What we’re about
As of 4/20/25 We will allow more than 49 people to be in our group.
We had that limit for a good reason, but think we have a workaround: the $15 annual membership fee will be for this paddling season, not into the new calendar year.
We are certainly not a business company! Just a group of people, but a hard working one. All our major events are scheduled far in advance - and paid by several of us using our own credit cards. That's how life is these days.
We like to enjoy fresh air, clean water, and Montana scenery. Our members' hard shell kayaks tend to be 10' to 16' in length which allow for carrying food and extra clothes. On lakes our quiet paddling sometimes gives us great views of wildlife. We typically have two or three multi day lake trips per year and enjoy campfire dinners and socializing. On rivers we occasionally need to dodge rocks, but we are not "white water" paddlers.
We are not a 'just show up' type of some MeetUp groups. We plan things and pay for sites 6 months to a year in advance. To be considered for membership:
- agree to pay $15 in advance for each season
- agree to the liability release
- be a "team player" and enjoy our events.
Transporting kayaks or canoes typically requires coordination to get them to a distant site and, for river paddling, to arrange enough shuttles. (Two of us own trailers which can often carry an extra boat or two to a site.) Small local events can work with only a few days notice, but river trips depend on at least two vehicles, one at each end of the trip.
Dues of $15 per person: MeetUp is not free - the company charges us $300 per year (more if we have over 49 members) which gets taken out of the main organizer's credit card. Several special events per year require cost sharing of sites and/or pot luck food planning. ($15 has been for the last 6 years, we will probably raise the annual dues to $25)
When joining, use your first name and at least a last initial and please post a photo. Reason: later on when people are organizing a specific trip it can be confusing if there are three people named Bob or if a person has signed up as HappyCamper or similar. If a change is made at the last minute, it's important that the right people be contacted. Thanks
We try to reserve two or three group campsites up to a year in advance and also paying for them with personal credit cards of the leadership team members.
Competition for waterfront campsites has become intense which is why we plan a year in advance.
We have now set up a PayPal feature within MeetUp to allow people to use a credit card when joining or signing up for group campsite events which charge a fee. This new credit card system seems to be working well.
For events not involving advance reservations participants usually manage miscellaneous costs among themselves, such as car pooling and chipping in for gas for the drivers.
The Leadership Team & what it does: Running this site and planning trips is a group effort by about six volunteers. Suggestions and offers to help are always welcome! We typically put together 6 to 8 one day paddling MeetUps each year in addition to our multi day events.
Boat permits & decals
Montana: https://fwp.mt.gov/activities/boating/registration (my reading from that is that we don't have to register/pay)
Idaho: Buy required decal in advance via online (approx $7)
https://idahostateparks.reserveamerica.com/purchaseprivilege.page?_PageParam.displayCategoryID=103
For everyone's safety and liability protection, we require that you read and accept the following two items - after reading answer the 3 short questions when joining.
We focus on easy paddling, flat water trips, but we may encounter occasional mild rapids or strange currents or fallen trees or snags. We ask that members be alert to potential hazards and paddle safely and responsibly. Usually we paddle in a group; if some want to go in a different direction, that's fine but we suggest using a buddy system. We urge everyone to follow safety regulations and guidelines, please see our Safety tips in our Pages section. As with any athletic or outdoor event, an accident could happen and everyone should take precautions for their own safety and have appropriate insurance. Please know that this MeetUp group is simply a series of individuals temporarily coming together for a specific outing; while some people volunteer to organize events or this website, this is not a formal organization and each person is responsible for his/her own safety and obligations.
Legal Waiver and Release of Liability for participation in all events:
In consideration of the risk of injury while participating in Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing (the "Activity"), and as consideration for the right to participate in the Activity, I hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, or personal representatives, knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my participation in the Activity, and do hereby release and forever discharge past and current members of “The Leadership Team” of Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing, located in Bozeman, Montana 59718, their affiliates, managers, members, agents, attorneys, staff, volunteers, heirs, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns, for any physical or psychological injury, including but not limited to illness, paralysis, death, damages, economic or emotional loss, that I may suffer as a direct result of my participation in the aforementioned Activity, including traveling to and from an event related to this Activity. “The Leadership Team” are those persons shown on the Activity’s Meetup site page as being an "Organizer" at one or more of the levels plus individual members who take on a leadership role (sometimes temporary) for an event or gathering.
