Karla "With a K" at Canoecopia 2025

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
Cash or credit, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center

Feedback

bit.ly/karlawithaktime

Karla started camping & paddling as a 40-year-old and two years later was camping at least one night a month (currently on month 111) and now exclusively hammocks. She’s organized over 35 non-commercial trips like miCHILIgan & BACONFEST camping weekend. Karla’s goal is to camp in every Wisconsin state park and collect a patch to wear on her red wool vintage Valentino cape. youtube.com/@KarlaWithAKTime

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Also Presenting With

Stacie Longwell Sadowski
As an adult learner, Stacie jumped into year-round outdoor recreation, now with 10+ years of adventuring. Annually, she hammock camps on several extended trips and countless short excursions; backcountry camping, backpacking, canoeing, and kayaking. She is an outdoor writer, naturalist, and a Leave No Trace Certified Trainer. With her husband Vince, Stacie is co-creator of TwoWeeksinaHammock.com, an educational initiative to inspire regular folks to get out into nature.

Chad Nelson
Chad Nelson is a Minnesota-based outdoor enthusiast passionate about paddling and hammock camping adventures. Chad is an experienced canoeist and sea kayaker. His love for the outdoors is as diverse as his activities, from hiking, biking, backpacking, and bike-packing to winter camping, canoeing, and sea kayaking. He loves to explore Lake Superior, the Apostle Islands, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). He prefers extended trips where he can camp from his canoe or sea kayak and take in nights under the stars in his hammock. Chad is an active member of the Inland Sea Kayakers and the Winter Camping Symposium, where he connects with other like-minded folks who are passionate about the outdoors and believe in the benefits of connecting with nature.

Bill "Canoeski" Petersen
Bill Petersen (Canoeski) discovered his passion for wilderness canoeing at the age of 15 during a transformative 3-week journey through nearly 200 miles of Ontario’s rugged wilderness. Over the past five decades, Bill has ventured into the wild on countless trips, with more than half of them being solo expeditions or shared with just one companion. His deep love of the outdoors was complemented by eight years of leadership as a Scout leader, where he embraced teaching and sharing outdoor skills with others. Bill’s natural curiosity and analytical mindset led him to constantly refine his approach to camping and sheltering, evolving from traditional tents, to using tarps exclusively for a decade, and finally embracing hammocks for the past 16 years. Hammocks have become Bill’s preferred method of shelter, offering unparalleled versatility, a minimal environmental footprint, and, above all, comfort across all four seasons. He has developed a profound appreciation for how hammocks enhance the outdoor experience—whether it’s the ease of setup, the ability to sleep above the ground, or the enhanced connection to nature they provide. Bill’s journey through different camping methods reflects his commitment to continuous improvement and finding the best ways to thrive in the wilderness, all while making the experience as enjoyable and sustainable as possible.

Presentations

Karla "With a K"

Day Paddling Trips & Paddle-in Campsites Around Wisconsin State Parks

Caribou - upstairs Sat 3:30pm-4:15pm

Did you know some of our Wisconsin State Parks have water trails for you to paddle? And paddle-in sites to camp at? If not, then this is the session for you! Take a journey with me around the state to learn about which state parks have great day water trips and also paddle-in campsites. Karla will talk about location, entry points, notable facts, and learned hacks.

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Karla "With a K", Bill "Canoeski" Petersen, Chad Nelson, Stacie Longwell Sadowski

Hammocks & Paddling Trips Discussion Panel

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

Join four experienced hammock campers who also paddle for a panel discussion on hammock camping and paddling trips. We will have hammockers from Michigan (Stacie Longwell Sadowski), Wisconsin (Canoeski & Karla), and Minnesota (Chad Nelson) on the panel. We have experienced and newbies to paddling who will bring a lot of perspectives to the talk. We've got a bit of everything to answer any question you bring our way. Come and learn how hammock camping can greatly increase your comfort after a long day of paddling!

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