Canoe & Kayak

 
The sheltered and clean lake at Mepal is an ideal place to learn to Canoe or Kayak. Canoes are the larger (often doubles) open boats propelled by a single bladed paddle; Kayaks are (usually) single seat boats using a double bladed paddle. Kayaking is enormous fun, but inevitably involves getting wet, whilst canoeing is a graceful art, enabling the paddler to move silently and skilfully across the water, leaving not a trace of their passage. Canoes are particularly suited to exploring our local river systems; we'll be glad to assist with routes and programmes. Anyone can canoe, but if you know how, it is so much more efficient, enjoyable-and impressive!!
The Centre is able to offer a wide range of Canoe and Kayak courses for both young people and adults.  Paddlepower courses are designed specifically for young people.  Under 14s should take the Paddlepower route and 16+ should follow the adult programme........14 -15 year olds can go either route!

Youth Courses

Youth courses cover both canoe and kayak skills - use of a single bladed or double bladed paddle. 
Paddlepower Passport  is an introduction to basic Canoe &  kayak skills equivalent to the old 'one star' award.
Paddlepower Discover  is a two day programme for improvers equivalent to the old 'two star' award. Both Paddlesport awards are gained by completing a number of  modules  which are progressively signed of by the course tutor. There is a lot to do in the Discover award and it may take longer than the two days of the training programme to develop paddling skills to the level of the award.  We'll sign off as much as we can during the course.... our Saturday morning Canoe Club is the perfect opportunity to polish up the skills and complete the award.

Adult Courses

Introduction to Canoesport  Kayak and/or Canoe basics. You can work in either or both craft on this day course to gain a basic introduction to 'canoeing'   If you have no wish to gain a '2*' award but simply want to learn the basics of open canoe paddling, then  this is also the course for you!
Two Star Canoesport  is a two day course which covers all the essential basic skills in both canoes and kayaks and leads to the two star award. As with the youth Discover  course, there is a lot to do and you may need more practice before going for a two star  assessment.  (A 1 day programme arranged on demand)
Both the Two Star Canoesport award and the Paddlepower Discover award are acceptable as pre-requisites for Level One BCU/UKCC Coach training courses.
Lazy Days Canoe If you have got an idea of the basics of canoeing, can go in a straight line, would like to get more from your canoeing and don't want to get into a kayak at all, then this is the course for you. We will concentrate on the essential skills of effortless forward paddling to get you up to a standard to be able to enjoy our Open Canoe 3* essential skills programme which will take you a stage further

THREE STAR is a big step onwards and specialises in either canoe or kayak and flatwater or whitewater awards. At Mepal in 2010 we are offering:
Kayak essential (flatwater) 3* Skills   (1 day)  After this course you will be able to participate in either the Touring or Whitewater training and assessment  You should hold a Two Star award or be comfortably at that standard before attending.
 Canoe essential (flatwater) 3* skills   (1 day) After this course you will be able to participate in either the Touring or Whitewater training and assessment or participate in the Open Canoe polished skills day. You should hold a Two Star award or be comfortably at that standard before attending.
Three star Touring training and assessment part 2   (1 day) Training and assessment during a day trip on a river with ‘green’ flow. (usually R.Trent, or Little Ouse) To complete the assessment  you must be able to show evidence of having completed at least 3 different flatwater journeys and have attended an essential skills day (kayak or canoe) as above.
Three star Whitewater Kayak training and assessment part 2.  (1 day) Training and assessment during a day trip on grade 2 white water (usually Trent or Derwent) You must have attended the Kayak  three star essential skills course above.
Three star Whitewater Canoe training and assessment part 2.  (1 day) Training and assessment during a day trip on grade 2 white water (usually Trent or Derwent) You must have attended the Canoe  three star essential skills course above.

FOUR STAR Whitewater Canoe or Kayak river Leader Courses..

Open Canoe Polished Performance / Beyond the paddle  (1 day) Advanced stylish paddling, poling, lining, portage and sailing. This is a day for those who just want to revel in the great variety of skills available to the open canoeist moving effortlessly up and downstream, along the shoreline and through the woods.  Ideally you should attend the Canoe essential  3* skills course first or be very familiar with the J stroke, pivot turns,  turns on the move (bow cut and X bow cut) cross-deck backwater strokes. 

COACH EDUCATION COURSES

Coach Level 1 Course  (4 days) A four day programme ( two weekends) course leading to the BCU/UKCC Level 1 coach award.  Pre-requisites for this are a current First Aid certificate, Foundation Safety and Rescue Course (or Canoe Safety Test) and a ‘new’ two star award.  Assessment forms part of the four day programme.
Coach Level 2 Course  (4 +1 days) A four day programme (usually two weekends) course leading to BCU/UKCC Level 2 coach training.   Pre-requisites for this are a current First Aid certificate, Foundation Safety and Rescue Course (or Canoe Safety Test) a ‘new’ two star award and a three star (touring or whitewater)  The assessment is  separate and follows a period of mentored coaching practice and  the completion of one or more supporting units (see the BCU website for full details)
BCU/UKCC Level 2 coach Transfer Module A two day intensive programme to enable a current level 2 kayak or canoe coach to transfer to the new UKCC scheme.
Old Level 2 Kayak or Canoe assessments These are being phased out in 2010, but there are still a few Trainee level 2 coaches who need to complete the old style assessment. If that's you, then please email to arrange an assessment. (There is a kayak assessment running on Sunday 14th March 2010.... don't miss it!
Aquatic First Aid  (1 day) Pragmatic First Aid biased towards watersports. A pre-requisite for all the BCU coaching awards.
Foundation Safety and Rescue Training  (1 day) A comprehensive training programme for sheltered water rescue and recovery which replaces the Canoe Safety test and which covers a wide range of land, and boat based rescues of swimmers and paddlers in and from a  wide range of canoecraft. This is a pre-requisite for the coaching awards but a valuable day for anyone who wants to be confident that they can get themselves (or a companion) out of trouble on the water.

ACER funding.
If you are applying to ACER or any other government body for funding for any courses then please add £20 / course to the estimated cost to ACER as there is an inordinate amount of paperwork for us to complete to obtain your refund of fees. (You don't pay us the added £20 - we will claim it back from ACER and then refund your fees). However, you must book the course online and pay the full course fee on booking. We have had to work it this way because we have had so much difficullty in getting the money back from the funding body - months after the completion of the course.