If you have kids 5 and up and have never enjoyed a summertime Polliwog Paddle Family Canoe, the time has come!
Registration opens August 20th by phone only, at 440-286-9516, for an easy-paced, short-distance, Free family outing on the tranquil, wildlife-rich waters of the Upper Cuyahoga River.
This gentle canoeing experience, scheduled for Sunday, August 27th, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., starting from Eldon Russell Park, is designed for families with young children. No formal canoe-handling instruction will be given, but tips will be offered as needed; rudimentary skills are expected of parents.
Naturalist Dan Best, who will lead the float, said wildlife most easily seen are Great Blue Herons, dragonflies, kingfishers, painted turtles and songbirds like Red-winged Blackbirds, as wetland wildflowers brighten the banks. Sometimes a muskrat or water snake makes an appearance, too.
“It’s a novelty, the feeling of floating along, being on the water without being in the water, and having control over the vessel as opposed to being transported by someone else,” said Dan. “The little challenges – like getting around or gliding across sunken logs – give a sense of success and teamwork.
“Get out into a totally natural surrounding together and discover how relaxing and enjoyable that can be.”
This float launches and lands from the banks of Eldon Russell Park without the need for shuttling; the minimal current requires very little effort to paddle back upstream.
Canoe capacity is set as two adults with up to two kids ages 5-11 in the middle. Children must be 10 or older to paddle. Please note that adults with children will receive priority over adults without them.
For more on Geauga Park District offerings, please call 440-286-9516 or visit Geauga Park District online via Geauga Park District, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
