Advanced Kayaking Curriculum

Intro: This camp is designed for campers entering 4^th through 7^th grade and is for campers who have completed a previous week of Avid4 Whitewater Kayak camp. The focus of the Adavcned Kayak Camp is to provide an intermediate to advanced instruction for kayaking on moving water (class I-III) in a safe, comfortable progression that builds off of the kayak intensive curriculum. Throughout the week many technical aspects of whitewater kayaking will be taught.

Goals:

• Reviewing basic paddle skills

• Gaining advanced river reading skills

• Gaining advanced paddling skills

• Gaining knowledge about identification of hazards on moving water and how to avoid them.

• Gaining basic moving water rescue techniques

• Incorporating LNT in moving water specific ways

Special Considerations: Campers in Advanced Kayaking should have completed Avid4’s Kayak Camp and be comfortable with brief submersion in moving water. Parents are told this on the webpage for the camp: “If a camper does not meet these minimum skill requirements, we reserve the right to move a camper to a different program (if space is available) or remove the camper from the group and offer a credit. This is rare but is an option for single sport camps.”

In addition, skills taught in this camp include but are not limited to the below lists at the start of each days section. Skills taught can be dependent on river and site for the day.

A Day in the Life of Advanced Kayaking Camp:

9:00am Drop Off, Morning Circle, Name game

9:15am Bathroom break, load in van

9:30am Depart for site

10:00am Unload van/equipment, set up for the day, snack, orient group to the site.

10:30am Learning and skill practice

12:00pm Lunch

12:30pm Learning and skill practice

2:30pm Depart rec area for camp.

3:00pm Arrive at camp/sign out for the day.

Monday (On Flatwater)

Skills for the Day:

• Advanced strokes on flat water like a bow draw, duffek, etc.

• Differences between a recreational kayak and a whitewater play boat

• Adjusting a play boat for fit

• Using edging to direct boat

• Environmental briefings on flat water

• Earning skirts by tapping my boat 3 times during a controlled wet exit

• Basic movements of a kayak roll

Goals:

This day is focused around review of skills learned in a kayak intensive. Specifically this day should be time to practice edging, increase a camper’s repertoire of strokes through practice, and practice wet exits and potentially roll movements based on ability/strength of campers.

9:30am- Unload boats, review fit and use of kayaking equipment: PFD (personal floatation device). Detail proper fit and safety checks for PFDs and helmets

• Intro to kayaking site and dangers

  • Determine and communicate PFD wearing & buddy pairing safety zone for site

  • Have campers identify risks associated with water. Ask campers to lead environmental briefings throughout the day.

  • Review kayaking safety paddle & hand signals

• Review of basic concepts:

  • Review edging on land; loose hips, frog legs, wobble races.

  • Talk about Wet Exits: Discuss safety, steps, and the process to earn a skirt.

  • Go over putting a skirt on and popping off.

    • Campers should all be in boats and all have the chance to fit a skirt to their cockpit and know how much force it takes to pop it off before they are in the water.

    • One instructor can run wobble races or talks about edging and body position while another picks kids off to practice with skirts.

**All students will still have to “earn their skirt” for the week. However different from Kayak Single Sport Camp is that the goal is to have the majority of the group if not all paddling with skirts on **

10:15am- SNACK- Use this time to introduce the progression from wet exits, to wet exits w/ 3 taps, to wet exits with a skirt pop, to beginner roll movements, to roll practice, to river rolls.

10:30am-On water-This is time to assess students paddle ability and practice strokes.

• Give campers plenty of time to get used to the equipment again- have fun! Play games!

• Basic Strokes: Forward, Backward, different draws.

  • All campers should have a strong forward paddle stroke. This is NOT a combination of forward alternating sweep strokes. Students should learn how to propel their boat forward with an efficient forward stroke that does not come behind their hip and keeps their paddle vertical as they pull.

• Games interspersed with instruction: follow the leader & explore; relay races; stinky fish; kayak basketball; drawing to and away from an object; forming group shapes; challenges (paddling while sitting on the front & back deck, paddling standing up & standing on the combing, seeing how many people can paddle together in one boat, etc.)

