Post by jared on Oct 28, 2017 13:28:07 GMT
Hello,
I was very lucky to attend high school in the Trillium Lakelands board where I had the even greater fortune to encounter a teacher who ran an Outers Club and took us on an annual trip to Palmer Rapids. This is where I started paddling in moving water and where I now take my own children multiple times each year. My experiences at Palmers led me to Outward Bound, whitewater kayaking, Lakehead University, raft guiding on the Ottawa, and, ultimately, a career in education. I now teach in the Durham District School Board where all moving water activities are forbidden. It saddens me deeply that I cannot offer my own students the same experiences that had such a positive impact on my own life as a young person. As paddling educators and educators who paddle, we're currently investigating means of attracting greater numbers of youth to paddling. I know that moving water canoeing can be taught safely to high school students and I firmly believe that moving water could be a catalyst to attract more teens to our sport.
Which way do you lean (tilt?) on this issue? Is moving water too risky for high school paddling programs or does the excitement, challenge and perceived risk of paddling moving water attract even more young people to paddling?
Cheers,
Jared
I was very lucky to attend high school in the Trillium Lakelands board where I had the even greater fortune to encounter a teacher who ran an Outers Club and took us on an annual trip to Palmer Rapids. This is where I started paddling in moving water and where I now take my own children multiple times each year. My experiences at Palmers led me to Outward Bound, whitewater kayaking, Lakehead University, raft guiding on the Ottawa, and, ultimately, a career in education. I now teach in the Durham District School Board where all moving water activities are forbidden. It saddens me deeply that I cannot offer my own students the same experiences that had such a positive impact on my own life as a young person. As paddling educators and educators who paddle, we're currently investigating means of attracting greater numbers of youth to paddling. I know that moving water canoeing can be taught safely to high school students and I firmly believe that moving water could be a catalyst to attract more teens to our sport.
Which way do you lean (tilt?) on this issue? Is moving water too risky for high school paddling programs or does the excitement, challenge and perceived risk of paddling moving water attract even more young people to paddling?
Cheers,
Jared