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!
... I can take 5 students for canoe,by myself. and another 5 with a helper instructor...
jes don't axe him to send you pictures.