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: $15.00
3-Day: $30.00
Ages 17 and under are FREE
Cash or check only for tickets purchased at the event
Virtual Tickets
Virtual: $15.00
Access for 90 days
Parking Fees
1-Day: $8.00
Cash or credit, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center
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For thirty-three years Karen Mesmer was a teacher and inspired middle school kids to love science, both in northwest Alaska and Baraboo, Wisconsin. Since retirement she works with teachers and school districts as a science education consultant. She started paddling a canoe when she was a kid and for the past twenty-five years has paddled rec boats on small rivers and sea kayaks on bigger water.
Robert Rolley recently retired after 34 years as a wildlife biologist. Retirement allows him to devote more time to photography, paddling, birding, and traveling. When Karen and Robert got married, their biggest problem was figuring out what to do with their 7 boats. Their solution was to build a boat house.
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Ever dream of kayaking with penguins, whales, and icebergs? Come join Karen and Robert and hear how, in early 2020, they journeyed to the Falklands, South Georgia Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula as members of Team Kayak. Leaving on a ship from Ushuaia on the southern tip of South America, they traveled to South Georgia where they kayaked among thousands of king penguins and fur seals. In the South Orkneys, they had their first encounter with a leopard seal. Passing by the largest iceberg in the world in route to the Antarctic Peninsula, they encountered hundreds of humpback whales. Upon reaching the Peninsula, they had numerous paddles with icebergs, both big and small. They also had close encounters with humpback and minke whales and a very curious leopard seal. Learn what happened when a humpback whale surfaced in the middle of a snowball fight.