Spring Semester Whitewater Kayaking 101
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Whitewater kayaking AWPE semester course
Whitewater kayaking is one of the most beautiful things possible. Surfing offers an unparalleled chance to feel water’s fluidity and power. Kayaking offers participants maturity through the challenges it involved and a near Zen like state imposed through the awe inspiring power of hydrology. Image courtesy of American Whitewater, an excellent source for local rivers, photos and movies. Additional recommended sites include Boatertalk (the hub of internet kayaking) and Rapid Magazine (excellent kayaking magazine with online back issues)
Overview
By the end of the semester students will be equipped to confidently paddle down class III. All members enrolled will be assumed to have little or no previous experience. This class will have fewer than 6 students.
The focus of this course is not merely to offer a brief taste of kayaking or to show how terrifying whitewater is. It is to develop enough experience to enable enjoyment of whitewater kayaking. Certain provisions will be taken to instill a desire for continued exploration of kayaking.
Time Commitment and Trip Dates
This course will take place in the fall. There are two trip components of the course: rolling sessions and weekend trips.
Rolling Sessions
Every Thursday night during the spring semester, for one and a half hours, there will be kayak pool time. Open both for the class and for the broader Earlham community, but with preference for students both for equipment and instruction. Students will be expected to attend sufficient sessions to master their roll, with an emphasis on attending greater than half regardless.
The first rolling session attended by a student in the course will begin with selecting a boat and equiptment and outfitting the boat. Each student will have their "own" boat, which will remain unmodified by anyone else until the end of the semester. Preparing for rolling sessions.
Weekend trips
Four weekend trips will be lead later in the spring. Attendance of two will be expected. Preparing for weekend trips.
Expectations
Goals for participants
Having a blast and learning to love kayaking are the two highest priority goals. Pretty much everything falls into that.
Students of Whitewater Kayaking 101 are expected to commit relatively large amounts time through their participation in both rolling sessions and weekend trips—but their profit from the course will be immense. Participants will develop enough skills to continue both kayaking personally and taking more advanced courses at Earlham. Students will conquer fears and ultimately become a part of the larger kayak community, strengthening Earlham’s connection to the broader outdoor education community in general through participation in another of its facets.
Additional expectations and overreaching goals of Whitewater Kayaking 101
