Canoeing Kayaking-Ness Lake

Canoeing Games
-Ball Tag
-360 competitions
-figure 8 races
-switch races
-canoe sink
This Lesson plan has been written for the intermediate age. Don’t dumb it down to much for the Jrs but realize that you will have to help them more with the physical tasks a bit more. Skip the Rescue day and replace it with some of the games listed above.

Day 1 Bible Lesson:
Jesus calms the storm
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27
Explain how Jesus is ruler over the land and sea and we should feel safe in his hands even when the boat is rocky!

-Introductions of yourself and the waterfront canoe area.
-Attendance
-split them into three groups and assign leaders to each group. Depending on numbers 2 groups may suffice
-group 1 and 2 go canoeing while group 3 uses the kayaks. Switch the next day etc.

Explain where the paddles and life jackets are found. Get one leader to stand at the inner door to check life jackets and then make sure they get the right size paddle. One group at a time.
-get life jacket first then go through and select a paddle
-life jackets adjustable under armpits
-needs to do up all the way
-when pulling the shoulders up they should not go above your ears
-anything that can do up should, extra buckles, zippers etc.
-keep the hanger on the rack
Explain how to find the correct paddle size for them (should reach from ground to armpit, no bigger)

Once each group has gone through the life jacket and paddle room they go off into their own area and go over technical terms of what they will be using that day.

Knowing Your Gear
-Life Jackets
-whistle for emergencies only
-bright coloured so that you can see someone in the water
-always stay done up

Paddle
Go over parts listed below-after you go through them all point to different parts and get the group to answer what part they are. Do this until they are comfortable saying every part.
-Keep blade off the ground
-hand on the top of the paddle goes palm down. The palm does not grab the shaft.



The bowman is like the motor, the sternman is the wheel. The bowman will usually just use the bow stroke while the stern man uses the pitch and J
stroke to steer.

At this point take your group to either the canoe docks or the swimming docks. Get everyone to sit on the docks cross legged so that can reach the water with their paddle. If you like another option you can just get them to stand in the water in a line. Teaching strokes is easier if you work with them before they get into a boat.
-Go infront of them so they can see you and give the proper technique.
-get them all to do one stroke at a time in unison so you can see their stroke.
-make corrections and give specific help to specific people as they need it.
-Once comfortable that everyone knows the first three strokes then move onto the next part of the lesson. Don’t assume they know them until you see it.
DAY ONE STROKES
Bow stroke
Pitch Stroke
Back Stroke
from the directions below…don’t give to much info to start with.



The most basic stroke is the bow stroke. The J stroke is the most important one. Therefore today’s lesson is truly the foundation on which everything else depends on.
Pitch Stroke: A cruising stroke used by the sternman. Remember to twist slightly away from the stern near the end of the stroke. This will keep the canoe in a straight course.
Bow Stroke: A stroke used by the bowman. When he is in the canoe alone, it is used for power and control. It provides balance and front-end weight in high wind or waves.
J-Stroke: A more exaggerated pitch stroke. It is used to turn the canoe toward the paddle side by forcing the stern in the opposite direction. It can also be used when paddling alone (in the stern end).
Draw-and-Push Stroke: A stroke used to pivot the canoe. The push stroke is merely the opposite of the draw stroke. Moves the craft sideways towards paddle sad. Maneuvering stroke used to bring craft alongside landing.
Sculling: A guide stroke used to steady a canoe in rapid waters or high waves. It is simply a squared-off figure eight.
Sweep Stroke: Used to turn or pivot the canoe.
Bow-and-Stern Rudder: Turn craft towards paddle side. Maneuvering stroke used at speed to quickly turn craft.
Silent Stroke: A forward paddle with the blade returning to the start of the stroke without being removed from the water. Used for silent running.
Backwater Stroke: Moves the craft backwards.


On day one ½ of the time will be work done on the land and docks so that they are better prepared when they get into a canoe/kayak. Keep reminding them that once they show that they can hear and do the things you are teaching that they will gain your trust for the next day.


Day one teaches Strokes and a tiny bit of terminology for the boats. Just enough to get in and out. Day two will go over the parts of the boat.

Getting into a canoe/kayak-
Get partner to take the canoe off of the rack with you, walk the canoe down the dock and place into the water. Sternman gets in first by putting his hands on the gunwhales then placing one foot at a time on the keel. Once he is seated the Bowman gets in the same way. You may launch from shore as long as the boat is perpendicular to the shore.

DO NOT
-drag boat on sand
-launch boat from shore at a 90 degree angle
Make sure that they help put the canoes away and return life jackets and paddles to appropriate areas.

Getting out of a canoe/kayak
-Parallel Park your boat by doing the draw stroke. Come at the docks on an angle so that you do not ram them with the bow of your boat. Bowman catches dock and waits until the sternman is holding on to the docks as well. Bowman places paddle on the bottom of the boat, hold gunwhales and take feet out one a at a time. Bowman holds middle of boat while the sternman gets out in the same way.

-stay away from the swimming area docks (avoiding and giving respect for motor boats)

One at a time get all three groups into the water and moving on your trip. One leader in a boat right away giving campers directions and getting them out of the way of the other boats that are launching. Another leader stays on the land and helps kids unload and get into boats. Once that entire group is in the water take them close to the shore into canoe cove then back.

For Juniors it is so important to keep them in their groups and to get them following a leader to a destination right away. When they sit in their boat in the canoe dock area waiting for every kid to get in it is really boring for the camper and frustrating for the leader. DIVIDE AND CONQUER

Bring them in one group at a time with a leader landing first and another trailing behind to help those who are slower. First leader on shore helps kids park, stabilize, then get their boat out of the water. Note that once the boats are out from skill A they can stay in the water until skill C to make your life a little easier. If it’s a nice day leave a few boats in the water for the cabin time group that is coming down.








