Baltimore Canoe & Kayak Club

Kingsville,MD http://baltimorecanoeclub.org Canoe@baltimorecanoeclub.org 300 Members

Contact:

Baltimore Canoe & Kayak Club, Inc. 1107 Burkhartd Ln Severn, MD 21144-2800

The Baltimore Canoe & Kayak Club is a group of paddlers primarily from the Baltimore/Washington area paddling together to promote fun, safety, and awareness on the river. Our members organize and lead many canoe and kayaking trips in the Mid-Atlantic area. Our general meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every odd numbered month . Non-members are encouraged to attend general meetings, however some outings are closed to non members General Policy:Club outings are cooperative adventures among participants. The group is collectively responsible for conduct of the outing, and each individual is responsible for judging his or her qualifications and for his or her safety on the river. By participating in a club outing, you release the Club, its members, trip coordinators, and fellow paddlers from any and all damages resulting from any injuries due to any negligent act or omission or to any intentional act intended to promote your safety or well being Club History Bill Robinson is clearly the founder of our club. He was the manager of the Appalachian Outfitters store in Ellicott City in the 1970's. He was in the Sierra Club and organized canoe classes for Sierra Club members in 1973 and 1974. We started to have an organized trip schedule in 1974, initially on the Patapsco, Gunpowder, Deer Creek, and Muddy Creek. By 9/74 we started meeting as a group, at the main Red Cross Bldg. downtown. We were formally incorporated as the Baltimore Canoe & Kayak Club, Inc. on 16 Mar 76. Our Lawyer/paddler Pete Lareau, drew up the Articles of Incorporation. Bill was our first president, and the other officers and trustees included Warren Therien, Ronnie True, Elizabeth Large, Carol Moore, Mike Fetchero, Ken Price and yours truly. We were incorporated as a non-profit organization to promote responsible recreational canoeing and kayaking, to develop a water safety program, and a conservation program. In 1976, our schedule included a race on the Patapsco through "Suicide Rapids", canoe campers on the Cacapon and in the Pine Barrens, and trips to the Lehigh, Staircase, and Hopeville Canyon. The earliest Roster in my possession is for 1980 and shows exactly 200 families in the club! I would be interested to know if any earlier rosters exist. Today there are well over 300 families in the Club. We are especially active on Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia rivers, with frequent excursions from Maine to Florida, and occasional trips to Canada (some crossing the Arctic Circle) and to Central and South America. We also have kayak rolling sessions in the winter, and canoe and kayak classes in the late spring and early summer.