Quick start for Kids……..new adult paddlers too !!
[Note that Quick Start for Kids is roughly the 1st 15 minutes of an intro canoe class]
1. Introduction. Instructor to students
2. Objectives : A. have fun in a canoe - safely
B. learn to paddle and control your own canoe without any help – safely
C. WHAT CAN GO WRONG OUT HERE Today !!! flip/fall-
out/storm/lightening/wind/waves/medical.
3. We have a deal – If you go out on the water today by yourselves. You come back by yourselves. You’re on your own. You need to cooperate, work together to make it happen
4. Rules : A. Life Jackets. Wear it – Wear it right – Wear it tight instructors test each jacket
B. front paddles left/ back paddles right [no switching sides unless both switch]
C. front and back paddle together when possible
D. Front’s main job is the motor. Back’s main job is to steer.
E. Limiting rules of the paddling site [i.e. Don’t go past the red marker]
5. How to hold the paddle: it looks like this...[how much do we need to know]” This part is called
the Grip, shaft, blade” Paddle Size???
6. Getting into the boat and getting out of the boat demo[boat carries if appropriate], balance.
7. Changing positions in the boat [since the front & back have different jobs] Rule = smallest person moves first, one person moves at a time.
8. Strokes and Maneuvers: A. Forward. “Everyone knows how to do the forward stroke so we don’t
need to teach it. … [demo] while you telling them you’re not going to
teach it”just like a forward swimming
stroke.” [Put your hand on the blade and mimic a freestyle stroke]. How do
you stop ?
B. Back. “Everyone knows how to do the back stroke so we don’t need to
teach that either. [demo] just like a swimming back
stroke.” [hand on blade and mimic a swimming back stroke] How do you
Stop ??
C. SPINS “What happens if the front paddles frontward and the back paddles
backward [you spin] and what happens if the front paddles backward and
the back paddles frontward [you spin the other way]. So without learning
anything new you already know how to go frontward, backward, stop
and to turn [spin] right and turn [spin] left.”
D. What else is there ? GOING STRAIGHT. The back person needs to do
rudder strokes to make the boat go straight. Here’s
how you do that [demo draw and push away/ pry “If you can’t tap
the side of the boat with the paddle then you can’t do the strokes”].
Students won’t get this. It will have to be repeated on water and each
stern paddler will have to be put in position “hands on” to do the stroke.
9. On Water Drill: Students, in the boat, in the water, at the bank ready to paddle . One boat at a time. Instructor[s] in the water standing along stern on side and with hands on the boat. Safety boat out on the water. Boaters not on water asked to pay close attention to boat being taught.”
A. Wiggle the boat until the paddlers can keep their heads and shoulders
quiet and let their butts move with the boat. [just like a bicycle]
B. “Do a forward stroke.” “Do a back stroke” [the instructor moves the
boat forward and back with the strokes to emphasize the boat
movement, check hand position on paddles]
C. “just the back person Rudder Strokes.” [ Physically rotate the stern
paddler into a stern pry position, to do this stand just behind the stern
paddlers on side and simply say “look at me” the stern paddler needs
to rotate to look at you] grab the blade and put in the catch position
next to the hull for a pry “push out to go one way and pull in
to go the other way” have the stern paddler do several pushes and
pulls, move the boat with your hand to emphasize the rudder result .]
10. Send them out on their own. After all boats are out, instructors go out and help the 10% that are
having trouble.
11. NEW MATERIAL: After students have exhausted their “discovery period” [half hour or so] Have them switch positions [they usually have done this early on] and teach those students who are not having trouble additional skills : Sweeps work well , bow draw and cross draw are difficult to teach.