Northwest Indiana Paddling Association

2009 Signature Events

Marquette to Burnham Expedition – June 13th & 14th 2009

Event Description:

The Marquette to Burnham Sea Kayak Expedition is a one of a kind, region wide event that allows participants to be a part of a historic weekend long journey that will take paddlers on a voyage from Michigan City, Indiana to downtown Chicago, following the new Indiana Lake Michigan Water Trail that will be dedicated at this event. Our hope is that this momentous expedition will help educate, inspire, and honor the “Bold Plans and Big Dreams” of the Burnham Plan, as well as highlight these same visions as part of the Marquette Greenway Plan in Northwest, Indiana. Beginning in Michigan City, sea kayakers will paddle along the Indiana coastline in 6-8 mile segments allowing participants to be able join in and finish at various points along the route. Stops along the route will include public access points part of the Lake Michigan Water Trail, locations that are part of the Marquette Plan, and other areas along the coastline in which restoration / revitalization work is planned or underway. Several stops along the route will highlight the ecology of the Great Lakes, the natural areas of the Indiana Dunes, and Industry in the Southern Lake Michigan Watershed. After the 25 mile paddle first leg of the expedition, paddlers overnight in East Chicago. On the second day, the voyage will continue into Illinois and shift focus to the Burnham Plan, what came about because of it, and what the future holds. Finally, paddlers will complete the voyage to downtown Chicago in what we hope will be a great reception celebrating the Burnham Centennial & accomplishments of the Marquette to Burnham Sea Kayak Expedition.

All net proceeds will be donated to the Dunes Learning Center which provides exceptional hands-on environmental learning experiences for everyone- children, teachers, families, community groups, college students, and adults. The region served by the Dunes Learning Center spans from Southeast Wisconsin, through Chicago and Northwest Indiana , on into Southwest Michigan.

Impact & Goals of the Expedition:

On so many levels, the culmination of the Marquette to Burnham Sea Kayak Expedition embodies what Daniel Burnham set forth one hundred years ago. From the starting point in Michigan City, IN, where Daniel Burnham recognized as being part of the greater Chicago Metropolitan area, to the celebration f the dedication of the Indiana portion of the Lake Michigan Water Trail, part f the Marquette Plan, we feel this activity is exactly the type of “Bold Plan, Big Dream” event that the Burnham Centennial is all about. Not only does the event help educate the public about the history of the Burnham Plan, it looks to the future garnering support for the bold and visionary projects in both states such as restoration and redevelopment efforts on Northerly Island in Chicago and those as part of the Marquette Plan. The act of pulling the paddling community together across the entire Chicago metropolitan region, as well as so many partners and organizations who recognize the symbolism and effort that will be needed to complete the expedition, we have no doubt that this event will be one of the premier celebrations of the Burnham Centennial next summer. In addition, proceeds generated through the “Paddle-A-Thon” for the Dunes Learning Center will go towards the continued success of an institution that has helped educate and inspire over 35,000 students to date throughout the southern end of Lake Michigan.

Expedition Partners to Date:

Chicago Area Sea Kayakers Association, the Illinois Paddling Council, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Michigan City, Openlands, Dunes Learning Center, City of Gary, Chicago Department of the Environment, City of Whiting, Beverly Shores, IN., Ogden Dunes, IN, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Weaver Boos Consulting, Portage Parks & Rec., J.F. New Environmental, Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, City of East Chicago, National Park Service, & the Indiana Dunes State Park.

Event Details:

The Burnham to Marquette Water Trail Expedition is a bi-state sea kayaking event that will allow competent participants to be a part of a historic weekend long journey from Chicago to Michigan City.  The route will follow the new Southern Lake Michigan Water Trail that will be dedicated by this inaugural event.

Beginning in Chicago, participants will paddle along the Illinois and Indiana coastline in 5-8 mile segments allowing participants to be able join in and finish at various points along the route. Early on the morning of Saturday, June 13th, the Expedition will begin from the Burnham Harbor West boat ramp.   

Programs at the Illinois landing sites will focus on the Burnham Plan, what came about because of it, and keeping in the spirit of the original vision, what the future holds for lakefront projects.

On Saturday afternoon, the Expedition will cross into Indiana and the public programs at landing sites will shift focus to the Marquette Plan.

Stopping points along the way will either be public access sites that will be part of the Indiana portion of the Lake Michigan Water Trail or places of interest that are part of the Marquette Plan.  Several of the stops along the route “will highlight the natural areas along the Southern Lake Michigan coast situated side by side with industry, as well the native ecology of the Great Lakes.

After the first leg of the expedition on June 13th, paddlers will camp along the lakeshore at Marquette Park in Miller Beach. There will be food, live entertainment as well as a showing of a recently digitized 1973 film documenting the three hundredth anniversary re-enactment of the Jolliet-Marquette expedition of 1673.  On Sunday, June 14th, paddlers will complete the Expedition from Miller Beach to Michigan City culminating in a party with live entertainment from "The Stoneflys" celebrating the journey and the opening of the new Southern Lake Michigan Water Trail.