Canoecopia - 2025 Presentations by Category

Canoecopia is presented by

Presenting Sponsor

Location
Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Way
Madison, Wisconsin

Show Hours
Friday: 3 PM to 8 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Tickets
1-Day: $17.00
3-Day: $35.00
Ages 17 and under are FREE
Cash or check only for tickets purchased at the event

Parking Fees
1-Day: $8.00
Credit only, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center
Advanced passes may be purchased HERE.
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Safety/First Aid

Camper Christina

Camper Christina Capsizes

Superior - main floor Sun 1:30pm-2:15pm

After 6 hours of canoe tripping, in a remote area of Quebec, it happened! There she was, all alone, yelling out instructions to herself like a drill sergeant. The canoe was filling up with water, her paddle was about to shoot down the rapids, and she fumbled to grasp her rapidly sinking phone. How did she get there? What happened next? Find out during Christina's presentation, Camper Christina Capsizes.

Camper Christina

Camping With a Bear

Quetico - main floor Sat 12:30pm-1:15pm

Swallowing her anxiety, Christina booked her first backcountry canoe trip in Quebec, with no idea what would happen. She discovered stunning scenery, a challenging route, and a campsite inhabited by a bear, who didn’t scare easily. Find out exactly what happened on that epic adventure, during Christina’s presentation, Camping with a Bear.

Andrew & Emily Elkins

Bear Prevention Gear and Techniques

Bear - upstairs Sat 9:30am-10:15am

Gain confidence when venturing into bear country. There will be live demonstrations of different forms of bear barrels and hanging techniques. This will also cover good camp practices to help prevent critters from spoiling food and gear. Learn techniques allowed under the new Boundary Waters food storage rules from our Guest Cathy Quinn Assistant Wilderness Program Manager from the Superior National Forest, Supervisor's Office.

Miguel Garcia-Gosalvez

Safety Electronics for the BWCA (or Other Trips to the Wilderness)

Bear - upstairs Fri 5:30pm-6:15pm

All kind of electronic gadgets for communications and safety in the wilderness are available. Understanding your risks while having what you need to minimize them is key. Knowing how to use them, costs associated, understanding your own needs and those of family and friends who love you is key to providing peace of mind for everyone. Do you know what SOS on the top of your mobile phone top screen means when your cellphone company name or 5G/LTE is not on the screen? Do you know what you can ... Read More

Anthea Halpryn, James Tracy, Christine Chabot

When a Good Trip Goes Wrong

Sylvania - main floor Sat 3:30pm-4:15pm

In May 2022, three friends embarked on an exciting kayak camping adventure along the Upper Iowa River, 126 miles from Lime Springs, IA to Lansing, IA. After extensive planning and preparation, equipped with the necessary gear and a shared enthusiasm for adventure, they were ready for a memorable journey. However, as often happens in outdoor excursions, a series of events unfolded, leading to challenges that transformed the adventure into a series of unfortunate events, culminating in a dramatic ... Read More

David Johnston

Navigation 101 for Paddlers: The Art of Staying Found

Bear - upstairs Sun 11:30am-12:15pm

Do you find yourself getting intimidated, confused or turned around while trying to navigate on a canoe or sea kayak trip? If so, find your way to this presentation where David will introduce you to the tips and tricks to help keep from getting misplaced. We will cover the basics of how to read the land and how to follow along via your topographic map, playing with a compass as well as what happens when things go wrong.

David Johnston

Navigation 102 for Paddlers

Bear - upstairs Sun 12:30pm-1:15pm

Picking up where he left off in Navigation 101, David will cover more "intermediate(ish)" navigation techniques that paddlers can use to travel confidently on their next adventure. For example, we will look at several things including how to make use of nautical charts, shooting bearings on a map or chart, using lines of position as well as tips and tricks for estimating speed and distance. You can be rest assured that we won't be getting into boring stuff like celestial navigation.

