BenI have been canoeing since my dad took me on my first Quetico trip when I was 12. I can still remember almost every detail of that trip decades later. Since then I have been on over 70 canoe trips. When I am not on the water, I am dreaming of the next time I can be!
AuraleeI married into the canoeing passion. Before my wedding, I was required to go on a canoe trip with my future husband and his family. Paddling on pristine lakes, catching fish, seeing wildlife, and challenging myself physically is my ideal vacation!
JayI got hooked on canoeing during a Boy Scout excursion in the BWCA, then returned for more trips there and in Quetico with my brother and friends. My wife passed the "newly married canoeing test" and is still a great wilderness partner 30 years later. Along the way there were adventures on the water with our sons. I hope Paddle Planner helps others create great memories of their own.
In 2011, Ben and Auralee were struggling to plan the summer's canoe trips. As Ben was fighting with maps, string, rulers, and calculations, he thought that there must be an easier way to figure out times and distances. Someone must have created a tool to do this automatically... After a few months of searching, Ben concluded that it did not exist yet, so he had to make it himself.
After working on it for a while, Ben decided to share his work with his fellow paddlers. Jay discovered the website and used it to plan a solo canoe trip. He was so impressed that he contacted Ben with a "thank you" and suggestions for making the website more visible and effective. Ben, Auralee, and Jay hit it off as "brainstorming buddies" and began kicking more ideas around. Auralee designed a new logo, and they celebrated the new partnership by rechristening the website Paddle Planner.
Originally, Paddle Planner only covered the Boundary Waters and Quetico. Josh stumbled on the website and saw the possibilities of bringing the tools to Algonquin Provincial Park and the other areas he paddles in southern Ontario. Josh volunteered his web design experience. Ben and Josh embarked on a journey to redesign the website. (It took a few more years than originally planned...) Josh's suggestions and feedback have been invaluable, and he continues to be an important member of the team.
Paddle Planner's mission is to help others make the most of their paddling experiences, and we could not do it without volunteers like Josh and like you. Thousands of paddlers have contributed campsite reviews, photos, portage comments, and suggestions to make the site better. Thank you for being an integral member of the Paddle Planner community!
