2026 Maine Canoe Symposium (May 29-31)

[Benson Gray]

Greetings Fellow Paddlers!

Forty years ago, a community began gathering on the shores of Maine to celebrate the craft, the skill, and the spirit of canoeing. Since then, the Maine Canoe Symposium has become a cherished tradition- and we want you to help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary!

We're thrilled to announce that registration for the 2026 Maine Canoe Symposium is officially OPEN!

When: May 29 - 31, 2026
Where: The University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond

Join us for a weekend filled with:

• Expert-led workshops: From traditional wood-and-canvas skills to modern paddling techniques, learn from the best of the best.
• Community connections: Reconnect with old friends and meet new ones who share your passion for the water.
• Evening presentations: Enjoy inspiring stories of adventure, conservation, and the history of the waterways we love.

We are busy finalizing a very special 40th-anniversary schedule and will share more details as they become available. In the meantime, head over to our website to register and take advantage of the early bird discount.

Let's make this milestone year the best one yet. See you on the water!
Chris Corey
President, Maine Canoe Symposium

Maine Canoe Symposium

www.mainecanoesymposium.org

Maine Canoe Symposium

University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center, 17 Conservation School Road, Woodstock, ME 04219 US - Friday, May 29, 2026 4:00 PM - Sunday, May 31, 2026 2:00 PM EDT (doors open at 4:00 PM)

brushfire.com

 

[Benson Gray]

We are already looking forward to next year’s session on May 28-30 at Bryant Pond! Congratulations to Megan-Mack Nicholson who won the raffle for the Discovery 119 solo canoe which was generously donated by Old Town Canoe and Johnson Outdoors as shown below.

Benson

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

This symposium is one of the several things to attend on my remaining bucket list. Bryant Pond was the post office address of the lake I grew up on every summer, North Pond, which is about five miles west of the lake and town of Bryant Pond. North Pond is connected to Round Pond and South Pond, and is a motorboat trip I'd like to take one more time in my life to reminisce about my childhood. A canoe trip through those three lakes would not be feasible for Maggie and me in our current stages. But I don't know where to rent a simple motorboat for a couple of hours. There used to be a place in Locke's Mills that rented them, Bob's Corner Store, but that was at least 40 years ago.

 

[Benson Gray]

I don't know where to rent a simple motorboat for a couple of hours.

The links below may offer some options. Good luck,

Benson

Boat Rentals in Bethel, ME - Long Lake Marina

Get in touch with Long Lake Marina to rent a boat today! Visit our dealership, or schedule a rental online with us today.

www.longlakemarine.com

Maine River Runners LLC | Top Boat Rental in Bethel, ME

Maine River Runners LLC is a leading boat rental company in Bethel, ME offering luxury and premium boats for your next adventure.

slipstreamboating.com

Rental Information | Beacon Boat Rentals - Wayne, Maine

View Beacon Boat Rentals rental information and various fees.

www.beaconboatrentals.com

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Thanks for the links, Benson.

Here's an aerial photo taken above Locke's Mills (now Locke Mills). North Pond is in the upper left, with Bryant Pond four or five miles further away on Route 26, over yonder ridge. South Pond is in the upper right. The water between Route 26 and the railroad tracks is the upper Alder River. The water to the right of the railroad tracks is Round Pond.



Sorry for the nostalgic hijack of the thread topic, but Bryant Pond—the last town in the USA to have crank telephones (until 1983) and where the town garbage dump (a burning cliff) was located—is seared into my 1950s canoeing soul.