June 13-15, 2025
Pine Lake Camp in Westfield, Wisconsin.
Tune-up Your Paddling at The First Canoe Symposium of the Season!
You are invited to the Wisconsin Canoe Symposium (WCS)! The symposium is located in Westfield, WI, approximately 60 minutes north of Madison, WI. Arrive as early as Thursday afternoon and paddle through mid-day on Sunday.
The WCS offers excellent instruction in a quiet water venue for people wishing to improve their skills in paddling and precise control of their canoes. The quiet water classes are offered for all skill levels, and all WCS classes are taught by certified canoe instructors. Student/instructor ratio is limited to 5 to 1. Other special topic classes will include classes such as Touring Technique (Sit & Switch), Moving Around in Your Canoe, Forward Stroke Clinic, and Nail the Rail.
Other activities will include a Giant Schlalom Fun Race, and an Interpretive FreeStyle Recital. All participants are encouraged to bring musical instruments, and join in the jam session!
Meals are available, served family style in Amphlett Hall in front of a large fireplace
LODGING:
There are several lodging options available:
Wildwood Tent and Trailer Campground: This is a public campground owned and operated by Pine Lake Camp, and is located on the western shore of Pine Lake. The campground is accessible by footpath (approximately ½ mi.) to Pine Lake Camp or by car, and of course, you can always paddle your canoe to the camp. The campground features 40 wooded campsites, 22 of which have electricity and water. Campsite capacity is up to 6 persons over age two. Pine Lake Camp will have a number of the sites set aside for WCS.
Bishop Rader Retreat Center: Features 28 double or triple occupancy hotel style rooms with fully accessible baths, one queen and one twin size bed; 16 of these rooms have an additional pull-out trundle bed. Bed linens are included, but you do need to furnish your own towels.
Birch Cabin: This is a two room cabin, each room having 10 bunk beds and one full bathroom. The rooms will be designated by gender. There is a meeting room with fireplace in the center and also a small kitchenette. You will need to bring your own linens, pillows, blankets, and towels.
We hope to see you there!
Your hosts,
Paul Klonowski, Tracy and Cathy Hunt
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Read what WCS participant Steve Bulwicki had to say about this event in 2017: how-much-fun-can-we-have-in-one-weekend?
…and what Jesse Sousa thought about it in 2018: The Persistence of Muscle Memory/
…and what Charles Burchill had to say about it, in 2019: a little bit about my trip to Wisconsin this spring.
And 2022: wisconsin-canoe-symposium-2022
And 2023: wisconsin-canoe-symposium-2023
REGISTRATION documents for WCS 2024 is closed.
WCS Overview, Class Descriptions, & Schedule v3
WCS 2024_reg and medical
REGISTRATION for WCS 2024 is CLOSED
Final registrations must be received by May 22, 2025.
More Information:
Map-Pine Lake to Wildwood Campground
Note that waivers, for insurance purposes, will be available at the site, and must be signed by all participants.
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For an overview of the facilities at Pine Lake Camp: www.pinelakecamp.org
For more information, contact Tracy at tracyhunt077@gmail.com / (630) 329-4669 and/or Paul at pklonowski@comcast.net / (847) 687-2477
