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• 2026 Annual Trip Planning Meeting

  • When
    January 17, 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    Westfield, IN

  Register

  It’s a new year and time to plan new trips!

  2026 Trip Planning Meeting and Pitch-In

  January 17th 1:00-4:00 PM
  2755 Sawtooth Oak Circle
  Westfield, IN 46074-5854

  Bring your paddling ideas and get an early peek at our 2026 calendar.  All 3 fleets (Canoe/Kayak, Whitewater, Sea Kayak) will be on hand to discuss trip ideas and set the calendar.

  If you’re interested in being a trip leader or other type of volunteer, but not quite sure what to do, sign up anyway!  We’ll show you and guide you.  We’re all here to have fun.

  All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.  This is a great opportunity to not only have input into the trips we plan but to also see how the process works.

  Duane will graciously be providing chili, please bring a side dish or dessert to share and BYOB.

  Please register here to RSVP

  Mark Schneider,
  HCKC Executive Officer
  mark@ottersden.com

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Back by Popular Demand:  2025 Trip Planning Meeting

  What would you like to see on the HCKC Calendar for 2025?

  Have a favorite river or waterway you want to share? Want to help train some newbies? We’re always looking for trip leaders, various volunteers, new rivers and lakes to paddle, new ideas, and section chairs and co-chairs.

  Bring your paddling ideas and get an early peek at our trip calendar for the 2025 year. If you’re interested in being a trip leader or other type of volunteer, but not quite sure what to do, sign up anyway! We’ll show you and guide you on what to do. We’re all here to have fun. 

  Registration on the website calendar

  We will be laying out our 2025 Trip Calendar on Saturday, Jan.18 @ 1:00 pm at Duane Garloch's home Duane's Address: 2755 Sawtooth Oak Circle Westfield, IN 46074-5854

  Duane will be making beef chili. Bring a dish to share and BYOB.

  Hope to see you there!

  Linda Decker HCKC Skipper

  lsdecker2018@gmail.com 

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• Sea Kayak - Kiptopeke Scouting Trip II

  • Start
    April 17, 2026
  • End
    April 26, 2026
  • Location
    Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, VA

  THIS TRIP IS CLOSED FOR FURTHER REGISTRATION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST, PLEASE CONTACT TRIP SPONSOR/LEAD: TONY PASCUZZI  izzucsap@yahoo.com 

  • ·        Trip Level: L3+
  • ·        Mileage: 8-15 miles/day
  • ·        Maximum Currents: <3 kts typically but stronger currents (3-7 kts) may be encountered in the inlets. 
  • ·        Pace: 2.5 – 3 kts
  • ·        Availability: 12 (18 capacity)
  • ·        Sponsors & Trip Leaders: Tony Pascuzzi 
  • ·     Assistant Leaders: Dave Nord, Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker

  
  

  Participants will need to reserve their own campsites, which will go quickly. Several of us have reservations in the B & C loop (sites B05, B34, B35, C10, C16). See link below for camping reservations. Arrive Friday evening, 4/17 (or sooner) and depart Sunday, 4/26. Paddling, hiking, biking, and sightseeing.

  Leader’s notes

  We're going back to Kiptopeke! This trip will have more emphasis on surfing and rough water excitement. We'll also explore some new places to paddle. We will also make the requisite stop a time or two (or more??) at Cape Charles Brewing. 

  
  

  We will base camp at Kiptopeke State Park campground and do day paddles on Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. Bay side paddles will range from flat calm and protected to windy with 1-2' waves. Ocean side paddling will be more challenging with surf, current, tide races and the wave train. There are also plenty of islands to explore as well on the ocean side with moderate currents and tide to contend with. 

  
  

  Currents through Smith Island Inlet can run from 3 - 7 kts, so the we'll have to go through the inlet with the currents. 

