Kayaking

Brewongle Environmental Education Centre is situated in Sackville North, along the scenic Dyarubbin (Hawkesbury River). During your visit to Brewongle, you might have the chance to go kayaking. It’s a fun and safe activity, though it can feel a little intimidating at first.

To help you feel more confident, here are some videos and photos showcasing this exciting water sport.

Kayaking – prerequisites and requirements 

Visiting teachers and schools must familiarise themselves with the NSW Department of Education School Sport Unit: Canoeing - Recreational guidelines and procedures detailed in the NSW Department of Education Excursion Policy. Most notably, the student prerequisites and experience requirements for participating in kayaking activities.

Using the NSW Departments of Education water activity advice for domestic excursions form

for communication with parents/carers, visiting teachers and schools must confirm on this Brewongle form that all students meet the prerequisite and experience requirements, have consent to kayak or advise otherwise.

Note there will be no swimming activities included as part of the kayaking activity.

If students do not meet the prerequisites and experience requirements, schools can seek to have students tested prior to the planned excursion or camp.

Brewongle does not have suitable facilities to provide this for visiting schools and students.

As a NSW Department of Education facility, Brewongle EEC must comply with these guidelines and procedures. This means that all schools and students visiting Brewongle EEC, must also comply with the prerequisite and experience requirements.

Kayaking leader and location information

Student/adult participation in the kayaking activity will be at the discretion of the kayaking leader based on the ability of the student/adult’s ability to perform the kayaking tasks and requirements safely.

Students will be kayaking on the Hawkesbury River for approximately 1 hour. The location of the

kayaking spot is a short downhill walk from the Brewongle Environmental Education Centre at Sackville

North.

The activity is designed to be an introduction to kayaking and students will remain near the beach or paddle a short distance up or down the river dependent on tides and ability levels.

The timing of the kayaking activity will be dependent on the weather conditions and timing of the tides on the day of visit.

All Brewongle staff are trained to meet the Department of Education guidelines for kayaking. This is considered a flatwater canoe activity with a low degree of difficulty. For this activity a maximum of eight kayaks (ratio 1:8) will be used on the water at any time per kayaking instructor.

Visiting teachers may be required to supervise non-kayakers on the riverbank.

Please note, if adverse weather or water conditions are present at any time on the day of the visit, Brewongle staff reserve the right to cancel the kayaking activity to ensure the safety of all students and adults.

Kayaking packing list

Kayaker’s clothes and shoes will get dirty and wet! Please ensure students do not wear uniforms

while kayaking and pack old clothes/shoes that they won’t mind getting dirty.

What to bring for kayaking

·         Shorts/board shorts.

·         Rash vest or t-shirt (preferably long sleeve – no singlets).

·         Old sneakers/joggers or reef/river shoes – shoes MUST be worn (thongs/sandals are not acceptable).

·         Spare socks

·         Beach towel

·         Hat

·         Change of dry/warm clothing

·         A spare bag for wet and dirty clothes