ROSCOMMON – The AuSable River Center in Roscommon will conduct its 12th annual cedar strip canoe building class beginning Jan. 10, 2017. The class meets on the second floor of the River Center at the corner of Brooks and North Main Streets.
The hands-on class is free of charge to anyone interested. Participants do not need to bring any tools, supplies or register. Just show up and learn as much as you desire. There are no passing or failing grades.
The group meets each Tuesday evening from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Classes have ranged in size from 10 to last year’s high of 35 participants. Many of the members return to take the class a second or third time because of the enjoyment they derive from building the canoe and the friendships made at these classes.
The idea for a canoe class came from Doug Nagle, a long-time member of the River Center. Doug first built a 16 ft cedar strip canoe in his garage at home just for his own use.
As friends showed interest in his canoe Doug thought it might be a good idea to start a class and show others how to build one of their own from scratch.
The 2014 class also took training in canoe paddle making and last year’s class constructed a pair of paddles to go with the canoe.
Once the canoe is finished it is raffled off. The drawing is held in September at the Firemen’ Memorial Festival. Proceeds from the raffle go to the AuSable River Center to help cover the cost of the center’s maintenance and operation.
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