Thank you in advance for coming to Palmer Fest, Canada’s premier whitewater canoeing and kayaking festival. We are anticipating more than 500 paddlers, including instructors and exhibitors, to take part in the festival this year, many of whom are completely new to whitewater paddling.

I believe this is such a great festival because it is all about sharing paddling the culture with new paddlers and among old friends.

READ THE FOLLOWING THOROUGHLY so you can best prepare yourself for an excellent weekend.

See you soon.

Scott MacGregor, Festival Director
Rapid Media

CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION HOURS

Everyone must check-in to sign receive a personalized wristband and sign the Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement (a copy is available online at http://www.rapidmag.com/legal.html).

Check-in Times

Friday, May 21st between 2 and 9 pm

Saturday, May 15th between 8 and 9:30 am (clinics begin at 10am SHARP!)

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES

• NO DOGS or pets of any kind at Paddler Co-op Boathouse during Palmer Fest.

• DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

• RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBOURS. Please no ghetto blasters!

• Please bring your own plate, cup and utensils to the meals (more on this below).

• Recycling for glass and plastic is available on site.

• Please make arrangements in advance if you require boats or equipment for the clinics.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

All participants, instructors and volunteers must sign a waiver form onsite before they receive their wristbands. The RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT is available online at http://www.rapidmag.com/legal.html. This legal document will need to be signed upon registration, before participating in any event activities.

WAY MORE INFO HERE

Follow this link (http://www.rapidmag.com/about.html) for all event info and list of FAQs.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

ABOUT THE CLINICS

Clinics lists will be posted on-site and each registrant will be handed a clinic list upon registration. Your wristband will have the clinic codes of the clinics you signed up for.

Please attend only the clinics in which you registered.

CLINIC LOCATIONS

There will be designated meeting spots for clinics, which are still TBD due to changing water levels. Please check when you arrive and plan to be at your meeting place 15 minutes before your clinic begins.

• The meeting place for each clinic will be listed on your clinic schedule and posted onsite. We don’t know the meeting places yet, due to changing water levels. Please arrive 15 minutes early to your clinics to be on the water on time.

CLINIC SCHEDULE

• Clinics are two hours long.

• There are two clinic time slots per day:

  • Morning — 10 am till 12 noon

  • Afternoon — 2 pm till 4 pm

• You should be ready to meet 15 minutes before your clinic begin

• Clinics are included with your registration, and are only available to registrants.

• Organizers reserve the right to alter or cancel clinics, according to demand. Please check final schedule when you arrive to receive your wristband at the festival.

• ATTEND ONLY THE CLINICS YOU ARE REGISTERED FOR.

PADDLER CO-OP RENTALS: The Paddler Co-op Rental Shop will be open during registration/check-in. More about rentals below.

NOTE TO CANOEISTS: All canoes used for whitewater clinics should have airbags in the bow and stern.

About the daycare

• Daycare is provided during clinics only and only for those who have registered their children in advance.

• Children will be signed in and out of daycare area by only parent or guardian.

There are two clinic/daycare time slots per day:

• • Morning — 10 am till 12 noon (drop off 9:30-9:45 and pick-up immediately after clinic)

  • Afternoon — 2 pm till 4 pm (drop off 1:30-1:45 and pick-up immediately after clinic)

The following is a list of things you should/could leave with your children and daycare providers:

• snacks

• drinks/water bottle

• sunscreen

• bug dope and/or bug shirt/hat

• diapers and wipes (if needed)

• hats for warmth, sun and rain

• sweater, jacket, rainwear

• appropriate footwear for outdoors

• special toys or other items

Please bring any other items that will make you child’s stay with us the most enjoyable.

Children must be picked UP immediately after clinics. Thank you.

About the Beer Tent

• Price: $4/beer

• Open: Saturday 4:30 pm to 1:00 am

• L.C.B.O. restrictions are in effect, please respect:

  • No outside alcohol allowed in licensed area.

  • No beer sold in licensed area to leave fenced/licensed area.

• Kids are welcome in licensed area.

• A telephone will be available, ask at the bar.

• PLEASE ACT RESPONSIBLY. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. There is a free Trailhead shuttle back and forth from Jessup’s Campground—Saturday night only.

ABOUT THE CAMPING

Camping at the Paddler Co-op Boathouse (this is not a hotel, it is a campground) is included with Palmer Fest if you have selected and paid for it on your registration form. Otherwise there is camping available across and up the river at Jessup’s Campground and accommodation at local B&Bs (see info below).

