How to recruit new canoe paddlers?

[Steve in Idaho]

Tell me why we need more canoeists. Fewer canoeists means less crowds in canoeing parks. I say let the yakers conglomerate in the city lakes and outfitted streams. More campsites and thinner crowds in the backcountry.

You have a point. The BW didn't feel crowded to me either time I was there, but we did see several groups searching for a campsite this last time. Idunno.... seemed like they would have been well served to get an earlier start on their day. My takeaway though is that campsites are so dispersed that there is room for more without negatively effecting the experience. And the more people in love with the BWCA, the more political will to protect it.

 

[Gamma1214]

...the more people in love with the BWCA, the more political will to protect it.

I think that's the most important point. The more people out there, the more the resources will be protected. @memaquay can probably speak more directly about that but that has always seemed a big part of why he does what he does... If nobody paddles the routes, they get lost and then there's less reason to protect them

 

[Punkinhead]

Last week a group of friends planned a paddling trip for today. All dropped out except myself and wife in a canoe and one friend in a kayak. Two dropped out because they said their knees and hips were hurting so getting in and out of their kayaks is getting too difficult. We lost two friends to the same complaints last year. I tried explain how much easier it is to get in and out of a canoe but didn't get any converts because it takes skill to paddle a canoe and none of them are sufficiently interested to learn something new.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Two dropped out because they said their knees and hips were hurting so getting in and out of their kayaks is getting too difficult.

I have several kayaker friends who have dropped out of paddling altogether for that same reason. I think there is just a natural resistance at some point to learning new things.