Our team here at Fox River Kayaking Company consists of hard workers, passionate about what we do, and in love with the Fox River Valley community we support. One project we worked on for months in the very beginning was our logo.

The following is a behind the scenes look at how our logo came to be!

Looking back, it was an amazing experience, but let us tell you, there were moments when we thought “ugh, nothing is working, maybe we should upload some clipart and call it a day”. Of course, we did not go this route. Instead, we stepped away from the project, turned on a movie, and forgot about our frustrations until another positive working moment arrived.

From the inception, there were so many opportunities and directions to take that we were hard pressed to decide which angle to develop. Shapes, words, pictures, or colors; the options were endless and that was not good for people whose creativity is always stuck on hyperdrive.

Luckily Chewbacca refocused the Millennium falcon flight trajectory and this is when the elements of graphic design came forward.

We agreed that a sense of simplicity was best! So our approach was with a mind of minimalism.

Our passion is the Fox River, so it only made sense to depict the Fox!

Our approach was rudimentary at first. We reviewed various fox images, watched documentaries on Netflix, checked out books from the library, and searched for different perspectives across the Web. Then we took to pen and paper! We approached the project with a simple geometric approach with different perspectives – jumping, full body, face, etc. We were always making sure the drafts were symmetrical and balanced; for some reason, it wasn’t feeling right.

It should be stated now that the entire design process was done in house. We did reach out to our friend Cody, a professional photographer based in Door County with an amazing knack to exemplify the beauty around him! He supported us in translating the rough draft into a refined digital composite! If you are looking for a friendly, professional photographer for any event or project, Cody @TandemPhotographer should be top on your list! Website – http://www.tandemphotographyofdoorcounty.com/

Continuing to work through many drafts, the design just wasn’t complete! We needed a banner that we could stand behind, that represented our energy and passion! Months passed and still nothing, until one night…

Lots of crumpled paper balls piling up, we took a detoured inspirational drive, referencing other foxes we originally weren’t focused on, scrapping the idea of symmetry, and adding our own flare and BAM!

Your Fox River Kayaking Company Fox appeared!

Its asymmetry and rough design give it an approachable edginess; a timeless and unique style!

Interested in learning more about Fox River Kayaking Company? Check out our About Page!

http://foxriverkayakingcompany.com/?page_id=74

Interested in buying a T-shirt? Check out our Gear Page and stop in our shop to pick one up for yourself and another one for a surprise present!

http://foxriverkayakingcompany.com/?page_id=404

We are keeping this week’s blog short and sweet – we are too excited about the long weekend to spend it all writing! 🙂

We have spent the week scoping out the waterways! If you are going to be on the water this weekend, here are a few fun things you can expect to see throughout the Fox River Valley:

Just a friendly reminder to travel safe out there this weekend. Whether you are driving on land or paddling on water, let’s look out for each other and be safe! We love firing up the grill and cracking open a cold one, but we always do this AFTER our kayaking excursions. Enjoy the fun party, but be responsible!

Memorial Day originated after the Civil War, and ever since then we have been honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. military. It was formally recognized as a national holiday in 1971.

Good day ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the main event, the battle of the ages: Sit-on-Top VS Sit-In Kayaks!

Introducing first in the one corner, Sit-on-Top kayaks! User friendly and outgoing Sit-on-Tops offer a knockout good time out on the water!

And introducing in the other corner, Sit-In kayaks! Close to the water and fun, Sit-Ins offer a one-two hit sensation with every paddle stroke!

We are in for a phenomenal bout, worthy of the Las Vegas, Chicago or New York rings! We hope we can settle this age-old question today and we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but the Fox River Valley to enjoy this contest! So, without further ado, let’s see these two float like a butterfly, sting like a bee and dance!

Let’s Get Ready to RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

Sit-on-Top

The most user-friendly kayak style! Sit-on-Tops are versatile for everyone from beginner to expert!

They are reliable, stable and phenomenally easy to get in and out of! This makes them great for day trips because you can easily pull aside to shore and take a break for a delicious picnic!

These vessels have a wide and open deck which offers comfort on the water for all kayakers!
Tipped out of your kayak? No worries – simply flip the kayak back right side up and pull yourself back in to continue your adventure! No need to worry about sinking your kayak either – if you flip your kayak, the useful holes allow the water to drain out!

Sit-In

The coziest kayak style. Sit-Ins are designed for the long tours. The Vessel has a cockpit which you will climb into. This provides protection from the wind and elements!

Want to show off your skills doing an Eskimo roll or take on some technical rapids? With a Sit-In kayak you can use a spray skirt to successfully Eskimo roll and conquer those level 5 rapids without getting water inside.

Sit-In kayaks are widely available at most stores! This means there is a wide price range and many different style or size options! Don’t forget to do some research into different Sit-In kayaks, as the wide variety could cause you to get a kayak that doesn’t suit your needs or is not the quality that you require!

And the Winner Is…

After a highly contested and memorable fight, the results are in! Due to both contenders showing great qualities to support adventures out on the water the match ends in a technical draw!

