GRASP History

In 1991, after building my first kayak, I knew that I wanted to learn as much as possible about how to paddle my new boat as best I could. I also knew that I still loved to canoe and wanted to keep up that pastime as well.

At that time there were few or no venues for people to really learn and practice the skills needed to be proficient at paddling a canoe or kayak. The West Michagan Coastal Kayak Association (WMCKA) had a symposium and a few events each year, but they usually weren't held close to the Grand Rapids area.

For that reason, in 1992, I started letting as many people as I could know that I'd be heading up a group of paddlers and spending a couple hours twice a month padding at at Riverside Park on the Grand River. We also met at local lakes to paddle and practice various skills, canoed a river or two during the year and also rented a pool in the Winter months to play around in.

During GRASPs first 6 years I sent out a newsletter to anyone who would give me their address. I covered some of the costs by asking for donations. After marriage and the impending birth of our first child, GRASP went on-line and became a list of emails where people were notified on-line or via emails.