Since humanity began living near water, they found ways of getting on the water for exploration, transportation, food gathering, and war. Before sail or power, people resorted to paddled watercraft constructed from locally found materials. Almost every ancient culture developed paddled watercraft. A timeline will be provided showing different watercraft at different times by different cultures. Julius Caesar mentioned seeing Britons with boats; Herodotus mentioned seeing boats in Egypt. These craft have been with us for thousands of years. These boats were vital to discovery and the local economy. These different types of watercraft will be discussed: Indian war canoes, pirogues, royal barges, Greek trimarenes, Long Island fishing dorys, Inuit hunting kayaks, modern kayaks, racing crew boats, and standup paddle boards. We will also discuss the women who were important in this history: Cleopatra, Artemisia, Cornaro, and others. Paintings and photographs will be included.

Glen Moulder has always been drawn to water, whether it's sailing, power boating, or paddling. His canoe and kayak experience spans over 30 years, with his first exposure to canoeing in high school. Glen has owned numerous kayaks and paddled in various states and countries. At one point, he was an active member of the Houston Kayak Fishing Club, participating in overnight trips once a month. More recently, he has owned and fished from a hybrid kayak specifically rigged for fishing. In addition to Glen’s passion for water activities, he is also an amateur historian and has extensive experience in public speaking from his previous career.