Paddle Georgia Kayaking Seminar at REI: An evening with Joe Cook - Thu, Mar 8 2012

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Paddle Georgia Kayaking Seminar at REI: An evening with Joe Cook


The Basics:
Event Type:Learn
Event Location: REI Atlanta Store, I-85 Access Rd just S of Clairmont Rd exit   Learn: Paddle Georgia Kayaking Seminar at REI:  An evening with Joe Cook  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Mar 8 2012  6:40 pm >> Thu, Mar 8 2012 8:40 pm
Registration Opens: Mon, Feb 27 2012 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Mar 8 2012 1:00 pm
Event Duration:2 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D1: Easy
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Bobby Marie
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

IN A NUTSHELL:  Many of our Atlanta Outdoor Club members may be unaware that our four Metro Atlanta REI stores offer a wide variety of FREE classes, seminars and talks on topics including basic backpacking, camping, hiking, bicycling, paddling, skiing, climbing & mountaineering—also first-hand accounts of exotic adventures and favorite wilderness destinations.  Each session is presented by an invited guest speaker who is an expert in their field or by an REI employee who is a specialist in the featured topic.
  Metro Atlanta native Joe Cook is a veteran canoeist, nature photographer, author, environmental educator and river conservationist who for want of a better term might aptly be called the "godfather of Georgia's rivers and watersheds."  Professionally Joe heads Georgia's "Coosa Riverkeeper" organization which monitors and protects the health of our ~10,000-square-mile Coosa watershed that includes Lake Allatoona, the Etowah River and other major river basins just north of Atlanta.
  "Paddle Georgia" was Joe's brainchild in 2005, and each year since he has done a splendid job as chief planner and leader of this amazing river adventure and environmental education experience.  In this week-long odyssey each June about 300 kayakers and canoeists from all walks of life paddle together down the chosen river for that year and enjoy nightly camping, educational programs and entertainment at college campuses and schools along the river corridor.  Our daily paddling legs are typically 10 to 20 miles, adding up to more than 100 miles in our seven days on the river, putting in each morning at the previous day's takeout.  This year's Paddle GA 2012 will be primarily on "GA's Amazon," the Altamaha River, with our initial put-in on its beautiful blackwater tributary, the Ohoopee, in Reidsville, GA on June 16th.
   We have confirmed reservations on Thursday evening, March 8th for an AOC "subgroup" of up to 12 AOC members to attend Joe's personal presentation entitled "Paddle Georgia 101 for 2012" at the REI "Atlanta Store" on the I-85 southbound Access Rd between Clairmont and North Druid Hills Rd—see detailed directions below.  

AOC TIMETABLE for SEMINAR:
    Our AOC subgroup will first gather at 6:40 PM just inside the store entrance where we'll introduce one another.  Please check in with me (Charlie) and so I can record your AOC participation.
  A few minutes before 7:00 PM we'll check in together with the REI event registrar and find seating in the presentation room.  This is usually the large storage room far to our right after we enter the store. There we'll meet Joe, his GA River Network colleagues and other clinic attendees.

REI PROMO PARAGRAPH:
Here's a brief outline of Joe's presentation as posted on the REI.com website:
"Paddle Georgia 101 for 2012"
  -
 presented by Joe Cook
Join staff from Georgia River Network and Paddle Georgia to learn more about this week-long, 100-plus mile canoe/kayak adventure that will take place June 16-22 on the Altamaha River. What's it all about? How do I participate? What can I expect from the journey? Paddle Georgia is an adventure that attracts more than 300 paddlers and takes place on a different Georgia river each year. Since its inception in 2005, more than 2100 people have participated, helping generate more than $85,000 for river protection in Georgia.

SIGN UP for PADDLE GA 2012 and JOIN our informal AOC Paddle GA "Subgroup!"  The available spaces are selling out quickly.  If you're interested, take a look at our online AOC article at this link:
http://www.atlantaoutdoorclub.com/events/details.asp?eventid=4492

BY THE WAY:  If you'd like to make PERSONAL RESERVATIONS  at FUTURE FREE REI CLASSES or SEMINARS for yourself and your friends & family:
You can check the offerings & availability and reserve your spot(s) as follows:
1. Go to REI.com
2. Click on "Store Locator" in the upper right corner of the home page and choose your Store of interest from the pop-up menus that appear.
3. Click on the free Class or Seminar of interest,
4. Fill in the online Reservation form and submit (may require your REI member number.  A lifetime membership is only about $20 if you'd like to join).
5. If you fail to succeed in making a formal reservation, keep in mind that walk-ins at these events are usually acceptable, but only on a space-available or standing-room-only basis.


Required Items to Bring:
Just yourself!  Wear comfortable indoor clothing and consider bringing a notepad and pen for taking notes.  Feel free to explore the REI store before or after the event if you wish.
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:THE REI "ATLANTA STORE" is in NE Atlanta at 1800 Northeast Expy, Atlanta, GA 30329—conveniently beside I-85 near the Clairmont Road exit. Two approach options are detailed below and you may wish to enter this "Lat/Lon" as your GPS Destination: 33.8396,-84.3212.
  The store's phone number is 404-633-6508.

FROM SPAGHETTI JUNCTION (I-85/285 Interchange NE of Atlanta) via I-85 SOUTH:
1. Going southbound on I-85, take Exit #91 "Clairmont Rd" and continue straight ahead at the exit traffic light (crossing Clairmont).
2. Bear rightward along this Access Road to avoid re-entering I-85. The store is on your right about 0.5 mile south of Clairmont and just past the Access Road's junction with Briarwood Rd.

FROM MIDTOWN ATLANTA via I-85 NORTH:
1. Going northbound on I-85 take Exit #91 "Clairmont Rd" and stay in the far left lane of the exit ramp as you near Clairmont.  This will loop you counterclockwise onto the southbound I-85 Access Road without any traffic lights.
2. Bear rightward to avoid re-entering I-85. The store is on your right about 0.5 mile south of Clairmont and just past the Access Road's junction with Briarwood Rd.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Free Event with Free Parking!

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.