A Community that Canoes Together...
~ Community Canoe Trips ~ Artist Retreats ~ Spring 2022 ~
This weekend: Pop-Up Community Canoe! this Saturday, March 5th, meet 1pm at Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale! Sunny and warm, maybe windy, high of 79, south wind 5-15, gusting to 25mph. Advance reservations required. 18 maximum. 1-5pm, $50 each, $25 educators, free for kids under 18 y/o. All paddle together, no previous experience necessary, but must be willing to paddle, and must wear life jacket! See below for complete details.
A community that canoes together, stays together: the balance of the canoe is a life lesson for balance, teamwork, and harmony.
Community Canoe Trips ~ Spring 2022
Monthly Adventures to Historic Mississippi River Archipelago in Voyageur Canoes
**Made possible by the deep, dedicated vision of the Lower Mississippi River Foundation (which many of you help support — go here for making your annual contribution!)**
All aboard y'all for some River Time! LMRD #864, Thursday, Mar 3, 2022 ~~Quapaw Canoe Company~~ Memphis ~ Clarksdale ~ Vicksburg
Announcing Six Upcoming Quapaw Adventures for Spring 2022:
Sat, Mar 5, Community Canoe Montezuma Island, 1pm-5pm — meet at 1pm Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale!
Mar 21-25, Barrier Islands Adventure, from Gulfport, MS — for adventurers, naturalists, and artists of any type. 5 days along chain of remote barrier islands in big water voyageur canoe.
Sat, April 16, Community Canoe Montezuma Island, 1pm-5pm — meet at 1pm Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale!
April 11-15, Mississippi River Artist’s Retreat, on remote mid-channel island paradise — for adventurers, naturalists, and artists of any type. 5 blissful days enveloped by the creative inspiration of the Lower Mississippi.
Sat, May 7, Community Canoe Montezuma Island, 1pm-5pm — meet at 1pm Quapaw Canoe Company in downtown Clarksdale!
May 9-13, Mississippi River Artist’s Retreat, on remote mid-channel island paradise — for adventurers, naturalists, and artists of any type. 5 blissful days enveloped by the creative inspiration of the Lower Mississippi.
Community Canoe Trips, Spring 2022:
Quapaw Canoe Company is happy to announce Spring 2022 community canoe trips on the Mississippi River! Come join us for a beautiful day in nature, and on the sandbar. Community Canoe daytrips to continue every month throughout the Spring of 2022. More details below.
What: Community Canoe daytrips are outfitted by Quapaw Canoe Company, presented in partnership with the Lower Mississippi River Foundation. Jump on board the big canoe and reconnect with the Mississippi River! This trip is open to anyone to sign up, and an opportunity to experience the pristine beauty of the Mississippi River wilderness. No previous experience necessary. Everyone paddles together in our big canoes with guides. Must be willing to paddle — sometimes hard paddling necessary.
The destination* for this trip is usually the Montezuma Islands (*unless the weather or river levels are unfavorable; if so trip will go to another beautiful wild location.)
The Montezuma Islands are an archipelago of Mississippi River Islands with big beaches, swim holes, birds, turtles, and other wildlife, which afford an incredible variety of giant sandbars, wetlands, gravel/fossil bars, deep willow forests, and miles of beaches to swim from or walk along—a little bit of everything!Â
West Montezuma Island was created by the 1837 sinking of the steamboat by the same name. It is found above Kangaroo Point, about halfway in between Friars Point and Helena, AR.Â
Who: This trip is open to anyone! Come join us over the levee for some quality time with nature, friends, and community!
When: One Saturday each month. Gather at 1pm at the Quapaw Canoe Company headquarters in downtown Clarksdale at noon, and then follow us out to Montezuma Landing.
Pricing:
Adults - $50
Educators - $25
Children under 18: free, accompanied by parents or guardians
Post-Pandemic Precautions: All outdoor event. Must drive your own vehicle to landing and bring your own food. Handwashing station available. At base, mask up indoors and no handshakes, hugs, etc.
