WARREN — Traditional gifts for a 50th anniversary involve gold items, but for the members of Trumbull Canoe Trails, they’ll celebrate in the same manner that they do throughout the year — with canoes and kayaks, friendship and a waterway to paddle.

The group will celebrate its fifth decade when the members get together July 20. The event will feature the club’s annual picnic and a trip on the Mahoning River from Struthers to the Lowellville launch at the west end of Water Street.

A third-generation paddler, TCT President Mike Danko of Champion elaborated on the appeal of traveling along the area’s river systems.

“For me it is the beauty of being on the water and seeing so much of the Mahoning and Shenango Valley from a different view. From flat water to whitewater, and river otters to bald eagles, it’s just a good time.”

Growing from a small club in Warren to a regional one with nearly 100 members, its reach spans to Youngstown and Cleveland in the northern part of Ohio to Wintersville in the southern part of the state, as well as western Pennsylvania from Erie to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between. Each paddling trip averages 15 to 20 members.

Noting the wide reach and popularity of the group, Stan Shiderly, a TCT member for nearly 20 years, arrived from New Bedford, Pa., for a recent paddle down the Warren portion of the Mahoning River.

“Our club is a nice friendly group. We take care of everybody that’s out with us,” he said.

Eric Berger of Baden, Pa., was encouraged by his brother’s friend, TCT vice president Mark Vallecorsa, to join the group.

“I didn’t have too many people to go out with at the time. So, it’s great. This is who I get out with, and I’ve done plenty of trips with them. Learned to kayak. They taught me a lot of good things, and I met a lot of good people,” Berger said.

Founded in 1975 as a citizens’ group interested in promoting canoeing on the Mahoning River, TCT helped establish a boat launch at the former Trumbull Canoe Park, now known as Foster MetroPark. It was renamed in honor of Preston Foster, a lifelong TCT member, president and trustee who was also an advocate of recreational quality of life issues and green space, along with being involved with Trumbull County MetroParks.

It also raised money toward another boat launch at Thomas A. Swift MetroPark in Braceville.

Through the club’s efforts, the state-designated, 23-mile Mahoning River Water Trail was created. It runs from Foster MetroPark in Newton Falls to Packard Park in Warren. Always concerned about safety, it placed mile-markers as well as danger signs along the river to alert paddlers to hazards.

Working toward making the Mahoning River an accessible waterway, it pursued the removal of dams in Lowellville, Struthers and Warren.

Flowing through five Ohio counties — Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Stark and Portage — as well as a small portion in western Pennsylvania, the Mahoning River runs 113 miles and is known for its significance because of industries developing along its banks to its current state for recreation.

“The importance of the club has changed over the years,” Danko said. “In the beginning it was all about the Mahoning and making a waterway trail and fundraising for the water trail. Today, we focus more on paddling and education on how to paddle correctly and support any and all activities on the Mahoning River.”

He added, “As a club we travel (from early spring to late fall) within a two-hour radius of the Mahoning Valley. We have done Oil Creek in Oil City, Pa., flat water sections of the Youghiogheny River to the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas Rivers, Little Beaver Creek and so many more.”

Danko joined in 2008 and became president in 2012. His grandfather was involved with TCT in the 1980s and his father is also a member. He pointed out that the club name has lasted longer than the mode of transportation down waterways.

“When TCT started, it was only canoes as kayaks weren’t as accessible. As time has gone on, kayaks are more accessible and more affordable and easier to carry. Today our club is 90% kayaks and 10% canoes.”

Danko prefers canoeing and regularly paddles solo.

Last month, TCT traveled down the Mahoning River in Warren, from the Lovers Lane boat launch to Packard Park. The two-hour, 5-mile afternoon excursion elicited a calm feeling brought about by the natural surroundings that are hidden from the city’s bustling traffic; a contrast that was emphasized when the members passed under the Parkman Road bridge, passed the Copperweld Steel Pump House and viewed a bald eagle perched on the top branch of a tree. Later in the trip, several ducks flew by.

“I found this club and I found all these different rivers we get to do,” said former TCT president Ed Rigby, who has been a member for more than two decades. “This was the first time I did this section of the Mahoning. So, the Mahoning is getting a lot better. I just wish they’d put a designated camp spot so we could do a camping trip.”

Joining Michael McKee of Campbell during the Mahoning River outing was his regular kayak passenger, his dog, Harley.

A TCT member for two years, he explained the inclusion of his four-legged paddling companion. “I bought a kayak and I never thought about taking her when I bought it. I just threw her on the back and went. I’ve upgraded kayaks three times to keep making more room for her. She’s been on about 200 trips in the last four years. Absolutely loves it!”

Like the other paddlers, Harley wears a personal floatation device because, as Siderly put it, “Safety is number one.”

“Each river is different in so many ways,” Danko said. “We monitor water levels of the river we are going to paddle. I personally keep a journal of all my trips with water levels and what I thought of it. Plus, there are guidebooks that help determine safe water levels.”

Celebrating 50 years as an organization won’t end with the July 20 activities. Rigby has organized a 50-mile trip with TCT members on the Allegheny River to coincide with the golden anniversary.