Jonah Center: Canoe and Kayak Paddle on June 30

The Jonah Center for Earth and Art invites the public to a Saturday morning canoe and kayak paddle at high tide on the lower Mattabesset and Coginchaug Rivers, as well as the “Floating Meadows” where those two rivers converge. The tour departs from the boathouse ramp on the Connecticut River, next to Harbor Park in Middletown, on Saturday, June 30, at 9 a.m. Paddlers should return to the starting point within 3 hours after launching.

In addition to learning about the ecology of the river and freshwater tidal wetlands, participants will search for invasive and harmful water chestnut plants that have been found in other stretches of the river. Cynthia Boettner, an invasive plant specialist from the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge will be our guide for this effort. Participants will also be encouraged to pick up plastic bottles, cans, and other debris as part of the Jonah Center’s ongoing effort to beautify and protect our local waterways. Paddlers need to provide their own boats, paddles, drinking water, sunscreen, and life jackets. 

Also, thanks to the Jonah Center’s partnership with the North End Action Team (NEAT) and several generous sponsors, a group of fourth graders from Macdonough School in Middletown will be on board to explore this scenic waterway that surrounds their neighborhood.

Advance registration is requested but not strictly required. Visit www.thejonahcenter.org and click “send us a message” or call 860-398-3771. To help cover insurance costs for this event, each participant is asked to make a $10 donation to the Jonah Center. In case of cancellation due to bad weather, the trip will be held on July 14 at 9 a.m.