To reserve your seat on any of the Community Canoe Adventures, contact:
John Ruskey 662-902-7841 john@island63.com
Community Canoe Schedule:
1pm - Meet at
Quapaw Canoe Company 291 Sunflower Avenue Clarksdale, MSÂ 38614
1:30pm - Shuttle to river
2pm - Put in at Montezuma Landing
3pm - Arrival at Montezuma Island - exploration, play and activities.
5pm - Take out at Montezuma Landing
Where: Over the levee, on the majestic Mississippi River! Start at Montezuma Landing, round trip returning to the same spot.
Why: There are many great reasons to go on the Mississippi River, and each person comes away with their own unique experience and appreciation. Here are some things you may expect to see on your trip. (photos by Jean-Canôt AKA Stephen Walker)
Community Canoe Pricing:
$50 per person.
$25 for educators
Free for kids under 18 accompanied by a parent.
A great deal for an unforgettable experience on the largest mightiest river in North America!
Payment by cash or check required to hold seat. You can make full payment now to reserve your seat.  Send check to Quapaw Canoe Company, 291 Sunflower Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614. If by credit card, let us know and we will send Paypal Billing (at 3% PP bank fee).
Refund Policy:Â
Payment refundable if weather gets bad, emergency, or other unforeseeable act of god. Or you can postpone to future date. Payment is not refundable should you decide to change your mind for some other personal reason.\
Packing List
Each person should pack:
water bottle(s)
snacks
sun protection (Hat sunscreen, sunglasses)
sandals/shoes that can get muddy and wet
Warm clothes as needed on Cool or Rainy Days:
gloves or mittens
scarf
warm hat
sweater or fleece
wind/rain jacket
Optional:
cell phone
camera
bird book
binoculars
Safety Protocols
Our Covid-19 Post-Pandemic Measures:Â
We are using virus-era protocol for safety: 1) clients are doing their own shuttling and 2) providing their own food. We are setting up hand washing station at landings and all stop places on trip. No hugs or handshakes. Practice safe CDC protocol with hand sanitation, use face masks in enclosed indoor places, and etc, and etc. If you are virus positive, or have been in recent contact with someone, stay home! we have adopted some simple but effective measures to minimize C19 issues, and so far it is working. We’ve been doing trips, and doing them successfully with the following protocols:Â
1) All guides and Mighty Quapaw staff have received double dose of moderna vaccine and booster
2) We have been making round trips from specific landings, so there is no close contact in a shuttle vehicle. You drive your vehicles, we drive ours.
3) Do your own food. Bring and prepare your own meals and snacks, for extra safety. If you prefer us to prepare, we will do so carefully and thoughtfully.
4) Set up a hand-washing station at all landings and at lunch spot, with soap and water.
5) At base, on land where we meet to pack & prepare trip, we wear masks indoors, and do not shake hands, or hug, or any other direct contact. Maintain 6’ distance.
Ok, I’m in! How do I sign up?
To sign up, contact:
John Ruskey 662-902-7841 — or Mark River 662-902-1885 — or Jean Canôt 651-895-0115 — or Solange Fraser 612-390-1503
Anything else?
Once you go paddling on the Mississippi you are part of a pretty special club. A club that knows how magical the river is, and how much it needs protection.  We need more people in the club! That's why we're hosting community canoe trips at Montezuma Landing, which is located halfway in between Helena, AR, and Clarksdale, MS, every month. If you've never been out on the river before this is the perfect opportunity to test it out. If you've been before, come back and bring a friend!
Stay caught up on future community paddles on our Substack newsletter: quapaw.substack.com
Facebook page: facebook.com/QuapawCanoeCompany
By following, you’ll receive updates for our future community paddles and other exciting events at Quapaw Canoe Company!
Thank you for your attention to our beloved Momma Mississsippi! See you on the river!
**Community Canoe** and **Miss River Summer Youth Camps** are made possible by the deep, dedicated vision of the Lower Mississippi River Foundation (which many of you help support — thank you! — if you’d like to show your support for this little known but very efficient and effective non-profit organization, Please go here for making your annual contribution!)**