As you can see, these kayaks serve distinct purposes.  Each kayaker has different needs, and it really comes down to which style you prefer personally!

Fox River Kayaking Company’s fleet is comprised of Sit-on-Tops due to their ease of use, safety, and comfort! We love the multi-purpose nature of our kayaks, and they are perfect for our calm and beautiful local waterways!

We are always happy to chat about Kayaks or Stand Up Paddle Boards! Feel free to contact us with any questions!

As we began the Fox River Kayaking project we knew a few videos would be needed to spread the word. This is the story behind our first video, which introduced Fox River Kayaking Company.

The idea to shoot our first video came in response to an entrepreneurial small business competition held annually by FedEx! The only problem was that we needed to submit this video in early March, meaning a video shoot had to take place in February. Every Wisconsinite on the planet knows our summers our beautiful, but our winters are nothing to mess around with!

Side note: Check out the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest. If you are working in a small business you should definitely enter for an opportunity to win a grant to support expanding or improving your gig! We received over 9,000 votes, but sadly did not win – we will be trying again next year! We also recommend searching for other local grants in your area as there are usually opportunities provided by local organizations!

Back to the story…

If you remember, there was a miraculous 2 or 3 day heat wave in February, which gave us an amazing opportunity! We didn’t think twice, running to get the necessary gear together to shoot the video and win the grand prize [plus a little paddle down the river to remind us that, yes, a summer would soon arrive]!

We dipped in at Appleton’s Lutz Park with no set script organized for the shoot. We were just excited to go kayaking again after months of snow shoeing, snowboarding, and other activities that start with SNOW!

With two people in the water and two on land we kept it simple and stated what we do – we offer guided kayaking & SUP excursions, gear rentals, and stand up paddle board yoga. Keeping it short and sweet! Even the simplest thing sometimes isn’t easy – it took more than a few takes to get a decent take.

Once we got all the video footage needed we wrapped up and headed to the library! We love our local libraries and we work post production in their technical labs. For all you aspiring videographers we highly recommend checking out your local library to use their free software and equipment! After a few hours of editing, the video was complete and ready to be shared with the world!

We have a great time making videos, and we got lucky with the timing of the heat wave for our first one!

Check out the introduction video here.

We’ve made several other videos since then, including one in which we interviewed locals about kayaking on the Fox River and one in which we discussed kayak fishing. Interested in watching more? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the action!

There are more exciting Fox River Kayaking Co. videos currently in the making! Stay tuned!

Spring showers have brought us May flowers and we are paddling into great kayaking season! As a community that enjoys living by the water, summer is always a special time – although our neighboring ice-fishermen would have other thoughts! ?

As swimmers enjoy warm waves crashing into the Lake Winnebago beaches, kayakers cut through the heart of the Valley’s Fox River, and SUP paddlers venture through secret inlets, it’s also a time to be conscious about water safety. This safety information is not only for kids, but for adults too!

Here at Fox River Kayaking Company we take safety very seriously. We know how to have fun, but no one is having fun if it’s not safe! Our team has been trained in emergency response, carries dry bags fitted with safety gear, and is experienced on the routes that we take to know exactly where to navigate for a successful adventure!

Below you will find a few safety recommendations for a Kayaker or Stand Up Paddle Boarder:

• Be mindful of the weather! Wind direction, cold water, storms, and blistering hot days can turn a happy day to a troubled day quickly if not managed correctly.
• Wear appropriate clothing for the day’s activities – wear layers if it’s chilly and wear UV protective clothing on sunny days!
• Always wear your properly fitted PFD!
• Be aware of other boaters on the water – we’re all here to share the waterways and have a good time, but always be alert of your surroundings.
• Tell a friend where you are headed and how long your outing will be!
• Hide your pride, tell your guide! If you have any worries before or during one of our guided excursions, it is important that you let us know before anything goes wrong – we want everyone to feel safe, comfortable, and happy. Good communication on the water is a must!
• Grow with the flow – as the PFD above says, always be prepared for conditions to change while on your outing. We recommend bringing dry clothes, plenty of water, and a first aid kit.

This list is not extensive, and we always take extra precautions dependent on the group with whom we are kayaking. Many of these tips are useful for any outdoor activity, not just adventures on the water! Each water outing is unique and one must be mindful of their environment and circumstances to take the appropriate safety steps and have a great time out on the water!

Everyone needs to stay extra vigilant and look out for each other out on the water to ensure that everyone is safe because when you are safe, you are having fun!

This may be our first publication about safety but it won’t be our last! Although it is not the most fun topic to go over, it truly is the most important.

Every one of our guided excursions starts with a safety discussion before launch. Every rental is supported with safety advice for success out on the water. Even if you don’t join us for a guided excursion or rent our gear, everyone is encouraged to reach out to us for information on how to be successful on our local water ways! We never want to see anyone get hurt or worse. The safety of our community is our number one priority!

Stay safe and have fun on the water!