MDC to hold two instructional float trips on James River

Canoe trips are great ways for families to see the outdoors. On June 16 qne 17, the Missouri Department of Conservation will offer instructional canoeing programs that will include a float trip on the James River.

Programs to offer hands-on canoeing experience for beginning paddlers.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Paddling a canoe down an Ozarks stream is a great way for a family to see this area’s outdoors beauty. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will have two programs in June where beginning paddlers can learn about canoeing through a five-mile float on the James River.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 16, MDC will hold a Discover Nature Women’s Canoeing program. This free program will give women the opportunity to learn, explore and experience canoeing at a beginner level. The float trip will be led by MDC staff and volunteers using MDC-provided canoes. All participants must be 14 years of age or older. Girls ages 14 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants will meet at the MDC Southwest Regional Office in Springfield (2630 N. Mayfair Ave.) at 9 a.m. Transportation to and from the river will be provided. Participants are responsible for their own lunch and refreshments.

The next day, June 17, MDC is offering a Discover Nature Family Canoeing program. This free program, which is also from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed to give families an opportunity to learn about canoeing at a beginner level. Youths ages 6-17 must be accompanied by an adult. Like the previous day’s program, participants will meet at the MDC Southwest Regional Office in Springfield at 9 a.m. and transportation to and from the James River will be provided. Participants are responsible for their own lunch and refreshments.

To register for either of these programs, call 417-895-6880. For more information about other upcoming events, go online to http://mdc.mo.gov/events.

Related articles

• Woman drowns after canoe flips on the James River near Galena (kspr.com)
• Cape's Nature Center offers Family Skills Sampler (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Upcoming Float Trip and Another Contraption

Here in a few days, we are headed on a float trip to one of Missouri's less traveled streams...so I am not talking about the Meramec or Current Rivers. There will be a party of five in a 12 foot jon boat and a 14' canoe. We are also bringing an inflatable kayak. That's about all the details I will give right now about the actual trip logistics, but I'll report all the happenings after we return.

What I will say is that I built a pretty cool rack to carry our canoe and jon boat down to the river. Since I cannot weld and am way too cheap to buy a ready made rack, it is built from wood. I will include some pics after our trip is over. I constantly am given grief by my wife and kids about the hoosier contraptions I build for these types of trips.

Several years ago, we took a trip to Montana, Wyoming, and a few other places out West. I built the most outrageous contraption to stow out gear in my crew cab Chevy S-10. My kids would not be seen in it in our home town, but admitted after the trip it was pretty cool.