• Safety Boater rescues: For this some campers will be in the water and other will be in boats. Campers in the water will practice grabbing the rescue handle on the back of another camper’s boat. The camper in the boat will pull them to shore. The camper in the water needs to practice kicking w/ their feet to help propel the boat. Campers will then switch and change roles.

• Throw bag rescues:

  • Campers will practice throwing throw bags to each other on shore and then to each other from the shore into the water.

  • Campers in the water will practice grabbing the throw bag, laying on their back and running the rope over their shoulder to be towed in.

  • Camper on land will practice keeping a “gate” of rope open to the direction of the water and sitting down to pull their partner in.

12:00pm-LUNCH

JEDI lunch discussion: Inclusion

Introduce the concept of being an inclusive group this week. Establish a fun, respectful and inclusive group environment from the very beginning:

1. Make a ‘perfect’ group circle, with space for everyone, all members actively listening (sitting up, facing inwards), etc.

2. Ask the group: what does it mean to be inclusive? Establish a few concrete ways that campers can practice inclusivity. Discuss the fact that a group can celebrate individuality and also be inclusive.

3. Ask the group: how does our circle show that we are an inclusive group? How does it feel to know you have a place in this group all week, no matter what?

4. Ask the group: When are other times that you have practiced inclusion at camp, school, etc.? Why is it so important?

Wet Exits

• While other campers are playing games nearby, each instructor works with one camper at a time to perform at least one wet exit

• “Earning a skirt”

  • Only if camper is passionate about using a skirt; this is a challenge by choice activity.

  • Camper must perform one calm, hand tapping wet exit while upside down before allowed to try for skirt

    • Contest to see who can hand tap the most times while underwater

  • Camper must be able to pull skirt at least two times without help

  • Camper must be able to pull skirt at least one time without help during a “kayak rodeo” (Instructor rocks the kayak wildly and flips the boat without warning to an unannounced side.)

1:00pm- Roll Practice and hand paddling

Roll Progression

Progression for working with a camper, who has already passed the skirt test with flying colors, is displaying competence on moving water, and is wanting to progress.

Hip snaps

Step 1.

• Have the camper practice rocking their boat side to side using just their hips. Look to see that they are keeping their upper body stable during this activity.

• You can help them find a stable upper body by having them hold their paddle out in front of them at about shoulder height, this should give them a visual aid to see the movement of their body.

• If the paddle tilting side to side quite a bit you can grasp a blade of the paddle to hold it steady and help them access the muscle that they need to rock the boat with just their hips (mostly core activation TA).

Step 2.

• Pick a safe place! Wade out into the water about chest deep and stand to the side of their boat.

• Hold the campers hand in yours at about water level and have them lean over until the bottom of their boat is out of the water, their head and face will now be down close to their hands and the top of the water. Remind them of that rocking feeling in their hips and have them try to “SNAP” the boat back up with their hips.

• As they practice this, ideally you will start to feel less and less pushing down with their hands as they learn to really use their core to snap the boat back up. They can also practice this on their own using a dock to hold them up instead of your hands. Make sure they are practicing both sides!

Step 3.

• Practice hip snaps with them using your hands, start to have them lower their face and upper body all the way into the water so that the boat is totally upside down. Both Sides!

The Set-Up

Step 1.

• Time to introduce the paddle into the mix.

• Start by explaining the mechanics of a roll and what the ideal paddle movements are. Most of the time this will be very confusing to kiddos and difficult to explain while upright.

• Remember that developmentally it is very hard for kids to mirror or turn things around in their head’s, it’s hard even for most adults.

• Still, have them grip their paddle and line it up alongside their boat like they are getting ready to roll. Have them tuck their heads and lean forward over their skirts as they do this. The Head tuck is a crucial habit for learning to roll and for safety. Don’t forget, both sides!

Step 2.

• This step is more challenging for you as an instructor and is not always comfy so just be aware of that and set yourself up for success.

