Kayaking 101 with ACA & Seven Islands State Birding Park
Schedule
Sat May 18 2024 at 10:00 am to 04:00 pm
Location
2809 Kelly Ln, Kodak, TN, United States, Tennessee 37764 | Kodak, TN
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Kayaking 101 at Seven Islands Birding State Park10 am to 4 pm
Summer is right around the corner and kayaking is a great way to enjoy Tennessee’s beautiful outdoors! Tennessee State Parks and the certified paddlesports instructors of ACA Tennessee are teaming up to get you started!
As part of National Safe Boating Week, nationally certified ACA Kayak instructors are volunteering their time to offer you a special opportunity to take these classes for just $15. Typically, these same classes would cost between $75 and $150! We are limited to 15 slots per class so sign up now! All types of kayaks are welcome.
If you are new to paddling, looking to meet paddling friends or have had a bad experience and are looking to learn a better way to go about it, sign up now. Please reach out to contact us with any questions.
Below is a short list of the types of things that will be covered in the class:
* Trip planning, preparation, and prevention
* What equipment you should carry
* Parts of the boat, parts of the paddle
* Understanding how bulkheads/flotation help make you safer
* How to properly carry & transport your boat
* Basic posture for full body paddling and boat control
* Basic paddling strokes
* How to get in and out of your boat properly
* Basic river reading skills
* Moving water skills to control your boat and avoid obstacles: edging, how to cross an eddy line to catch an eddy, how to cross an eddy line to go straight, peel out into the current, ferry across a river without moving downstream, S-turn
* Wading across current with a paddle
* Defensive swimming position
* Self and assisted rescue techniques
* How to tow a swimmer
* Understanding your options when there is a tree across the river (strainer bar drill)
What to bring:
* Camp chair
* Life Jacket* (You will be required to wear your life jacket at all times when on the water.)
* Paddle
* Kayak
* Helmet* (Helmet required if you are in a sit inside kayak with skirt or using thigh straps on a Sit on Top * Kayak; helmet recommended but optional otherwise)
* Plenty of Water to drink
* Sunscreen or hat
* Strap for your glasses
* Lunch and snacks (We will break for lunch but we will all eat together and then resume the class so we all need to bring our lunches.)
If you need to borrow a kayak, paddle and life jacket, you will have the option to add one to your registration at no extra charge during the registration process. Tennessee RiverLine is making this gear available to you at no charge as a special opportunity for this class during National Safe Boating Week.
Students at this class will paddle approximately 5 miles on the beautiful French Broad River as part of this class.
What to wear: Keep in mind we will be paddling and practicing skills for what to do if you capsize, so you will get wet. Quick drying fabrics and shorts are better for paddling than cotton clothing…which will just keep you wet and cold all day. Please do not wear flip flops. Closed-toe river shoes or sneakers are perfect. You need shoes that attach at your ankles and provide some amount of traction.
Weather: If you are concerned about the weather forecast, you should know we are already prepared for class to convene rain or shine so that you can at least get the benefit of on land education. Your nationally certified ACA Lead Instructor will make appropriate determinations about whether or not and when to get on water, and you will always have the option to decide about your level of participation. So plan to join us even if Tennessee weather is not totally cooperating!!
Meet on that day: Please plan to meet us at the Seven Islands State Birding Park boat ramp at 10 am on Saturday, May 18. The Boat Ramp is called Seven Islands Landing and is a left turn off Kelly Lane before you enter the park gate. There is plenty of parking in this area. This event will be happening rain or shine. We will have some pop up tents set up for the on land training portion of the class. In the event of severe weather, the instructors will make a decision the day of to keep everyone safe.
Contact Ranger Stephanie Mueller at [email protected] with any questions about the park or registration. Contact ACA Tennessee State Director ANDe Demetriou at [email protected] with any questions about the class. By registering for this class I am hereby giving my permission for Tennessee State Parks, ACA and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary to use any photos taken during this class. Due to the special circumstances and the many volunteers involved in the delivery of this course, we are unable to reschedule your engagement or offer refunds.
Cancellation Deadline/Refund: Participants may cancel no later than Friday, May 10th, 5:00 PM with a 50% refund. After May 10th, 5:00 PM there will be no refunds for participant cancellation.
Weather Cancellation: There is no alternate date. In the event of a weather-related cancellation by park staff on 5/17/24 or prior we will offer a full refund. In the event of a weather-related cancellation on 5/18/24 or later, we will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis.
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Where is it happening?
2809 Kelly Ln, Kodak, TN, United States, Tennessee 37764Event Location & Nearby Stays:
