Sport Fitness and Health Program

Whitewater Kayaking

KNSFHP 1139.21 (1 credit)

Description:

The purpose of this course is to provide a hands-on, field-based excursion to develop an awareness of skills needed for whitewater kayaking and overnight camping.  We will work on fundamentals of reading water, equipment use, scouting to identify river dangers, and running rapids. Emphasis will be placed on skill development using an active progression toward more challenging rapids.  Leave No Trace minimum impact principles, and sound decision-making are all introduced as foundational skills for safe and responsible kayaking in this course.  Course participants must know how to swim and can expect class 1-3 rapids.

Pre-requisites:

  • Ability to swim

Equipment (students must purchase for class):

  • Students are expected to have personal clothing good at wicking away moisture (think Dri-Fit or Under Armour type clothing). More details will be provided via a packing list before the course.
  • Kayaking and camping specific equipment (boat, pfd, shoes, paddle, stoves, tents, sleeping bags, etc) are all provided with the course fee.

What You Will Learn:

  • Recognize and maintain appropriate gear as it pertains to white water kayaking.
  • Be aware of risks associated with white water kayaking and how to mitigate those risks.
  • Articulate understanding of key white water kayaking terminology.
  • Demonstrate the core technical skills related to white water kayaking:
    • Choose the correct/most ideal line through a river feature/rapid.
    • Explain and/or point out how to avoid dangers (foot entrapment/undercut rocks/strainers/hydraulics).
    • Correctly fit and inspect a PFD.
    • Demonstrate effective self-rescue technique
    • Demonstrate proper paddle strokes and commands
  • Understand and demonstrate 7 Leave No Trace principles

What To Expect:

  • This course involves one classroom session, at least one pool session, and 2.5 days of off-campus whitewater kayaking. This is a front-country trip: Trip members will have access to running water, bathrooms, and other modern amenities while at camp.
  • You select which weekend works best for you based on the section you enroll in. Transportation is provided. Trips depart Friday afternoon and institutional excuses for missed classes Friday are not provided. Most trips return to campus by 8 pm on Sunday at the latest. Some trips occur during holidays and academic breaks and may last more than a weekend.
  • Experienced trip leaders, with specialized wilderness first aid training, will support you while in the field and actively teach how to thrive while kayaking. For example, instructors will teach you how to get in your boat and set up a tent; they will not do everything for you. It is expected that students work together as a group and be supportive of each other while following instructions from instructors.
  • Food is provided and all meals can accommodate any special needs (allergies, vegan, etc). Food is healthy and hearty and typically exceeds expectations (you won’t be eating Pop Tarts and PB&J!).
  • Kayaking is ranked Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5 For details & tips for preparing for the trip please reference OAC Physical Challenge Scale. Accommodations can be made for all abilities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor for specific opportunities to participate.

Potential Benefits:

  • Being physically active and spending time in nature are both associated with lower stress levels, mood and concentration improvement
  • Kayaking is an excellent way to burn calories and increase cardiac health, upper-body and core strength.
  • Kayaking is a human powered and excellent way to explore and be able to see beautiful destinations and allows you to experience the river in unique way.
  • Kayaking boosts confidence, it requires grit and perseverance, completing some rapids gives you a sense of accomplishment, like finishing a marathon.
  • Kayaking is a life-long skill and low impact on joints and bones.

Fun Facts:

  • The first people in the world to build and use kayaks were Inuit, Aleut, and Yup’ik people. These indigenous people live in modern day Greenland, Canada, and Alaska.
  • Kayak races were added to the Olympics in 1936.
  • Kayaks are at least 4,000 years old (source for all the above)