INTRO TO KAYAKING

EVENT DETAILS

THE CLASS

This is a half day, introductory level class to get you more familiar with the features of your boat and paddle and give you more confidence on your adventures.

By the end of the day you will feel like your boat is less tippy, know how to paddle all day without wearing out your arm muscles, know how to avoid tennis elbow, know how to help yourself or your friend in a capsize situation at the lake, and other basic information that will prepare you to be a better paddler or trip leader for your family.

• Basic paddle strokes and boat control
• A couple of options for self or assisted rescue to climb back into your kayak if you capsize in deep water
• Legally, what’s required in a non-motorized craft
• An introduction to gear, trip planning and prevention

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Our amazing team of nationally certified ACA certified instructors teach Georgia Rivers classes as volunteers to share their love of paddling with other Georgia paddlers. Because of our volunteer instructors, in 2023 and 2024 Georgia Rivers was recognized by the American Canoe Association as being among the paddling organizations that trained the most beginners in the nation.

The Georgia Rivers safety and training program is led by Andrea White, an ACA certified Level 2 River Kayaking instructor with an instructor endorsement as a Paddlesport Safety Facilitator. She has been named one of Paddling Magazine’s 2022 Top 20 River Heroes for her commitment to training beginners and received two awards from the American Canoe Association for her service as 2020 Outstanding ACA State Director and as a member of a team of volunteers who won 2022 ACA Volunteer of the Year. She has a passion for building a community of safety conscious paddlers who can help each other when things on the water go sideways. She currently serves in a volunteer capacity as the ACA Southeast Regional Chair and as Past Chair of the ACA Regional Activity Council.

We are joined by a community of amazing instructors. Please thank them for sharing their excellence with you and your family on their day off!

Guest Instructor Kathryn Lapolla in Savannah, GA

For the Savannah class on June 14th, we are able to extend GRN classes to the Georgia coast thanks to Kathryn Lapolla, an ACA Level 4 Coastal Kayak Instructor. She loves sharing her passion for kayaking with beginners and helping them build the skills to get on the water safely and enjoyably. She and her husband Fran enjoy sharing Georgia’s beautiful coast with others through their Savannah Coastal Ecotours business.

WHAT TO BRING AND HOW TO PREPARE

• We will start promptly, so please eat before you arrive. Bring lots of water to stay hydrated and feel free to bring snacks that fit in your life jacket.
• Every participant will be required to wear a US Coast Guard approved Type III life jacket anytime we are within 10 feet of the water or are out on the water. There will be no exceptions.
• DO NOT WEAR COTTON. Poly pro materials that are quick wicking are far more preferable. You will also need shoes that cover your toes, attach at the ankles and give you good traction on rocky river beds. In a pinch, old tennis shoes work well.
• We will meet for approximately an hour on land before moving to the water. Please bring a camp chair for your comfort. You will put it back in your car before we go on the water.
• Every participant will need a kayak, paddle and life jacket. Rentals from GRN are available during registration for an additional $33.
• You should also bring sunscreen, bug spray and a strap for your glasses.
• Other gear that will come in handy if you have it handy: whistle for your life jacket, paddle float, sea kayaker’s tow rope, tubular webbing, floatation bags/beach balls (for sit inside kayaks), bilge pump, rain jacket (just in case), dry box or dry bag for your valuables.

SUPPORTING GEORGIA RIVERS

Your class fees support Georgia Rivers advocacy work for the Right to Float Georgia Rivers, to Save the Okefenokee, and other initiatives in support of the Georgia Water Coalition, the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition, Georgia Water Trails and the Georgia River Guide free mobile app, and the Okefenokee Protection Alliance.

Georgia Rivers is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1998 to serve as the voice of Georgia’s rivers. We work to empower everyone to connect with, and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers in Georgia.