Champaign County Forest Preserve District has two opportunities coming up for exploring Homer Lake in either a kayak or a canoe, with someone who’s in the know about aquatic life and the natural setting of the forest preserve. If you’re a late morning sort of person, you can try the excursion on Thursday, July 27th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If evening is your thing, there will be a sunset paddle on Thursday, August 24th from 6 to 8 p.m.
Those eight years old and up can participate, though anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. If you want to do this Thursday’s paddle, you’ll need to request a reservation by Tuesday, the 25th. Reservations are also open for the August event. It’s recommend that you know some paddling basics, but they will also spend some time on basic safety info. Be sure to wear water shoes, and bring something to keep you hydrated, especially this week. It’ll be toasty!
Also, I didn’t realize that you can actually rent canoes or kayaks on your own at Homer Lake, from Lunatic Kayak Rental. That’s a good option if you can’t get to one of the guided tours.