Why are you going? I may just drive down at the last minute, for those of you in the know, what are the not to miss presentations?

THe people and the community are why I go! Hands on shopping for any gear you would need. Don’t miss Jerry and the OneMatch band, or anything Kevin Callan! This year special speakers include the renowned Will Steger and the guy who won a season of the tv show Alone. And oh so much more!!!!

I go to see what girl on a rock buys... And eat pizza. Lot's of fun people... Even without those who can't make it, there will be plenty of great people to hang out with. I'd look at the list of presentations. But just relax and have a good time. Take in what you can... And enjoy. Let me know if you buy something too big. I may have a way to get it back home for ya. And I'm curious about Sandborn Canoes... See what they are up to...

I am not in the know, but I do know that I am looking forward to this! Have wanted to attend for a long time, and finally am going to make it happen. Check out the presenters list and make a list of your own of people you want to hear.

If nothing else, show up to check out the gear that makes our trips! That is what motivates me. There are not that many people I want/need to hear, but I cannot wait to see the new gear.

I have more than enough stuff to outfit myself, but I want to see new canoes; especially those not available around the Twin Cities. I want to see boats beyond what Wenonah and Northstar have to offer, and I cannot do that staying at home.

Most of the speakers are excellent. I choose what I watch depending upon what I want to learn about. That being said, I never miss a presentation by Kevin Callan because he is an absolute hoot.

I love the presentations, especially the travelogue style and about places I've never been. I now also look forward to the BWCA.COM dinner and looking at the stuff, even though I'm not into acquisition.

Community. The modern day rendezvous.

Bannock: "Community. The modern day rendezvous."

That about nails it.

The speakers keep my bucket list long... the vendors and their wares keep me interested in upgrading my gear (with limitations)... and the people are the best.

Everyone there is "one of us"... and there are a lot of BWCA.com members who attend. It's fun to reconnect with board members we typically see once a year and it's fun to put faces to the names (or monikers) when meeting for the first time.

As soon as you've been there once, you'll quickly understand what all this means.

All great replies and great reasons to attend Canoecopia, but I think Jackfish and GirlOnARock said it best.

I have always enjoyed Canoecopia, but since I have joined bwca.com, it's the people and socializing with other members and people of like mind, as Jackfish mentioned, that have made the Canoecopia weekend all that much more enjoyable and special.

My wife and kids also look forward to spending a weekend in Madison and taking in all that goes with Canoecopia as much as I do.

I really don't "need" much gear at this point of my paddling and canoe-tripping career. But even if I didn't need to buy a thing, or was not interested in attending a single presentation, I'd still go to socialize with other canoe and kayak "Geeks", enjoy quality time with my family, listen to Jerry and the "One Match Band", and hang out with the many great members of bwca.com!

Finally, owner Darren Bush and his staff have also improved the event immensely since its inception! The many varied presentations are great at "selling the sizzle, and the steak". It's hard to leave Canoecopia without being pumped for paddling and canoe-tripping or making a new friend or two.

Hans Solo

***Just a few picks to wet your appetite for Canoecopia weekend***

(Photos compliments of RoundRiver, AndySG, GHamer, Spartan2, and Hans Solo)