Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group (Nonprofit Org)
A Paddle Through the Lotus Blossoms! Turner's Creek County and Sassafras Natural Resource Management Area -- Featuring an Amazing Flatwater Guided Paddle Trip through the Heart of the DC Area’s Oldest and Largest Single Living Organism with Optional Picnic Followed by a Stroll Along the Rivers Beach and Unique Historical Sites Including the Historic Visitor Center! (Trip B)
After the Paddle, We Welcome You to Join Us for a Picnic, Beach Stroll with Options to Visit the Museum and Historical Buildings for a Full Day of Fun!
Turner's Creek County Park has a variety of facilities including a picnic pavilion, trails, a historic tree grove and restroom facilities. A boat ramp (the one we have arranged to use) is available for launching small crafts, kayaks/canoes. Fishing is also available along the shoreline at the ramp so keep this in mind if you are staying for our post paddle picnic! Sassafras Natural Resources Management Area is located along the scenic banks of the Sassafras River and Turner's Creek in Kent County and operated by the Maryland Park Service. The area is noted for the spectacular views of the Sassafras River and the Chesapeake Bay from the high banks that face toward the South.
This Event is a First Time/Newbie Paddler Friendly Flatwater Guided Paddle Trip and Picnic with Options to Stroll Along the Rivers Beach, Visit Historical Sites and the Historic Visitor Center
The Lotus Blooms
Nelumbo lutea, the American Lotus, called yanquapin by Native Americans, is a colony plant that favors secluded tidal waterway. In summer, their showy white flowers tower over the tidal backwaters of the Sassafras River on Maryland's Eastern Shore, near where the river flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
Paddling through the Lotus colony is — for lack of a better description—really cool. Why? Well, one reason it is because the Lotus is an "emergent" aquatic plant, meaning that while its roots are anchored in the mud, its large blue-green circular leaves and head-sized flowers emerge above the water's surface. This means that you can literally paddle under a lotus plant. Making the experience even cooler still is the fact that Lotus have an unusual method of reproduction. Its seeds may remain dormant for more than a century before they germinate! When a seed germinates, the plant sends out underground stems (called rhizomes) that produce new identical plants. Consequently, a "population" of Lotus can actually be a single--yet ridiculously enormous--plant. And by ridiculously enormous, I mean acres in size, as much as a mile of lotus flowers and leaves connected by a network of rhizomes.
— So, that means you get to paddle, not so much under the lotus plant, but rather THROUGH it without any damage to them!
How Do I Reserve a Boat if I Do Not Own One?
We have been using our vendor for nearly a decade for this particular trip. Each trip has been a ton of fun for everyone while also being very reliable, well-organized, and professional. Like most vendors, they do not typically deliver boats out to this particular location. They most generously make an exception out of special consideration of this event being a fundraiser for the MAHG charity. They have been a long time supporter of MAHG and our mission. We are most grateful for their many years of reliable support and assistance that makes this most spectacular trip possible! Please note that there is not an onsite rental facility.
What You Get and Rental Rates:
We have reserved 20 kayaks that are available to rent on a first come first serve basis and the cost includes the boat, paddle, PFD, and because Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is an IRS approved non-profit 401(c)(3) charity (also, hint-hint - all donations to MAHG are tax-deductible because we are a charity) and also tax exempt, so there is no sales tax. Additionally, they are waiving their usual 15.00 dollar delivery fee and providing free delivery of the boats.15.00 dollars.
Delivery fee: $0.00 -- Because this paddle trip is a fundraiser for the MAHG charity, the usual $15.00 delivery fee is being waived by the vendor for this particular trip!
The boats are delivered to us at the launch location and, should anyone, first timer or experienced, want some assistance we are here to help you "launch" your boat.
Kayak Rental Fee: $40 - Single Person Kayak - (No tax or Delivery Charge) - Price includes boat delivery, paddle, personal flotation device (PFD), and basic paddle instruction for those needing it.
Kayak Rental Fee: $60 - A Two Person (Tandem) Kayak - (No tax or Delivery Charge) - Price includes boat delivery, 2 paddles, 2 personal flotation device (PFD), and basic paddle instruction for those needing it.
***Contact MAHG at 240.393.7640 and speak to Kellie to reserve your boat(s). Please note that over the past several years this event fills very quickly and space is limited. Reservations are made on a first come first serve basis.***
Post Event Picnic
Pack a meal to enjoy a picnic after the paddle! Picnicking is available at two locations. We can take a break for lunch at Knock's Folly in the picnic grove or the small pavilion by the pond near the parking area. Picnic tables and a pavilion are available at Turner's Creek County Park which shares a boundary with Sassafras National Resource Management Area where we will be so it is very convenient and just a short distance from Knock's Folly. Restroom facilities are available at Turner's Creek County Park or the vault toilet at the pond. We will decide as a group where to picnic after the paddle.
Post-Picnic Beach Stroll
Since our tummies will be full, let's take a nice stroll along the beach and enjoy the Kent Museum! All the sites we will be enjoying today are all located within in the Sassafras National Resource Management Area. One of the trails will take us to the river's edge where we then walk along the shore until we reach the lotus pond! A nice relaxing post-meal stroll, just right...