• Wade out into the water about chest deep, have the kido practice a set up just like in step one and step your self on the side of their boat away from their paddle. Grasp the combing of their boat and have them lean towards you until you are supporting their upper body near the should, and still holding the far side of the combing with your hand that is closer to the front (should be your left if you and set up on their left and your right if you are set up on their right).

• This may take some practice and getting used to on both sides, so take your time, go in and out of a few times until you both feel comfortable.

Step 3.

• Set up just like step 2. Make sure that you hand that is closest to the back of the boat is free (should be your right if you and set up on their left and your left if you are set up on their right).

• Use your free hand to grasp their paddle and guide them through the paddle movements required to roll and then have them hip snap at the end and get themselves up.

• Repeat this both sides until the kido can move the paddle through this movement smoothly and confidently without your help, then put your hand under the blade at the end of the motion pattern so they have leverage and can push up with a hip snap.

Practice:

• One option that can feel like a nice in-between, is that you can have the kid flip over and guide their paddle through the motions for them and few times before you cut them loose to try on their own. Note that you may need to “hand of god” them (flip them back over with your hands) to get them back up a few times at the start.

• Try not to let them swim to many times or they will just get exhausted in the cold water. You can also teach them to drop the paddle and rub the bottom of the boat if they want help, you can then offer them your hands to get back up. Just like Step 3 of hip snaps.

• Kayak trailer loading

  • Discuss proper kayak trailer loading

  • Appoint two campers as “trailer masters”

  • Team load trailer under direction of trailer masters

Tuesday (The final 4 days will occur at different river sites)

Skills for the day:

• Reading water (holes, waves, eddies, and pillows.)

• Swim a stretch of rapids with my toes and nose up.

• Catching eddies; Sweep to an opposite bow draw.

• River dynamics; constriction, restriction, and elevation change.

• Identifying specific risks; strainers, dams.

• Reviewing paddling on moving water. Practice new skills.

Goals:

This day is focused on a re-introduction to moving water. This day should build on skills from Day 1 but also on previous days campers have spent on moving water.

9:30am- Arrival to site

• Kayak trailer unloading: trailer masters direct teammates in unloading of trailer

• Review gear fitting. Buddy check PFD and helmet for proper fit.

• Instructor demo Env. Briefing. Set the stage for camper briefings for the rest of the week.

• River Talk

• Scouting concept review. Ask campers to explain the importance, point out the below features.

• River features: holes, waves, eddies, pillows, etc.

• Entry and exit points

• Hazards: natural and manmade

• Hugging the rock – leaning toward any object struck, etc.

• Review throw bags and what to do if you capsize.

10:15- SNACK

• Paddling short sections. Every camper can get a run before lunch.

  • Practicing strong strokes; forward stroke, draws, sweeps.

  • Bow draw to enter current and ‘peel out’

  • Eddying out; sweep stroke to a bow draw.

-The emphasis for this day is to give campers lots of runs to get VERY confident in their boat on easy stretches and to make sure they have strong basic paddle skills. Eddy turns are a huge emphasis on this day.

• Facilitating kayaking on moving water reminders.

  • Form two camper teams dispersed in size/strength/compatibility

  • Discuss being a good teammate

    • Safety first while waiting. Discuss acceptable waiting locations

    • ‘No carry, no kayak’

• One camper at a time kayaks the route with teammates assisting with entry and encouragement

• Morning of first moving water day is done without skirts to ensure campers can concentrate on routes not possibly having to pull a skirt

• After all campers have had a chance, discuss experience and get feedback on what helped them do well

**This section can be done in the morning on very warm days but know that once campers are wet their fun level may go down for the remainder of the day. Use judgement appropriately. **

• Facilitating moving water swim reminders

  • Only if a safe spot can be found

  • Review moving water swimming techniques and throw bag use

  • Challenge by choice

  • Instructor helping one camper at a time with entry

  • One instructor positioned just past rapid

  • One instructor positioned just before exit point

  • All instructors should have a throw bag

  • Campers who have shown the ability to swim a rapid safely can practice doing so with a paddle in hand.

