The Verlen Kruger Award is presented annually at the Quiet Water Symposium to honor individuals in the mid-Michigan area who have made significant contributions to promote paddle sports, water conservation, and education about our water resources.
Verlen Kruger is recognized for his long distance canoeing adventures and eleven world records. Verlen traveled over 100,000 miles throughout the waterways in the Western Hemisphere, including paddling up the Grand Canyon.
Verlen designed and built a number of specialized expedition canoes, eventually forming his own company: Kruger Canoes. His distinctive custom made canoes can be seen on waterways across our nation and Canada, and have performed well in WaterTribe Challenge events. Even though Verlen passed away in August 2004, his legacy lives on.
The first recipient of the Verlen Kruger Award was James C. Woodruff. In 2004, Mr. Woodruff was honored for his efforts to draw recognition to Mid-Michigan’s environmentally sensitive Grand River, to foster its preservation, and to record its rich history and role in the settlement of Michigan.
