Canoecopia attendees take a selfie in the conference hall with Darren Bush, owner of Rutabaga Paddlesports who have put on the expo for nearly 50 years.
Map of the convention center in hand, I wind my way with anticipation through hallways and breezeways from my hotel to the Alliant Energy Center located in Madison, Wisconsin.
I’m traveling alone and know only two or three other participants in the sea of over 20,000 people who will be attending over the next three days. The energy of like-minded people coming together in anticipation to be inspired, share knowledge, and snag the best deals of the year on paddling gear is exhilarating – even for an introvert like myself.
These community opportunities are like none other – allowing people from all over the globe to gather and make connections, gaining an increased sense of belonging to a specific community.
The social value that Canoecopia – an event with 50 years of history – provides is an excellent example of the strength of community such large-scale gatherings can create over time.
Let’s take a closer look at the various components of social value offered individuals by Canoecopia and gatherings like it specifically through the lens of an introvert (that would be me).
At the end, I’ll cover how to best leverage these opportunities for increasing social value.
Inspiration
Cruising the outer hallway where the non-profit organizations were set up, I spot some North Country Trail (NCT) maps. (Many paddlers do multi-day trips which necessitates camping along the way; thus, a lot of camping information is available to attendees as well as canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up-paddleboarding instruction and information.)
I’ve only recently encountered the NCT, so I ask a few questions of the table host who introduces me to the other person in the booth – a rather unassuming man in his 40s. I start with some basic questions, but as I learn the breadth of his experiences, I’m flooded with admiration and inspiration.
He doesn’t have a book and wasn’t doing any self-promotion or workshops, but his accomplishments and stories were remarkable!
He’s not only a Triple Crown Hiker (those who complete thru-hikes of all three of the most known trails in the U.S. – The Appalachian Trail, The Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail), he’s also traversed the North Country Trail (4,800 miles coast to coast), and the American Discover Trail (6,800 miles coast to coast).
He is one of only twenty-some people to have ever completed a thru-hike of the NCT and one of a handful to do the ADT. He is approaching a lifetime total of 25,000 miles hiked.
He was the most inspiring person I met at the conference, and it happened because of taking the time to stop and ask questions that created a valuable social connection through sharing stories.
Golden Connection Challenge for Events: Inspiration
Make time to ask questions that continue conversations such as, “Tell me more about that, please.”
Confidence
The mission statement for Rutabaga Paddlesports is: “Get people on the water as beginners and to provide a pathway (if they so choose) toward more advanced skills. It’s all about you."
Thus, the conference offers over 100 workshops on everything from learning how to have a strong forward stroke for kayaking to preparing for 20 days of exploring the Boundary Waters by canoe.
I experimented with another type of confidence – social confidence. As an introvert, I’m generally happy enough to eat my hotel-provided breakfast alone; however, on the second morning of the conference, I was full of inspiration and appreciation from a connection between a session and a morning podcast listen.
So, when I saw one of the more popular speakers who had done an entertaining job of emceeing the annual Aluminum Chef competition the day before sitting alone, I asked if I could sit with him.
I thanked him for being part of introducing me to who Chef Luke Zahm is through the session competition. Just before heading to breakfast, I’d listened to an inspiring interview of Chef Luke by journalist and comedian Charlie Berens (The Midwest Hits Different - Luke Zahm - Episode 186) on Charlie’s Cripescast Podcast. The interaction between Charlie and Luke is a gem of discussion on social value, often discussing the value of community, its components, how its created, and the many social benefits. (More about that in another post.)
The interview is a testament to Midwest nice at its best – people truly interested in the person with whom they are speaking.
I thanked Kevin and then had the opportunity to meet his friend and YouTube side-kick, Andy. When another friend came along with homemade banana bread for Kevin and Andy, I benefited as well. We chatted about Canoecopia, Kevin’s popular and often comedic Happy Camper YouTube show, and his work getting underprivileged kids out into nature.