12:00- LUNCH

JEDI lunch time discussion (suggested):

Native Peoples and waterways

• Does anyone know what ancestral lands we’re on right now? Native names for the rivers we’ve traveled?

  • Responses depend on your area of use.

    • Golden - Cheyenne

    • Lyons - Cheyenne

    • Denver - Cheyenne

• Did you know...

  • In the 1700s, Native Americans used birch bark to build kayaks capable of traveling in rapids and in the ocean. European fur traders purchased these water craft for scouting, trading, and transporting their goods.

• MORE PADDLING!!!

• Swimming rapids (potentially while holding paddles if camper/s are ready) and practicing throw bag rescues. See above for facilitation reminders.

Wednesday

Skills for the day:

• Using edging to aid in direction change.

• Using proper strokes to enter the current.

• Campers leading the group in env. briefings.

• Ferrying across moving water.

• Intro to surfing.

Goals:

These days are a steady progression of moving water skills ranging from paddle strokes and boat maneuvers to advance roll work and rescue techniques. A full combat roll is unlikely but look for safe spots for campers to practice rolls/wet exits in calm, large, eddies.

9:30am-Morning at Arrival

Intro to kayaking site and dangers

• Determine and communicate PFD wearing & buddy pairing safety zone for NEW site

• Location scouting. All campers should come away with the clear ability to site scout.

  • With PFD, helmets on

  • Have campers giving the environmental briefings

  • Review kayaking safety paddle & hand signals; hugging the rock; moving water swimming techniques; throw bag use

  • Identify entry & exit sites for each day

  • Campers identify hazards, features

  • Campers read the water to identify what is the best route based on the eddylines, obstacles, boils, etc.

10:15am- 12:00pm Paddle Time

• Campers will be taking more runs with skirts on.

• The morning will be focused on continued practice with:

  • Edging and direction changes

  • Current entry and eddying out with bow draw strokes

  • Strong paddling for campers to be able to ferry from shoreline to shoreline.

  • S-turns from eddy to eddy

• Campers will continue to take runs and shuttle boats back to the top until lunch

12:00pm-12:30pm Lunch

12:30pm -2:00pm

• Campers will have a chance to surf holes and drops if site is appropriate.

  • Continuing to work on paddling into hole at shoulder of wave.

  • Edging their boat across the wave.

  • Brace strokes will be a large focus here.

• Roll Practice/wet exits if there is an appropriate slack water area to practice. See Roll Progression above.

Thursday

Skills for the day:

• Surfing in a hole.

• Practicing rolling in an eddie.

• Combat rolls; very unlikely but possible.

• Intro to through paddling.

Goals:

These days are a steady progression of moving water skills ranging from paddle strokes and boat maneuvers to advance roll work and rescue techniques. A full combat roll is unlikely but look for safe spots for campers to practice rolls/wet exits in calm, large, eddies.

9:30am-10:15am Morning at Arrival

Intro to kayaking site and dangers

• Determine and communicate PFD wearing & buddy pairing safety zone for NEW site

• Location scouting. All campers should come away with the clear ability to site scout.

  • With PFD, helmets on

  • Have campers giving the environmental briefings

  • Review kayaking safety paddle & hand signals; hugging the rock; moving water swimming techniques; throw bag use

  • Identify entry & exit sites for each day

  • Campers identify hazards, features

  • Campers read the water to identify what is the best route based on the eddylines, obstacles, boils, etc.

10:15am-12:00am Paddle Time

• Campers will be taking more runs with skirts on.

• More surfing in holes.

• The morning will be focused on continued practice with edging, current entry and eddying out with bow draw strokes, and strong paddling for campers to be able to ferry from shoreline to shoreline or rock to rock/eddy to eddy.

• Emphasize picking out line of site points to help with ferrying.

