I traded the fresh air of the countryside last weekend for the fume-filled finishing stages of a woodworking project I’ve been working on for my daughter Elizabeth.

Woodworking is something I truly love to do (almost as much as paddling), but the finishing part wears on me. I guess I’d rather sniff in sawdust than stain and topcoats. But the end product is what keeps me going, and I’ve got a deadline of next weekend for delivery, so I just may be incommunicado until I get ‘er done! Who’d have ever thought there was so much work in something called a jewelry armoire? I’d have never guessed my daughter had jewelry enough to fill this monster!

While we while away the winter hours waiting for spring, there are a bunch of outdoor symposiums and shows on the calendar. Some are just around the corner and they’ll help you shake the winter blahs, should you have a mild case.

Paddle Smart Safety Symposium

One event near and dear to my heart is the eighth annual Bangor Paddle Smart Safety Symposium from 5-9:30 p.m. on April 12 at the Bangor Y on Second Street. It’s free. It’s educational and it’s fun and you will walk away with some new knowledge about paddling your kayak or canoe safely. You may even walk away with a new Necky Elaho sea kayak, this year’s raffle prize provided by Old Town Canoe Co.

As usual there will be some great door prizes, too. Past prizes have included life jackets, paddles, safety gear and more.

Note that this year it will be on a Saturday evening and that it is at the Second Street Y. In the seven previous years, all but one of the symposiums have been at the Hammond Street Y. The main reason for the change of venue is that the pool at the Hammond Street facility is no longer open. And since canoe and kayak rescue demonstrations are best done in the water, hence the Second Street location.

And because the event is Saturday evening, no other events or activities are happening at the Y during the symposium as has been the case in the past. The whole place will be all Paddle Smart all the time.

While it’s a little too early to say exactly who will be presenting and what specific topics will be covered in the evening’s presentations, you should take note that this year there will be a specific track for canoe paddlers. Even better news for the amateur race crowd is that this year’s symposium is scheduled for the weekend prior to the annual Kenduskeag Stream race.

There will be presentations on equipping your canoe for the race, race strategy (for those more serious about getting down river in a hurry) and skills presentations on how to get out of the river in the event of a capsize.

As usual there will be information for kayakers from beginner to experienced and interactive table displays in the gymnasium. I’ll have more information for you when we hear back from those exhibitors and presenters who have been invited this year. But mark your calendar now and be there. Did I say it’s free? How do they do it?

On a more serious note, the focus of the event has been and continues to be safety – what folks need to know to be safe on the water. And that includes what you should know before you head out.

Again this year, planners for the event include Brad Ryder, Epic Sports; Karen Francoeur, Castine Kayak Adventures; Mark Goff and Anne Powelson of Hampden, Al Johnson and others from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Banff photos on display

Speaking of Ryder, he sent me a note the other day to say he has on display at his store on Central Street a set of 18 spectacular photos from the Banff Photo World Tour. If you’re familiar with the Banff Film Festival and outdoor film tour, you know that what comes out of Banff is truly spectacular. The photos are from a separate Banff competition for photos from all around the world. They’ll be at the store until Tuesday, and then they’ll be off for Boulder, Colo.

Castine Symposium in the works

If kayaks are your cup of tea, plan on heading to Castine July 11-13 for the second annual Castine Kayak Symposium sponsored by Castine Kayak Adventures and hosted by Maine Maritime Academy.

Francoeur says the mission of Castine Kayak Symposium is to “create a community of safe and connected paddlers, and to provide an opportunity for paddlers to enhance their understanding and skills of paddle sports in a fun, supportive environment.”

Those attending will have a chance to see the latest in paddling gear, paddling technique and paddling destination presentations on several venues in town, including the MMA Waterfront Beach, the Backshore Beach, the Backshore saltwater pond, the public town launch, the MMA swimming pool, Castine Kayak Adventures dock space at Dennett’s Wharf and MMA waterfront classrooms.

Planning is ongoing, but offerings will include fitness paddles, yoga, classroom presentations, boat demonstrations and tryouts, a cookout and social, and on the following two days, an American Canoe Association instructor certification exam.

Put the Parks in Your Pocket

Here’s one more item for those who would get out there but just can’t find the time. The nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association has put together podcasts about various national parks and issues facing these natural wonders.

“NPCA’s new podcast, Park Stories, features compelling stories about national parks and the people who care for them,” according to a press release.

It adds: “Park Stories’ newest episode, ‘Great Grass of Fire,’ takes us to Saguaro National Park in Arizona to meet some of the volunteers that are pulling up the invasive buffelgrass, a wildfire hazard, and the scientists who are keeping a close watch on this problem.

“Other episodes include ‘Caretakers of Our Cultural History,’ that introduces listeners to graffiti removal artists at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, and ‘Tour Yosemite with a Buffalo Soldier,’ which features an engaging encounter with one of the park’s first rangers, Sergeant Alizy Bowman (as portrayed by National Park Service Ranger Shelton Johnson), a member of the historic African-American regiment of the U.S. Army that once stood guard over Yosemite National Park.”

If you’re more electronic gizmo savvy than me (and that’s not too hard, trust me), you can go to the site, www.npca.org/podcast and listen directly or download it and stick it in your MP3 player to listen while you putter around the house. Turn it up loud enough and it just might drown out the din of your vacuum cleaner.

jstrout@bangordailynews.net

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