Reflection/Inspiration

Justin Adams, Steve Schnarr

The MR340-Advice and anecdotes from 20 years of racing on the Missouri River.

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

The MR340 is the world's longest non-stop river race stretching 340 miles on the MIssouri River. Racers begin in Kansas City, Ks where the Kaw River joins the Missouri, and paddle across the great state of Missouri finishing in St. Charles, MO. Racers must reach 5 checkpoints by the established times or they will be disqualified. The Missouri American Water MR340 is a true community event - a community created by the river. To witness the determination of the racers, the grit of the ground ... Read More

Tim Aurand, Beth Naughton

An Epic Journey to the 63 United States National Parks

Bear - upstairs Fri 4:30pm-5:15pm

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

A PowerPoint presentation of the planning, and implementation of visiting all 63 US National Parks in 27 months. Immediately after retirement, Beth and Tim bought a Ram Promaster van and upfitted it into a camper van and set out on their journey to see all 63 national parks.
We will present many insights previously presented in Beth's blog - Wilderness Wandering which provided details on each of our park visits. Included in our presentation will be details regarding the van purchase and ... Read More

John Bates

Spring Paddling in the Northwoods: A Cornucopia of Life

Quetico - main floor Sat 1:30pm-2:15pm

Superior - main floor Sun 10:30am-11:15am

Early May, the ice just off, birds funneling in from everywhere, woodland wildflowers in profusion, trees popping leaves from buds, and no mosquito or black fly hatch quite yet. Is there a better time in the world to be alive? Or a better place to be than on a wild river or lake? Here's a sampler of all the life coming alive in May from the view of a canoe or on a portage.

John Bates

The Love Language of Rivers

Superior - main floor Fri 5:30pm-6:15pm

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

Rivers speak to us in so many metaphors. William Least Heat-Moon writes, "A river - with its attendant cascades, eddies, boils, and whirlpools - is the most expressive aspect of a natural landscape, for nothing else moves so far, so broadly, so unceasingly, so demonstrably, and nothing else is so susceptible to personification and so much at the heart of our notions about life and death." We paddle rivers in large part because of what they help us feel. Come listen to selections from some of ... Read More

Bianca Boettcher

Oh the Places I Went

Sylvania - main floor Sat 10:30am-11:15am

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

Sylvania - main floor Sun 12:30pm-1:15pm

Abigail Cichocki, Emma Brackett, Helena Karlstrom

The Hudson Bay Girls- Lessons Learned from 80 Days on the Water

Quetico - main floor Fri 5:30pm-6:15pm

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

In the summer of 2025, the Hudson Bay Girls-a team of four college-aged women-completed an 80-day, 1,381-mile canoe expedition from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. They are the first all-female crew to publicly document their paddle along the historic fur trade route from Grand Portage to York Factory. Join them to hear stories from the trail, learn what it takes to plan a multi-month wilderness expedition, and explore how their journey connects adventure, environmental stewardship, and ... Read More

William Diedrich, Stacy MacAnulty, Jon MacAnulty

North of the 60th when north of 65

Algonquin - main floor Sat 1:30pm-2:15pm

What happens when six old, but very experienced Canoeists attempt to tackle a 500 mile Tundra River trip, descending the Clarke and Thelon Rivers of Canada's Northwest Territories and Nunavut? Much more difficult for us than it was back in the day, but still very rewarding and enjoyable. See close up photos of Musk Ox, Caribou, and Wolves. Bill and fellow trip mates will describe the route and obstacles in detail. We will also review the planning, logistics, and equipment needed for a ... Read More

Peter Frank

4,853 mile eastern US circumnavigation by canoe

Bear - upstairs Fri 3:30pm-4:15pm

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

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

On October 20th at 9:43am, Peter Frank completed the circumnavigation of the eastern United States, "The Great Loop", becoming one of the few people to complete the route by paddle. The journey, spanning 5,043 miles, was performed solely by canoe, and took 500 days to reach the destination from whence it began. There was no dedicated support crew, he spent most nights in a tent, apart from the times he was hosted by strangers whom he met along the way. Peter started at 22 years old, and crossed ... Read More

Marcos Garcia Norris

Kayaking from Spain to Maine

Quetico - main floor Sat 9:30am-10:15am

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

Miguel Garcia-Gosalvez

Canoeing Solo: The Inner Journey

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

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

In this presentation, I'll explore how canoeing solo in the wilderness is not an act of bravado or self-proving-it isn't about toughness or conquest. It's something quieter, more intimate. Solitude in the wild becomes a thread that connects you to the people who shaped your life, even those no longer here.

Canoeing alone also means embracing solitude as both challenge and teacher. In the quiet rhythm of paddling, away from the noise of companionship, solitude inspires personal ... Read More

Mona Gauthier

Give Your Dreams the Wings to Fly

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

A goal is only a dream if there is no action plan. This 24-year dream finally sprouted wings enabling a 65-year-old paddler to embark on her first solo canoe trip. A 200+ mile BWCAW trip from Crane Lake to Lake Superior following the Canadian/US border to Fort Charlotte, ending with the 8.5-mile Grand Portage. Did she finish? Details will be shared regarding planning/preparation, gear, food, logistics, lessons learned, and trip data.

