The Idea
Sometimes just discussing an idea puts it in motion.
That’s what happened when Clearly Kosciusko podcast series co-hosts Ryan Martin and Jody Claypool discussed river exploration during a series recording. Clearly Kosciusko invites residents and visitors to participate in the county’s rich, unfolding story through a partnership of the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams, Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, and the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.
“We were discussing lakes, rivers, and streams with Nate Bosch of the Lilly Center, and we determined people would spend more time on rivers, except it’s a pain to do it,” Martin said. “You need two vehicles to drop off and pick up people, canoes and kayaks. It would be great to shift all of that to a service partner. Jody said ‘Well, let’s do it.’”
Tippy River Adventures
So the outdoorsmen established Tippy River Adventures, Kosciusko County’s first canoe livery, making the diverse Tippecanoe River more accessible.
“We rent canoes and kayaks for those without equipment to paddle the river, and provide transportation for people,” Claypool said. Two different two-hour float sessions, or one four-hour adventure are offered.
Future Vision
The co-owners share a goal of having the river completely open so paddlers can indulge in as many two-hour sessions they’d like at any given time. “It will take time to get this river open fully,” Claypool said. They’ve partnered with Paddlers 4 Conservation, a group devoted to conservation and river clean-up, to get the ball rolling.
Improve Kayaking Skills
Paddling the river doesn’t require any special expertise – just some common sense and planning. “There are no proficiency requirements,” Martin said. “We label sections for difficulty. The first is beginner and the second is more difficult.”
While the sport seems easy, it’s not just a lazy float, they said. “We call it a technical float,” Claypool said. “Logjams may not be cleared, and if water is low, the log and debris pockets will show in different spots. It’s a different float every time.” Beginning kayak classes are offered based on demand once a week.
Consider the setting, they said. “Don’t bring anything that shouldn’t get wet,” Martin said. “Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.” A swim suit and T-shirt work well for dress.
Importance of the Tippecanoe River
Naturalists have ranked the Tippecanoe in the top 10 most important U.S. rivers because of biodiversity and habitat. “Fish and wildlife, birds, a heron rookery, bald eagles, a barred owl nest and some endangered species are just some things we’ve seen. Oak Island is a huge wildlife preserve,” Claypool said.
“We emphasize recreation, conservation and education. We weigh trash brought in our approved collection bags, keep a season point tally, and give a prize to the person who collected the most.”
Excursions can be taken May through September. Learn more at tippyriveradventures.com or Tippy River Adventures on Facebook.
Other Locations to Rent Kayaks
Pedals & Paddles, North Webster