Educational Workshops

It’s National Paddling Week – let’s get out there and try something different!
If you’re curious about learning to paddle in whitewater but aren’t yet ready to commit to a full certification course, try this for a start. ORCA instructor Garry Almond and I will demonstrate the basic moves on an uncomplicated section of the Credit River. No fear, just fun and learning. Helmets and water shoes mandatory. Whitewater boat recommended. (WW canoe rental one day: MEC $40, Complete Paddler $45)
Limit 10 participants, tandem or solo. This is a shared clinic with OCEY members.
Level: Beginner-Novice whitewater
Cost: $20 instruction fee for Garry; Karonne strictly volunteer.
Contact: Karonne Lansel 416-777-9459 or karonne.lansel@cbc.ca (preferred)

This is the sixteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.

For all you new and experienced whitewater paddlers have rented Albert Campbell CI swimming pool in Scarborough again for winter pool training sessions. This is a great opportunity to practice your paddling technique and your roll, or just plain work-out so you're in shape when you hit the spring rivers. OC-1, C-1, or kayaks welcome. I have a few spare boats (open canoe, C-1, and kayak) for newbies or paddlers just wanting to try something different from their usual boat. They're available on a first come; first served basis. If you are having problems with your roll, we can help you. We have 10 rentals of 1.5 hours from Sunday January 6 to Sunday March 10. For just $110 for your share of the rental cost, you can have a whole winter of learning and paddling fun. Please contact me personally to register as soon as possible as space is limited.

Cheques should be payable to me as I'm paying the rental fee; not the club.

Sorry, but you can't register on-line. You have to contact me personally if you want to join in so I can do the organization effectively.

Thanks.

John & Sharon Hackert, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book before May 20. This is the fifteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.
If spring water levels are lower than normal, we may have to move the date forward to May 12-13. Pray for rain.
OUTING SHOWS CLOSED AS SELF-REGISTRATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. Email us directly to register.

In keeping with a 10 year tradition of a unique and accessible river festival at Palmer Rapids, Paddler Co-op and the Wilderness Canoe Association are hosting an event for all paddlers – canoe and kayak, new paddlers, experienced boaters and everything in between. Join us on the May Long Weekend for high quality instruction, music, good food and great paddling atmosphere.   

• family friendly event with kids programs and daycare available
• high quality instructional clinics
• Music – Saturday evening
• Films – Friday & Saturday evening
• Yoga – Sunday morning
• BBQ dinner – Saturday evening  (available, not included)
• BBQ lunches (available, not included)
• Boat demos
• Paddling industry exhibitors

John & Sharon Hackert, 416-438-7672, jhackert@sympatico.ca ----- Book before April 18. This is the fourteenth year of our clinic, which is designed to help improve your basic skills. We will paddle the Lower Mad on Saturday and practice our basic skills at Palmers Rapids on Sunday. The emphasis will be on front ferries, eddy-outs, and peel-outs. Your paddle strokes will be critiqued. You will also have an opportunity to practice self-rescue techniques. Open to properly fitted solo and tandem canoes. Tandem boats must have centre air bags. Wetsuits or drysuits will be needed. We will camp at our cottage.

We are organizing winter pool sessions for whitewater canoes & kayaks at a pool in the west end of Toronto in the Islington Avenue and Lakeshore area beginning the second week of January, 2011 and running till the middle of March. These will be on Sundays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Please contact the organizers directly for costs & other details. Book as soon as possible.
Peter Jaspert, 905-278-1949, or fretype@sympatico.ca. Steve Lukasko, 905-276-8285

We didn't meet minimum participant requirement. To be rescheduled later this summer. This course offers a great opportunity to combine learning WFA skills and paddling on the same weekend! Very popular in the past, we expect that this course will fill quickly so act now! To register, simply click on the "Sign Up" button at the bottom of this page. Course fee is $175.00 + $8.75 gst (after 01 July, you will pay additional 8% for HST). Payment by cheque or credit card to Paddler Co-Op, 6535 Palmer Road, Palmer Rapids, ON, K0J 2E0.

Full payment is required to confirm your space. Payment deadline 15 June.

Book as soon as possible. This is a four day workshop on the Madawaska River for novice to budding intermediate whitewater paddlers.

We will focus on the basics of moving water boat control and maneuvers, water reading, and safety. Both tandem and solo paddlers are welcome.

The weekend will be spent at Palmer Rapids and on the Snake Rapids section of the Madawaska River, one hour northeast of Bancroft. The location offers some of the best novice to intermediate whitewater in Southern Ontario. In order to be able to work closely with participants, registration is limited to 6 boats.

Contact me as soon as possible. We planning a river safety and rescue course with Paddler Co-op on August 7 - 8.

The course will specifically focus on the needs of paddlers who must deal with problems in remote locations with limited equipment. We think it will provide valuable skills and greater self-confidence for both trippers and playboaters.

This is a paid, professionally taught course. Amount including tax will be approximately $200. (P. S. This is a great opportunity for our WCA trip organizers to take advantage of their club educational credits!)