I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITY. BY MY RSVP, I AM PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITY ENTIRELY AT MY OWN RISK. I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAVELING TO AND FROM AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN THIS ACTIVITY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY, PAIN, SUFFERING, ILLNESS, DISFIGUREMENT, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT DISABILITY (INCLUDING PARALYSIS), ECONOMIC OR EMOTIONAL LOSS, AND DEATH. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE INJURIES OR OUTCOMES MAY ARISE FROM MY OWN OR OTHERS' NEGLIGENCE, CONDITIONS RELATED TO TRAVEL, OR THE CONDITION OF THE ACTIVITY LOCATION(S). NONETHELESS, I ASSUME ALL RELATED RISKS, BOTH KNOWN OR UNKNOWN TO ME, OF MY PARTICIPATION IN THIS ACTIVITY, INCLUDING TRAVEL TO, FROM AND DURING THIS ACTIVITY AND RELEASE THE ORGANIZERS, CO-ORGANIZERS, MEETUP.COM, ANY AND ALL PEOPLE FROM ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY.
I agree to indemnify and hold harmless “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group against any and all claims, suits or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney's fees and any related costs, if litigation arises pursuant to any claims made by me or by anyone else acting on my behalf. If “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group incurs any of these types of expenses, I agree to reimburse “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group.
I acknowledge that “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group and their directors, officers, volunteers, representatives, and agents are not responsible for errors, omissions, acts or failures to act of any party or entity conducting a specific event or activity on behalf of “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS ACTIVITY MAY INVOLVE A TEST OF A PERSON'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL LIMITS AND MAY CARRY WITH IT THE POTENTIAL FOR DEATH, SERIOUS INJURY, AND PROPERTY LOSS. The risks may include, but are not limited to, those caused by terrain, facilities, temperature, weather, lack of hydration, condition of participants, equipment, vehicular traffic and actions of others, including but not limited to, participants, volunteers, spectators, coaches, event officials and event monitors, and/or producers of the event.
I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS "WAIVER AND RELEASE" AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY WHEN I RSVP TO ANY
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY - Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing Page 2 of 2
BOZEMAN SEA KAYAKING AND CANOEING EVENT OR ACTIVITY. I EXPRESSLY AGREE TO RELEASE AND DISCHARGE “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES, MANAGERS, MEMBERS, AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, HEIRS, REPRESENTATIVES, PREDECESSORS, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION AND I AGREE TO VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP OR WAIVE ANY RIGHT THAT I OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING A LEGAL ACTION AGAINST “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
To the extent that statute or case law does not prohibit releases for negligence, this release is also for negligence on the part of “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group, its agents, and employees.
In the event that I should require medical care or treatment, I agree to be financially responsible for any costs incurred as a result of such treatment. I am aware and understand that I should carry my own health insurance.
In the event that any damage to equipment or facilities occurs as a result of my or my family's willful actions, neglect or recklessness, I acknowledge and agree to be held liable for any and all costs associated with any actions of neglect or recklessness.
This agreement was entered into at arm's-length, without duress or coercion, and is to be interpreted as an agreement between two parties of equal bargaining strength. Both Any and All Participants and “The Leadership Team” and Bozeman Sea Kayaking and Canoeing meetup group agree that this agreement is clear and unambiguous as to its terms, and that no other evidence will be used or admitted to alter or explain the terms of this agreement, but that it will be interpreted based on the language in accordance with the purposes for which it is entered into.
In the event that any provision contained within this Release of Liability shall be deemed to be severable or invalid, or if any term, condition, phrase or portion of this agreement shall be determined to be unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect, so long as the clause severed does not affect the intent of the parties. If a court should find that any provision of this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting said provision it would become valid and enforceable, then said provision shall be deemed to be written, construed and enforced as so limited.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I BRING MY PET TO ANY EVENT FOR BOZEMAN SEA KAYAKING AND CANOEING, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PET'S BEHAVIOR AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING UP AFTER MY PET AT ALL TIMES AND BEFORE I LEAVE THE SITE OF THE EVENT.
I, THE PARTICIPANT, AFFIRM THAT I AM OF THE AGE OF 18 YEARS OR OLDER, AND THAT I AM FREELY AGREEING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BY MY RSVP OR BY SIGNING A COPY OF THIS WORDING.
