Whether you like to race or help the environment, several upcoming events will bring kayakers together with other paddlers.

The Estero River Regatta is set for Sunday, Jan. 24, at Estero River Outfitters and Koreshan State Historic Site. Check in is at ERO, which is on U.S. 41 just north of Corkscrew Road.

The event is a fund-raiser for Josh Stuller, son of Estero River Outfitters owner Paula Stuller. Josh was injured in an ATV crash and is still recovering. Paula is a champion of the Calusa Blueway and is a founder of the county’s first kayaking club, Southwest Florida Paddling Club.

Check in at noon and race at 1 p.m. It’s $20 in advance or $25 on race day. If you pre-register, you get a cool T-shirt.

Your choices are to do a four-mile recreational route or a 10-mile competitive route. Tides permitting, that latter route will go around Mound Key, which is a historic Calusa Indian site that sports huge trees you can see for miles away. This year there is a new thing, too – a stand-up paddle board two-mile course.

When the race is over, you get a picnic lunch with fellow paddlers. Call for information – (239) 992-4050. From Interstate 75, take Exit 123/Corkscrew Road west to U.S. 41. Go right/north a half mile to Estero River Outfitters.

I have to be at my daughter’s basketball tournament, otherwise I’d be there. Everybody get out and have fun. It’s a tradition for Southwest Florida kayakers and canoeists. Take photos and send me your favorites to bclayton@leegov.com.

There’s more.

If you want to get together with other kayakers to help the environment, Judy Ott has something for you.

The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program – often called CHNEP – is beginning its Shoreline Survey Update 2010 with kick-off meetings Saturday, Jan. 23, in Port Charlotte and Saturday, Jan. 30 in Matlacha.

Similar to the Shoreline Survey 2007, volunteer boaters and kayakers are needed to help observe the estuary shorelines throughout Charlotte and Lee counties and record the condition of the vegetation and manmade structures.

The training will cover how to do all this. What Judy wants now is for interested parties to show up and learn about what it will take and how your volunteering for it will help.

There is an informational flier Judy has developed that has all the details. If you want it, just e-mail her at jott@swfrpc.org. Put “Please send me the shoreline flier” in the subject line of your e-mail so she can just attach the PDF and hit reply.

Thanks, in advance, to all of you who are willing to help keep our waterways beautiful and clean.