paddle with a purpose
paddle with a purpose
Water is the Life Blood of all living entities, including this earth. This Casco Bay & Presumpscot River watershed paddling journey aims to raise water consciousness and support restoration of the watershed and beyond, by raising awareness and resources for the Friends of The Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay non-profit organizations who serve as stewards for water quality and restoration.
it takes a village. we are the village.
Follow my solo journey paddling from Bethel to Casco Bay! Beginning on May 5, I will be paddling the Casco Bay & Presumpscot River watershed for about 85 miles, from Bethel to Portland, raising water awareness and resources. Our goal is to raise at least $5000, for Casco Bay and the Presumpscot River’s restoration and sustainability. I will be connecting with community leaders along the journey shoreline, sharing our common purpose in better caring for and restoring this precious natural resource. At the culmination of this expedition, all are invited to celebrate with community, organizations, leaders and friends on May 13, 5-7pm in Falmouth at Tidewater Farm Preserve on Presumpscot Point Rd.
This is a silly mage from my last solo journey in 2018~ paddling the length of the Androscoggin River- 176 miles from Errol, NH to Topsham, ME, raising $5000 for www.mainerivers.org. This image is following a lunch meeting in Auburn
with the mayor, community members and leaders with the Androscoggin Land Trust.
Their biggest point made was that we all live downstream. Awareness and concern for that is pivotal in restoring our waterways in a way that serves all, including plants, animals, fish and birds.
Your donation of any amount will directly support Friends of the Presumpscot River & Friends of Casco Bay’s work to protect, advocate & engage community to learn about & care for local waters.
Every day I will capture the experience and share through images and writing.
Join the journey virtually by following the blog below!
The inspiration that birthed this journey
I asked my friend, Wolastoqey elder, Mihku Paul, “How can I be a better ally to the Indigenous people?” She said, “Clean up the river.” Oh~ wow. Ok...
I thought about that for a while. I spent a lot of time in my canoe on the Presumpscot River that runs from Sebago lake to Casco Bay.
Here is the inspired action born out of that conversation.
I will paddle the watershed for Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot River to Casco Bay in 8 days. I will do everything I can to bring awareness to this watershed by capturing its essence through photo, video and what words may speak to that. I will share these sights and insights for anyone to follow each day.
The intention is to bring awareness and consciousness to the water that supports life.
I launch May 5, in Bethel, Maine at the headwaters of the Crooked River which flows into Sebago Lake. Along the way, I will connect with organizations and leaders near the waterway to learn and to share what they are up to in regards to watershed conservation and preservation. I will share my experience every day (that I have cell reception!) here: https://www.spiralsofwellbeing.com/paddlewithapurpose
I will find my way to the ocean by May 13 to the celebration of the watershed.
In addition to increasing awareness to the significance of healthy watersheds, with community support, together we will raise over $5000 to support the mission and vision of Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay.
Here are my talking points and visits along the journey:
Sebago Clean Waters
Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited - Sebago Chapter
Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
Friends of the Presumpscot River
Falmouth Land Trust
Friends of Casco Bay
I am nervously excited for the journey and think about it a lot every day. I am training and preparing in all ways possible. May this journey support all efforts in being better stewards for the waterways, habitat and critters dependent upon it, including humans.
photo above: take out location and where the water celebration will be held in Falmouth!
Photo below near where the ocean meets the river
The Dream Team!
These amazing women are simply incredible. They’re so supportive and generous. They are truly helping me to live out a passion for rivers and an inspiration to bring more awareness and support for the Casco Bay and Presumpscot River watershed.
Sarah Lyman (Friends of Casco Bay) and Whitney Rollins Conway (Friends of the Presumpscot River) have stepped forward to support my journey’s success to solo canoe from the Western Maine mountains to the ocean this coming May. They are fun and passionate and intelligent and go-getters and I am grateful for them.
It would be remiss to not mention dear Pearl girl, my beloved cat. She’s my confidant and advisor in all the ways. She helped me design these stickers for the sides of the canoe – reminders of the simple truth of it, water is life. It’s sacred.
Let’s see if we can take better care of it. In doing that we care for all of life. I am on a mission to do that- with your help we will raise over $5000 to support these non-profits that help restore and protect the watershed.
More details coming soon!
