LEAD 2016 OUT 3141 Add Canoeing to Your Program January 28, 2017 Ed Isely ekisely@comcast.net 925 286 9363 1
Topics Define a canoeing program Review G2SS requirements What is a canoe? Training Equipment & logistics Where to go Resources Path of the Paddle Award 2
What is a Canoeing Program? A fully developed program has the capability and interest to execute several outings each year Day events Extended outings 50 miler Northern Tier Expedition It is not necessary to own all your own gear Plan on starting out with borrowed or rented gear As program evolves develop an equipment acquisition plan 3
Guide to Safe Scouting Canoeing is restricted to boy scouts, older scouts, varsity scouts, and venturers Restricted to BSA swimmers unless there is a skilled adult BSA swimmer in the canoe with the unqualified person (less than BSA swimmer) Persons other than BSA swimmers are also restricted to craft where risk of capsizing is minimal and calm water Must follow Safety Afloat guidelines 4
What is a canoe? A canoe is a vessel designed to be propelled by human energy using a single bladed paddle Usually symmetrical from bow to stern (front to back) Excludes stand up paddle boards Canoes may also be rigged for sailing or rowing 5
What is a canoe? This is a classic birch bark canoe. Note symmetry and open hull 6
What is a canoe? These are Olympic sprint canoes. Note open cockpit, partially covered hull, single blade paddle being used. Note almost vertical stem (end). 7
What is a canoe? A kayak uses a double bladed paddle Hull is covered May be single, tandem or more paddlers A row boat uses oars as levers attached to the vessel or passing through an opening that acts as a fulcrum One can also rig canoes to use oars 8
Training for Canoeing Primary youth training comes through canoeing merit badge Adult training in this council is offered through the High Adventure Team and is called Canoeing Awareness Youth aged 16 and up may also participate Only pre requisite is that participants must qualify as a BSA swimmer There is also a separate BSA syllabus on Paddlecraft Safety that is strictly class room training with no skills training Adults on the tour permit must have a current certificate for Safety Afloat (training completed within 2 years) 9
Equipment You will need Canoes Paddles PFDs A trailer to transport the equipment A place to store it all
Equipment It is possible to build a flotilla of canoes off of Craig s list One will want to purchase PFDs new, not used Get the cheapest plastic paddles You may be forced to buy a trailer new from a manufacturer You will need to figure out where to store all this and have space to make repairs from time to time
Equipment To discuss all the considerations in purchasing canoes will take more time than we have A few key tips What types of events do you plan to execute? Solo or tandem? Larger is more stable and more appropriate for serious expeditions Avoid fiberglass (Coleman cheapo canoes are no longer manufactured) If you acquire any kind of plastic or kevlar canoe, you will need shaded storage Take Canoeing Awareness to learn more
Equipment If you are going to rent canoes you need to be very particular and question your outfitter closely about what kind of equipment they will provide
Logistics Planning and executing a serious canoe expedition is much more complicated and expensive than backpacking Rental gear can be expensive Unless you return to your starting point you will have to plan for shuttling your trailer and vehicles to your take out point before launching This is where a parent who is not going on the expedition can be very helpful
Where to Go? California has limited good paddling waters for more than just day trips Numerous venues for day trips on mountain lakes, ocean inlets, and coastal rivers Venues for multi day outing are limited Most rivers are highly seasonal with relatively short paddling seasons Most rivers have relatively steep gradients resulting in stronger currents and contributing to shorter seasons
Water Availability 16
Seasonality 17
Where to Go for Day Trips Lake Del Valle rentals available Elkhorn Slough rental kayaks available at Moss Landing Tomales Bay rental kayaks available Gualala River limited canoes available Lake Natoma on main stem of American River below Folsom Dam two outfitters offer rentals Russian River Healdsburg Rivers Edge outfitter offers numerous day trips which can be combined into at least a two day event Forestville Burke s Canoes offers ten mile run to Guerneville especially good for novice paddlers
Where to Go for Extended Outings Within a Day s Drove Navarro River approximately 25 miles of suitable water with campsites, very restricted season Eel River upstream numerous rapids, probably not good for novice paddlers Russian River it is feasible to do a 50 miler on this river Middle Klamath Canoe West offers equipment, training, and transportation Sacramento River Good venue for 50 milers downstream between Redding and Big Chico Creek Biggest issue is lack of camping spots Colorado River below Hoover Dam This is actually a lake, you can do a fifty miler, outfitters available in Boulder City Good for trip over spring break
Technical Resources Canoeing merit badge pamphlet BSA Fieldbook (5 th edition), Chapter 20 Chapter 17 in 4 th edition Canoe Camping Designed for Venture Crews and Varsity Teams, 1997 revision May be out of print Canoe manufacturer websites 20
Where to Go - Resources Author Title Comment Coale, John Paddling the California Highlands Dwyer, Ann Ann Dwyer s Easy Waters of California May be out of print Pike, Charlie Paddling Northern California (2001 edition) More recent edition likely available Rucker, Neil Canoer s Guide to the Wilde and Scenic Middle Klamath River (2008 edition) Stienstra, Tom California Recreational Lakes and Rivers (2002 edition) More recent edition likely available Van der Ven, William Up the Lake With a Paddle, Volume One Good source for day trips Van der Ven, William Up the Lake With a Paddle, Volume Two Good source for day trips Van der Ven, William Up the Lake With a Paddle, Volume Three Good source for day trips 21
Training All adults should certify for Safety Afloat Can be done online Sign up for Canoeing Awareness now Formerly paddlesports Syllabus unchanged If you take Canoeing Awareness, also take Paddlecraft Safety 22
Path of the Paddle Award Mount Diablo Silverado Council has created a high adventure award for paddling (either canoe or kayak) Base patch Strips for specific activities Visit MDSC website for more information 23
Russian River June 2005 24
Sacramento River June 2011 25
Sacramento River June 2011 26
Sacramento River August 2013 27
Sacramento River June 2015 28
Sacramento River June 2015 29