At the ACA’s Sugar Island Annual Encampment from July 26 – August 7 this year, we enjoyed getting to know staff members Jeremy and Helen Oyen and family as well as ACA Board President Kirk Havens and family. They joined the other families camping with young children.
It was especially about the children! The island kayaks for children were used constantly by families to introduce the small ones to kayaking. The children’s’ crafts program was a big hit thanks to Bonnie Rhoades and helpers. At Colors we had great help from the children especially those who are Scouts who did well handling the flags and folding them.
The paddling and canoe sailing made it all a fun ACA vacation! The Washington Canoe Club members made several impressive two mile crossings in open canoes in high winds from the mainland to Sugar. The great weather every day with some wind kept the mosquitoes away for the most part. It was a banner year for International Canoe sailors from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and California. World champion Chris Maas, from San Juan Islands in Washington state, won most of the antique trophies! There were open canoe sailors too; Larry Haff was the main trophy winner.
Lew Mengersen did a wonderful job handling the Encampment. Leslie Mengersen, Scott, Jason and Robin Andrews and Dave Walsh did a tremendous job preparing the Camp Dinner, which was a wonderfull gathering with guests. Our special guest, Don Ross, Executive Director of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, from Ontario, talked about the region’s biodiversity and their new website.
Our next event at Sugar Island will be the Just Paddle sea kayak get-together
on Sept 5-6, Labor Day weekend!
You can also learn more about Sugar Island by dropping by their exhibit booth at the upcoming ACA National Paddlesports Conference.
Marilyn Vogel
Chairperson - Sugar Island Trustees
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Bathmate