusen, 617-727-1614 Ext. 360.
Part of MA Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Environmental Law Enforcement.
Produces list of local MA river events, including cruises, trips, clean-ups,
shore hikes, etc. from late May through July 4th weekend.
NORTHSHORE PADDLERS NETWORK
Buddy Hogan, buddy_hogan@yahoo.com
web: www.NSPN.org Boston area paddling
activities, heavy on sea kayaking.
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
MASCOMA EXPRESS
Peggy Mitchell, Mascoma Express, RD 2, Box 922, Canaan, NH 03741, 603-523-7004.
The focus of this club is to introduce new paddlers, raise ability level of
current paddlers, and work with juniors with a focus on slalom and wildwater
racing and having fun! Classes are offered for racing and recreational paddling
-usually mid-week. Wednesday is club night, where they get together for a paddle
in the season. They help at the Mascoma Race, run the White Wildwater race, and
help at the Snyders Mill Slalom.
BIRCH HILL PADDLERS CANOE CLUB
John Bradley, 16 N. Main St. Troy NH 03465, 603-242-3633.
Serves lower NH and VT, and Northern MA. Emphasis in cruising, campouts, and
training sessions. They also put on two marathon flatwater races during the
year.
RHODE ISLAND:
RHODE ISLAND CANOE ASSOCIATION
Alan August, 70 Scott St. Pawtucket, RI 02860, 401-725-3344.
Very active and friendly club offering lots of trips throughout the year in
flatwater, sea kayak, and whitewater. Guest speakers at meetings. They put on
several whitewater and flatwater races during the year, and produce a very
informative newsletter.
VERMONT:
THE VERMONT PADDLER'S CLUB
Richard Larsen, 11 Discovery Rd., Essex Junction, VT 05452, 802-878-6828.
Large membership with a wide range of activities. Whitewater contingent is the
strongest, with a spring whitewater schedule of trips in VT , NH, and NY that
contain three day trips on weekends Mid-March through May. June through
September is a mix of flatwater, whitewater dam releases, and social events
averaging one event a week. Also, classes for beginners in both whitewater
canoeing and kayaking.