Northwest Chapter Wooden Canoe Heritage Association Events
The Northwest Chapter's two main events are the annual Spring Rendezvous and the annual Fall Meet. These are occasions for wooden canoe owners and enthusiasts to gather at one location in the Pacific Northwest and experience a full weekend immersed (usually not literally!) in everything related to wooden canoes. For some pictures of past spring and fall meets see the Past Events page. Also check out the current Newsletter (pdf format) detailing past events and canoe related articles.
Fall Meet: Lightning Lakes, Manning Park, BC September 18--21, 2025
Pack your gear and canoe, and get ready for this year's Fall Meet at Manning! What better place to enjoy crisp fall weather, with good food, good friends and beautiful boats? Remember, we will be at Lone Duck campground #1, not our usual campground #2. The campground is larger, and the beach access different, so bring a canoe cart if possible. And don't forget your woolies and toques! See you there!
Directions:
Easy to miss: From Hwy 3, east of Hope, BC, turn right (south) after the Manning Park Lodge, 41 km from the Manning Park west entrance, (park entrance marked by carved marmot).Follow signs to Lone Duck Group Camp 1, Lightning Lake,
4 km off Hwy 3
Accommodation-Rustic:
Brand new picnic shelter with tables and wood stove;
outside fire pit. Fire bans may be on, so plan accordingly.
Flush toilets and cold running water. Showers available at nearby campground.
Bring tarps for rain. Keep dogs on leash. Generous RV space. No hook-ups.
Potable water available. Bring your own food plus potluck item.
Reminders: Passports!
Bring potluck supper item for Saturday night-
main, sides, salad and/or dessert.
$15 /person /night ; Wed Sept. 17 after 4 pm free! Kids and grandkids are welcome!
Canadians bring firewood, if there is no fire ban.
Bring warm clothes, hiking boots and sticks. Bring canoe carts if possible
Gently used or new "valuables" for Saturday afternoon fundraising auction and $$$!
Musical instruments and voices for "campfire" sing-alongs
Program information on our website:.nwwoodencanoe.wcha.org
Program: (Weather may adjust Schedule)
Wednesday: (Free day; arrive after 4 pm) No scheduled program
Thursday: No scheduled program.
Friday: lunchtime: Picnic paddle to end of Lightning Lakes: Loons, beaver lodges, etc.
Evening: Arctic Exploring with Chris Cooper - Chilko Lake trip report
Saturday: Dawn Patrol
Mid-morning: Restoring a Rushton Indian Girl with Mike Elliott
Canoe Games
Afternoon: Introduce your canoe
Group photo
Auction
Evening: Wilderness Potluck Dinner
Short Chapter business meeting
Campfire
Sunday Dawn Patrol
Clean up, pack up. See you at Camp Bishop May 8-10, 2026!
Remember the New Dog Rules to Re-Enter US!
Dog owners traveling to the Meet should remember the new rules by the US Center for Disease Control regarding dogs entering the US, put in place in August 2024. The additional restrictions are designed to keep the US free from rabies in dogs. The system is tiered, with increased scrutiny as the danger of rabies exposure increases. Fortunately, Canada is considered as "low risk" for rabies, and movement across the US/Canadian border has only minor new requirements.
For dogs entering the US who have been in a canine rabies-free (US) or low risk (Canada) country the past 6 months, requirements are unchanged since August 2024:
The CDC Dog Import Form receipt: this is a form, to be filled out on-line at CDC.gov/importation/dog. An automatic receipt is generated; print it or show on your phone. The form is free, lasts 6 months, and may be used for multiple border crossings. One is needed for each dog. It can be filled out ahead of travel, or on the day of travel.
The dog must appear healthy.
The dog must be at least 6 months old. (At this age, they assume the dog is fully rabies-vaccinated)
The dog has a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner.
Dogs from a low-risk country meeting these requirements can enter the US at any land, water or air border crossing. Since rabies vaccines are required in Washington, it seems prudent to have rabies vaccine certificates on hand also, although this is not a CDC requirement.
Dogs entering the US from high risk countries need additional certifications that must be approved by the USDA in advance, and depending on where they were vaccinated, rabies titers may be required. This process can take weeks to months. The importation of puppies is presently not allowed.