Mid-Hudson ADK holds 11th Annual PaddleFest on June 8th

Mid-Hudson ADK holds 11th Annual PaddleFest on June 8th The PaddleFest is back! Grab a paddle and get cool. The Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) will hold its 11th annual PaddleFest on Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Plum Point Park in New Windsor, NY, from 10 AM to 4 PM. (Rain or shine - the Lodge will be open.) ADK members, as well as, the public are expected to attend. The Chapter warmly encourages the public to attend. All activities are free. This is a family day for those who have never paddled and who wish to see what all the excitement is about. There will also be activities for more experienced paddlers. There will be free kayak and canoe instruction for beginners, as well as, free kayak lessons for experienced paddlers. Boats and gear will be provided for the beginner lessons and sign-up will be on site. Beginners should wear shoes and clothing that can get wet. (Synthetic fabrics dry much faster than cotton and are more comfortable when wet.) For the more advanced lessons, kayakers will need to bring their own boats and gear and sign-up in advance at The River Connection (see below). There will be a wide variety of kayaks for beginners to practice what they've learned in their lessons or just with which to do their own thing. There will also be guided paddling trips on the Hudson River and up Moodna Creek, some will be accompanied with a presentation on the ecology of the river. Some trips will be for experienced paddlers with their own boats and gear. On other trips, boats and gear will be furnished, as these trips will be for first-timers and novice paddlers. Have you ever wondered what lurks below the water's surface? Seine netting will offer you a peek at exactly what lives in the Hudson River. A licensed NYS Guide will present a hands-on demonstration on kayak-camping, e.g. types of boats, paddles and what a campsite might look like. There will be a paddling-camping-hiking used gear sale. Vendors (ADK members & non-members) of used gear are welcome, but need to pre-register with Ralph at ralphpollard@verizon.net (preferred) or 845-462-3389. Bring a picnic or BBQ lunch. Grills and picnic tables are on site. Otherwise, you can buy dogs, burgers, soda, etc. Visit www.midhudsonadk.org/paddlefest for driving directions and more information. PaddleFest is brought to you by members of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of Adirondack Mtn. Club (www.midhudsonadk.org), with the generous and expert assistance of Eastern Mtn. Sports (EMS) in Poughkeepsie, NY (845-463-3207; E0139ST@ems.com), The River Connection in Hyde Park, NY (845-229-0595; 845-242-4731; marshall@the-river-connection.com; www.the-river-connection.com) and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Staatsburg, NY (845-889-4745; jgherrin@gw.dec.state.ny.us; www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4915.html). Mid-Hudson Subaru in Wappingers Falls, NY (845-296-1152; fsantoianni@gmail.com; www.midhudsonsubaru.com) is a generous and proud financial sponsor of PaddleFest. Questions can be addressed to Russ at 845-297-5126 (before 9 PM) or russoutdoors@yahoo.com.