Miles Gordon

Veins Are Rivers Too: A Journey Through Northern Waters

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

Superior - main floor Sun 12:30pm-1:15pm

Veins Are Rivers Too is an award-winning short film that celebrates the timeless connection between people and the northern wilderness. Filmmaker Miles Gordon captures the artistry and spirit of traditional canoe tripping-journeys powered by paddle, portage, and self-reliance. The film invites audiences to reflect on what it means to travel simply, quietly, and purposefully through wild places.

Following the screening, Miles will lead a brief Q&A exploring the challenges of ... Read More

Rob Kesselring

Have Canoe, Have Van, Will Travel

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

For a decade, Rob Kesselring and noted Canadian Canoeist and Birder, Sue Plankis, have been full-time van lifers. Traveling from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the Florida Everglades, they have learned the secrets of Vanlife. Their first van was a DIY Ford F-Series, and for the last six years, it has been a professionally converted Dodge Promaster. Their favorite hull up on the roof rack is a 32-pound carbon tandem canoe. Attend the presentation to find out why. Learn the ins and outs of the ... Read More

Dave Mangin

Paddling the Potowatomi Islands

BWCA - main floor Sat 1:30pm-2:15pm

After building a rowboat for a trip downt the Mississippi River, Dave Mangin endeavored to built a kayak for a different trip through the Great Lakes and out to the Eastern Seaboard. After making it to the tip of Door County, this past summer he paddled from Rock Island, WI to Garden, MI.

Dave's presentation describes that beautiful trip into some remote parts of the Wisconsin/Michagan interface, the Potowatomi Islands. Limestone outcroppings of the Niagara Escarpment, abandoned ... Read More

Paul Mellor

Strokes of Kindness: The People of the River

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

Caribou - upstairs Sun 10:30am-11:15am

Embarking on his 2300-mile kayaking journey down the Mississippi River, Paul Mellor encountered logjams, 27 locks and dams, gigantic cargo ships, and alligators. He also capsized three times, but his message is not so much about that. His story is about what the river offers; peace, serenity, and kindness from people who live along its banks. Scores of people, many of them strangers, offered him a place to stay, fed him meals, and miraculously showed up when he needed them the most. It's a ... Read More

Don Richard, Chuck Rose

Northern Tier-Bissett: Tales from 50 Years of Scouting's Most Extreme High Adventure Program. Wilderness Canoeing, Gold, Float Planes, and Three-Legged Polar Bears

Sylvania - main floor Sat 11:30am-12:15pm

Bear - upstairs Sun 1:30pm-2:15pm

Lost.

Or the portage trail was, anyway. Ten Boy Scouts and their four adult leaders found themselves confused, at least temporarily, along the shore of an unnamed pothole. As frustration mounted, they pitched their tents on a big rock near the shore.

From this humble beginning, Northern Tier launched a 50-year program where nearly 16,000 participants (so far) have logged 100,000 camper days of some of Scouting's most extreme highest adventure outpost, near and in ... Read More

Stephen Simpson

Boreal Odyssey: A Northwoods Vision Quest

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

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

Lenore Sobota

Overcoming Fear One Stroke at a Time

Killarney (Spark by Hilton) - Hilton Sat 3:30pm-4:15pm

Waves? Wind? Whales? Wet exits? What fears are keeping you from fully enjoying time on the water? This presentation is aimed at people dealing with their own fears or wanting to help others. Come hear some strategies for overcoming fears and share ideas of your own.

John Stofflet

Drive less, paddle more: How to boost Your Time on the Water by Paddling Locally

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

Algonquin - main floor Sun 10:30am-11:15am

John Stofflet will share the story of how he went from never kayaking to paddling more than 1,500 miles in 2025 at age 64. His presentation focuses on boosting your time on the water by spending less time driving and more time paddling, turning your attention to your local waterways. Here in the Madison area, that means waterways like the Yahara River downtown, Starkweather Creek, Turtle Creek, and the four lakes. The Emmy Award-winning retired news anchor will share several news stories ... Read More

Isis Timm

We Endeavor: Lessons Learned on the Border Route Challenge

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

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

In 2025, Isis became the youngest woman to complete the 220 mile Voyager Challenge, a self-supported 8-day endurance paddle across the BWCA. In her presentation "We Endeavor: Lessons Learned on the Border Route Challenge" she'll detail her preparation, gear, and the physical and emotional obstacles she faced completing this extreme endurance expedition.

Jerry Vandiver, Caitlin Evanson, Amanda Healan

Songs about paddling and all things outdoors!

Algonquin - main floor Fri 6:30pm-7:15pm

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

Algonquin - main floor Sun 2:30pm-3:15pm

Back to Canoecopia for the 14th year, award-winning songwriter Jerry Vandiver has song credits on over 15 million records and paddling credits on countless rivers, streams, and lakes across North America. Jerry will be debuting several new songs along with favorites from his previous paddlesongs CDs. Look for several special guests joining Jerry and The One Match Band (featuring Caitlin Evanson & Amanda Healan) for a fun, musical and unique addition to the Canoecopia experience.