Kearney Whitewater Association

Flamingo Float
2025-07-25 18:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Kearney Water Trail
Summertime flies when you’re having fun. The third annual Flamingo Float to the Fire is fast approaching – Friday, July 25. We will launch from Yanney Park at 6:30 PM. We will gather the flock and float all the way to Kearney Paddle Sports Landing. Bring your chairs, drinks and side dish and we will provide sloppy joes. Flamingo attire and decor are encouraged along with friends. We hope you can join our flock.
#FlamingoFloattotheFire

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Cardboard Boat Regatta
2025-08-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Kearney Whitewater Park, 300 N 2nd Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68845
Build a boat and join us at the Kearney Whitewater Park for an afternoon of fun!
Only 4 rules.1. Everyone must wear a helmet2. Everyone must wear a PFD3. Wear water shoes (no flipflops)4. Must be 13 or older to ride in or captain a boat.
You may have multiple crew members in your boat.
NEW THIS YEAR!Kids and adults alike can show up at 1pm and build your own small (shoebox) unmanned boat. We will provide all the materials needed for these boats. The unmanned boats will float (or not) at 2pm just before the main event.
The boats will begin their voyage from the boat ramp on the South side of the creek next to Pizza Ranch, and exit at the boat ramp located at Central Avenue. Parking is available at the Cinema 8 theater.

August 2025 Board Meeting
2025-08-11 19:00 - 21:00

Rascal Martinez and Navarrete Tacos @ Kearney Paddle Sports
2025-08-14 17:00 - 22:00 | Kearney Paddle Sports

Republican River Paddle-Canceled
2025-08-16 11:00 - 16:00 | Republican River

Niobrara River
2025-09-05 08:00 - 2025-09-07 17:00 | Niobrara National Scenic River

September 2025 Board Meeting
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00

Float to the Fire/ Autumn Edition/ FREE!
2025-10-02 18:00 - 22:00 | Kearney Paddle Sports
Float from Yanney Park boat ramp to Kearney Paddle Sports boat ramp where we will enjoy a fire and some social time as a group, be sure to bring a beverage and a chair. Leave a vehicle at Kearney Paddle Sports beforehand and plan on launching around 6:00 pm. If you’re early that’s fine, if you’re later that’s also fine we will see you at the fire. We encourage everyone to arrange transport but there will be plenty of people to catch a ride with so no worries. Kearney Paddle Sports is located at 535 M Avenue, Kearney Ne. when you arrive at this location just follow the sign on M Avenue East through the RV park, the road will dead-end at the boat ramp. Bring a friend! See you there!

Fall Float 2025/10/12 - Free!
2025-10-12 13:30 - 16:00 | Kearney Water Trail
Sunday afternoon float. Meet at or leave a drop vehicle at Kearney Paddle Sports at 535 M Ave, follow the sign on M Avenue, east 1/2 mile thru the RV park. Come early and catch a ride if you don’t have a drop vehicle or come to the landing at the northeast corner of Yanney Park and float with us. If you can’t swing a ride there will be plenty of folks to get a shuttle with from either end. Join us and be prepared to launch at 1:30 pm from Yanney. There will likely be an opportunity to hang out afterwards, maybe at a local establishment. Come enjoy one of the last floats of the season. The weather is supposed to be 80 and sunny!

October 2025 Board Meeting
2025-10-13 19:00 - 21:00

November 2025 Board Meeting
2025-11-10 19:00 - 21:00

2025 Give Where You Live
2025-12-04 | McCue’s Nebraska Taproom, 2008 Avenue A, Suite A, Kearney, NE, 68847
Join Kearney Whitewater at McCue’s Nebraska Taproom for our annual Give Where You Live gathering on December 4, from 6-9 PM. Come down, get something to eat and discover “Our Recipe For Success”! Join us and see what the next project will be for Kearney Whitewater Association. #recipeforsuccess
Donation site – https://www.givewhereyoulive.net/organization/KearneyWhitewater

December 2025 Board Meeting
2025-12-08 19:00 - 21:00

January 2026 Board Meeting
2026-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Ashley Furniture

2026 KWA Winter Social
2026-01-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Kinkaider Brewing Co & Bierhaus Maisschaler, 221 11th Avenue, Kearney, 68845, United States
Join us for the Kearney Whitewater Association Winter Social, where you’ll have the chance to connect with KWA members and learn about upcoming developments for paddling sports in the Kearney area.
The event starts at 7 PM at Kinkaider Brewing – Kearney on Thursday 1/22. See you there!

https://www.facebook.com/share/17q67nwjKy/

February 2026 Board Meeting
2026-02-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Ashley Furniture

2026 Annual Meeting
2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68845, United States
Please join us for the KWA Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in the Niobrara Room at The Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Avenue. We will have elections, a budget report, reflect on 2025, discuss plans and dates for 2026, first installment of the Nolan Little Adventure Series, plus much more.We would like to encourage any KWA members to consider running for an open board position. Please contact a current board member if you would like to be placed on the ballot for our 2026 Elections at the Annual Meeting. We will also ask for nominations from the floor at the meeting.
7:00 – 8:30 KWA Annual MeetingYou must be a 2026 paid member of KWA in order to vote.Memberships are:$30 annually for individual memberships$60 annually for family membershipsIf you need to renew your membership you can do so here – https://kearneyfoundation.fcsuite.com/…/create/fund…Hope to see you there!

March 2026 Board Meeting
2026-03-09 19:00 - 21:00 | Ashley Furniture

2026 KWA Spring Cleanup
2026-03-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Midway Landing, 300 N Central Avenue, Kearney, NE
The KWA Spring Cleanup will be held on March 21, 2026, from 9 AM – 11 AM. Plan to meet at the Midway Landing parking lot and we will see if there are enough volunteers to cover additional areas besides the whitewater park. Cleanup efforts will target both the 2nd/Central Avenue area, and if possible the north creek bank near the north RV Park. If you can assist with these cleanup efforts, please dress to get dirty and bring gloves, waders, buckets, trash grabbers, etc. Trash bags will be provided. Rain date will be March 28. Contact Bruce Karnatz (308) 627-5268 if you have any questions.

April 2026 Board Meeting
2026-04-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Ashley Furniture

Fort Kearny Outdoor Expo
2026-05-06 08:00 - 2026-05-07 16:00 | Fort Kearny State Recreational Area
Kearney Whitewater volunteers have been assisting the Game and Parks staff with the kayaking activity for over ten years.
https://outdoornebraska.gov/learn/outdoor-skills/outdoor-discovery-program

May 2026 Board Meeting
2026-05-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Ashley Furniture

2026 Niobrara Spring Paddle
2026-05-15 08:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00 | Niobrara National Scenic River
This event will be held in conjunction with the Sioux Empire Paddlers. We will be camping at Sharp’s Campground.

Yanney Park Heritage Day
2026-06-06 | Yanney Marina

June 2026 Board Meeting
2026-06-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Ashley Furniture

July 2026 Board Meeting
2026-07-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Ashley Furniture

2026 Annual Sandhills Floats on the Cedar and Calamus Rivers
2026-07-23 - 2026-07-26 | Calamus River

2026 Cardboard Boat Regatta
2026-08-01 14:00 - 17:00 | Kearney Whitewater Park, 300 N 2nd Avenue, Kearney, NE, 68845

August 2026 Board Meeting
2026-08-10 19:00 - 20:30 | Ashley Furniture

2026 Niobrara Fall Float
2026-09-12
