Field trip: Basic Sea Kayaking Course
Open Water Session - American Lake
This location was chosen for those students who own their own kayaks and equipment and/or can arrange there own transporting of their rented kayak and equipment. It’s Two days of on the water activities, learning basic kayak skills: Wet exits, Rescues, and basic paddle strokes will be covered. Be Prepared to spend much of the day in the water.
Contacts
- Sat, May 7, 2022 — Sun, May 8, 2022
- Tacoma Branch Sea Kayaking Program
- Sea Kayaking
- Adults
- Sea Kayak II
- Easy
- 3 (14 capacity)
- 2 (13 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Meet at Harry Todd Park,
Address: 89 N Thorne Ln SW, Lakewood, WA 98498 at 8:00am
3 restrooms available.
We’ll have use of the large covered porch on top of hill, the sandy beach area and the flat grass area at bottom of hill, and the boat slips.
Please check in with Clinic Beach Coordinator, Susan Wilson. She will be wearing a bright chartreuse vest. She’ll have a place for your keys & fobs in case those need to be kept safe from water damage.
We will have a beach huddle with everyone for any announcements or important information that needs to be relayed to all individuals.
There will also be an agenda for the day you will receive the night before the clinic on American Lake.
For female students: Female Urinary device (FUD): Be sure to bring this for those that need one. One of the training leaders will instruct you how to use it first thing in the morning before we go into the water.
READ THIS STUFF
In your Student Manual there’s an in-depth discussion of what to wear to all paddles. This includes your on-the-water session days (see pages 10, 11, and 12).
Bring the following if you have them:
Two layers of wool and or synthetic pants, such as long underwear or exercise pants, as long as they are a Smart wool, Merino wool blended with a synthetic or polypropylene, or polyester type bottoms.
If you tend to get cold, consider wearing at least two layers on top and wearing at least one long sleeve layer.
If you tend to get warm, consider just one layer on top, but do bring an extra layer just in case.
Come prepared to have fun learning how to kayak. We’ll cover how to be comfortable in a kayak, efficient paddle strokes, paddle signs to help communicate on trips, and most importantly, how to wet exit (get out of your kayak if you flip over) and how to get back in (T-rescues and self-rescues).
Leader's notes
The instruction will be performed in a protected, yet open water setting. The training will typically be two students to an instructor in certain circumstances such as learning rescues and strokes.
Be sure to bring lots of snacks and a lunch and something warm to drink. These can be left under the shelter or in your day hatch. The snacks can go in a pocket in your PFD if there is one or in the day hatch if there is one on your kayak.
Required Equipment
NOTE ITS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DONOT PURCHASE A KAYAK prior to completing this Clinic. Unless You already happen to own your equipment in which case that's ok. We encourage not buying ahead of the clinic; so you're given an opportunity to paddle several different types and brands of kayaks. Note for a kayak to be considered a Sea Kayak it needs to be a minimum length of 14 1/2 feet and ideally not have a rudder but instead be equipped with a skag..
We highly recommended if you don’t already own a kayak to barrow, or rent one until you’ve completed your two club sponsored paddles.
The link attached will take you to Kayak Academy, who will help you set up a Kayak and equipment rental package design for our clinics.
RSVP with (KA) at this (LINK TBD)
Sea Kayak, paddle, PFD, spray skirt, pump, and dry suit as a minimum. Neoprene cap is recommended for practicing rescues. Discuss other requirements with the instructor.