So what is this all about?

On the surface, the Paddle In The Park Contest is a chance to find a hidden paddle in a park, somewhere in Ontario. But that’s just a small, incidental aspect of this summer-long event. The contest was conceived as way to re-enforce the idea that being in Nature is truly a rewarding experience – or like what we call being “Out There”. To do this, we listed at least 9 rewards and reasons to spend time in nature then added another: a tangible representation of all those rewards in the form of a handcrafted Badger® canoe paddle and other gear and prizes.

People had a lot of fun following the contest and looking for clues, because when each paddle was found we drew a random winner for a prize package. 2013 was a huge success, with 2014 being even bigger and better with more paddles, and more paddle hiders. In 2015 we opened up the contest to even more outdoor enthusiasts by way of the Paddle Points Contest, where people uploaded camping photos for a chance to win a Nova Craft Canoe and even more gear and prizes.

In 2017, we celebrated our 5th year of the Paddle in the Park campaign. This year we are back for Badger’s and Portageur’s 10 year anniversaries, and we have even more rewarding surprises planned – all in celebration of nature. Throughout the season, there will be 10 Badger paddles “Out There” at different times and different places to be claimed in various ways. And if you’re lucky enough to get your paws on a paddle, you’ll also get a chance to win a Nova Craft Canoe!

For those seeking to collect #PaddlePoints, you will also have a chance at winning a canoe from Swift Canoe & Kayak.  So grab your maps, your gear, your camera, and get “Out There” this summer. You will definitely be rewarded for it!