The Happy Camper: Saying No To the US Shows in 2026
I always trust my gut on a canoe trip. If there’s an approaching storm, I wait it out. It just makes sense to do so. The same goes for deciding whether I should present at any US shows in 2026. My gut is now a belly full of butterflies and it’s telling me to stay at camp and weather out the storm.
I love the US paddling shows. The Quiet Adventures Symposium is an awesome volunteer-based organization in Lansing, Michigan which I have been presenting at for over a decade now. Madison’s Canoecopia is the world’s largest paddling sport show and I’ve been a keynote speaker there since before my hair turned grey and my 20-something child was born.
So why wouldn’t I return to two of the biggest and greatest outdoor shows and spend time with good friends and colleagues who share the same love and values of wilderness canoe tripping?
Well, simply put, it’s not worth the money, the risk and the emotions. There’s a lot of political turmoil in the US right now, a lot of conflict and strife, and a lot of discord towards us Canadians. It seems pitching my tarp at camp and waiting out the tempestuous weather is the best choice right now. In fact, I’m organizing lots of new presentations across Canada instead.
Will I miss signing books beside the rabbit show that comically overshadows the Quiet Adventure Symposium? Heck yes! This event has always been one of my all-time favourites to present at. I have fond memories chatting with fellow paddlers about some of my favourite places to canoe trip in Canada. I’ll miss all the juvenile high jinks the other speakers and myself got ourselves into, as well as ending the show with a mug of beer at the Eagle Monk Pub with some incredible people. I have gained some long-lasting friendships there—no matter what their political agendas are.
The same goes for Canoecopia. It’s hard to grasp not going to this amazing gathering of paddlers, something I once described to a US border agent as the “Star Trek Convention for canoeists.” It saddens me beyond belief not to be the judge of the Aluminum Chef Competition and mock Marty and relish in Mona’s dehydrated meal recipes. It’s unthinkable to not perform with Jerry Vandiver and wear a cow outfit, dance the bear barrel polka, throw fake rocks at the audience or desperately try to play the harmonica to Blue Bandana Blues.
There’s something seriously wrong with the world if I’m not comfortable to once again share my past canoe adventures and my passion of wilderness travel with countless neighbouring American friends and paddlers.
In the spring of 2025, some of my Canadian colleagues boycotted speaking in the US. I didn’t. I thought, at the time, that it would create an unforgettable barrier between Canadian and US paddlers. I have always cherished the historical moment in conservation when American writer Sigurd Olson and Canadian writer Eric Morse met on the portage, became friends and then went forth together to protect lands and water between both countries—United States’ Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Canada’s Quetico became one massive chunk of protected wilderness thanks to their friendship.
It’s the wilderness protection thing that is really bothering me right now. Things have gotten worse since this year’s spring shows. I believe these ongoing border issues have destroyed group dynamics for years to come. It’s like finding out another canoeist in camp has used your toothbrush because they didn’t have the forethought of bringing their own. That’s just not right, no matter how you look at it.
Wilderness in the US is being diminished, unprotected or even worse, …unloved. If I went to cross the border to present on the love of wilderness canoe trips in 2026, like I have done for decades, I’m afraid that a guard would ask me the ultimate question “Why can’t an American do that job?”
My answer would simply be “Good question…”
Aw, Kevin. I’m so sad for you. Such a difficult decision. But the right one. I’ll be waiting for your list on Canadian presentations.
America’s loss. I wasn’t expecting your rationale… I was thinking you didn’t want to hand over any Canadian Dollars to such a morally bankrupt country… Or that just maybe, ICE would show up at your presentation and drag you off to a deportation center… Sadly, there are SO MANY reasons not to visit the USA right now. Your reason is plenty sound. You will be missed. I will be in the US working hard to make sure some day you feel you can bless us with your humor again.
Kevin…you must may get some of us to come up to see you. May even stay. For a few years.