Historical Structures and Visitor Center
Also, there are two historic buildings at Turners Creek to check out as well. The Lathim House, a wooden dwelling was at one time a store for the local community and was built in the early 1700’s. The other historic building is the Granary that is located along the landing at Turners Creek. It was at one time used to house grain and crops for local farmers. Sail and Steam powered cargo ships would make scheduled stops and haul the grains to Baltimore or other markets along the Chesapeake Bay.
Paddle Trip Information
Activity Type: Kayak/Canoe - A Novice/Newbie Paddler Friendly Guided Flatwater Paddle Trip and Picnic with Options to Stroll Along the Rivers Beach, Visit the areas Many Interesting Historical Sites and a Visit to the Historic Visitor Center
Nearby City: Kennedyville, MD
Length: About 4 Miles of Flatwater Paddling and Appropriate for First Time and Experienced Paddlers. Note that this trip provides plenty of early exit opportunities.
Approximate Paddling Time: About 3 hours for proper time to enjoy the experience, however, this trip offers several early exit opportunities.
Water Type: Flatwater
Difficulty: Beginner and Easy and Fantastic for First Time and Experienced Paddlers
Facilities: Restroom facilities are available at Turner's Creek County Park, and there is also a vault toilet near the launch site.
Park Entry Fee
There is no park entrance fee.
Gear Requirements
Be sure to secure a boat BEFORE you RSVP for the paddle trip as this special trip is a non-refundable fundraising event. You must have a kayak or canoe, paddle, and a personal flotation device to attend. Pack a lunch if joining us for the post-paddle picnic.
Weather Information
For safety reasons, per MAHG policy this paddle trip will be rescheduled if there is greater than a 30% chance of lightning in the area where we will be paddling. Being near or on the water around lightning is not good times for anyone and safety always come first. Click Here to view the forecast for the area where we will be paddling. If this event has to be rescheduled for inclement weather, everyone registered for the trip will be notified by e-mail at 7:00 p.m. the day before the paddle.
Our RSVP and Group Etiquette
Click Here to review our RSVP policies and group etiquette.
Carpool Suggestions and Information
Note that you are responsible for knowing how to get from carpool locations to the venue. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is not responsible for transportation to and from events or carpools. Suggested carpool times and places are provided as a courtesy because many members are either new to the area or unfamiliar with a particular hike or venues location. Please use the 'Comments' section below, or reach out via e-mail to make arrangements for carpooling needs and offerings.
Baltimore Area Carpool Suggestion - Savage Station
To carpool or caravan from the Baltimore area, people can arrange to meet at Savage Station. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Savage Station location.
DC Area Carpool Suggestion - Centreville
To carpool or caravan from the metro DC area, people can arrange to meet at the Centreville Park and Ride. Click Here for directions and additional information regarding carpooling from the suggested Centreville Park and Ride location.
If you can drive or want to carpool from any particular place, please post your offer to help those in need of a ride, and those looking for a ride, in the comment section below. Click Here for a list of suggested carpool locations, each complete with a physical address, GPS coordinates, driving directions and additional carpool information.
For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment — by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Launch
Click Here for Directions to Where We Meet for This Paddle
Meet & Greet and Sign-In — 8:15-8:25 a.m.
The Paddle is at 8:30 a.m. (to Beat the Heat)
Carpool Time from Savage Station — 7:00 a.m.
Carpool Time from Centreville Park and Ride — 6:30 a.m.
Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group (MAHG) values fellowship, camaraderie and practicing good hike etiquette and Leave No Trace principles. As a member-focused and mission-driven charitable organization, our hikes are led by generous, dedicated, and qualified MAHG members who volunteer as hike leaders for MAHG's leadership team. Hikes also have a volunteer “sweeper”, to help ensure that no hiker is left behind. Our volunteers and members are very supportive, encouraging, and always focus on safety, all while enjoying excellent camaraderie, the many health benefits of hiking, and unplugging from the stress of day to day life. Sharing what we know and learning from each other is an important part of our core values, as is our dedication to the conservation of our natural resources and our commitment to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s mission. All MAHG events serve as micro-fundraisers to help support our mission. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, and donations are tax deductible.
Our Paddling Disclaimer Blurb and Refund Policy
By attending this or any other paddling/hiking event with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group, you agree that you are responsible for your own safety at all times. No member of the group except yourself can be held responsible for any damages, accidents, or liabilities incurred while paddling with us. Paddling is an inherently dangerous sport like any other outdoor activity. Information is provided with the understanding that the providers are not engaged in rendering advice on technical matters, equipment performance, safety, or any other aspect of the sport in absolute terms or advocating any of the techniques or experiences described.
Let's have great times and see you there!
Kellie Carlisle: 240.393.7640
Mike Harris: 240.393.7642
• Please Click Here and Help Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group in Serving our Mission.
• Donations to Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group ARE Tax Deductible: Tax ID 47-5141831. Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charitable organization.
• Click Here to Learn more about Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s Mission.
• 100% of Every Dollar Goes Directly to the Expenses of Meeting our Mission.
, MD - USA
Sunday, August 14 at 8:30 AM
6
Price: 15.00 USD
http://www.meetup.com/Mid-Atlantic-Hiking-Group/events/232965087/