Summer Paddling Series

Stories

Summer Paddling Series

Written by Urban Ecology Center

Tuesday, 09 July 2013

Before we launch into detail about our Summer Paddling Series, a word on perspective:

“Successful education has the power to make the world strange again. Without any stake in the places where we live, we walk through days in which there are trees but no tree in particular, we drive along roads that could be anywhere, never registering the mountains to the east and lake to the west that determined, in fact, exactly where that route would run. Such casual familiarity is the opposite of intimacy and attentiveness.”

- environmental studies professor John Elder

Off the Bank...

It’s a fascinating idea that one of goals of education should be to make things strange, to shake up the ways in which we see the world. As residents of Milwaukee we’re all casually familiar with the three rivers that shape the health and geometry of our city, but how well do we really know these amazing resources? With the Urban Ecology Center’s Summer Paddling Series you can experience our urban waterways from a different point of view by getting off the bank and onto the water to this summer!

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Urban Adventures

Who knew a shift in perspective could be so much fun?

Outside Magazine named Milwaukee one of America’s best river towns in 2012 for the access to water within the city as well as the innovative ways in which industry and higher education are engaging with water here. The Milwaukee Urban Water Trail contains numerous public access points as well as access to lots of city attractions. The Milwaukee River basin (which includes the Menomonee and Kinnickinnic Rivers, as well as Cedar Creek) contains about 500 miles of perennial streams. That’s a lot of exploring to do!

Family Fun

Pack your picnic basket and get ready to rock! River Rhythms is one of Milwaukee's most diverse and fastest growing music festivals. Located at Pere Marquette Park along the banks of the Milwaukee River, it's a perfect destination for a family-friendly paddle!

Join us for an entertaining evening of sweet sounds where you'll go by boat and arrive in style!

River Revitalization

The Milwaukee Estuary was designated an Area of Concern in 1987 because of historical modification of the estuary as well as high pollution loads within the estuary. This area includes Milwaukee Bay (imagine a line drawn from Shorewood to Cudahy) and extends up the Milwaukee River to Cedarburg, up the Menomonee River nearly to the county line, and 4km up the Kinnickinnic to Chase Avenue. Fortunately, the health of all three of Milwaukee’s rivers has steadily improved since its designation as an AOC. Part of these revitalization efforts include educating the public on the improvements that have been made to the health of our rivershed, as well as informing people on the challenges that still lie ahead.

Lend a hand to the effort and join the Urban Ecology Center staff on an Explore and Restore paddle to bring yourself up to date on the ecological health of our rivers, and what you can do to help out!

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...And Onto the Water!

So how will you get out on Milwaukee’s rivers this summer? Will you take a class to build your canoe or kayak skills? Will you learn more about the history of Milwaukee while canoeing through downtown? Or will you explore our urban waterways by boat to learn about how you can help out with efforts to improve the health of our rivers? How about all three?

Our full Summer Paddling Series is listed below. Pick a program (or two!) and see just how much fun you have seeing things from a new perspective!