The club began in 1995 as the Ahwaga Canoe Club, a friendly, informal group of paddlers, mostly canoers, from the Southern Tier of New York who loved getting together to paddle the many incredible rivers, lakes, and streams of our area as well as some located as far away as Virginia, Florida and Texas. In 2005 we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a picnic and barbecue at Dorchester Park in upper Lisle, followed by lots of paddling on the lake.

Over the years the club has grown, and we’ve recently undergone some significant changes. In 2006 we became the Ahwaga Canoe and Kayak Club, to acknowledge the many kayakers who have joined our ranks. The club also moved from being governed by a Board of Directors to a voting membership with bylaws and an Executive Council charged with managing the club and carrying out the wishes of the membership.

In 2007 the club also became a Paddle America Club, an affiliate of the American Canoe Association. All active members of Ahwaga must now become members of the ACA, by purchasing a yearly membership or a per-event membership in addition to the modest membership fee charged by Ahwaga. Consequently club events are sanctioned by the ACA and all participants are covered by ACA insurance. There are many other benefits of joining the ACA, a 125-year-old institution dedicated to paddlesport.

In addition to providing canoe and kayak recreational opportunities for its members, including organized trips, outings, programs and other services such as a lending library, the Ahwaga Canoe and Kayak Club hopes to expand its offerings of safety education and paddling instruction, and be able to address local and national issues that may seriously impact our environment or our paddling rights through education and advocacy. We continue to be a welcoming, friendly group of paddlers – both individuals and families – of all ages who are dedicated to the sociable and responsible enjoyment of our waterways. We welcome new members, and hope to see you on the water!