ACA Level 1: Youth Introduction to Solo Canoeing

• Instructors: Tom and Suzanne Welander
• When: by arrangement
• Who: 11-13 year olds (Click here for our younger kids' class)
• Where: usually Sweetwater park, 20 miles from downtown Atlanta. Open to other locations.
• Equipment: provided
• Transportation: not provided
• Cost: $5 per session to cover ACA insurance. $5 parking fee.

Email us if you're interested:

BASICS

We're teaching our son Braylin to paddle his own canoe. We're including other kids so that the classes are fun and to cultivate future paddling companions.

We provide equipment. Each student gets her/his own canoe, PFD, and paddle.

Class size is four or five students per session.

Each session needs two or more assistants (parents or comparably able helpers). That's one assistant for every two students.

• The assistants keep students on task while I move around giving individual attention.
• The assistants also participate in the games that we play in order to practice newly-taught skills.

WHEN

We schedule each session ad hoc to accommodate whoever's attending.

Available dates that we'd like to schedule. Tell us which might work for you:

There's no commitment to attend a certain number of sessions. Families can continue if they want and stop if they want.

WHERE

Most classes happen at Sweetwater State Park's reservoir

The end-goal is to canoe on moving water (rivers). Beginning students start on still water (lakes) and graduate to moving water when they reach the necessary proficiency.

Feel free to suggest another venue. Characteristics of an ideal location:

• A cove shielded from wind and from power boats
• Shallow wading area
• Adjacent to a level lawn where on-shore instruction takes place
• Parking close by
• Nothing more interesting than canoe lessons is happening within eyeshot.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THESE SESSIONS

The sessions follow American Canoe Association (ACA) curriculum. Tom is an ACA Level 4 canoe instructor.

Each class cycles through:

1. on-shore instruction, followed by
2. shallow water instruction & practice, followed by
3. canoe games that utilize the skills

That sequence repeats for 2 or 3 teaching topics per session.

We keep each child's assistant (parent) busy co-teaching her or his child. We have enough canoes for parents to join in the games.

If you have a truck or roof rack on your car, we probably need your help transporting them.

WHAT TO WEAR

Wear clothes that can get wet and shoes that can get muddy. Have warm layers on hand just in case. A rain coat and rain pants might get used.

Bring dry clothes for the ride home.

All participants wade in knee-deep water.

Assistants will get dripped on but not soaking wet above the thighs unless you deliberately immerse yourself.

Students might capsize but ordinarily don't unless it's deliberate.

The exception is when we do safety & self-rescue training. On those occasions, students get completely immersed in the water. We do that only in comfortably warm water.

GET IN TOUCH

Questions are welcome. Let us know if your child wants to attend a session. We'll work on scheduling it with you.

  Email:

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