Canoeing Class at Lakewood

Come learn a new skill or refine your current skills, all while working up a sweat! Less effort and greater control makes canoeing fun, whether paddling recreationally, canoe camping (that is paddling with loaded boats), or racing. In this class we will practice efficient forward canoe strokes, effective steering maneuvers, and canoeing partnership. The class will utilize brief demonstrations and discussions and a variety of drills and will build several skills on the water. Canoeing provides low-impact exercise that emphasizes core strength and balance and can be enjoyed at any speed.

Saturdays: 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, and 10/17 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There is no prior experience needed to take this class.

Example Class Lesson:

• Paddling positions — bow and stern, control and steering; timing, teamwork, and synchronizing paddle strokes. (5 to 10 minutes) 
• Safety — swimmers, swimmer rescue, and boat rescue. (5 minutes) 
• Steering — rudder (stern), switching sides: shore practice. (5 minutes) 
• Practice — pulling the boat to the paddles for a forward stroke. (15 minutes) 
• Drill — catch drill. (5 minutes) 
• Practice — forward stroke with attention to the catch and varying the length of the strokes. (10 minutes) 
• Drill — switching for a straight line result. Try 3 to 10 strokes per side. (10 minutes)