All of this made for a rich social experience as well as introducing me to a new information source for camping information.
Golden Connection Challenge for Events: Confidence
Strike up social conversations with others with whom you might not normally engage, perhaps asking to sit with someone at breakfast or chatting during an elevator ride
Shared Experience
I learned a new term in one session with a lot of audience participation: Psychological tow.
“Fear can prevent us from doing stupid things, but unreasonable fears can hold us back,” was the message of Lenore Sobota’s presentation on overcoming paddling fears.
The best thing about Lenore’s presentation was her facilitation of shared experience, asking attendees to share their stories with one another in a safe space. One of the story topics covered was around managing anxiety while on the water both for yourself and others.
Sometimes in paddling, when one person is injured or exhausted, another paddler might give them a physical tow involving attaching a rope from their kayak to the person needing assistance and then paddling for both vessels. We often train how to tow others during safety courses.
Lenore offered up another service: The psychological tow.
That involves paddling alongside someone experiencing some anxiety and talking to them to distract them from being overwhelmed by feelings, providing words of encouragement, and giving the gift of seeing, hearing, and being with the person.
We could all use a psychological tow now and then.
Golden Connection Challenge for Events: Shared Experience
While sharing practical tips with one another, consider how you might increase social bonds by also sharing how you make sure everyone is included and valued in your community of interest.
Rutabaga Paddlesports employees ready to open the vendor hall of Canoecopia 2024.
Being a part of history
It wasn’t unusual to encounter attendees as well as speakers who’d been coming to the event for decades and that means being part of something larger than oneself.
Rutabaga Paddlesports, the outfitter who puts on the event, has its own storied history. I share this story to encourage you to learn the roots of your own interest groups.
“Rutabaga started as Rutabaga Whitewater Supply in the basement of an old house south of the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus. A small group of paddling enthusiasts bought gear from manufacturers because the local sporting good stores wouldn't take special orders. They kept some for themselves and sold the rest to friends.
"Well, three of the four ‘partners’ graduated, leaving behind one guy to move Rutabaga into an old gas station, and starting what would eventually become the largest paddlesport shop in the US." (Citation from the Rutabaga Website story page).
Soon after organizing in the 1970s, they offered customers the opportunity to "meet the folks who build the boats" via a sidewalk sale to sell canoes (before kayaks became popular) - and Canoecopia was born, though the title Canoecopia wasn’t first used until 1981.
"From a dozen customers and a few trailers of boats to over 20,000 annual attendees and hundreds of exhibitors didn't happen overnight.”
Canoecopia grew because a small group of like-minded paddlers found value in connecting and creating a community of belonging. (Citation from the Rutabaga Website history page).
Great communities start small.
Golden Connection Challenge for Events: Being a part of history
Know the roots of your community, or start a community around an interest and invite others to join you – Dream big and start small!
Acquiring Skills
Any gathering of adherents to a particular activity offers the opportunity to improve skills, and that increases one’s ability to be a larger part of its community.
For something like Canoecopia, it also usually offers:
- Best vendor prices of the year
- Opportunity to ask questions of knowledgeable vendors
- Ability to see products in person
Golden Connection Challenge for Events: Acquiring skills
Any interest-based community has skills to learn from better bidding in the card game Euchre to a better forward stroke for kayaking. When you acquire more skill, you increase your opportunity to connect with others in that community.
Social Value
Canoecopia is an excellent model of the social value that can be created from small beginnings of a few people wanting to share their love of an activity with others.
I’d love to know what similar experiences you’ve had with your own interest groups! Please share in the comments.
Golden Connection Challenge:
I hope you have an activity you enjoy that offers gathering events in which you can connect with others in meaningful ways, perhaps even full-blown conferences. Seek out activity groups who have a mission of connecting people at the core of their purpose.
And, when you have an opportunity to attend a conference - or even a local meeting - take some time to engage and listen, really listen.