Big Canoe Guide
Help Wanted Fall 2022
Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 876 "Voice of the Lower Mississippi River" Clarksdale, MS ~ Memphis, TN ~ Vicksburg, MS
Hullo Everybody! How do you do? We’re back in the big canoe, bringing the big river — to you!
After a two week downtime through the sizzling humid heat of mid-summer in the Deep South, Mark “River” Peoples, Heather “The Red” Crosse and I are now re-awakening and stretching our arms — while we dust off the paddles and repair the big canoes, and make plans for an exciting Fall. Schedule includes 3-day Yoga Retreat with yogi Erin Mulligan (Sept 9-11), Magic on the Mississippi with Dave & Emma Cornthwaite (Oct 16-23), Harmonica Jam Camp (Sept 20-24) and another wonderful season of the Community Canoe (Aug 20, Sept 3, Oct 8, Nov 26, and Dec 10). We’ll be adding in some Full Moon Canoes and hopefully an Artist’s Retreat, as the season progresses.
About Community Canoe: (Next one is Sat, Aug 20, 1-5pm) We love the balance and harmony the big canoe brings to the world… and there is no better way to share it than with your own community in your own big canoe! Paddle the Mississippi River with us — half price for educators, and free for youth under 18. Open to all. In partnership with the Lower Mississippi River Foundation. Saturday afternoons, round trip from Montezuma Landing or the Helena Harbor, one each month August through December.
Speaking of community, this upcoming weekend is the 34th annual Sunflower Blues & Gospel Festival (August 12, 13, and 14, 2022). We will have open hours Downtown Clarksdale on Friday and Saturday, for visiting and paddling the Sunflower River. If you don’t see us please call Mark River 662-902-1885 or John Ruskey 902-7841. For more information, please go to festival website: www.sunflowerfest.org
Big Canoe Guide: Help Wanted Fall 2022
We are looking for one (or two) guides to help us with an adventuresome fall on the big river. Candidates must have previous experience paddling canoe, kayak or paddleboards in big hydraulic situations with long open water crossings, and commercial traffic (for example, the Mississippi or Ohio Rivers, or the St. Lawrence Seaway, Puget Sound, San Fransisco Bay, or some similar waters). Also, looking for someone with a strong work ethic, and willing to work as team member in flotillas of voyageur style canoes on the biggest and baddest river in North America. Also — people skills, cooking skills, survival skills, and navigation skills. Previous experience working with kids a plus! We will train as needed.
Quapaw Canoe Company of Clarksdale is looking for one river-infected soul for help with guiding, outfitting, canoe & kayak maintenance, cooking, and many other responsibilities -- all in the mission of bringing good attention to the Lower Mississippi River -- the kind of appreciation only paddlers can bring from 18 inches of freeboard! Biggest and most beautiful sandbar campsites in this part of the world. Lots of mud and muddy situations
About Us: Quapaw Canoe Company is a mission-driven small business based in Clarksdale, Miss, with river outposts in Vicksburg, MS, and Memphis, TN (AKA Mississippi River Expeditions). We are dedicated to exploring and sharing the beauty and wildness of the Lower Mississippi River and its muddy tributaries in human-powered vessels. We are committed to passing on the love of the river to the next generation.
Services: We offer many types of service including guiding & outfitting, outdoor education, and canoe construction. Guides must be willing to tackle challenges and learn new skills. We will train as needed!
To Apply: Please send 1) current resume, 2) an essay describing your interest, 3) Three references (or letters of reference) and 4) personal letter to: John Ruskey, Quapaw Canoe Company, 291 Sunflower Avenue, Clarksdale, MS 38614, or by email to john@island63.com. Feel free to write at length. Feel free to send any other supporting materials to help us understand who you are and where your passion for the river comes from.
Contact: For more information, please contact:
John Ruskey
Quapaw Canoe Company
291 Sunflower Avenue
Clarksdale, MS 38614
www.island63.com
662-902-7841
john@island63.com or johnruskey@att.net
Links — you can click on the below for more information:
Worker Bees: We are the worker bees of the queen river. We are dedicated to sharing and protecting the Wild Places on the Big River through human-powered craft.
Mission: Quapaw Canoe Company provides high quality guiding & outfitting with canoes, kayaks and paddle boards on the raw wild power and beauty of the Lower Mississippi River for recreation, education, conservation, enlightenment and self-understanding.
Dream for Quapaw Canoe Company in 2022: "To share the raw, wild, power & beauty of the big river with patience, balance and compassion — for our clients, for the river, for all its creatures, and for our mother earth”
