Paddlesports skills school opens in Yorkville, Ill.

Paddle and Trail and Geneva Kayak Center have announced they will be opening the Outdoor Leadership Center (OLC), a world-class paddlesport and outdoor skills school with its primary location in Yorkville, Illinois, along the Marge Cline Whitewater Course. The OLC will serve the region and nation with educational programs that can take beginners to the highest level of their chosen sport.

On May 3-5, the Outdoor Leadership Center will celebrate its grand opening by hosting Eric Jackson, president of Jackson Kayak, who is also a four-time whitewater freestyle world champion. Jackson will be training OLC whitewater coaches and then holding three-hour Strokes and Concepts Clinics, teaching basic moves and freestyle skills. The clinics are limited to eight participants and the fee is $200 per person.

The paddlesport school at the Outdoor Leadership Center will be a Jackson Super School, meaning the staff will be trained by Jackson and OLC students will be taught in Jackson kayaks, one of the leading manufacturers of whitewater kayaks.

"The Outdoor Leadership Center offers Chicago and Midwest adventure seekers the opportunity to learn to kayak in true Jackson Kayak style," Eric Jackson said. "We are very excited about this partnership."

The Outdoor Leadership Center staff will be on hand all weekend to talk about the plans for the center and the instructional opportunities that will be available year round. For more information about OLC, its grand opening or to make reservations for the clinic and demos, go to www.paddleandtrail.com or call 630/882-9211.

Paddle and Trail - with retail outlets in Aurora, Loves Park and Rockford, Illinois, and Beloit and Edgerton, Wisconsin - recently acquired Geneva Kayak Center, which is based in Yorkville.

Paddle and Trail is also sponsoring several events this summer in the greater Chicagoland area. Those events include:

May 27-28: AMPED UP ADVENTURE RACE SERIES, Aurora, IL

The Amped Up Adventure Race Series will consist of three event with the first in Aurora, the second in Rockford in October and the third in Beloit in 2013. The races will include biking, paddling running and obstacle course components. The races will raise funds for an outdoor initiative in each city. The Aurora race will support re-engineering of the Aurora Canoe Chute on the Fox River downtown. The Rockford race will support the Rockford Whitewater Park. And the Beloit race will support the development of bike trails that connect to Janesville, Wisconsin and other cities in the region. www.ampedupadventurerace.com

June 7-8: CHICAGO IN-WATER BOAT SHOW, Chicago, IL

This will be the first major event held at the new 31st Street Harbor. www.chicagoinwaterboatshow.com

June 9-10: ILLINOIS PADDLESPORTS FESTIVAL, Aurora, IL

At Mastodon Lake in Phillips Park, the festival will include demonstrations, seminars, instruction, an arts festival, paddlers' rendezvous and overnight camping. aurorapaddlesportsfestival.org

July 14: ILLINOIS WHITEWATER FESTIVAL, Yorkville, IL

Whitewater demonstrations, skills competitions and informational seminars at the Marge Cline Whitewater Course.

July 28: RIVER BASSIN TOURNAMENT, Aurora, IL

The tournament will be a unique conservation minded, paddle power only, catch-measure-photo-release format that promotes environmental sustainability. Anglers can fish in rivers or streams in an approximate 60-mile radius of Aurora. There will be divisions for individuals, youth and teams. www.paddleandtrail.com

Aug. 18: FLOATZILLA, Davenport, IA

A mass paddle down the Mississippi River, culminating at Lake Potter with a Guinness World Record attempt at the largest flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Last year 1,337 paddlers from 17 states in 995 boats tried to break the world record but fell short. floatzilla.org

For more information about these events, email Therese Oldenburg at therese@paddleandtrail.com, call 608/931-6895 or contact Chris Brown at chris@paddleandtrail.com or 913/530-4726.