PETAWAWA RIVER – LEVEL 1

INFORMATION

Bill Bowman 613 828-3362 wbowman@ncf.ca

Web site http: http://web.ncf.ca/ad554/WW1.htm

Note – payments are to be made to Scouts Canada – Voyageur Council

Once again in 2019, Voyageur Council is offering a Level 1 white water canoeing instruction camp. Level 1 will be offered at a base camp on the Petawawa River on the weekend of May 24-26. This course is for Venturers and their advisors. Senior Scouts may also attend with their Venturer Company. It has been found to work well as a linking adventure.

Professional instruction will be given by Bear Creek Outdoor Centre. There will be 1 instructor for 4 or 5 canoes.

Level 1 is suitable for novice canoeists. However, they MUST take a FREE flat water skills pre-training and white water safety session. A pre-training course is scheduled for 10:30 am on April 28 at Camp Opemikon. Some canoes, paddles & PFDs will be available from the camp. Register Now for the Pre-training

There will be ample opportunity to practice at the Level 1 course - each 2 participants will have a canoe available at all times. Companies are expected to bring or rent a sufficient number of white water canoes.

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.

Bear Creek Outdoor Centre will rent and transport white water canoes for $60 per person (plus HST) for the weekend. Paddles, PFDs, and helmets are included in the above fee. But, please bring your own PFDs and helmets if you can. The supply of rental equipment might be limited – first come, first served. If you are too late, you will have to rent elsewhere and transport it yourself.

If you bring your own canoes, be certain they are suitable for white water (normally, this means ABS, at least 16 feet long). Each must have a bailer. Wooden paddles are not recommended.
 
You may also be able to rent one of the 7 Camp Opemikon white water canoes. 
These canoes rent for $40 for the weekend, and can be booked using the standard Opemikon booking form http://voy.scouts.ca/sites/default/files/2018%20Reservation%20Form%20Category%20A_0.doc




 
 
 
through, the warden mailto:opewarden@scouts.ca.  

The Opemikon canoes come with float bags, but no paddles or other accessories.

Lastly, you might be able to make a deal with another Venturer company which is not using all of their canoes. YOU MUST MAKE THESE ARRANGEMENTS PRIOR TO REGISTERING. There are NO REFUNDS.

Participants will begin on easy Class I rapids and progress to more difficult Class II rapids as they become more adept.

All groups must be self-contained for camping and food. Level 1 camping will be at a base camp accessible by car, made available to us at nominal cost by CFB Petawawa. It is only 10 minutes away from the canoeing area. A map accompanies this information.

Groups should arrive at camp on Friday evening, set up and register. We will have instruction on Saturday morning and afternoon, with a suitable break for lunch. There is nothing planned for Saturday evening.

We will have instruction again on Sunday morning and, hopefully, have a chance to try some more difficult rapids in the afternoon. We will wind up in time to get home for a late supper.

REQUIREMENTS

You must be confident in flat water canoeing and understand the theory of eddy turns and ferrying. Those who are not must take a pre-training course (no charge), which will take place at Camp Opemikon on April 28 at 10:30 am, following the work weekend. Others are encouraged to take this pre-training too, in order to maximize their benefit from the white water course! Register Now for the Pre-training

A helmet is mandatory for the white water course (water sport, hockey, or bike helmet - it must have holes to drain the water out). Bike helmets provide the least protection, and their use is discouraged but permitted.

An approved PFD is mandatory and must be worn at all times when on or near the water. Bystanders must also wear PFDs. Be careful of poor quality loaners.

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.

PARTNERS:

If at all possible, we would like to have youth paddling with youth, and adults with adults. We feel that this will be better for learning for all concerned. Try to avoid having partners with greatly differing weights. Do your best.

We would also like partners to have roughly equal time at both bow and stern positions.

Companies that have an odd number of people will be paired with another company which also has an odd number. If the extra person is a youth member, he or she should paddle with a youth from the other group.

DIRECTIONS

The camping area is the Black Bear Camground on CFB Petawawa. The training site is located west of Highway 17, on the south side of the Petawawa River. Turn west on Murphy Rd. and then north on Rantz Rd. Park alongside the large boulders by the gravel area near the river.

SOME SIMPLE RULES

No open fires are permitted at the training site.

No one is permitted on the water at any time without supervision by Bear Creek Outdoor Centre or by special permission from the camp chief.

Please respect and obey the instructors. They are there to make sure that you have a quality white water experience.

Above all, HAVE FUN.

There is private property and military property adjacent to where we will be camping and paddling. Please do not trespass. There may be live ammunition in the vicinity.

THE GRAVEL PIT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE TRAINING SITE IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND TRESPASSING IS NOT PERMITTED.

SPECIAL NOTE ON CLOTHING

On one of the courses a few years back, 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 may be water at the campground, but certainly not at the river.

An approved PFD, whistle, paddle, and seat in a canoe for each person - these may be rented from Bear Creek Outdoor Centre by prior arrangement, if desired.

If you are bringing your own canoeing 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.

Insect repellent or bug jacket.

Sunscreen and sunglasses.

Glasses strap.

A water bottle for drinks and another for gorp. Keep these small items in a day pack tied to a thwart.

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 for cold weather.

Knee pads. These are optional, but are a welcome luxury. Some rentals have them, others do not. You will be on your knees for hours.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The main thing is that you will get WET, even if you don't dump. There are generally several dumps during the weekend. There will be an optional rapid swim unless the weather is terrible.

It could be rainy or cool. Bring extra warm clothes to the river, but don't wear them because they will get SOAKED. Groups must be prepared to have shelter, dry clothes, and hot drinks for anyone suffering from exposure to the cold.

You won't necessarily need a wet suit, but bring it if you have one. Old sneakers or aqua shoes are great for wading in the river; wet feet are a given. Open-toed sandals are not allowed.

Most cameras hate water. Don't bring them in the canoes unless you have a guaranteed waterproof container. Get a friend to take photos from shore.

SPECIAL NOTE

There are NO BATHROOM FACILITIES AT ALL at the training site so be sure to use the comfort station at the campsite.