Handcrafted Functional Woodwork

Namekagon Paddles are made by Ian Karl, a third-generation woodworker based in Northwestern Wisconsin.

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The wood used in Namekagon Paddles is primarily wind-felled, and always local to northwestern Wisconsin. Ian is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and excellence in craft. He is passionate about creating high-quality, handcrafted woodwork that resonates with outdoor enthusiasts. Each creation is a blend of functionality and artistic expression, showcasing the beauty of natural wood. 

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Namekagon Paddles respectfully borrows its name from the Namekagon River, where Ian spends countless hours in both work and leisure. In the language of the Ojibwe people of northwestern Wisconsin, "Namekaagong-ziibi" means river at the place abundant with sturgeon.

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For over two decades, Ian has worked at the intersections of craft, mental health, and environmental stewardship, in a career that has ranged from the fjords of Norway to the waterways of Wisconsin. Ian's primary work is in designing and leading nature-based therapy experiences for adolescents in residential mental health treatment in northern Wisconsin. The therapeutic excursions have ranged from Lake Superior to Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, with Ian guiding and teaching youth divers in underwater photography experiences. Many of the nature-based art therapy excursions take place on the Namekagon River, a riparian wilderness and place of inspiration, respite, and healing for both Ian and his clients.  

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Ian is a certified Wisconsin Master Naturalist Instructor who holds a BS in Environmental Biology and an MSE in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health (May 2025). Ian's commitment to community wellbeing extends to his work as an EMT and volunteer firefighter. His woodworking pursuits are a source of joyful work that connects himself and his customers to the natural world and to each other.  ​​