For the Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy, the annual Tip-a-Canoe and Barbecue, Too is much more than a cruise through the backyard.

Last Saturday marked the 11th year for the event. More than 150 boaters took to the water for the roughly four-hour paddle from the Brandywine Picnic Park to Big Bend, the home of Brandywine Conservancy Chairman of the Board George A. “Frolic” Weymouth. Awaiting them at the end of the trip was a barbecue provided by Brandywine Prime, dancing and live music by the Cameltones.

“It’s a fun event designed to show off our efforts of cleaning the creek banks,” said Young Friends Coordinator Kathy Freney Smith.

The Young Friends gather every spring to clean the creek banks from Simon Pierce near the picnic park down to Thompson’s Bridge in Delaware.

All proceeds from the event benefit the conservancy.

Avery Draper, chairman of the Young Friends also called the event a “ family friendly friend-raising” activity.

He said it’s a good way to get people aware of the group and the conservancy.

“We want to keep them coming to events at the conservancy and the museum, to keep them building the conservancy, to keep it going,” said Draper.

He has a goal of getting as many people as possible to enjoy the environment that the conservancy has protected and “to realize the potential of the area.”

Draper also thanked Weymouth for allowing the Young Friends to use his grounds as a staging area and for the barbecue and dance.

“He’s the king Young Friend,” Draper said of Weymouth.

One person who keeps coming back to events is Eric Matuszak of Kennett Square. Saturday’s paddle down the creek was his fourth Tip-a-Canoe.

“It’s a great cause and a great time,” said Matuszak who became a member of the conservancy and Young Friends.