To the editor:

The international nonprofit Wooden Canoe Heritage Association (WCHA) will hold its annual Assembly July 16-20 at Paul Smith’s College. The WCHA Assembly draws hundreds of people from around the world and hundreds of stunningly beautiful wooden canoes and related wooden boats from historic to modern. The event is being held in conjunction with the Adirondack Canoe Symposium, and the public is invited to attend.

The 2024 theme is “Courting Canoes: Style and Romance on the Water.” The theme celebrates some of the most extravagant small boats ever built and the culture of romance and relaxation that surrounded them, particularly in the early 1900s.

Assembly will include informative workshops and lectures, exciting on-water activities including sailing and paddling instruction, paddling excursions on gorgeous lakes, wooden canoes and related items for sale, and much more.

There will be a lively auction and raffle of historic and new canoes, paddles, canoeing accessories, books, art, and more, plus a “fire sale” woodworking tools event. Assembly is for the whole family, and daily kids activities and sporting events provide fun for everyone.

For information and to register, call WCHA Executive Director Annie Burke at 603-323-8992, or go to https://www.woodencanoe.org/2024-assembly.

Michael Grace

President, WCHA Board of Directors

Melbourne, Florida