12:00pm-12:30pm Lunch

JEDI Topic Discussion (suggested topic):

Extension from earlier in the week, Technology and materials development was the biggest contribution to accessing rapids. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having access to these lands and waterways? What is our responsibility as white water paddlers?

• Environmental impact can be a potential disadvantage: fish habitat, riparian habitats, downstream issues (like contamination from human waste and/or spills). Had wooden/birch boats still been the dominant form of travel, parts of the land might still be untouched, thereby preserving it naturally.

• Our responsibility is to be an active participant in the preservation of these waters and practice LNT.

• What does LNT look like when done really well in moving water places?

• Afternoon: Multiple boater practice. This is the introduction to through paddling and having multiple boaters at once.

  • **This is dependent upon the ability of the group. Consider pairing stronger and weaker paddlers together to avoid having two weaker paddlers at the same time.**

  • Boaters will launch one after the other, the lead boater will paddle to the first eddy and will be stay until the second boater reaches the eddy. Then the lead boater will continue to the next eddy and eddy out again followed by the second boater.

  • Boaters should be strong enough paddlers to be both be aware of themselves and their risks as well as their partners.

  • Review moving water rescue techniques

Friday

Skills for the day:

• Running a stretch of river

Goals:

This day differs from the previous days format’s due to the complexity of the activity. Therefore there are no new skills taught on this day. Campers should be at the base skill level of having earned a skirt and be a strong paddler who can ferry across the river and go down drops with confidence. Below is a rundown of how this day should look and important considerations for the day.

NOTE:

This will always only happen when the water flows/sites and camper ability level are right. It should be with a group of campers that have all passed their skirt test and displayed a high level of competence on moving water. Each Instructor should carry a throw rope and a towline.

Things to review the previous day and the morning of the run:

• On water communication

• Order of travel, spacing of boats etc.

• Action plan for swimming

• Other potential emergency situations

Gear that should be brought on the run:

• Each instructor should carry a throw rope

• There should be one phone brought with the group

• An extra PFD and helmet

• A first aid kit

Structure of the Day:

• Kids arrive at camp like normal, load up and go the put-in sight.

• On through paddle days, (if the group is full) there will always be a 3rd instructor on the water with the group. At times the 4th ‘WW support’ staff mentioned below may be a WW support staff or it may be an extra staff from camp- Assistant Director, Floater or Sub.

• WW support will meet the group at the put in, after the boats are unloaded WW support will drive the van and trailer to the take out site

• Depending on the length and location of the run, WW support could also potentially stop at a pre-decided location mid-way to check in.

  • This is a nice option to have more support on the top half.

  • There might also be the option for WW support to stop at particular feature along the way to provide additional support with a rope from shore.

• When launching, send one instructor into the water to stop in an eddie a short way downstream. Send campers out close together but not on top of each other. When first few campers get close, the downstream instructor will enter the current and kids will follow. Send the 2nd instructor in the middle of the group.

• Stop at all rapids and features to scout and create a plan of action. Remember that the river changes daily and though the rapids may feel small to you they probably feel huge and scary to campers. Taking it one step at a time will help them be successful through the day.

• At the rapid, send one instructor though first to wait in an eddie downstream. The second instructor will stay with the kids to help with confidence and spacing. The third instructor can be

  • If a particular rapid or feature is feeling like it may present a problem be extra careful with the order you send kids and their spacing.

  • Confident paddlers should go first, they can show other kids how it’s done and seeing their success will build up the others.

  • Campers and instructors should also make walking rapids acceptable. Absolutely no harm in passing on a rapid that is above one’s comfort level.

***Save you weakest paddlers for last if you can, that way if the downstream instructor has to make a rescue and ends pretty far downstream there are only a few kids left that need to go through and the second instructor may be able to help them more effectively, maybe even run through with them if there are only a few kiddos left. Use your resources wisely.***

• WW support will meet the group at the take out. They should be ready to help kids get to shore and load up boats.

• The group will take the WW support back to their car and then head back to camp.

***If a through paddle is not feasible for your group for ANY reason, you should proceed through the day building on the skills that were taught on Day 4.***