Paddle Georgia, the country's largest week-long canoe and kayak camping adventure, will launch at Dawson County's River Park on the Etowah River this weekend for a 125 mile, seven day trip from the north Georgia mountains to Rome. The annual event is organized by the Georgia River Network and will serve as a fundraiser for local watershed groups working to protect the river. This year's event will take place June 17 - 23 and begin at 7:30 a.m. June 17 at the Hwy. 9 canoe launch.