In the spring and summer of 2010, a group of advocates for public access to the Fox River organized a series of kayak and canoe paddling day trips intended to show people the beauty and diverse landscape of the Upper and Lower Fox River – a “Journey of Rediscovery” of the Fox.
Stretching 200 miles through central and northeast Wisconsin from Portage to Green Bay, the Fox flows south to north through wetlands and agricultural fields, past rural retreats and million-dollar homes, through historic villages and industrial cities. To make the paddles as accessible as possible for paddlers of all ages and skill levels, the organizers excluded areas of open water and tough portages. The result was 12 segments over nine weekends covering 120 miles of the Fox River.
People responded. An average of 63 paddlers participated per event with 424 different people taking part in at least one segment and three people completing all 12.
Many of the paddles were followed by presentations on local culture or history. One such program early on featured Ottawa medicine woman Jackie Red-Woman. She told of the power of her carving of a turtle. Placed upside-down, she said, the turtle would divert bad weather around us. Despite forecasts of rain or thundershowers for nearly every segment, none was canceled by weather. We wish you the protection of the turtle as you pursue your own Journey of Rediscovery on the Fox.
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