FW Canoe Skills Coaching: works a treat!
Thanks to volunteer extraordinaire, Mark S, for coming up with the idea of offering evening informal tandem or solo canoeing skills coaching for any level paddler (intro to advanced). He has done one session earlier this summer.and will be offering a solo evening session July 30th check the calendar for more info!
Building on Mark's idea, we offered Sat/Sun coaching sessions July 18 and 19 9:30 AM- 3:30 PM focusing just on paddling skills. (Our Paddle Canada national certification courses have usually been 2 days: 8 hrs each plus a 2 hour pool session for water safety and canoe rescues. They are great courses, but Covid19 required a change of plans!) Our trial run was at Hartwell Locks: Saturday Tandem and Sunday Solo with a max of 6 participants making for manageable covid19 distancing and easy coaching. Both days, we paddled until lunch time. After some much-appreciated rest in the shade we were back on water for a little while longer until we all wisely and happily declared we were ‘sufficed’ with the sun/heat. Sunday afternoon, thunderstorms were threatening so we wisely called it a day.
Here are the strokes we learned/reviewed (some intro and some intermediate level technique) everyone 'got' them. Nice work all !
Read more: RACCC Flatwater Canoeing Training a new short/sweet format - It worked a treat!
Joining the Canoe Club for 2020
The Canoe Club will be reopening on June 27. Click here for more information. Note that your profile on the membership list now shows your Membership Expiry Date. You can rejoin the club by filling out a form on the RA Centre website, click here. Jill of the RA, or her delegate, will call you within one to two days to arrange for you to join or rejoin the club. Also, there is a new waiver that must be completed online at www.racentre.com/raccc-waiver-adult (adults) or www.racentre.com/raccc-waiver-minor (under 18). For additional information on joining the canoe club, click here.
2020 Discounts for RACCC Members
A benefit of being a member of the RACCC is that some retailers and course providers give discounts to club members.
Also, the RA has a number of community partners that represent a wide range of sectors offering benefits to RA members. Click here for more information.
Information on Canoe Club - 2020
Got questions on how the club operates? Check out the following sources of information.
COVID-19 Protocols for the RACCC
2020 Discounts for RACCC Members
Club Handbook - Access Members Only
How Not To Get Email From The RACCC Website
How to Open/Close New First Aid Kits
Club Guidelines - Access Members Only
Club Bylaws - Access Members Only
Stevens Creek Day Trip July 2020
On Sunday, July 12th, five club members met at 8:30 am at the boathouse to drive to Kars, about a 35-minute drive south of Ottawa. The trip had originally been planned for Saturday but was rescheduled due to the poor weather forecast. Sunday was mostly overcast, and it was quite windy, and therefore cooler than expected, but we were fortunate that there was no rain, and the sun came out for the last few kilometers of paddling. We put in – two tandem canoes and a kayak – at Kars Recreation Area boat launch on Stevens Creek. We paddled approximately 3.5 km up Stevens Creek, as far as we could get before being blocked by thick plants and branches, trying to identify trees and water plants along the way. That part of the river flows mostly through farmland.
Crotch Lake Day Trip July 2020
During the early morning of Monday, July 6th, 2020, four club members met in Ottawa to drive to Crotch Lake, North Frontenac. Highway 417 was expected to be open but was actually still closed, so that delayed us a bit. We stopped briefly at Silver Lake picnic area, and arrived at Tumblehome Lodge on Crotch Lake about 10 am. The drive was just over 1.5 hours. We paid $10 per vehicle to park. The new owners of Tumblehome Lodge asked advice about what kind of canoes and kayaks to purchase for rentals. They were happy to welcome paddlers to the area.
After a safety briefing we paddled along the western shore and east to Stormy Point. The wind was very low and we were expecting a hot, sunny day. Near the
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FW, Camping and Sea Kayak Training Update for 2020
Hello Everyone,
As we are all aware this year has not been anywhere near a normal year for anyone and as such it has not been a normal year for RACCC training offerings.
After much discussion and risk assessments the RACCC training for this year will be offered in a limited way at this time. Changes are as follows:
Flatwater training - Cancelled. This will be reevaluated in Aug for maybe some courses in Fall 2021
Solo or independent coaching is possible but will be very limited and if the instructor(s) are comfortable taking it on. Email Training coordinator with questions.