Day 2 bible Lesson:

Review Yesterdays bible lesson about how Jesus calmed the storm and has the power over the land and the sea. Ask campers if they can remember any other stories about Jesus that involved water.
-Jonah and the whale
-Jesus calls the fishermen to bring up their nets
-Jesus walks on water

-Attendance
-Split campers into groups that they were in yesterday
-Get campers into life jackets and set up with paddles
-Teach different paddle parts and paddling techniques with their new paddle (they should be doing something different today)
-Review the parts of a paddle and the little they learned about the boats
Camper that can name all the parts gets his or her boat taken down by the leaders.


Once they show that they are proficient with their paddling take them near a boat and go over these parts and their use,




Bow-Front
Stern-Back
Port-left side facing forward
Starboard-Right side facing forward
Man-person paddling
Gunwhale-finishing edge on the top edge
Keel-Spine of the boat, gives it strength and helps keep it moving in a straight line.
Wind/Leeward-used more for sailing but useful when communicating with your partner when paddling with a wind.

Once you are certain that your group knows and is using the information get them into boats with the same technique that you used yesterday.

Take them to canoe cove or out onto the open water. Have them all face you. Once everyone is facing the you blow your whistle and have them to a 360. It becomes a race. Take a cheap or worn out ball with you to play some boat tag if you want to kill sometime.

Make sure that kids are properly storing canoes and kayaks and returning equipment to the waterfront lodge.

Day 3 Bible Lesson:

““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” – Psalm 92:14&15
Explain how God is our rescuer in times of trouble and how if we call to him and believe in his name he will save us from harm. Explain that we are also going to be doing some rescuing today in the canoes.

-Attendance
-Split campers into groups that they were in yesterday
-Get campers into life jackets and set up with paddles
-Review parts of the boat and some parts of the paddle
-Get a camper who knows to say all the parts of the boat and paddle. Take down their boat for them.

The following paddling skills with help with doing rescues. Look back and make sure that you teach the proper use and method for each one.
Sweep Stroke
Sculling
Draw Stroke

Stay close to the shore and docks
Practice rescues in the canoes and help the kids where needed
Make sure to tell the life guards that you are

Note that the following techniques explain rescuing for canoes but the basic idea is there for Kayaks as well. Do not do these rescues in open water, be near the shore or even better is to be just deeper than they can stand in the water.

Self-Rescues
-Swamped Canoe Entry
-there is not much you can do when you are alone and your canoe has swamped.
-Emphasize that they are to move slowly to prevent the canoe from rolling over. Once in, they should sit on the bottom and hand paddle. (Let them try to sit on the seats and use paddles to experience the instability)
-Paddle to shore or to nearest land so you can right yourself

Floating Canoe Entry:
An important point is that the canoe my float across the water faster than they can swim after it
-when trying to get back into a canoe that is afloat do not approach the side. The side is the easiest point to tip a boat.
-Go to the stern and use to seat to help yourself get in
-once you can grab the seat hook one leg over the end of the boat and try to roll into the canoe.
TO PRACTICE
-Have each camper enter the floating canoe without anyone in the canoe.
-Next, allow the canoeing pair to help each other into the canoe and hand paddle in (You might make it a race).

-Rescue of Others.
-Two Canoe Unswamp: Canoe over Canoe Rescue
Pair up the boats and let each of the pairs practice this maneuver. The upright canoe is in charge. They should direct where the wet canoers go (NOT ON THEIR BROADSIDE).
Wet swimmers help line up the swamped canoe so that it is 90 to the afloat canoe. Two swimmers hang off of the bow and stern of the afloat canoe to help stabilize. The two dry swimmers then turn the canoe upsidedown and start to bring it over their own canoe. The dry swimmers should be able to get the boat completely out of the water. The most common mistake is to forget to lock the other canoe under their gunwale in order to assist the wet canoers into their craft. Once locked the wet swimmers swim around and get in their boat from the bow and stern. High fives are a must when the job is completed.

-Tired Swimmer Assist:
-If he is on the surface, emphasize that they draw him to their bow or stern with the paddle. DON’T LET HIM TOUCH YOUR BROADSIDE. If you are in the water as their victim, tip them if you can!
-If he no longer is on the surface, you’ll have to go for him but don’t let the canoe go free. If alone, your choices are: anchor canoe, tie painter line to foot, or swamp canoe.


Make sure that they are helping to put stuff away.


Needs:

Let life guard know about plan for the day (rescuing)






Day 4 Bible Lesson:

Review yesterdays bible lesson about how God is our rescuer.

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
Explain how 2 are stronger than one. Use this passage to explain unity and working together. This will help them on their treasure hunt.

-Attendance
-Split campers into groups that they were in yesterday
-Get campers into life jackets and set up with paddles
-Teach different paddle parts and paddling techniques with their new paddle (they should be doing something different today)
-Review the parts of a paddle and the little they learned about the boats

You have some options today. You can create a race where they pair up with another boat and have to complete some tasks
To point and back
Switch bowman and sternman
T rescue
Back to docks

If the wind is up take them on a trip to pirate island. They can stay close to the shore the whole way there and a very cool looking area once you to it. An island to explore.



Explain to them that they will be going on a treasure hunt on the Island. When they get to the Island they will have to find their list of what to find and find the things on it. The first one to find all of their items and get back to canoe cove wins!!!!!! (prize of free tuck maybe) Use items that they would find outside such as pinecones, tree beards, (Do not use any living vegetation like flowers or plants) You could go ahead and plant items too (suckers and candy?)


Make sure that all equipment is returned to the proper areas and those canoes and Kayaks are put away properly.