The Symmes Creek Restoration Committee has many upcoming events, with the next, the “Fun Float” at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the Sky Lake launch ramp, located at 1543 Eaton Road in Chesapeake. Boats will be launched into Symmes Creek at Sky Lake and end at the Chesapeake launch ramp.

“Anyone who already has a kayak or canoe is welcome to come,” Joe Benning, committee chairman, said. “Anyone who doesn’t and wants to try it out can also come. We will have canoes, kayaks, paddles and life jackets available for infants, children, adults and small to medium pets if they don’t have their own equipment.”

Anyone who does not have equipment and wishes to participate must call Benning at 740-534-9669 to make sure there is enough equipment available. Benning also said shuttles will be available if participants want to park their car at the Chesapeake launch ramp, where the event will end.

The next event will be the Wayne National Forest’s Timbre Ridge Lake cleanup on Friday, June 26, where participants will also have the choice to camp out until Saturday.

“We will start the cleanup at 10 a.m.,” Benning said. “People can come when they can. We’re looking to clean up the campsite around the lake. They can also bring their favorite soft drinks, snacks and food to cook out.”

The annual Canoe Caper will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Chesapeake launch ramp.

“Lunch and T-shirts will be provided for all participants,” Benning said. “We will also bring back the most interesting junk that we find in the water. It’s been good for awareness because we bring back less junk than we used to.”

A canoe donated by the Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be raffled off at the Canoe Caper.

The committee’s events will wrap up Sept. 26 and 27 with the women in sports events at the K-Hill Indoor Shooting Range, located at 9905 State Route 141.

“The main goal is to have women trying things they haven’t tried before,” Benning said. “There will be archery, and shooting at the shooting range with a shotgun or pistol.”

Benning said canoeing and kayaking are also going to be offered for anyone who wants to learn how to use them.

“We’ll gather first at K-Hill, then go to the Arabia boat launch and go from there,” Benning said.