Niagara River Greenway
Paddles Up Niagara
17th Annual Paddles Up Niagara Saturday July 29, 2023
PADDLES UP NIAGARA 2024 is in the planning stages, more information will be coming
What: Paddles Up Niagara is a family friendly and safe way to experience the natural areas and unique habitats of the Niagara River. Whether you are a novice or an experienced paddler, you will enjoy spending the morning with an enthusiastic paddling community. Guides and safety paddlers will be on hand to assist and answer your paddling questions.
Where: Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY
Check in at Shelter 2B
Registration
*You need to set up an account in order to register for this free event.
FREE T-Shirt for the first 200 Registrants!
$7 Parking fee if you arrive after 9 AM
When: Saturday July 29th 2023
7:00 AM - Eco-tour Lite - New this year! Tour Guide: Paul Leuchner - Check in and launch from East River Marsh
This tour will have all the wildlife viewing but with less paddling. It is meant for
beginners or those who are more interested in learning about the habitat.
This tour will take up to 1 hour.
7:00 AM - Eco-tour #2 Tour Guide: Joe Menter - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
7:30 AM -Eco-tour #3 Tour Guide: Erin Redding - Check in at Shelter 2B and launch from beach
The eco-tours #2 and #3 begin at Beaver Island beach and are a bit longer and more strenuous than the Eco-tour Lite. They are meant for more intermediate to advanced paddlers. These tours can take up to 2 hours.
All Eco-tours are designed to be smaller in size, so everyone can hear the guide interpret plants and animal life as they guide the group through habitats around Beaver Island. Spaces are limited so please register early and only if you know you can attend. IF your plans change, PLEASE cancel your reservation, so someone else can have your spot. Please be ready to depart from launch site 10 minutes prior to start time. Each eco-tour is limited to 15 participants each.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - 15 minute Kayak Trial Sessions - Instructors: Kelly Sieman and Tina Spencer
New this year! These sessions are offered by the NY State Parks Interpretive staff, who perform regular learn to Kayak sessions throughout the summer. For the Paddles UP Niagara event, they are offering a 15 minute kayak trial session on a first come first serve basis. If you have ever wondered what it would feel like to sit in a kayak in the water, now is your chance to experience just that! Our expert trainers will walk you through how to get into a kayak and how to paddle correctly. Kayaks and PDFs will be provided. If you decide to participate in the Fun Paddle you can rent a Kayak from Blue Water Marina, information below. These sessions are offered to anyone age 12 and up and are limited to 10 participants at a time. The sessions will be taking place at the Beaver Island Beach launch site, near shelter 2B.
8:00 AM - Eco-tour Hike - Tour Guides: Edward Fuchs and Joanne Schlegel
Back again for the 2nd year! The Eco-tour Hike will be lead by members of the Niagara Frontier Botanical Society, it will begin at shelter 2B and walk to River Lea and the Allenton Farm. From there it will continue on down the East River Trail, to the Kayak launch and then return to shelter 2B. The expert guides will identify and discuss trees, shrubs and flowering plants along the way. It is an easy walk on level ground. This hike is limited to 16 participants. If you register and your plans change, PLEASE cancel, so we can open up a spot for someone on the waiting list.
10:30 AM - Fun Paddle
The large Fun Paddle leaves from Beaver Island beach goes past the Marina, around
Little Beaver Island, and then back to the launch site. This is session is unique because
it is a very large group, possibly the largest in NY State all launching at the same time!
We have saftey paddlers to help guide the group along the route and the Park Police and
GI Fire Department on motor boats to keep motor boats away from the paddlers.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Environmental Exhibitors
Make sure to visit the many organizational partners that will be exhibiting very important water safety equipment & information, sharing environmental resources and other interesting facts about our unique and precious natural resource that surrounds WNY, our Great Lakes and the Niagara River! Participating organizations include; NY Sea Grant, Citizen Coalition for Wildlife & Environment, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, WNY Land Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Black Rock Riverside Alliance, WNY Raptor & Wildlife Care, Department of Environmental Conservation, Niagara Region Parks Interpretive, Niagara Frontier
Surfrider, Ladders to the Outdoors, Buffalo Museum of Science, and Erie County Climate Action.
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Free admission to Grand Island Historical Museum at River Lea!
Paddles Up participants will have the opportunity to step back in time and see what it was like living on Grand Island during the 1800's, when Grover Cleveland's uncle, Lewis Allen, built the mansion, that is now called River Lea. If you have been inside River Lea in the past, you may want to make another visit because it has gone through some changes with new displays. To follow recent developments with the museum and historical society visit: http://www.isledegrande.com/historicalsociety/historicalsociety.php
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Win This!
Receive a raffle ticket at each exhibit table you visit for a chance to win this cooler filled with paddling swag!
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Where to rent kayaks:
For individuals who don't feel like bringing their own kayak, or for those who are just starting out and need a kayak, please contact Blue Water Marina. They are a trusted partner with quality boats and they bring the kayaks right to the Beaver Island Beach on the day of the event.
Address: 330 East River Rd. Grand Island, NY
Phone: 716-773-7884
website: https://www.bluewatermarinagi.com/
Refreshments: hosted by Bogey's at BIGC
Bogey's will be offering sandwiches and wraps right at the main event site. They will begin serving breakfast sandwiches for the early morning eco-tours from 6:30 - 10:30 and then switch over to lunch sandwiches and wraps at 11:30. Beverages will also be available.
Help us limit plastic pollution by bringing your own reuseable water bottle, there will be water stations for you to refill.
Important Must Do's:
Personal Flotation Device
1.
All paddlers MUST wear a zipped up coast guard approved lifejacket, anyone who refuses to wear a lifejacket will not be permitted to paddle with the group. Lifejackets must be worn properly.
Sound Producing Device
2.
Paddlers should bring a whistle on their watercraft. NY State Parks Marine Services will have some to pass out at the event. If you are in need of assistance on the water, blow your whistle and wave your arms or paddle in the air to alert the safety paddlers.
Follow the Course
3.
Paddlers must follow the designated course and display their numbers on their boat or lifejacket. Race type bibs with numbers will be supplied on the day of the event.
Organizing Partners:
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