Paddles Up making waves

Sat, Jul 20th 2024 07:00 am

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

Why would you “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” when you can join “Paddles Up” on Grand Island?

Hundreds of colorful kayaks and canoes will dot the Niagara River on Saturday, July 27, in Beaver Island State Park. The rain date is July 28.

The family-friendly Paddles Up Niagara, in its 18^th year, provides a safe way to experience the natural areas and unique habitats of the Niagara River.

The event attracts hundreds of paddlers, both experienced and novice. And not just from Grand Island and the surrounding area.

There has been a greater geographic reach this year for social media advertising of Paddles Up, said Niagara River Greenway Community Engagement Director Michelle Lockett.

“We’ve had a lot of inquiries from Canadians,” Lockett said. “Looking at the registration to date, the majority of the people are actually not Islanders that are coming, which is interesting.”

“It’s a good thing that we’re bringing people off the Island to come and explore our Island – which is what we want to do, really,” Lockett said, referring to the potential for ecotourism.

Aside from the recreational aspect of Paddles Up, participants can learn about the region’s waterways, natural resources and habitats through ecotours, hikes, and by talking with environmental experts on hand at the event.

The Greenway is one of four organizing partners of Paddles Up. The others are the Town of Grand Island, New York State Parks and the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

Lockett explained Paddles Up encompasses one of Greenway’s missions, “to bring more awareness to biodiversity and the importance of our Great Lakes water system and how you can keep it healthy by improving our riparian habitat … so that we can have all those native plants that are right at the edge of the water; our great filtration system cleans out any glutens that are trying to get in to the water.”

She said that monitoring by regulatory agencies and environmental groups shows the region’s water quality – particularly Lake Erie – is improving.

Lockett said people can learn how to get involved in habitat improvement by visiting environmental exhibitors and vendors who will be on site from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the day of the event.

Look for Shelter 2B near the beach, the center of most of the action. Events begin at 7 a.m. and culminate in the big Fun Paddle at 10:30 a.m. Members of that very large group all launch at the same time from Beaver Island beach. The route goes past the marina, around Little Beaver Island, and then back to the launch site.

Safety paddlers help guide the group along the route. The Park Police and Grand Island Fire Department are on motor boats to keep other motor boats away from the paddlers. Participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

There will be free admission to the Grand Island Historical Museum at River Lea from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Paddles Up photos courtesy of the Niagara River Greenway.

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Two new tours are geared for beginners.

• Eco-tour lite – launches at 7 a.m. from East River Marsh with tour guide Paul Leuchner.

The tour “is made for people who maybe are little bit more of a beginner level or may not feel they have enough strength to do a longer ecotour,” Lockett said.

She said the tour is pretty close to the shoreline, so participants won’t be out in the heavy river current.

This tour will take up to one hour and is for people ages 12 and older. The tour booked up early, but people can get on the waiting list in case of cancellations. Two other ecotours begin at 7 and 7:30 a.m. at Beaver Island beach and are a bit longer and more strenuous.

•15-minute kayak trial sessions – run from 8-9 a.m. They are offered at the beach launch site on a first-come, first-served basis with instructors Kelly Sieman and Tina Spencer of the State Parks interpretive staff.

“That’s for anyone who is brand-new to kayaking and is interested in giving it a try,” Lockett said. “It’s a very safe situation.”

Lockett said these introductory sessions will show basics, such as how to hold a paddle, the proper way to sit, and how to get in and out of your kayak.

Kayaks and life jacket will be provided. The sessions are offered to anyone ages 12 and up, and are limited to 10 participants at a time.

To participate in any other kayaking during the day, you need to have your own kayak or rent one.

Also new:

• Live canoe paddle carving – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Skilled craftsman Jonathan Thornton of the Buffalo Maritime Center will do a live carving demonstration using hand tools to shape wooden canoe paddles. Participants will have the opportunity to sit on a shavehorse and try out the tools themselves.

Also offered:

• Ecotour hike – 8 a.m. with tour guides Edward Fuchs and Joanne Schlegel of the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society. The hike begins at Shelter 2B and proceeds to River Lea and the Allenton Farm. It continues along the East River Trail to the kayak launch, returning to Shelter 2B. The guides will identify and discuss trees, shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It is a straightforward walk on level ground. This hike is limited to 16 participants.

• Kayak rental – Paddles Up Niagara participants can rent quality boats with the event partner, Blue Water Marina, which brings the kayaks right to the Beaver Island beach on the day of the event. Blue Water’s address is: 330 East River Road, Grand Island. Phone: 716-773-7884; website: https://www.bluewatermarinagi.com/.

The first 200 people who register get a Paddles Up T-shirt. There also will be prize giveaways, including a paddleboard, Lockett said. To qualify for the drawing, you collect free tickets for each exhibitor that you visit.

The Grand Island Lions Club will be grilling hot dogs at the event as a fundraiser for its community service work. Lockett said there will be an ice cream truck at the venue. For other refreshments, people can bring in their own coolers or go to Bogey’s, the indoor/outdoor restaurant in The Clubhouse at Beaver Island Golf Course.

To register for Paddles Up Niagara, go to https://www.niagararivergreenway.com/paddles-up. Then click on “Registration.” Online registration closes at noon Friday, July 26.
In-person registration is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at the Grand Island Recreation Office, 3278 Whitehaven Road. Call 716-773-9680 for information. You can register from 7-10 a.m. on the day of the event.