Camping / Tripping - modified program is available - Contact the training coordinator if you are interested in this training / certifications, modification will depend on level and individuals. Program can partly be delivered with webinars and conference calls.
Sea kayak Training - Level 1 and Basic courses are available this year. Recommend people sign up with a partner in their social bubble. Courses will depend on instructor availability, Contact Training Coordinator with number of people and level looking to take. Instructor is available during the week and few weekends this summer so indicate if you are looking at weekend or week day training. Course will be run if 4 or more people request it with a max number on course not to exceed 6 plus instructor. COVID protocols will be the clubs and use the Best Practice for Sea Kayak document.
Coaching and clinics -- These will be up to individual instructors if they wish to offer anything this year.
If anyone would like a clinic or course or subject covered via webinar please let the Training coordinator know and the club can look at the possibility of hosting an online event.
Thank you and Stay safe.
Dan Bezaire
RACCC Training Coordinator.
902 441 9199
Rideau River (near Rideau River Provincial Park) and Kemptville Creek Day Trip Report
On Thursday, June 18th five club paddlers went on an exploratory trip to the Rideau River near Rideau River Provincial Park. This was a private trip because the club is not yet open. No club equipment was used. The RA Canoe Camping Club’s family program uses campsites at the Rideau River Provincial Park and we wanted to get a better idea of what could be seen in this area. The park was open for day visits only (no camping) and would charge our group $80+ to drive-in for the day. We chose to put our boats in at the free Reeve Craig public boat launch nearby on Greenline Road instead. It had a suitable landing area and plenty of room for parking. We had three solo kayaks and one tandem canoe.
Crotch Lake Day Trip June 2020
On June 14th seven paddlers headed to Crotch Lake, North Frontenac for a day trip. It was a “private together apart” trip because the club is still closed. No club equipment was used. We are eagerly expecting the club to open soon! Stay tuned for details.
Most of us had not been to Crotch Lake before and we wanted to explore the lake and locate some good campsites for possible future trips. We left Ottawa at 7:40 am and drove an hour and 45 minutes southwest along highway 7. We took a peek at Silver Lake en route. We had all obtained our road access permits online from www.northfrontenacparklands.com before heading out. We parked at the public boat launch near the south end of the lake. The lot was nearly full! We were paddling east and north by 10 am. Our group consisted of three tandem canoes and one solo kayak. It was a beautiful cool day with low wind. We followed the eastern shoreline along the southern half of the lake exploring potential campsites as we went. The campsites looked excellent and many were occupied. We saw a great blue heron and two loons. We stopped for lunch at a rocky island near campsite 35.
BRAVO! KUDOS! THANKS MARK!
The Flatwater Instructor Team presented this special solo paddle to Mark today, June 3 2020. All to say..... a GREAT BIG THANKS to Mark for his many years of volunteering with the RACCC!
Since joining the club in 1990, Mark has been generous with his time, governance and leadership wisdom, canoeing instruction and trip leading expertise for both flatwater and whitewater programs.
He's been organizer extraordinaire for club events like the annual OPEN HOUSE, AGMs, our winter seminar series as well as his annual Petawawa River trip for our newly minted Whitewater Padders!
Mark has been generously teaching canoeing with the club for a long time (so long... we don't remember when he started...) : flatwater solo and tandem for beginners to advanced for our courses and evening skills coaching sessions and past family and solo camping weekends! He is always there to help happily!
Always a fine job done with paddlers leaving with more skills and knowledge.
Barron Canyon Day Trip June 2020
On June 1st some Ontario Provincial Parks opened backcountry camping. To celebrate, three club members headed to Algonquin Park for a "private together apart" day trip where no club equipment was used (we do not yet have access to the club boat house). Algonquin Park staff were still figuring out how to register people during COVID_19 so the Sand Lake Gate building remained officially closed, with a "self-serve" kiosk functioning. Staff present were able to tell us that the gate into Grand Lake at Achray, our original destination, had been opened and that the area is now accessible. Due to expected high westerly winds we changed our trip to see the Barron Canyon instead.
Club Policy on Intoxicants
As the paddling season is under way and the club is getting ready to open up, it is a good idea to review the club policy on intoxicants (drugs and alcohol).
In short, people are not allowed to consume intoxicants within 8 hours of driving a car or engaging in paddling activities.
The full policy as well as the club’s governance documents are available on our website at https://www.raccc.ca/resources/club-administration/constitutionregulations