Brad De Young is the cofounder of the West Michigan Kayaking Club and brings more than 25 years of paddle sports experience to the kayaking community. Before co-founding the club, Brad was actively involved in the Cadet Corps, where he taught youth canoeing, outdoor survival, navigation, and orienteering skills.

Brad has completed extensive training in kayaking safety, including self-rescue and assisted rescue techniques, and holds First Response certification. His passion for paddlesports, outdoor education, conservation, and water safety continues to inspire paddlers of all skill levels across Michigan.

In addition to his leadership within the paddling community, Brad is a regular contributor to the Michigan Kayaking Journal, where he shares insights, experience, and a deep passion for exploring Michigan’s waterways.

Brad is also a long-standing advocate for river restoration and the removal of outdated dams throughout Michigan. For more than two decades, he has supported conservation efforts aimed at restoring rivers to their natural flow, improving water quality, protecting wildlife habitat, and expanding public access to clean, free-flowing waterways. His advocacy work is closely tied to his mission through the West Michigan Kayaking Club.

Brad’s experience on the water includes several major expedition-style kayaking trips across Michigan. In 2025, he completed a more than 250-mile journey on the Muskegon River from its mouth to its headwaters. He also led an 85-mile expedition on the Thornapple River from its mouth to its headwaters, and later completed an 80-mile expedition on the Flat River from headwaters to mouth.

He has also played a key role in preserving and promoting kayaking history in Michigan, including participation in the historic Hugh Heward race on the Grand River and, more recently, sponsoring the event through the West Michigan Kayaking Club. Brad’s ongoing contributions reflect a lifelong commitment to exploration, stewardship, and strengthening Michigan’s paddling community.

Tim Postma

Cofounder of West Michigan Kayaking Club.