The Upper Midwest is a paddling paradise-blessed with a bounty of lakes and rivers. Getting started paddling canoes or kayaks can be confusing-even intimidating. There are so many choices-how do you choose what's right for you? This session will introduce you to the wide, wonderful world of paddlesports. Dan York will cover the basics of boat selection, gear, safety, and places to paddle. The goal is to demystify paddling and get you out on the water to pursue your own paddling dreams, however mild or wild.

Wild western whitewater rivers are the stuff of paddling dreams. They offer river runners the chance to paddle multiple days through spectacular landscapes of mountains, canyons, forests, and deserts. In this presentation Dan York will share images and experiences from kayaking several of these incredible rivers, which are as varied and distinct as the western landscapes themselves. They include the Flathead, Owyhee, Salmon, and Selway rivers of the northern Rockies, and the Yampa, Colorado, Salt, and Green rivers of the desert Southwest. Choices of river travel also vary: raft or self-supported? Commercial or private? York will discuss these options and their advantages and disadvantages. Paddling and camping on western wilderness rivers are amazing experiences that anyone can do. York's presentation will inspire you to seek out your own western adventures and guide you on how to make such dreams come true.