Alder Creek Spring Paddle Festival Apr 25th & 26th

Alder Creek is having their annual spring paddle festival in a couple weeks.  I'm signed up to work the Ocean Kayak booth as well as help out with the kayak fishing clinics.

Also, I've been asked by Alder Creek about whether NWKA wants to set up an informational booth for our club.  I think it's a great idea, but I'm already committed to another booth.  Would anyone like to volunteer a few hours to share the love with potential kayak anglers looking for information?  I'm thinking we'd have a table, some fliers or cards, maybe a small photo collage and a rigged kayak or two.   Let me know if you're interested.

Brian




Pasted below are the daily schedule and directions to this free event.

http://www.aldercreek.com/

Spring Paddle Festival Demo Days & Clinic Schedule
Event Schedule
Saturday April 25
 
-First strokes:  Intro to kayak & canoe. 
Alder Creek staff will be available throughout the day to assist in foot peg adjustment, boat entry and exit, beach launch and landing, and basic paddle strokes
 
10:00am
-Which boat is right for me? ACKC staff
-What floats your boat?
11:00am
- Local Paddling Destinations
- Fishing By Kayak
11:30am
-Paddling with Kids
12:00pm
- Packing a Kayak for Multi-Day Trips
- Rescue & Re-entries Demonstrations
12:30pm
- Which Boat is Right for Me?
1:00pm
- Dream Trips of the Northwest
-Forward Stroke Clinic
1:30pm
-Car Topping your Kayak
2:00pm
- Dressing for Conditions
- Towing Scenarios
2:30pm
-Boat Repair in the Field
3:00pm
- Choosing the Correct Paddle
- Fishing by Kayak
 
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Kayak & Canoe Demos, 100+ boats on the beach ready to try!
 
Event Schedule
Sunday April 26
 
9:00am to 10:30 am
First strokes - First time paddlers
Edging and bracing
Kayak Fishing
Essentials of safety & repair
 
10:45 am to Noon
First strokes - First time paddlers
Basic Canoeing
Assisted and solo rescue and recoveries
Family Paddling
 
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
First strokes - First time paddlers
Paddling for women
Towing Scenarios
Paddle tour of Vancouver lake
 
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm
First strokes - First time paddlers
Paddling for women
Paddling in weather: Skegs, rudders, trim
Packing a kayak for a multiday tour

 
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Kayak & Canoe Demos, 50+ boats on the beach ready to try!
 
 
All Events are FREE at Vancouver Lake and open to the public!
 
Directions to Vancouver Lake:

Take I-5 to Vancouver, exit on either Mill Plain or 4th Plain and go West. Mill Plain and 4th Plain merge into Lower River Road, Follow signs to Vancouver Lake. Approximately 5 miles from I-5 to the park.

If you decide to work an NWKA booth, I'll send you an NWKA T-shirt to proudly wear.  Let me know.

-Allen

Brian,
I bet I could cover Sunday for NWKA. I'll let you know for sure after checking my schedule.

Jay

If I was only 176 miles closer... Spot, we're counting on you.

Z

If I was only 176 miles closer... Spot, we're counting on you.

Z

I've been trying to figure out how I can make it but it's not looking good at this point.  It's little league season..... 
I'll know better when I get my youngest's updated T-Ball game schedule but no promises......

-Mark-

If you can get the state of WA to move opening day, I'd be there......

I'm in for Sunday and I already have a t-shirt. Where is it being held?

If I was only 176 miles closer... Spot, we're counting on you.

Z

I've been trying to figure out how I can make it but it's not looking good at this point.  It's little league season..... 
I'll know better when I get my youngest's updated T-Ball game schedule but no promises......

-Mark-

3

I'm out.....

T-Ball Jamboree that Saturday.  Games at 9:00 and 1:00....

Brian

if you dont mind a newbie working the booth i am up for both days. I do have a few of the classes i would like to attend both on saturday and sunday. But willing to help out


Marilyn

Well, I've commited to having an NWKA booth this weekend at the paddle festival.  Right now I have two volunteers (Jay on Sunday and Marilyn on Saturday and Sunday).  It would be nice if we had a couple more volunteers so that people can take shifts and actually visit the paddle festival.   Our booth is going to be pretty simple.. a poster (lot's of pics of fish on kayaks.. thanks Zee!) and a simple flier.  I also have a portable DVD player and a copy of "Game ON" as well as a Kayak Fishing book I'll bring for the booth as well.   I'm not sure how long the DVD player will last on battery, but it should be good for a couple showings each day.   We'll also have a couple fishing kayaks and gear for people to check out.

If you're interested in attending the paddle festival and can volunteer for even a couple hours please let me know.

Thanks,
Brian

I can be there on Sunday but Saturday's all about the T-Ball. 

Should I bring anything like the Cobra rigged for drift fishing or something?

-Mark-

Thanks Mark,

Your drift rigged Cobra would be nice to have.  I'll be sure to have your Hawg Trough for you. 

I'll bring extras as well in case any one wants to buy/pick up there's at the Paddle Festival.

Brian

I think the more of your own rigged up boats you guys can bring the better. My T-15 is stock, so not allot of cool rigging to look at. I'll bring my sea kayak rigged. I'm fairly minimalist, so my boats are pretty boring as far as cool rigging etc.

The one thing I don't have to show is a quick release anchor, so Spot, Brian, etc, make sure you guys bring your anchor set ups.

Most of the inquiries I get are tips on rigging, so the more we can show what we've done the better.

Thank you guys for coming and spreading your knowledge. It will be so much better with you guys there, rather than just me like last year. As you all know my preferences and opinions are not the end all be all. When I'm not stirring the hornets nest on NWKA, I'm actually very open and non-elitest when in work mode The more verried tips/techniques we have the better.

Thanks again to NWKA for helping get the word out and helping out at the event! Should be a good time.

I guess it seems like there's going to be handful of people there on Sunday, but it's the only one of the two days I have off so I'll be there for a good chunk of the day and I'll bring my kayak too. After some morning plans I'll head up so I should be there by 11am.
Since I most likely won't be able to park near the booth I'll probably need to bring my wheels, right?

I would. should be people around to help haul boats if you want to drive up close and unload it, then go park.

Carts are part of the deal, and would be good to show with your boat for people wanting to get ideas etc.