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About Us
Paddlers for Conservation-Kayak and Canoe Club We are a nonprofit 501(c) 3, volunteer based organization dedicated to promoting paddling, education and conservation. Our mission is to restore and enhance the Tippecanoe River, and Kosciusko county lakes and streams through hands on environmental stewardship in order to preserve our rivers, lakes and streams for the future. We aim to bring the community together through various cleanup projects and organizing family fun float trips which will foster a healthier environment and instill positive friendships amongst our members and community. |
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How P4C Got Started
A group of friends would get together and float the Eel River in North Manchester, Indiana. Eel River was clean and had various spots to put in and take out. After giving some thought to how nice it would be to float our own Tippecanoe River and area streams we decided to start cleaning them. In May of 2015 we rounded up a few volunteers and provided more than 250 hours toward removing log jams and trash in the upper Tippecanoe River starting at the Oswego bridge and continuing to SR 15. There was a total of 79 downed trees and more than 6 truckloads of trash removed during this effort. In 2016 this group had identified their goals, established a plan of action and incorporated as a non-profit group called Paddlers for Conservation (P4C Paddle Club, Inc.). We also partnered with Center for Lakes and Streams through Grace College. Now the hard work begins.
One of P4C's first and biggest projects is to create a clean paddle trail on the Tippecanoe River and its creeks from Tippecanoe Lake to SR 19 (Kosciusko Counties West border) that would increase awareness of this treasure we call Tippecanoe River. Locals and visitors will be able to trace the curves of the Tippecanoe River and its tributaries, discovering the variety of wildlife and habitats it has to offer and experience the unseen sights.
One of P4C's first and biggest projects is to create a clean paddle trail on the Tippecanoe River and its creeks from Tippecanoe Lake to SR 19 (Kosciusko Counties West border) that would increase awareness of this treasure we call Tippecanoe River. Locals and visitors will be able to trace the curves of the Tippecanoe River and its tributaries, discovering the variety of wildlife and habitats it has to offer and experience the unseen sights.
2016 Summary of Accomplishments
P4C Paddlers for Conservation wishes to extend our appreciation to all of our great volunteers and partners for your support this year. We would like to provide you with a summary of activities P4C organized and completed in 2016 with your help.
-2016 was a big year for P4C, as we went from an idea to forming a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization. During 2016 we received more
than 75 paid members including both family and individual memberships from interested paddlers to conservation minded people.
-We completed 5 river cleanup days from May to late September totaling 40.5 hours, 77 volunteers, and a total of 3,118.5 total man hours. The tremendous support for our cause and interest in the community far exceeded our expectations.
-We removed 110 log jams, 23 tires, 34 bags of trash and numerous items including, refrigerator doors, toilet, bicycles, a metal dog crate.
-We supported the 2016 Lakes Festival and help coordinate Kayak for Kids event that provided an opportunity for kids, many of whom had never been in a kayak or canoe, a chance to experience it for the first time. We also conducted Paddle Wars competition on Center Lake that involved 26 teams of paddlers in a tug of war contest to promote our groups efforts to encourage paddling on the Tippecanoe River.
-In late October we partnered with the Washington School STEM Academy to provide opportunity for students and their parents to learn about promoting environmental awareness and stewardship of our waterways by leading them on a guided float trip on a stretch of the newly cleaned Tippecanoe River just outside Warsaw, IN
-We participated in the July and August "First Friday's" Event sponsored by City of Warsaw gaining 12 new members and provided a venue to give away one of our kayaks as a promotional effort to gain new members.
-We conducted monthly float trips over the course of 2016 including trips to the Fawn River, Pigeon River, St. Joseph River, Eel River and the Tippecanoe River. These events provided more than 50 people with an opportunity to see some of our nearby streams in Indiana and lower Michigan and increase our membership, provided educational opportunities, and introduce them to some of the natural resources here in our nearby backyard.
Again P4C wants to thank everyone who was a part of this great year, and looking forward to an even bigger and better 2017
-2016 was a big year for P4C, as we went from an idea to forming a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization. During 2016 we received more
than 75 paid members including both family and individual memberships from interested paddlers to conservation minded people.
-We completed 5 river cleanup days from May to late September totaling 40.5 hours, 77 volunteers, and a total of 3,118.5 total man hours. The tremendous support for our cause and interest in the community far exceeded our expectations.
-We removed 110 log jams, 23 tires, 34 bags of trash and numerous items including, refrigerator doors, toilet, bicycles, a metal dog crate.
-We supported the 2016 Lakes Festival and help coordinate Kayak for Kids event that provided an opportunity for kids, many of whom had never been in a kayak or canoe, a chance to experience it for the first time. We also conducted Paddle Wars competition on Center Lake that involved 26 teams of paddlers in a tug of war contest to promote our groups efforts to encourage paddling on the Tippecanoe River.
-In late October we partnered with the Washington School STEM Academy to provide opportunity for students and their parents to learn about promoting environmental awareness and stewardship of our waterways by leading them on a guided float trip on a stretch of the newly cleaned Tippecanoe River just outside Warsaw, IN
-We participated in the July and August "First Friday's" Event sponsored by City of Warsaw gaining 12 new members and provided a venue to give away one of our kayaks as a promotional effort to gain new members.
-We conducted monthly float trips over the course of 2016 including trips to the Fawn River, Pigeon River, St. Joseph River, Eel River and the Tippecanoe River. These events provided more than 50 people with an opportunity to see some of our nearby streams in Indiana and lower Michigan and increase our membership, provided educational opportunities, and introduce them to some of the natural resources here in our nearby backyard.
Again P4C wants to thank everyone who was a part of this great year, and looking forward to an even bigger and better 2017
PADDLE WITHOUT POLLUTION