Important notes about camping:

• NO DOGS ALLOWED at Paddler Co-op Boathouse during Palmer Fest.

• There is NO RV CAMPING at Paddler Co-op Boathouse.

• Bring all your own camping supplies and dress accordingly i.e. warm sleeping gear

• It is a festival atmosphere and will be cozy. PLEASE:

  • Respect your camping neighbours i.e. no ghetto blasters

  • Take only the room you need.

• NOTE: We need to borrow back your picnic tables for the Saturday night dinner, please help.

• Bring your plate, cup and utensils to the Saturday night dinner and Sunday breakfast.

Other Accommodations

These places are all close. Please contact them directly for reservations.

* Jessup’s Campground—No reservations required (or taken)

* The Wingle Inn, Palmer Rapids, www.wingleinn.com

* Sunset B & B, Combermere, (613) 756-3589

WHEELBARROW FUN

No other event has as much fun with wheelbarrows as we do. Let me explain:

• You can’t park your car beside your tent

• So, you drive in and register—unload your camping gear into wheelbarrows—find a campsite—dump your stuff—return wheelbarrow for the next person—immediately go park your car for the weekend

• You should pack accordingly to make this process super fast and enjoyable

PARKING

Parking for 500 people is always an issue for us at this event.

There will be a LOADING and UNLOADING ZONE. We have a parking site down a side road. REVIEW: You will arrive at registration, unload your camping gear and then move your car IMMEDIATELY to the parking area. Wheelbarrows will be provided for moving your gear to the campground.

There will be two parking areas for: Wimpy Cars and Manly Trucks (can also be driven by women). There will be signs to guide you.

Please use the designated parking area. DO NOT PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS. Parking on the highway is worrisome for the local municipality and residents.

ABOUT THE MEALS

Palmer Fest includes a catered Saturday night dinner and continental Sunday morning breakfast (cereal, yogurt, bagels, toast, cheese, fruits, coffee, tea and juice).

Notes:

• Palmer Fest is not a peanut-free zone

• Please bring your own plate, cup and utensils to dinner and breakfast (see our environmental commitment below for more details)

• Please eat the meal you registered for i.e. meat or veggie

Meal Times:

Paddler Co-op BBq

Don’t cook and help send a local kid to kayak and canoe camp! Proceeds from the Paddler Co-op BBQ will do just that.

BBQ Hours
Friday
4 pm-8 pm – coffee / tea / hc & tasty snacks and they’ll fire up the BBQ if you’re hungry
Saturday
8:30 – 11:30 – coffee / tea / hc & tasty snacks
11:00 am – midnight – full menu
Sunday
8:30 – 11:30 – coffee/tea/hc  & tasty snacks
11:30- 7 pm – full menu

PADDLER CO-OP SILENT AUCTION

All day Saturday there will be the Paddler Co-op KidActive silent action.

• When: All day Saturday closing during evening social, likely around 10pm; Sunday pickup and payment a Paddler Co-op Office

• Where: Under big white tent

• What: Silent auction with paddling gear, bird houses, dates with hot instructors

• Why: All proceeds to go Paddler Co-op KidActive program and sent kids to canoe and kayak camp. And because you get cool stuff. And it’s fun. And…

Palmer fest: Our Environmental Commitment

To be consistent with our values of sustainability, Palmer Fest is looking to decrease the unnecessary impact that we have on the environment. With the influx of more than 500 people, Palmer Fest generates more than just a good time. The amount of waste that this number of people produces is impressive (not really), and discouraging—last year, over 30 industrial-sized garbage bags were filled.

Steps we are taking:

• To avoid the need for disposable plates, cups and cutlery for Saturday's dinner and Sunday's breakfast we would like to ask for your help. We are asking all participates, instructors and vendors to please bring your washable plates, cups and silverware. A dishwashing station will be set up to ensure everything is cleaned up after the meals.

• Steam Whistle will supply completely biodegradable beer cups (don't leave them in the sun, they will begin to breakdown with beer still in them) that we'll ask you to bring back for refills instead of getting new ones.

• MEC has volunteered to transport all compostable food waste back to their facility.

