Paddling on Statehouse Lake

 by Brent Moore

It is another wonderful season to get outdoors and enjoy the limitless gifts that the north woods offers us.  A couple of my favorite outdoor silent sport activities are canoeing and kayaking. The Statehouse Lake that the North Lakeland Discovery Center rests on provides an exquisite setting to experience the beauty of nature by water.  By placing on a life-jacket and pushing off the shore in a canoe or kayak, one has just initiated the beginning of a rewarding adventure. 

Paddling on Statehouse Lake allows one to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.  Traveling by canoe or kayak makes it possible to see unique habitats and animal activity that may not be accessible by foot.  The tranquility surrounding the lake makes it easy to hear the sounds of birds that call North Lakeland Discovery Center their home.  Bull head pond lily pads are beginning to appear and add to the already immaculate aesthetics of the lake.

In addition to connecting with nature, canoeing and kayaking are fun and physically active ways to spend time with family and friends.  The placid water of Statehouse Lake makes it a great place to learn the basics of paddling or to improve existing skills. Better yet, visitors do not need to bring anything because North Lakeland Discovery Center has canoes, kayaks, and all the equipment needed for a safe and enjoyable paddle.  Going for a paddle elicits positive feelings towards the gifts from nature and our place within it.  A fitting quote is by Brent Kelly that reads, “to canoe is to be moved”, and being moved is precisely what it does.