Ensure Safe Paddling in Twin Ports with Paddle Safe Twin Ports
Minnesota's vast network of lakes and waterways offers a wealth of opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. However, safety should always be a priority when venturing out onto the water. That's why the Minnesota Sea Grant is encouraging wise stewardship of marine resources and promoting safe paddling practices through the Paddle Safe project.
Led by Marie Thoms, the Communications Director at Minnesota Sea Grant, the Paddle Safe project team is hosting a photo quest for a chance to win paddling prize packages. To participate, paddlers are invited to show off their paddling smarts by submitting a photo demonstrating safe paddling practices. The submission deadline for the Paddle Safe Photo Quest is August 29, 2025.
The PaddleSafeTwinPorts.org website provides essential tools and safety tips for paddlers. It offers practical guidance tailored for local waters such as Lake Superior and the St. Louis River, ensuring paddlers stay safe on Minnesota’s numerous lakes.
Key safety recommendations include always wearing a properly fitted life jacket, checking weather and water conditions before heading out, maintaining awareness of surroundings and keeping clear of boats and other dangers, and using appropriate equipment for your specific paddle sport. These guidelines are highlighted in quick safety videos and informational content linked on the site to prepare users to paddle safely in Minnesota’s varied waterways.
In addition to safety tips, the PaddleSafeTwinPorts.org website offers resources like weather updates, launch site information, and local paddling tips, making it a comprehensive hub for paddle safety in the region. It also provides live ship traffic updates, ensuring paddlers can navigate safely around larger vessels.
The Minnesota Sea Grant, supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, conducts research, outreach, communication, education, and technology transfer. It is a systemwide program of the University of Minnesota and is one of 34 federal-university Sea Grant partnerships across the country.
Kelsey Prihoda, the Great Lakes Transport Extension Educator at Minnesota Sea Grant, emphasizes that paddling is one of the best ways to enjoy Minnesota's waters. However, she urges paddlers not to be "that paddler" who disregards safety guidelines. Instead, she encourages paddlers to make safety a part of their routine.
A humorous safety video titled "Paddle Safe Like a Pro!" is available on YouTube, offering a light-hearted approach to safety education. By following these guidelines and resources, paddlers can enjoy Minnesota's waters safely and responsibly.
- Participants in the Paddle Safe project's photo quest can win paddling prize packages by demonstrating safe paddling practices in a submitted photo, with the deadline for submissions being August 29, 2025.
- The PaddleSafeTwinPorts.org website offers essential safety tips for paddlers, including guidelines for paddle sports such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding on Minnesota's vast network of lakes and waterways.
- In addition to safety tips, the PaddleSafeTwinPorts.org website also provides various resources, including weather updates, launch site information, local paddling tips, and live ship traffic updates, making it a comprehensive hub for paddle safety education and self-development in the region.
