An intrepid team of Bemidji State University faculty and staff will take to the water to defend its Education Cup crown at the 11th annual Lake Bemidji Dragonboat Festival, Aug. 3-6 in Bemidji.

Bemidji State will field its “Beaver Fever” team, coordinated by Sustainability Office director Erika Bailey-Johnson, for the fifth consecutive year, and will be competing against teams from other local schools for the festival’s Education Cup. BSU won the 2015 Education Cup and finished 5th out of 58 participating teams overall, falling short of a spot in the festival’s Gold Division finals by just 0.12 seconds. Beaver Fever also captured the 2013 Education Cup, finishing 10th overall out of 64 participating teams.

Bailey-Johnson has been coordinating the Beaver Fever team since 2012, when it evolved from annual student-coordinated teams that had participated during the festival’s early years. Now, BSU’s Beaver Fever includes nearly two dozen faculty, staff, students and alumni, many of whom have participated for several years.

Bailey-Johnson said she’s enjoyed the opportunity to meet and connect with people from all over campus, and that BSU’s dragon boat team provides unique opportunities for team building, camaraderie and spirit.

“I was a college athlete and a high school athlete, and one thing I really enjoy about team events is bringing together people to do something you could never do by yourself,” she said.

The Dragonboat festival has become one of the focal points for a community already renowned as a summer destination. The festival has grown to include several days of activities leading up to the traditional Saturday race day, including 5k/10k races, corn hole tournaments, a taco feed, a race-day breakfast and a lip-sync battle.

“Dragon Boats is probably my most favorite event of the summer,” Bailey-Johnson said. “There is a lot to do for kids and it is really fun to watch. It is a festive, fun atmosphere. People also enjoy the parade of teams on Friday evening.”