Kayak1
INFORMATION
Bill Bowman 613 828-3362 wbowman@ncf.ca
Web site http: http://web.ncf.ca/ad554/Kayak1.htm
The main canoeing course will be a Level
2 course, with a full day at Palmers Rapids followed by a downriver run
from Aumond’s Bay to
This Level 1 kayaking course
will be at Palmer Rapids both days.
Professional instruction will be given
by Paddler Co-op of Palmer
Rapids. There will be 1 instructor per 6
kayaks.
The prerequisite for this course is
moving water experience, normally acquired at WW1 canoeing.
Participants may wish to brush up on a
flat water skills pre-training and safety course. A pre-training course is scheduled for
There will be ample opportunity to practice at this course -
each participant will have a seat in a kayak available at all times and there
will be a maximum number of participants.
Venturer companies are expected to bring or rent a sufficient number of
white water kayaks.
Priority will be given to Venturers and advisors from
Voyageur Council. If space permits,
Joint Council units and other Scouting members will be considered. The course is not open to members of the
general public.
Paddler Co-op will rent white water kayaks for $55 per person (plus tax) for the weekend. This rental fee includes the
paddles, PFDs and helmets.
You may also bring your own kayaks, but
you must tell us the make and model, in advance, for approval by Paddler
Co-op. Otherwise, you can rent kayaks
from Paddler Co-op. But remember, there are NO REFUNDS.
You will spend both days at Palmer Rapids, a very good and
exciting rapid for training. It is a
15-minute paddle from the campsite at Paddler Co-op. Some of your other Venturers may be going downriver
on Sunday as part of their WW2 course.
All groups must be self-contained for
camping and food. Camping will be at
Paddler Co-op in the
Groups should arrive at camp on Friday evening. A map accompanies this information. Be sure to register shortly after your
arrival.
REQUIREMENTS
You must be confident in moving water canoeing and be able
to execute eddy turns and ferries.
Participants may wish to brush up at a pre-training course (no charge),
which will take place at
A helmet is mandatory
for this white water course (water sport or hockey helmet). Bike helmets are NOT PERMITTED ON THESE
COURSES.
An approved PFD
is mandatory and must be worn at all times when on or near the
water.
Swimming - Participants must be able to swim, and not panic if under
water. You do not need to be an
excellent swimmer to enjoy white water canoeing, but it is always an asset.
DIRECTIONS
There is no simple direct route to Palmer Rapids. Refer to the
SOME
SIMPLE RULES
No one is permitted on the water at any time without supervision
by Paddler Co-op or by special permission from the camp chief.
Please look after the camping area, and leave it clean and
tidy.
Please respect and obey the instructors. They are there to make sure that you have a
quality white water experience.
Above all, HAVE
SPECIAL
NOTE ON CLOTHING
On one of the courses in 2009, the majority of participants
showed up with only warm weather gear, including cotton sweatshirts. Reality hit in the form of a snowstorm and
high winds. Organizers had no choice but to cancel the training for the
day. Participants and advisors are
strongly advised to prepare for inclement weather and to be sure that they
bring appropriate clothing as detailed in the following page.
WHAT TO
BRING
All camping gear and food.
Drinking water. There
is running water on site.
An approved PFD, whistle, paddle, and seat in a kayak for each
person - these may be rented from Paddler Co-op by prior arrangement, if
desired.
If you are bringing your own paddling gear or borrowing it,
make sure everything is marked with your name.
Paddles and PFDs all look the same, and there will be lots of them.
One helmet per person.
Wearing of these will be
mandatory, and bike helmets are not permitted.
Bug juice. Bug
jackets are an environmentally-friendly alternative. Black files and mosquitoes can be quite bad
at this time of year.
Sunscreen and sunglasses.
Glasses strap.
A water bottle for drinks and another for gorp. Keep these small items clipped on.
Warm clothing. Quick
dry materials such as polypropylene, polyester fleece, and a nylon wind jacket
and pants are recommended. Avoid cotton. A rain suit can double as an extra layer in
cold weather. Rubber or neoprene gloves
and a wet suit are possible additions to the kit list if cold weather is
expected.
A wet suit is strongly advised for the kayaking
program. Contact Paddler Co-op or any
outfitter in town.
WHAT TO
EXPECT
The main thing is that you will get WET, even if you don't dump.
You will be required to do a wet exit at the start of the training.
There are generally several dumps during the weekend.
It could be rainy or cool.
Bring extra warm clothes. Since you will be only a short paddle
away, you can leave these at your campsite.
If you can
afford it, renting a wet suit is a good idea.
Past experience has shown that 2 or 3 dumps are a possibility, and by
then you will be quite cold. Old
sneakers or aqua socks are great for wading in the river; wet feet are a
given. Open-toed footwear are not
allowed.