The Stern Fathers

In today's modern world, a child still looks upon nature as a great mystery but with an immense disconnect. Good fathers put a child in the bow of their canoe and steer the investigation to ensure that immutable link to our natural world is established and understood. These are the "Stern Fathers".

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"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education." ~ David Polis

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Daddy-Daughter Canoe Session with Fat Paddler from Fat Paddler on Vimeo.
Awaking in the dark, daddy and his nearly 7 year old daughter head off for a canoe adventure in the nearby Ku-ring-gai National Park. An adventure of discovery, bonding, and of course a hot breakfast out in the bush!

Proudly brought to you by FatPaddler.com and BADGER® Paddles.

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Your deepest roots are in nature.  No matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of life you lead, you remain irrevocably linked with the rest of creation." ~ Charles Cook

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So paddles up in gratitude to all the Fathers (like Poppa Badger!) who took their place at the stern and escorted us to those wild places, and who taught us that Nature is our teacher. A special thanks, also, to Sean Smith (a.k.a. The Fat Paddler) and his adorable daughter Gracie for sharing one of their very special and inspirational adventures, all the way from Australia, in honour of Father's Day. Plus an extra special thanks to our Mike for being Makobe's special friend, his protector, and his teacher - you are an exceptionally kind and loving Father to a boy with many exceptionalities. You, Mike, are truly a hero to me... and to your son.

Written by Fiona Westner-Ramsay

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Poppa!

Badger Paddles' Tip of the Week - Making the Most out of a Wilderness Canoe Trip

Badger Paddles' Tip of the Week includes information on paddling, camping, portaging, boat transport, and maintenance tips, as well as any other information that we may find to be useful around our sett.

Besides not having a plug for your curling iron, there are lots of other modern day conveniences missing from life in the bush. While many enjoy escaping from the whirlwind of their contemporary lifestyles, for some first time campers, the culture shock of interior or wilderness camping can be a bit too much... or too little - as the usual complaint amongst newbie campers (especially the young ones) is that they are bored.

To make the most out of your wilderness canoe trip and to help make the experience more enjoyable, there are a number of things you can do.

Start by researching area maps and check to see what books and other literature is available about the area. Don't be afraid to talk to the locals, either, as you are able. If you learn to identify the regional flora and fauna and other local natural features for your trip, it will only help to make your trip more pleasurable. Especially for the kids.

Plan for rainy days by bringing a deck of cards, or a novel to read, to help pass the time. For kids, a home-made "Fidget Kit"* is always a good tool to have around for rainy weather and/or long days spent in the canoe.

Having preferred activities planned for
your trip can be gratifying. Here,
Fiona sketches a tree bent naturally
over time by the prevailing winds.

"Prevailing Winds"
Sketched at Ferguson Bay,
Lake Temagami, September 2000

Another great tip is to plan your canoe trip with a preferred activity in mind; whether it is to fish, sketch/paint, explore, to take photographs, or to write. Keep a trip journal on hand to record your experiences and points of interest. And, to make the tripping experience that much more enjoyable for the next camper, always leave every campsite cleaner then you found it.

Do you have any tips to share? Send us your tips and paddling advice - and if your tip is featured here - we will send you a free Badger Paddles sticker!!! All you have to do is email us your suggestions.

A "Tangle" is a great
addition to a Fidget
Kit to help keep young
hands and minds busy.

*A "fidget kit" can be made from any number of small sensory objects that appeal to a specific child that are calming. Squishy balls/Koosh balls/Spaghetti Balls, and other sensory items can be fun for passing the time. As well as small cause and reaction toys, miniature dolls, or other manipulative objects like rubber bands, stress balls, Silly Putty, play dough, Bendeez, Rapper Snappers, etc. These kits can be home made or bought. They can be individualized and change as the child grows and interests change. See: How to Make a Fidget Kit or click here: Therapro Fidget Kit to see a store-bought example.

Childhood Paddling Influences - From Mickey to Snoopy to G.I. Joe

There are many influences in our life that help to shape who we become, but none so fondly remembered as our childhood friends - that is to say - our beloved cartoons. And as it turns out, many of our favourite  imaginary personalities happen to paddle too! Check it out and see if your favourite characters are amongst the paddling cartoon elite... starting with the Smurfs.

Canoeing has been a tradition
amongst the Smurfs for centuries.

Somehow the gang at Sesame Street in New York City is able to get out on the water much more then one would expect for an urban crew.

It's part of our heritage - even Oscar looks happy about that!

"Blue Lake and Rocky Shore" sings a crew of
paddlers from Sesame Street. (Hope they brought
lots of cookies for cookie monster!!)

Looks like Bert from Sesame Street
is waiting for his best friend, Ernie,
to bring him a paddle and his PFD!

The newer cartoon personalities, Dora the Explore and Go Diego Go characters , spend lots of time in the outdoors so getting out in a canoe on the river is practically an everyday activity for them.

Dora and Boots like to explore rivers.

Diego gets out on the water a lot.