  
  

  This trip will also offer participants casual opportunities to practice surf launching & landing, paddling in wind, turning in wind, draw strokes, rudder strokes (bow & stern), bracing, edging and boat control, rolling and sculling. We hope to encourage some fun learning opportunities as we explore. Due to the weather and other factors, the itinerary will be determined each day and communicated to participants as far in advance as the forecasts reasonably allow. All day trips are subject to change to maintain kayaker safety. Participants can choose whether or not to join each day’s scheduled trip. Trip Leaders may restrict or redirect individual participants on any given day, if necessary, to maximize individual and group safety.  If the weather makes padding unreasonable, there are lots of biking and hiking opportunities nearby.

  
  

  Required Equipment

  • Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation in both ends of the kayak·        
  • USCG approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
  • Drysuit or wetsuit with dry top/splash top
  • Spray skirt
  • Bilge pump with floatation
  • Self-rescue paddle float
  • Waterproof whistle
  • Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
  • Storm cag or poncho
  •  Extra food and water
  •  Sunscreen
  • Change of clothes
  • VHF Radio (recommended), InReach or PLB (if you own one).
  • Everything not mentioned above but listed in the following link is good to have: https://www.mountaineers.org/blog/what-are-the-ten-essentials

  
  

  Participants must be able to:

  • Safely exit their kayak while wearing a spray skirt and participate in an assisted rescue.
  • Maintain a pace of 2.5-3.0 mph in L3 conditions in any wind or wave direction.
  • Paddle for up to 3 hours without landing. (Expect 4-7 hours of paddling each day)

  Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

  
  

  Registration is conditional upon final approval by the Trip Leader. The Trip Leader may communicate with you to assess whether your skills & equipment are appropriate for the conditions. Please contact the trip leader with any questions.

  
  

  Registration:   Register here and e-mail Tony Pascuzzi @ izzucsap@yahoo.com

  
  

  Reference / Reservation links:

  ·        VA State Parks - https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/reservations

  ·        Eastern Shore Virginia Water Trails map - https://virginiawatertrails.org/eastern-shore/

  ·        Deep Zoom for currents and tides - https://www.deepzoom.com/

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• Michigan Tip of the Thumb/Turnip Rock Spring paddle

  • Start
    April 30, 2026
  • End
    May 03, 2026
  • Location
    Port Crescent State Park Campground
  • Registered
    16 registrants

  Tip of the Thumb/Turnip Rock Spring paddle

  TRIP IS FULL, CONTACT TRIP LEAD nordfamily@hotmail.com

  IF YOU WANT TO  BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST (see bottom of page)

  • ·       Sea Kayaking:  April 30 – May 3, 2026
  • ·       Trip Level L3
  • ·       Availability: 12 (16 capacity)
  • ·       Sponsors and Trip Leads: David & Susan Nord
  • ·       Assistant Leads: Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker

  Join us for a weekend of sea kayaking at Michigan’s “Tip of the Thumb”. Paddling opportunities include sandy beaches, low sandstone cliffs, an offshore lighthouse, shallow shipwreck viewing, and the iconic Turnip Rock.

  • Trip Info: This HCKC sponsored trip will likely include 2 day trips. Paddles will average 10-14 miles per day (weather permitting).  Water temperatures on Lake Huron in early May average about 50°F. Immersion protection will be required to participate, dry-suits are recommended.

  • NOTE: If the wind is up, this trip might offer participants casual opportunities to practice surf launching & landing, paddling in wind, turning in wind, draw strokes, rudder strokes (bow & stern), bracing, edging and boat control.  We hope to encourage some fun learning opportunities as we explore.

  LOGISTICS: We will camp in PORT CRESCENT STATE PARK:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/G8PJT6RTpQqRi3sK8

  Location	Campground	Check in	Check out	Reservation link
  Port Crescent, Michigan	Port Crescent State Park Campground	Thursday April 30th	Sunday May 3rd	https://midnrreservations.com/

  ·       PARTICIPANTS WILL NEED TO RESERVE THEIR OWN CAMPSITES

  ·       MAKE RESERVATIONS ASAP! PORT CRESCENT STATE PARK CAMPGROUND FILLS FAST!

  Candidate day trips (Friday and Saturday):

  1.     Turnip Rock

  a.     Route:  Eagle Bay-Turnip Rock-Lighthouse-Port Austin and back (14 miles)

  b.     20min drive from campground to Eagle Bay Kayak launch

  c.      Can be done as a 7-8 mile one way trip by leaving shuttle vehicles in Port Austin

  2.     Graffiti Rock

  a.     Route:  State Park Campground to Pinnebog River to Graffiti Rock and back (10-11 miles)

  Required Equipment:

                             I.          Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation.

                           II.          Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & whistle, spray skirt, pump, and paddle float

                          III.          Dry Suit, (or wetsuit and dry top at a minimum). The water will be cold and the air may not be that warm either.

                         IV.          VHF radio (recommended if you own one)

                           V.          Extra food and water, sunscreen, waterproof matches, headlamp, emergency blanket, first aid (especially epi-pens or required medications)

                         Day trips will be selected to minimize weather impact, but maximum conditions could be as described below:

  ·       Visiting the lighthouse involves a 1 to 1.5 mile open water crossing each way

  ·       There may be fishing boats/recreational traffic

  ·       There are limited landing opportunities due to private property (including Turnip Rock).

  ·       Winds up to 15 knots (17mph)

  ·       Waves up to 2 feet, plus confused wave patterns due to shallows extending far from the shoreline

  ·       Expect 4-6 hours of paddling each day

    Participants must be able to:

  o   Safely exit their kayak and participate in an assisted rescue in the above conditions

  o   Maintain a pace near 2.5-3.0 mph in L3 conditions in any wind or wave direction

  o   Perform a solo rescue in L3 conditions

  o   Paddle for up to 3 hours without landing

  o   Paddle for 10-14 miles per day

  Registration for every trip is conditional upon final approval by the Trip Leader. The Trip Leader may communicate with you to assess whether your skills & equipment are appropriate for the conditions.

  Registration:   Register here and e-mail David Nord @ nordfamily@hotmail.com

  WAITING LIST:

  1. Nava Segall
  2. Shail Pandya
     
  3. Bob Waddell & Patti Von Niessen

  
  

  Show details
• Wilderness First Ad

  • Start
    May 16, 2026
  • End
    May 17, 2026
  • Location
    Ft. Benjamin Harrison SP
  • Spaces left
    7
  • Registered
    12 registrants

  Register

  Wilderness First Aid SOLO

  This is a 2 Day Class May 16 & 17 2026

  Linda Decker: lsdecker2018@gmail.com

  WHY IS WILDERNESS FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING IMPORTANT?  Accidents and unexpected medical emergencies happen. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. People get hurt, sick, or lost. Would you know what to do?   Many backcountry and on-water emergencies are preventable, but when bad things happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things even worse. By learning how to quickly assess a person’s conditions and a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and a bad one-and maybe even save a life.

  WHO IS WILDERNESS FIRST AID (WFA) FOR?  The WFA is the perfect course for the outdoor enthusiast or trip leader who wants a basic level of first aid training for trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups.  The 2-day SOLO WFA certification meets the ACA guidelines.

  WHAT IS TAUGHT? The WFA class is 16-hours long (two days), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies, Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies. 

  CPR focuses on rapid response to Cardiac and Respiratory emergencies.

  Instructors: Danyele Green, 

  Saturday, May 16  9:00 am – 6:00 pm

  Sunday, May 17  9:00 am–6:00 pm (last hour will be CPR Recert)

  Location Fort Harrison State Park, Camp Glenn Rec. Building 701 (near the Visitor Center & Park Office).   We will send detailed directions to our venue about one week before the class.

