Introduction to Paddling Our Backyard River

Published: September 13, 2022

Presentation by Linda Coffman

Link to view the presentation on YouTube coming soon.

Hosted by Missouri River Relief 

We joined avid paddler Linda Coffman on September 13th for a Missouri River paddling introduction. Her goal throughout this presentation was to make our shared backyard river more welcoming for recreation enthusiasts. This presentation covered appropriate watercraft and gear, safety precautions, ideas for planning trips, tips on reading the water features, and a brief discussion on appreciating the river’s beauty, wildlife, history and lore.

Linda shared with the audience her experiences on the Missouri River and the knowledge she has gained through the years on how to paddle it.

Linda and Steve
Linda Coffman and her paddling partner Steve Olson on the MR340 in 2021.

Linda Coffman is a retired Early Childhood Educator with a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Anthropology. She is the former director of Walnut Creek Day School and taught CORE Competency for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Linda has a love for the outdoors and has competed in various sports throughout her adult life including running, bicycling, canoe/kayak racing, weightlifting and holds records in power lifting. She began paddling later in life but is now an avid paddler of the Missouri River and has participated in the MR340 13 times.


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Resources and Links:

The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport

is hosted by these wonderful partners.

Click here for a list of upcoming presentations»

Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River. All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!

The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place in  St. Charles where it is hosted by Greenway Network.


The views and opinions expressed by our presenters do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of Missouri River Relief, the Big Muddy Speaker Series or any of the partners that support this public forum. The Big Muddy Speaker Series believes that hearing diverse perspectives is a crucial building block for an informed public.


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