Teaching Kids Paddling

[Susan Tinker]

I've got several people in Central AR that have asked me if we have clinics or float trips so they can start paddling with their kids. These are people that are not in the Canoe Club, but would probably be really interested in joining and getting started, especially with their kids.
I'm thinking flat water first!
So, do we have anything to offer them, and if so, any dates or locations.

Susan T

[Lifejacket]

I think Byron and Coogan did something last year at rendezvous for teenagers.

[nike54_la]

Check with some of your state parks around the area. Last year (or was it two years ago?) several of us got our intro to lake kayaking instructor's certification in order to provide some leadership in kayaking.

I don't know if anyone at Pinnacle has that certification but Susan at Lake Ouachita put on a class. I believe the ACC was a big part of it.

Lake Ouachita - 501-767-9366

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd call and check to see if any of the parks near you have any classes going on soon. Many do kayaking programs, which aren't instruction, but still are very family friendly. Our park puts on kayak programs that anyone can participate in - even if they have never been in a kayak before.

[nike54_la]

http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/thing ... &end_date=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not sure if you are looking for formal instruction or just getting people into the sport. Hope these links help.

[Richard]

Susan, they are always welcome to join us on our monthly trips. We emphasize "family friendly" and we have some excellent and patient paddlers who are willing to teach. The Buffalo is a great place to learn. I would however recommend that they pick a weekend where the water and weather will be pleasant.

[lalyle]

Wow! I just posted that very concern on Tim Eubanks' thread about his son's recent run down the Piney. I need all the help I can get to make my weekends with my 13-year-old enjoyable for him. He only wants to hang out with his friends back in TN, not with Dad. Getting him out of the house is worse than pulling teeth and the best tool I know would be to coax him with events for teens. A lot of paddlers have kids who've reached the 12 - 14 range. I see potential here.

[painterbob]

... I can take 5 students for canoe,by myself. and another 5 with a helper instructor...

[Clif]

jes don't axe him to send you pictures.

I could help with this. Gotta stay away from Easter and april 25

[BEubanks]

Gordon and I had planned to do a teen workshop at Rendezvous last September, but the high water on the Ouachita pretty much eliminated the events scheduled for Rockport. We ended up doing an extended roll class for a couple of families in the pool.

Some keys for kids to enjoy paddling:
1. Have other kids they can paddle with.
2. Have someone other than parents provide the instruction. OK for parents of kid A to instruct kid B, but most kids (there are exceptions) do better with nonparental teachers.
3. Make sure they have fun. Keep the trips fairly short or take lots of breaks. Don't be overconcerned about schedule or covering a set teaching agenda. Teach with games and foolishness. Splash balls, keep away, bumper tag, etc.
4. Make sure they stay comfortable. That means either having their own gear that fits well or doing the initial trips in warm weather conditions. Borrowed gear that doesn't fit well often is uncomfortable and makes them self conscious about how they appear to the other kids.

For several years I taught a kids class at Canoe School. Very rewarding but also very labor intensive. Most younger paddlers need help managing their gear, getting into their boat, getting skirt on, etc. Cold weather and water make early May a challenging time to teach new paddlers. Wet exits are a hard way to start the day in early May!

All that to say that a little forethought can go a long way to make sure kids enjoy their early attempts at paddling and increase the likelihood they'll stick with it.

Now an offer. Families are welcome at our place in Arkadelphia (well . . . Caddo Valley) if they need a location for some initial paddling instruction. We have a small private lake, access to the Caddo River for moving water practice, a place for picnics or cookouts, swimming area, etc. During the summer, my schedule is more flexibile and I'm happy to offer formal or informal instruction to individuals or small groups on occasion. We're just an hour down I30 from Little Rock. I'm not trying to organize anything here or solicit fees as an instructor. We just have a great place for kids and families to enjoy paddling and we enjoy getting to share our little corner of paradise.

Byron Eubanks

[okieboater]

canoe school is right around the corner.

interested parents should contact the Director as a group and ask for a class just for them.

I have been to more commercial clinics than I can remember and the quality of teaching at ACC Canoe school cannot be beat for the money and time spent.

[lalyle]

Thanks a bunch, Byron. I'll may take you up on that over the summer. A lot of weekend events that involve much travel, set-up, etc. are hard on us as I have to drive to Brinkley to meet and pick him up on Friday night and drive back over there Sunday afternoon. I also am limited to second and fourth weekends. That kind of puts a damper on a lot of events like Canoe School, Rendezvous, etc. that don't always fall on the right weekend and start on Friday or early Saturday. In the summer, I might have more flexibility and it's good to know there's a place like yours where we could maximize our learning and recreation within time constraints and the off season.

You're a good man, Mr. Byron, no matter what Tim or the others say!

[GutIt]

This is a topic that is very close to my heart. And there are some great suggestions on here that make good sense. A while back I participated in a discussion an "another board" concerning this very thing. Some interesting things were said. Here was my $0.02. They gave me change back!

I have had the pleasure of teaching a number of kids about boating and have found that it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. This topic is close to my heart! I have two grand daughters and three nephews as well. There is a wealth of good info here on this subject.

First thing? Your kids need to be comfortable in the water. One of my grand daughters had a hard time learning to swim and play in the water and it took a long time to get her in a boat. Complete opposite of the younger one! She didn’t want anything to do with boats. It looks fun to them but when they get in a canoe for the first time, for example, the way the boat “rocks”, tips, or moves can scare the bejeezus out of them. Even if they are good swimmers to begin with. They are naturally afraid of hitting the drink from a high & dry boat. We ended up getting the girls a sit-on-it for them to avoid the claustrophobia thing.

