$35/person. Must be an active WRPC member to sign up.  **WRPC is subsidizing $90 per person for the first 15 sign-ups to support and encourage acquisition of safety knowledge. Thank you to the Board for this support!! For those not wanting/needing the club’s help, a $125 payment option is also available during sign-up. The exact same experience will be offered regardless of your payment amount.**

Designed to emphasize safety, enjoyment and skill acquisition as a beginner or refresher course for kayakers (traditional decked kayaks, inflatables and site-on-tops), canoers and SUPers. Rowers are welcome, although the course will not cover rowing maneuvers. Topics the course will cover:

·  Preparing to Depart: conditions, hazards, judgment, equipment, warm up, boat transportation, safety equipment, boat inspection

·  Maneuvers: boat entry, paddle strokes, playing games to have fun with strokes and skills, practicing maneuvering the kayak or craft

·  Technical Knowledge: reviewing equipment, terminology, care of boat, review dangers, how to avoid cold water shock, on-water communication, hydration, communication signals, basic navigational rules, water management techniques, paddling best practices

·  Safety and Rescue basics: rescue priorities, rescue equipment, responsibilities of group, self-rescue, group rescue, towing a kayak or assisting a paddler to shore

 Optional practice: exit the craft after capsize, rescue self and boat using an effective self-rescue technique, rescue a person in the water and capsized kayak, perform assisted rescues, perform assisted re-entry

Taught by the dynamic American Canoe Association (ACA) L4 Certified Instructor, Heather Herbeck, who has over 18 years of flatwater and whitewater kayaking experience and over 12 years of coaching experience. The American Canoe Association (ACA) has one of the best established paddlesport instruction programs anywhere in the world. The courses are comprehensive, but allow enough flexibility for individual teaching and paddling styles. The main benefit to taking the course is improving your understanding of paddling technique and theory, so you can paddle more efficiently and safely.