Andrea Knepper

Making Decisions about Risk: The Art, The Science

to be scheduled

Risk. We talk about it all the time.
But how do we make responsible, informed, reasonable decisions about real risk?

Andrea Knepper has made decisions about risk in a variety of contexts, from a 1500 mile solo expedition along the Pacific Coast of this country, to coaching everyone from beginners who don't know how to swim to advanced paddlers, to leading groups on day paddles and overnight trips in advanced conditions, to making decisions for an organization working with ... Read More

Martin Koch

Basic River Safety For The Casual Paddler

Caribou - upstairs Sat 12:30pm-1:15pm

While paddle sports are generally a safe outdoor activity, bad things can happen. The presentation will give you the basics of river safety. You will learn how to read the river, identify and avoid dangerous obstacles, basic paddle skills and much more. This information will ensure your paddle trips will be safe and enjoyable.

Martin Koch

Bear Safety

Bear - upstairs Sat 2:30pm-3:15pm

Bears can pose a serious threat to you and your equipment. Learn the essential skills and techniques to protect you in your outdoor activities. This presentation will show you how to select a campsite, maintain a clean camp, avoidance techniques while hiking in bear country. These skills will keep you safe in the outdoors.

Michael Neiger

Assembling and Wearing an In-Pocket Survival Kit for a Wilderness Adventure

Superior - main floor Sat 4:30pm-5:15pm

Mike will discuss how to assemble and wear an in-pocket survival kit for a wilderness adventure by canoe, kayak, paddle board, mountain bike, ski, snowshoe, or foot. If you ever become lost in the bush, these items will help you survive until rescuers reach you. It will cover sheath knives; pocket knives; whistles; signal mirrors; butane lighters; waterproof, windproof lifeboat matches; spark-ignitable waterproof firestarters; ferro sparking rods; magnesium tinder rods; scrapers/strikers; ... Read More

Michael Neiger

How to Ensure Your Child Will Be a Survivor When Lost in the Wilderness

Algonquin - main floor Sat 12:30pm-1:15pm

This high-quality PowerPoint presentation will help parents teach their young children how to survive when lost in the wilderness - what to carry, what to do, and what not to do - and includes two free instructional coloring books (downloadable online) and two free videos to watch (online) with their children. This discussion draws on the lost-person best practices of the: National Association for Search & Rescue (NASAR); Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); Search & Rescue Volunteer ... Read More

Stacie & Vince Sadowski

All the Bad Advice I’ve Ever Been Given: Paddling and Camping Edition

BWCA - main floor Sat 2:30pm-3:15pm

What is the worst advice you have ever received, and what happened? This presentation will explore common misconceptions, risky choices, and "best practices" along with personal stories to get you thinking. When "common knowledge" steers you in the wrong direction, you are in good company.
Everyone has an opinion to share on gear, shelter, food, clothing or trip planning, and some are not good. Exploring the spectrum of overpacking heavy gear to going too ultralight, discern what works ... Read More

Neal Schroeter

What Everyone Should Know About Cold Water Paddling

BWCA - main floor Sun 11:30am-12:15pm

So, you say you'll stay warm & dry?!!! - famous last words! Cold water goes with paddling in the mid-west. Cold water immersion & hypothermia is one of the biggest dangers paddlers face. To stay safe, it's necessary to have a healthy respect for the cold waters we paddle. We will consider how to prevent, recognize & potentially treat cold water injuries. This presentation could save your life!

Tom Watson

Seven Steps to Survival: Self-Reliance Skills in Emergencies

Caribou - upstairs Sun 11:30am-12:15pm

When emergencies arise in a backcountry, outdoor setting, knowing what to do and 'why' can be the difference between being rescued and being recovered. There are seven basic steps or principles of dealing with an emergency situation that calls up experience as well as a sense of self-reliance. These steps/skills are designed to give you the best chances of dealing with an emergency situation - from destroyed/lost gear/being stranded/injured during any outdoor adventure.

In ... Read More