AT A GLANCE
Ledyard Canoe Club Turns 100
NAMESAKE
John Ledyard, class of 1776, famously carved a canoe and bolted campus in 1773 for a paddle down the Connecticut River to Hartford, Connecticut. He later traveled the world, working with Captain Cook, dining with cannibals, and incurring the wrath of Catherine the Great, among other adventures.
FOUNDERS
Students launched the Ledyard Canoe Club in Richardson Hall on April 30,1920. Rev. John E. Johnson, class of 1866, donated funds to purchase several canoes.
TRIP TO THE SEA
The annual student paddle that follows Ledyard’s original journey got under way in 1921. The 98th edition takes place May 3-10.
LEGENDARY MEMBERS
Jay Evans ’49, Olympic whitewater coach in 1972; Dana Chladek ’85, winner of two Olympic medals as a slalom kayaker
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
The club plans to sponsor 100 trips this year, from river paddles to weeklong expeditions on rivers around the world, and to promote 100 river cleanups. Ledyard’s third Explorers Symposium takes place April 23-26 and features speakers including National Geographic filmmaker David Hamlin ’82. Paddlers will also compete that weekend in two local slalom races.
RIVER RATS
The club will publish a special edition of its annual publication to highlight the anniversary. Alumni can submit trip accounts to ledyard.canoe.club@ dartmouth.edu.
