Kayak Lake Lesson

Starting out / Assisting:

R1s and R2s can assist an instructor by helping beginners outfit their boat, by demonstrating strokes, and by assisting with eskimo rescue and wet exits. Your assistance will be appreciated so don't hesitate to get involved! To learn how to instruct, talk to the instruction coordinator chair or talk to current instructors about assisting with their lessons. 

Requirements / Suggestions to teach:

By the water safety code, instructors are required to have an R3p in a WW Kayak. Though, if you're an R1 or R2 and think you'd feel comfortable teaching the lesson, contact the Water Safety Chair. 

There is NO REQUIREMENT (beyond the lake lesson) to assist in teaching a kayak lake lesson, and everyone with interest in kayaking is encouraged to do so to get experience teaching :) 

To give a swim test you must have an R3p in a whitewater kayak or canoe, SK2 in a sea kayak. Remember that you may give a swim test to only 2 people at a time. And remember to bring a watch, a paddle, and several lifevests. For a full description of the swim test rules and procedures, see the Swim Test page. 

Preparation: 

The cheat sheet below can be very useful when teaching lessons - it gives an outline and several reminders. 

Instructors clinics are offered in the weeks before each Day of Instruction (early fall and early summer). 

Assistant teaching is the main way to get teaching experience and improve your comfort level. 

Announcing a lake lesson: 

It is required that you either announce it on the list or at a meeting, but doing both is recommended. Signup is either by e-mail or on a sheet in the boathouse (specified in your announcement). If you need assistants, ask your friends on the boaters list :) Also, we have a calendar on the website now, so please post it there since that is our best way of seeing when things are (like lake lessons). 

Other Suggestions:

Our club is big, and new people are less discouraged when they learn from the same people. So it would be nice but by no means required for you to go on the Sac trip following your lake lesson. 

Warnings:

In the summer blue-green algae can be a problem. See the Algae Warning page for more information. 

Documents:

Instructor Guidelines

Cheat sheet

Whitewater Strokes 

If you have any questions, please contact the Boating Instruction Coordinator.