Time To Get Outside And Canoe

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve  photo of participants in a previous canoe program

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – March 16, 2012

Doesn’t this weather make you feel like you want to get outside? The spring is a wonderful time of the year for passive boating, i.e. canoeing and kayaking. There are very few power boats on the river.

Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation is providing a great outdoor experience this spring right in our backyard. Anyone who has ever wished to canoe and camp will not have a better opportunity than this. Dinner, breakfast and lunch will be provided as well as canoeing equipment and basic camping gear. Canoe instruction will be provided for those who have not canoed before.  A personal packing list will be explained upon registration.

In recognition of Earth Day weekend (Saturday, April 21^st  to Sunday, April 22^nd), join Mecklenburg County Nature Preserves and Natural Resources Guides Kelly Alford and Trevor Hudspeth for canoeing and clean-up along the shoreline of Mountain Island Lake. Time will be spent talking about the Catawba watershed and its importance to us.   

After a day of paddling, enjoy a night of camping near the shore of the lake. The clean-up effort and more canoeing will continue Sunday morning before everyone returns to Latta Plantation Nature Center.

The cost is $35 per person.  Participants must be 18 years and older. For the latest details and to register call Latta Plantation Nature Center at 704-875-1391. The course number is 31190.

Don’t miss this opportunity to help keep this beautiful lake pristine, to learn about its value to the community, to enjoy its beauty and all its amenities.  The birds are migrating at this time of the year, and Mountain Island Lake is a rest stop for many of them on their way to other destinations.

About Alice Battle – Alice lives on Mountain Island Lake has served on numerous groups devoted to protecting the lake, including the Duke Energy Relicensing stakeholders group. She currently is Lakekeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.