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Canoe training for children******Suspended, See below and await further information******
Tony Hicks and I are looking at the possibility of offering canoe training for children this spring.
The initial plan is to offer 3 half day sessions in the Easter holidays on 30, 31 March and 1 April. Morning or afternoon to be decided, or potentially both if there is demand. This will be followed by Tuesday early evening sessions, 4-6pm commencing on 14 April. The aim is to have the participants capable of handling tandem canoes by May half term but the sessions could go on longer if there is demand for them! We might introduce kayaks as well!
There is the possibility of working towards formal qualifications, children like certificates!
Sessions will be open to children of 8 years and older but with potential for some aged 6 or 7, subject to individual risk assessment. All need to be able to swim in cold water wearing clothes and shoes without becoming distressed. For this to run, we need 8 children to commit.
Participants will need to become ECC members, if they aren't already. I think the fee for children is £40 per year commencing on 1 April but we should be able to sort something out for 30 & 31 March, maybe at small additional cost. No other formal costs involved. Membership is for a year and confers the use of club boats and kit on club activities and other activities run by club members who are qualified to do so (e.g. families who are ECC members sometimes borrow kit to take themselves out paddling once enough of them are competent).
Participants will need old clothing, and footwear, to keep them warm, there will be some swimming involved on some days but there is always the possibility of an unscheduled swim! Essential are windproof jackets and trousers which can be old walking waterproofs. There is no need for specialist paddle clothing.
We will hold a meeting before we start the sessions, probably on Tuesday 17 March, so parents and participants can meet us and get an idea of what they can expect and what we expect in return. Briefly, every participant will need an adult in the vicinity who is able to take charge of the participant in the unlikely event that something unexpected happens. Of course, we will deal with the immediate effects of an incident but we need to be able to give anyone who needs to drop out of a session to someone else (a parent/guardian or someone known to and appointed by the parent/guardian) so the rest of the group can carry on with the session. If the parent/guardian present is also a club member, they may also go on the water on the understanding that they will remain reasonably close by and take charge of their child in the event that the child needs to leave the water.
So, if your child is interested in joining us for this training, please respond to this thread or seek out Tony or me on a Tuesday evening. I am there paddling from about 6.30 and in the clubhouse afterwards most weeks. If Tony has passed this on to you because you and your child aren't (yet) ECC members, please respond initially to Tony.
Sign up will be via the club's "webcollect" system and there will be a post on this thread when it becomes available.
Any questions? Ask here!
Looking forward to lots of fun!
Brian.
BC L3 Canoe and Kayak Coach etc.
Comments
I'd like to sign up Stan and Buster please. They will be 8 & 10. As I read it, if I buy their memberships after Jan 31st, the membership period will cover all the proposed courses above.
Max Ferris (8) would like to join us
Hi again everyone,
Please note that the dates in the Easter holidays have changed to Tuesday 31 March, Wednesday 1 April and Thursday 2 April and we will commence activity at 10am each day. We anticipate each session will continue until around 1pm.
Also changed is the opportunity for parents to meet me. I have another commitment that will prevent me from being at the club on 17th March but I do plan to be there on 24th at 6pm so parents and potential participants can ask any questions they may have and meet me. Attendance at this short meeting is not a requirement as I hope all the relevant information will be posted here so, please let me know whether you will be attending!
Formal sign up will be via "web collect". Again, a link will be posted here when it is available. Attendance is free but only open to club members. There are 8 places available with preference going to those who have already shown interest on this thread, if necessary!
While there is a whats app group, this is a club event so all details will be posted here.
In the current wider situation, unfortunately we must maintain awareness that we might have to cancel this training. Rest assured, I will only do this if I have to but I have everyone's safety in mind. In the event that the training does run, I will understand if any parents decide they need to withdraw their children.
I look forward to a successful few days.
Brian.
After some careful deliberation, Tony and I have reached the conclusion that we now have to suspend this training. We know this will come as a disappointment to all the children and their parents but it is the right thing to do in the current circumstances.
Additionally, my wife has begun to suffer some, but not all of, the covid19 symptoms today so we are commencing 14 days of isolation. We really don't think she has covid19 but are playing it safe.
The Easter element of this training is hereby cancelled and we will keep the rest of the planned training under review. We will get back to everyone if and when we decide we can go ahead.
We are sorry for the disappointment this decision will inevitably cause but hope we might be able to go some way towards making up for it when the situation nationally improves.
Stay safe.
Brian
Just to be clear, we will only consider commencing this training after national restrictions are lifted and the club decides it is safe to undertake training generally.
Stay safe everyone.