  WHAT TO BRING –Participants should bring a sack lunch each day.  Beverages will be provided.  We will send out an e-mail with things that students should bring prior to the first class.

  HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

  Wilderness First Aid Course with CPR 

  HCKC Members $100      

  Note: There is a day entry fee for Fort Benjamin Harrison Park unless you have 2026 State Park Pass.

  
   The Registration will close at 20 participants

   IS THERE AN EXAM? Yes, there is ongoing evaluation of practical skills, and there are written assessments throughout the course.

  DO I GET CERTIFIED?  Yes. You will receive a SOLO WFA certification which is valid for two years.  You will earn a 2-year CPR certification if you complete the CPR class.  

  A new edition of the training book will be provided. CPR materials will be sent to participants prior to the class for review.

  For questions contact Linda Decker HCKC lsdecker2018@gmail.com

  
  

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• Open Water Rescue & Intermediate Skills

  • Start
    June 05, 2026
  • End
    June 07, 2026
  • Location
    Summit Lake State Park
  • Registered
    12 registrants

  Register

  Open Water Rescue & Intermediate Skills

  Friday June 5th - Sunday June 7th

  Location: Summit Lake State Park 

  Instructor Sponsors: Linda Decker & Jim Heichelbech

  Join us for a fun training weekend focusing on kayak skills and open water rescues. It is a great chance to get to know other paddlers, learn what to do in a rescue situation and improve your skills. If you can’t come for the weekend, come for the day you choose..

  Reserve Campsites Early. Registration is now open. Jim & Linda will be in site 38 Thurs-Sun

  Itinerary:

  Friday  June 5th Arrive to camp Options: afternoon paddle, practice rolling, group campfire

  Saturday June 6th Day will focus on rescues, towing, managing emergencies Launch Time tbd

  Sunday June 7th Intermediate Skills – strokes, edging, bracing,  Launch Time tbd

  Location: Summit Lake 5993 N. Messick Road New Castle, Indiana  South Boat Launch Near Harvey Shelter (Enter Park and go left at the T intersection and follow the signs to the boat launch)

  We will be practicing kayak handling and rescue techniques.  We will focus on how to manage your boat to keep from capsizing, and how to get yourself and your friends back into their boats when the inevitable happens in open water.  There will be plenty of time to work on strokes, bracing, balancing, towing, and rescues. 

  This clinic is an opportunity for new paddlers to learn open water rescue techniques and a chance for more experienced paddlers to compare techniques and practice them in a safe environment.  This clinic is important since kayakers need to regularly practice these skills, so they are “fresh” when we get into a real rescue situation.  You want to know how to get yourself or someone else back in their boat quickly and on your first attempt.   Open water paddlers should take this course before attempting any "big water" adventures.

  Rescue Course Content: 

  ·       Wet exiting your boat 

  ·       Solo Reentries (Paddle Float, Cowboy, Stirrup, Reenter and Roll) 

  ·       Assisted Reentries (T-Rescue, Scoop Rescue) 

  ·       Towing - contact tows, short tows, and regular tows. Will discuss when to start towing and when towing may be needed to assist a rescue (W will bring extra tow ropes if you don’t have one.)

  Communications During an Emergency 

  Required Equipment:

  ·       Touring or Sea Kayak - Kayak must have flotation in both bow and stern either sealed bulkheads or flotation bags

  ·       Spray Skirt

  ·       Life Jacket 

  Radio if you have one

  ·       Kayak Safety Gear - Bring the kayak safety gear that you normally carry:  pump, paddle float, stirrup, tow line.   Please do not buy this equipment just for this class since you can borrow from other participants to see what works for you before you buy.

  An Indiana DNR 2026 Non- Motorized Sticker is required for each boat $5 at the gate or can be ordered in advance online

  For questions contact:

  Linda Decker lsdecker2018@gmail.com

  Jim Heichelbech gem5610@gmail.com
  

  
  

  
  

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