To avoid this, after they are good just being in the water, get them out there and just play in the water with the boat as if it were a giant bathtub toy. Swamp it with them out of it. Let them swim in & out of it and sit in it swamped. When that gets comfortable, with it swamped, tip it and just let them slide right out. Turn it upside down and get under it and let them breath under it while talking to them. Make it a game for them. Make it fun. Laugh a lot! Let them stand in it, on it, dive off it, turn it over, etc. This helps alleviate the fear of tipping it and they will get comfortable enough to know that it is not the end of the world if they fall out of it. If you have a yak, put a cockpit cover, or spray skirt on it and let them play it boogie board style.

At first, don’t use a skirt. I did the same thing with my oldest nephew. No skirt, 3 day trip on the Buffalo (only 15 miles). He could make that boat do what he wanted in about 15 minutes and had been in the boat a little before the trip with all the above mentioned “sessions” under his belt. I showed him a bit about reading the water (“vee” or glass tongue to avoid the shallows) and launched him. He had the option of getting in his dad’s canoe at any time. To my surprise, we couldn’t pry him out of it and he didn’t want to stop to camp ‘til dark and he couldn't see anymore! Did the entire 15 miles in those three days! He was 8. He has done several of these types of trips, belted a couple of Clinics, has a decent roll, is surfing, and is on the fast track and loving it. He is now 12. We, too, stopped at places where it was swift with shoal and let him play. Same with the girls. Also, we use him for rope bait by letting him float downstream and we rope him out. He will do this all day if we let him while he trash talks us for missing him!. Plus he knows how to handle himself on the wet end of a rope, knows how to swim a rapid and get to an eddy. He’s also a pretty good rope wrangler himself, knows all the belays (even though he doesn’t have much weight), buddy belay, and has good basic rescue skills. Just because we made it fun for him to learn.

The girls love their sit-on-its. It is a stable platform for them and they fish from them, and insist on paddling their own boat. They love the independence it gives them. Remember your first car? Kind of like that! They don’t want to tandem anything! We stop for a break and in 5 minutes they are back in the boat fishing, jumping off it, or just generally screwing around. They, too, get to be rope bait and have the same skills as the boy on the wet side. Still a little young to be good throwers, but that doesn’t stop them from trying! After they get roped out, they can’t wait to get back up top and do it again! They are 11 and 7 and needless to say, we don't get far because of the little one, but we have a blast getting there!
We started them with kayak paddles because it is easier for them to control a boat with a double blade, making their learning curve shorter. I cut down a rec paddle to make it short enough for them to handle. A few years back I bought a family Jib to start these youngsters out on. The nephew is now paddling one of the Jackson kid boats.

As was mentioned, never force anything. That is the most detrimental thing you can do. It should be fun or you’re wasting your time. Don't get them on hard water for a good while and definitely ease them in to it. I have seen kids quit boating with one bad experience. Remember, they are having fun on the easy stuff. That's all they care about. You are the only one that wants them to do anything harder, not them. And eventually their natural curiousity will start to show. It may take a while and some patience, but it will happen and be worth it. Try to hook up with other parents/kids to do the same thing. The next nephew is in line and starting this year. He is watching his cousin having a blast and he can't wait to get on with it! They will have more desire if they have friends doing it. Plus, they don't want to hang with a bunch of adults around camp swilling beer! They are kids and want to run around being kids when they get off the water and when we want to sit down and relax.

Remember, you are building character, making memories, teaching values, safety, and instilling a passion. All in the name of having fun!

And what could be better than that?
-Terry Price

Here is the link to the entire discussion if anyone is interested. They have archived the entire discussion under the heading "Tips & Tricks"

http://www.missouriwhitewater.org/node/103" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not that anyone needs any, but I would be thrilled to offer help to anyone desiring it. I would even go so far as to throw in with Mr. painterbob so he could take the full 10. Make no mistake. The future of our Rivers and Boating absolutely depends on getting families and kids interested. Once you instill a passion, the rest is easy!

Eric? That is what the "Legend of the Season Finale" is all about!

[Richard]

How about making it happen on the Buffalo in May or June on one of our weekend trips.

[Susan Tinker]

Wow, all great suggestions and glad to see so many interested. I'm thinking Richard and Painter Bob could take us down the Buffalo maybe early June, before it dries up ... maybe try for 2nd weekend so Lee can join us with his son! The ones I'm hearing from are parents with kids about 10 - 15 yrs old ....
I joined Explorers in high school and Dr. Allen in North Little Rock took us canoeing a lot .... made a difference in a lot of our lives!
Gut-it .... I think I may try your advice for getting myself ready for beginners class (3rd year beginnner) for white water school!
Thanks again Linda and everyone for chiming in. I know Heather and Jim Krueger worked with some beginners last summer and had a great group. You know it might also be beneficial for some kids that already paddle to join in and help!
We'll get this started soon!
Susan T

[Susan Tinker]

Lee: here's a hint to get more time for recreation with your son ... I use to check my child out about noon .... that way she didn't get any time from school counted against her because she was there half a day! It will give you more time to get back for camping and paddling on Friday night .... a little gift certificate for the ex will help get that child out of school early too!

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