The Verlen Kruger Award

Verlen Kruger (June 30, 1922 – August 2, 2004) was a world record canoeist from Delta Mills, Michigan. In his lifetime, he paddled over 100,000 mi (160,000 km). This love of paddling was all the more remarkable because he did not start until age 41. Of particular note are the 18,232 mile Two Continent Canoe Expedition and the 28,040 mi Ultimate Canoe Challenge, the longest canoe journey ever. For more details on his accomplishments, read the story in Rapid Media's online edition of Paddling Magazine. Verlen was named “The River Guardian” at the 2003 Quiet Water Symposium. This was a heartfelt honor from the entire mid-Michigan paddling community. He was recognized for his outstanding achievements and records in paddle sports, for bringing international awareness to our environmentally sensitive waterways, and for fostering stewardship of our treasured water resources. Each year, we recognize others who embody his spirit. 

On March 1, 2025, at a live presentation during the 31st Quiet Adventures Symposium, the 2025 Verlen Kruger Award was awarded to Wendy Ogilvie. Wendy joined the Grand Valley Metro Council in 2013 as the Director of Environmental Programs, bringing with her valuable expertise from over 25 years in watershed and stormwater management. Wendy worked tirelessly to make the Grand River cleaner, more accessible, and safer for people from all backgrounds and economic levels. Her leadership has been effective because she understood that conservation work is built on relationships. Collaboration can be hard work, the meetings are frequent and long, but the results are more than any one individual can accomplish alone.
 
Wendy has also been a team member of The Grand River Revitalization Project, an initiative of Grand Rapids Whitewater and the City of Grand Rapids. Their goal is to bring the rapids back to Grand Rapids. By working closely with community partners, government agencies, and river development experts, they want to revitalize a 2.5 mile stretch of the river. In-river construction, including dam removal and channel reconstruction, could begin as soon as July 2025!
 
In 2024, just as she was retiring from GVMC, her years of hard work paid off. The 96 mile long lower section of the Grand River was designated as a State of Michigan Water Trail. This designation connected the Lower section with existing water trails in the Upper and Middle sections and opened the door to apply for national water trail designation for the entire Grand. Verlen Kruger lived on the Grand River, and it was the starting point for his worldwide adventures. It was his dream to see the entire Grand attain state and national recognition, and to draw people from all walks of life to paddle it and experience its beauty. Wendy's work on the water trail completed an enormous missing piece that has made his dream a reality.

Wendy joins the ranks of the previous Verlen Kruger Award winners, all recognized for bringing awareness to our environmentally sensitive waterways, and for fostering stewardship of our treasured water resources. She received a plaque, and a brick on which the date and her name are engraved. A duplicate brick was added to the walkway around the Verlen Kruger Memorial located by the Grand River in Portland, Michigan. Wendy's name has been engraved on a perpetual plaque where it will join the names of the previous 29 Verlen Kruger Award winners.