Moonlight Paddle Trips

Summer nights on the Jordan River have a beauty all their own to share.  Come join us for a moon-lit evening of paddling on the river into the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix in a canoe.  Gather your friends and family together and join the staff of Jordan Valley Outfitters for a memorable evening paddle.  Afterwards, enjoy a hot dog and marshmallow roast on the shores of Lake Charlevoix.  We'll set up the fire and bring the fixin's, you bring your best ghost stories.

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year.

Dates for 2008:

Monday, May 19,  Full Flower Moon

In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon. 

Wednesday, June 18,  Full Strawberry Moon

This name was universal to every Algonquin tribe. However, in Europe they called it the Rose Moon. Also because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June . . . so the full Moon that occurs during that month was christened for the strawberry! 

Friday, June 20,  Summer Solstice

Friday, July 18, Full Buck Moon

July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It was also often called the Full Thunder Moon, for the reason that thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month's Moon was the Full Hay Moon. 

Saturday, August 16, Full Sturgeon Moon

The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.