WELCOME KAYAKERS!
Upcoming Changes for 2012:
The 2012 year is amongst us, and this year we will be offering RENTAL BOATS for all members and events. We have partnered with Thekayakers.com who will be offering delivered kayaks for on-site events! After 5 years and over 360+ trips, FLOAT YOUR BOAT has decided to meet our members needs and offer ACA Certification Classes and Lessons from ACA Instructors. We will be also offering discounted rental boats for registered class participants. Rentals are licensed and insured.
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Float Your Boats Mission Statement :
We are a non-profit group that works together to promote networking in the paddling community not only locally, regionally, but across the country by listing other paddle related events on our website. We believe in partnership, networking, stewardship, and offering opportunities for people of all ages, all abilities to participate and enjoy kayaking and paddling related events.
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FLOAT YOUR BOAT: Chicago Area Kayak Meetup is officially recognized by:
www.Paddling.net
www.paddleaway.com/clubs
www.kayakonline.com
www.Thekayakers.com
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WE in the Midwest , and especially in the Chicagoland area, often feel adventure challenged. There are no big mountain, canyons, deserts or other interesting topography to challenge us. And in an urban/suburban area like ours, places of pure solitude are few and far between. But we are blessed with one resource, water! There are lots of rivers, lakes, large and small, and other bodies of water nearby such as Lake Michigan, the Fox River, the Des Plaines River, the Chicago River, and many others, just waiting to be explored. WE can paddle in urban, suburban and rural areas and enjoy what each has to offer. Besides, adventure is much more about what you do then where you go. If you enjoy being on the water as much as we do, then kayaking might just be what you’re looking for. Its what ' floats our boat' so to speak, and when one is out on the water you can enjoy the company of other kayakers, revel in nature, or just paddle off in your own little dream world. Kayaking is a great way to get away from it all, and is an excellent form of exercise.
Our kayak club is filled with members of all abilities and interests and there are as many reasons why we paddle as there are members.
We've done many events from the sharing and testing of others' kayaks, to camping excursions, to socials, to coordinating racing events. We have kayaked on the mighty Great Lakes, the Mighty Rivers, and the small streams and inlets of forest preserve and lagoons. We promote safety awareness, avocation for paddlers, environmental issues, and education.
- Meetup site is non-profit , and is solely based with the intentions of introducing and coordinating paddlers. Though we do not require any membership fees, please keep in mind that there is a monthly service fee to maintain the site. Membership Donations are appreciated. =) ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY
IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY PRIOR TO JOINING:
Participation in any Float Your Boat event implies that you have read, understand, and agree with, the groups entire "About Us" page. Per the Electronic Records and Signatures in Commerce Act, Public Law 106-229, by joining this group, you agree to all the terms listed.
Our Philosophy:
Float Your Boat, is a non-professional meet-up group that only provides a way for you to connect with others who enjoy kayaking and associated activities. Think of Float Your Boat as a group of new and old friends getting together for fun and mostly our brand of fun is called kayaking. Float Your Boat is not a professional adventure organization or outfitter operation.
Kayaking can be physically and mentally demanding. Kayaking can involve significant risks and hazards, such as collision with power boats, hypothermia, joint or trauma injuries and even drowning. Injury, both personal and property, may occur while traveling to or from a Float Your Boat activity. All participants in a Float Your Boat activity - you, family members and guests - by participation in a Float Your Boat activity, acknowledge awareness of the risks, foreseen and unforeseen, which are inherent in each meet-up's activities and cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of the activity. These inherent risks include, but are not limited to, the dangers of serious personal injury, property damage, and death from participation in or travel to and from the activity.
Disclaimer:
This meet-up group and its organizers does not, in any way, claim to be professionals or otherwise licensed, certified, trained, etc. to provide any service. There is no claim to be professional outfitters. Float Your Boat activity organizers are not trained in extensive emergency medical procedures. Since most Float Your Boat activities occur on the water, by participating in a Float Your Boat activity you are acknowledging that you are aware and understand that in the event of a serious medical emergency, treatment may be multiple hours, up to days, away.
Kayaking, and other posted events 'Float Your Boat'-Chicago Area's Kayak Meetup' are inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you're taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. By RSVP'ing, signing up for an event, joining "Float Your Boat' as a member you are agreeing that you are waiving any and all legal or civil rights for responsibility to the Organizer and any other members within the group. 'Float Your Boat' and it's organizers, assistant organizers, trip leaders, and other members, are not trained leaders and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions. If you choose to sign up for any 'Float Your Boat' events, you are releasing 'Float Your Boat' , it's organizers and members from all liability in case of possible injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.
The organizer and assistant organizers take no responsibility and will not be held responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur during events. By participating in an event, your are waiving your legal rights. Kayaking and other paddle sports can be inherently dangerous and accidents can happen. By participating in any event posted on this meetup web page you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. By participating in any Float Your Boat event, YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FAMILY Member's and GUESTS fully understand, accept all risks and agree to foever release, hold harmless and indemnify Float Your Boat and activity organizers, as well as their families, from any injury, damages or death resulting from participating in an activity. To the Fullest Extent allowed by law, you WAIVE, DISCHARGE CLAIMS, AND RELEASE FROM LIABILITY the Float Your Boat Meetup Group and its Organizers from any and all liability on account of, or in any way resulting from injuries, personal or property, and while participating in or traveling to or from any activity.
IN SHORT, BY PARTICIPATING IN A FLOAT YOUR BOAT activity, you accept and assume all risks and full responsibility for losses, costs and damages for yourself, your family and children, friends, and your guests.
Dear FYB'ers, If you don't know Ralph Frese, then this is a good opportunity to meet one of the greatest paddling icons around. Come join Ralph and be part of his... Learn more
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