Hanna Barbara used to take their popular characters onto the water and into a canoe as well.

Hey, Boo Boo! Yogi likes to paddle too!

Hucklebury Hound enjoys a quiet evening in a canoe.

Even Scooby Doo and Shaggy know how to read a river (we hope!).

The Peanuts got in on some paddling action in their day as well.  Snoopy was not only a dog-house-pilot but was an experienced kayaker too. And Charlie Brown was... well... good grief... he was just Charlie Brown!

Snoopy is a kayaker! I wonder if he calls his kayak "The Red Baron".

Charlie Brown never makes anything look easy.

Sometimes there were even some paddlers in your mainstream Sunday Newspaper comic strip or cartoon section, usually showing the "lighter side" of canoeing or camping.

For Better Or For Worse detailed a canoeing miss-hap for the Dad.

Marmaduke tried to bring a canoe into the kiddie pool.

Who could forget our old friend, Ziggy?

Calvin and Hobbes, a very popular comic, pokes fun
at canoeing and it's entertainment value for active young boys.

You also may have fond memories of short children's stories from your very own bookshelves... or perhaps even a short novella or two (when you got a bit older).

Uncle Wiggly should have brought some life jackets!

The Berenstain Bears love a padding adventure!
(Except for Poppa Bear!)

This old illustration quotes:
PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE

Perhaps as you grew older, you read a few novels too. 

Not surprisingly, even some of our favourite video game characters have been known to pick up a paddle now and then.

The Mario Brothers have a long journey ahead on this river.

A kayaking fashionista!

Even Reader Rabbit knows how to
use a canoe to teach reading and math!

Disney has always had a special place in it's heart for paddling. As you can see, many of our favourite Disney characters have been canoeing and kayaking for years. It is also been a long standing Disney Tradition to hold Canoe Races. And, they even have a couple of Stand Up Paddlers (SUP) by way of Lilo and Stitch!

An antique Donald Duck figurine with a canoe.

Even the original Mickey Mouse enjoyed canoeing.

Pocahontas, a child of the forest, paddles
her dug out in this classic Disney film.

Mickey later switches to a double bladed paddle canoeing experience.

This mouse loves canoeing so much he even
gets his friends in on the paddling action!

Lilo and Stitch can SUP

Why it's Winnie the Pooh and Tiger too!
With Piglet and the honey in the stern.

You may even have come across some sort of padding adventure in one of the comic books your parents gave you... 

This is Canada's History Magazine comic
book for kids (from The Beaver).

This one is for the girls... No outdoor girl's Barbie collection was complete without her very own sit-on-top kayak (in lipstick red) with all the accessories to go with it.

Barbie Kayaking Set - it's a sit-on-top!

And this one is for the boys... who were all well aware that G.I. Joe had THE BADDEST boat in town -  appropriately named THE STALKER. Oh yeah!!

G.I. Joe, a real American paddling hero.

G.I. Joe's kayak - "The Stalker"

It would be very naughty to forget our all around childhood favourite guy.  Santa Claus paddles too - everyone knows that, right?!!

And who could forget The Muppets?!! While Kermit, it seems, is more of a rower, he is obviously still a strong supporter of the power of self propulsion. 

"Kermie" and the power of "pig" propulsion.

One of the most famous of watermen ever, Popeye the Sailor Man, always looks comfortable in a boat. A simple man, 'twas old Popeye.

Another rower, Popeye can paddle with the best of 'em.
(Especially when he has eaten his spinach!)

Some prefer the water ---- even if they have the ability to fly,  like Casper the friendly rowing ghost.  Regardless if it's a leaky vessel or not!

Casper is also a fan of the power of self-propulsion.

Finally.... our gallery of the paddling cartoon elite would just NOT be complete without the most famous (or is that infamous) illustrated family of all time... as The Simpsons never back down from an adventure... never... EVER.

Another Simpson's family vacation comes off without a hitch!

So, who knew this many illustrated characters have picked up a paddle? No doubt this proves how much paddling is part of our culture and is a good example of art imitating life... or maybe... it's the other way around?!! Who cares... obviously it's the thing to do, whether you are a real live person or just "drawn this way".






Image sources include the following: www.dallasvintagetoys.com, ebay.com, www.thedearsurprise.com, http://1.bp.blogspot.com, www.mushroomvillage.com, http://stamp-search.com/, clipartheaven.com, Photobucket Album-Mellotone, www.games2rule.com, www.timelesstrinkets.com, amazon.com, www.wallpaperist.com, shoptoit.ca, http://sabiansymbols.typepad.com, comics101.com, toplessrobot.com, www.littlesmarties.com, http://tc.education.pitt.edu, www.teddys.com.au, www.fborbw.com, muppet.wikia.com, www.cutandpaste.com, www.comicartfans.com, canadianmags.blogspot.com, http://vivalaresolucion.com, www.collectpeanuts.com, seanbyron.com, www,gasolinealleyantiques.com, www.scoobydoogamesland.com, www.clampettstudio.com (if we missed you as a source, let us know via email please!)