343 days left until Canoecopia!     March 7 - 9
Canoecopia is presented by


Presenting Sponsor





Location
Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Way
Madison, Wisconsin

Show Hours
Friday: 3 PM to 8 PM
Saturday: 9 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Tickets
1-Day: $15.00
3-Day: $30.00
Ages 17 and under are FREE
Cash or check only for tickets purchased at the event

Parking Fees
1-Day: $8.00
Cash or credit, fees collected by Alliant Energy Center

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2024 Presentations by Category
History

Vic Foerster
 Hidden in the Trees, An Isle Royale Sojourn
   Algonquin - main floor Fri 5:30pm-6:15pm 
Remote, insulated from man’s influence by the frigid waters of Lake Superior, and protected by the National Park Service, Isle Royale doubles as a wilderness escape for outdoor enthusiasts and as one of the foremost outdoor laboratories in the world for wildlife studies. As such, in 1984, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization designated Isle Royale a world biosphere reserve.

Award-winning Author / Arborist Vic Foerster will share with us his many years
... Read More



Mark Neuzil
 The Natural History of the Canoe in North America
   Bear - upstairs Sat 2:30pm-3:15pm 
Canoes are among the oldest artifacts found on the North American continent. The story of this important vehicle is told from dugouts, birch barks, wood, wood-and-canvas, and synthetic boats from ancient times to the present day. After thousands of years, the basic design has endured, a testament to the skills of the engineers who created it in the first place. It exists as one of only two major feats of design that was not changed upon white settlement starting in the 15th century.



Zorbari Nwidor, Tia Coats, Noah Viner
 From Underground to Water Trail: Blue Spaces for Black Faces
   Bear - upstairs Sat 10:30am-11:15am 
This presentation will go into the history of the African American heritage trail, its ties to the Underground Railroad, the mission to make outdoor spaces more accessible to people of color, and how restorative justice has been a key component to reclaiming and sustaining these spaces. We will discuss the history, impact, and importance of this 7-mile water trail that starts on the South Side of Chicago and ends in Dolton, Illinois, touching neighborhoods like Golden Gate, Riverside Village, ... Read More



Jeff Rennicke
 Paddling the Darkest Skies
   Bear - upstairs Sat 9:30am-10:15am 
It is as ancient as humans in the wilderness, looking up at the boundless infinity of the stars. But, it is also an endangered resource. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore has some of the darkest skies in the upper Midwest. In this star-filled presentation, Jeff Rennicke, Executive Director of Friends of the Apostle Islands, shares stories of being on Lake Superior under the stars, beneath the northern lights, and the organization’s efforts to preserve the experience for others. From ... Read More



Jonathan Ringdahl, Al Fairfield
 Discovering the geology of Door County and The Apostle Islands
   Algonquin - main floor Sat 9:30am-10:15am 
We get it, a lot of us struggle with trying to understand how to make rocks cool or interesting. The truth is, everyone loves paddling along scenic cliffs and among islands. There is a story in those rocks that can enhance our appreciation of some of our favorite paddling destinations. Come explore the geology of Door County and the Apostle Islands with Johnathan and Al to discover how geology is the foundation of what makes these destinations unique. It took hundreds of millions of years to ... Read More



Amy Rosebrough
 Opening the Door: The Ghost Ports of Door County
   Caribou - upstairs Fri 6:30pm-7:15pm 
Door County is renowned for its scenic paddling and stunning coastlines. In the 19th century, those quiet coastlines were the scene of bustling activity, with nearly 70 ports exporting timber, stone, and other goods and bringing in Euro-American farming and working families. Most of the small ports have vanished into history, but some have left echoes behind. The remains of some of the most spectacular of Door County’s Lake Michigan ghost ports are accessible to paddlers and visitors, and lie ... Read More



Tamara Thomsen, Sissel Schroeder
 The Wisconsin Dugout Canoe Project
   Caribou - upstairs Sat 11:30am-12:15pm 
As a result of an intensive effort to trace more than 90 dugout canoes reported from Wisconsin, we searched local museums, historical societies, and private collections across the state, and through scuba-diving expeditions. Wisconsin dugouts have a wide variation in style and manufacturing techniques and range in age from more than 4000 years old to the early 20th century. Canoes were made from varying wood types and those that date to the last 2,000 years correlate with the 19th century ... Read More



Perry Whitaker
 Paddling the Middle Mississippi River: Native Americans, Early Explorers, and Steamboats
   Bear - upstairs Fri 5:30pm-6:15pm 
The 2,300-mile-long Mighty Mississippi has played a crucial role in the growth of the United States. The 200-mile section from the confluence of the Missouri River near St Louis, MO, to the confluence of the Ohio River at Cairo, IL, is referred to as the Middle Mississippi, and there you’ll encounter thousands of years of history! On that stretch of the River you’ll pass Civil War sites, countless steamboat wrecks, historic Native American villages, ghost towns, French forts, and encounter an ... Read More