Events

We remove on average 400,000-500,000 lbs of trash per year. 

As sea kayakers, we love our waters! But ever feel discouraged, wondering what we, or anyone, can do to help they stay healthy? We’ve got a special guest this month talking about just that.

Mike Coyne-Logan will share with us the incredible work Living Lands & Waters is doing to clean up our waterways while educating volunteers and students about our impact on these precious ecosystems and resources.

Learn:

1. The history and mission of Living Lands and Waters (known as the largest “industrial strength” river cleanup operation in the United States.) We remove on average 400,000-500,000 lbs of trash per year.  
2. Life living on a barge for 7-9 months out of the year.
3. The importance and value of rivers.
4. The negative impact of plastics on river and ocean ecosystems.
5. What we can all do on a daily basis to help keep rivers clean.

Mike Coyne-Logan (Senior Programs Manager/ Education Facilitator) began as a volunteer for Living Lands and Waters in 2005 and was asked to join the crew in 2007.  Mike graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in history and teaching. Before joining the Living Lands and Waters team, he worked as a teacher in his hometown of Rock Island, IL. He lives on the barge 7-9months out of the year on and off working as both crew member and classroom educator on the floating classroom.   

Zoom Meeting – Link in the Calendar upon registration.

Off-water education meetings are free and open to all, member or not.

Peggy O’Neal will be sharing the story of her kayaking trip on the west coast of Greenland in August 2025. Starting from Uummannaq, the group spent 12 days exploring the fjords and islands to the east.  The glaciers and icebergs, arctic light, severe mountain and fjord landscapes, whales, and sea birds make it a unique destination – unforgiving and beautiful.

Off-Water Education programs are free and open to the public.

Join us at REI to sharpen your navigation skills.

Sam Grubisich will teach a hands-on lesson with chart & compass to get you ready for your next adventure. A must if you’re planning to paddle in Voyageurs National Park or the Apostle Islands, two of our club favorites!

Doors at 6:15. Presentation at 6:30.

Open and free to all.

Steve Lindeman & Laura Butterbaugh will lead this class, drawing on their years of kayak camping and kayak cooking experience.

Doors at 6:15. Presentation at 6:30.

Open and free to all.

ISK member and long-time yoga instructor, Alida, will lead a class of yoga poses suitable for everyone. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for yoga postures. Bring your own yoga mat. A smaller towel is recommended for positioning under knees for added comfort.

Variations will be given for beginner and intermediate options.

Off-water education meetings are free and open to all, member or not.

Bring cleaning materials and stands if you got’m. We have limited supplies but always willing share. Some stands, buffing tools for wax application and removal are available but BYO if you have one. Let’s Make’m Sparkle!

Small lunch provided about noon 1301 E Cliff Road (NW overhead door).
We are asking folks to register so plans can be made. No registration fee.

Join us at REI for ISK member, Sam Johnson’s talk, No Refuge Alone.

A “fairly intermediate kayaker,” Sam paddled solo from St. Paul to Hudson Bay for the adventure of a lifetime. He credits the local paddling community with keeping him alive!

All Minnesotan: Sam was born in Minneapolis, raised in Hutchinson, educated in Saint Paul. Went to Saint Thomas for philosophy and music and the U of MN for a masters in nonprofit management. Now he manages community development grants for the City of Minneapolis.

Off-water education meetings are free and open to all, member or not.

Ready to get off the mainland? See some other islands? Put on some more miles over 4 days of paddling? Want to put that ultralight stove and tent to use?

• This trip will begin with a pre-trip paddle on Lake Minnetonka.
• We’ll overnight on the mainland at Little Sand Bay. Come up after work on Wednesday and prepare for a morning launch on Thursday.
• We’ll paddle to Stockton Island, where we’ll camp for 3 nights.
• Friday and Saturday, we’ll have day trip paddles, exploring islands we don’t typically reach on club trips, like Michigan, Manitou, Ironwood, and Cat. Take a day to rest or paddle every day. Trips will be planned according to weather and conditions.
• On Sunday, we’ll paddle back to Little Sand Bay early enough to drive back to the Cities the same day.

This is an ISK Level 4 trip. Details and trip requirements are on the event calendar. Click the Register button for all the info!

Join us for two glorious nights in Jay Cooke State Park. We’ll have a full day of paddling on the estuary, below the dam and before the mouth of Lake Superior. With shoreline on the MN and WI sides, lots of bays to explore, and sunny, open water, you’re sure to enjoy this trip.

Last year’s group loved the traffic-free paddling on a week day and easy parking at launch sites. Come on Sunday, paddle all day Monday, possible morning paddle on Tuesday before departing.

Want to know more about this trip? See the trip report from last year.

Inland Sea Kayakers is dedicated to giving back to our beautiful water ways. This spring we’ll host a day paddle on the Mississippi and clean up as we go. Enjoy a leisurely paddle as we weave along the shoreline, collecting all the flotsam and jetsam we can.