• Following Palmer Fest, Paddler Co-op teams up with environmental and outdoor education classes across Ontario to keep the Madawaska River clean and accessible. In past years, we have paddled the shores of the Mad - filling canoes with everything from styrofoam, fishing line, water bottles and paddling gear to car parts. We will continue to focus our efforts on cleaning up and conserving the natural state of the Madawaska River - to ensure that it can be paddled and enjoyed by generations to come...and many more Palmer Fests. Ask for information about our Madawaska River conservation and access projects at the Paddler Co-op booth.

RENTALS & PADDLING EQUIPMENT SHORTLIST

Boats and paddling equipment are not included with clinics.

Boats and paddling equipment are not included with clinics.

Boats and paddling equipment are not included with clinics.

We’ve written this here three times for good reason, someone always shows up expected a kayak and gear provided. DON’T BE THAT GUY. All participants should arrive at the event having already made arrangements for boats and paddling equipment. Kayaks and canoes and equipment rentals may be available at Paddler Co-op, 613-758-2772. Other boats and equipment should be rented in advance from your local paddling shop, shops in our Exhibitor Alley, or other local paddling businesses.

Required paddling equipment (but not limited to):

• Boat appropriate for selected clinics i.e. canoe or kayak, tandem or solo etc.

• Whitewater canoes need to be outfitted with float bags, inner tubes or some form of flotation

• PFD: ensure it is a proper fit

• Helmet: whitewater helmet for whitewater and surfing tides, ensure proper fit

• Paddle

• Water footwear i.e. an old pair of sneakers will do

• Warm clothing including insulating and outer layers. Ask your local paddling shop and paddling buddies for suggestions. It could be warm and sunny or cold and snowing!

• Sunscreen

• Water bottles

Off-water suggestions:

• BUG JACKETS

• Warm jackets and wool hats

• Sunscreen and water bottles

EXHIBITOR ALLEY

Company/Organization
Algonquin Bound (613) 637-5508

Algonquin Outfitters/Boatwerks Minden (705) 286-1492 or Oxtongue Lake (705) 635-2243

Boreal Designs Kayaks
The Complete Paddler (416) 255-6905

Current Designs Kayaks

Dagger

Delta Kayaks

Esquif Canoes

Frontenac (613) 376-6220

Hand Crafted Canoes

Impex Kayaks

H2O Paddles

Kokatat

LearnToKayak.ca

Madawaska Kanu Centre

Mad River Canoe

Ontario Recreational Canoeing & Kayaking Association

Paddle Canada
Paddler Co-op (613) 758-2772

Perception Kayaks
Rapid Media

1000 Islands Kayak School

Scott Canoes

Select Paddles

Teva Footwear

Wenonah Canoes

Wilderness Systems Kayaks

DEMO BOATS & TEST PADDLING

All participants will be issued a wristband at registration. This tells boat company reps that you have registered and signed the waiver. Some reps may simply take your wristband number and hand you a boat, others may require their own paper work and some form of ID.

You many choose to skip a clinic and simply test paddle boats, or you may wish to paddle a demo boat for the clinics. DO NOT count on having a demo boat for the clinics, come with a boat to paddle.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Please drive carefully and slowly, particularly around Palmer Rapids and area!

The Palmer Fest main event site is at the Paddler Co-op Boathouse, three kilometres north of the town of Palmer Rapids, Ontario. 

The town of Palmer Rapids is located three hours from Toronto and two hours from Ottawa. Buy a road map and drive to Palmer Rapids or visit MapQuest or Google Maps. Then once you have an idea of where you're going use the directions below. 

Or, crank this address into your GPS:

Paddler Co-op
6535 Palmer Road
Palmer Rapids, ON K0J 2E0
(613) 758-2772

Please drive safely, it’s more dangerous than paddling.

DIRECTIONS

From the south: If you’ll be arriving in Palmer Rapids via Hwy28/Hwy 514 from the south, turn left onto Palmer Rd/Hwy 515 and drive through the town of Palmer Rapids. Approx. two kilometres north of town you’ll cross over the Madawaska River; stay on Palmer Rd/Hwy 515 for one more kilometre. The Paddler Co-op Boathouse is tucked into white pine trees on the left.

From the north: If you are coming via Hwy 62, at Combermere turn south onto Palmer Rd/Hwy 515 towards Palmer Rapids. The Paddler Co-op Boathouse is on the right, just past Dam Road. If you cross the Madawaska River Bridge, you have gone one kilometre too far. There will be plenty of signs.