Basics of River Kayaking
Spend a couple of days with ACA (American Canoe Association) certified instructors from the Bluff City Canoe Club learning everything you need to know to get started kayaking safely!
This is a 2 day class. The flat-water portion of class is Saturday 8/10 from 9:00-2:00 at the Hyde Lake boat launch located inside Shelby Farms Park.
The moving water part of the class will be on Sunday 8/11 on the Wolf River. We will put in at the Rossville Access Point and take out at the Piperton Access point. This is a very easy and scenic section of the river.
More information on the Wolf River access points will be provided on the Saturday of the flat water class.
What to Bring:
- Your Kayak and Paddle
- Your life jacket (you will not be allowed to participate without a life jacket)
- Close-toed shoes that can get wet
- Clothing that can get wet
- Towel and change of clothes
- Lunch, snacks and plenty of water
- Sunscreen and a hat highly recommended
Other Details
This class is for Bluff City Canoe Club members. If you are not a member, we would love to have you join. Membership is just $30 for the year and includes your entire family. You can join here -->
Member Signup / Information
The cost is $20/person and includes "The Essentials of River Kayaking" instruction guide published by the American Canoe Association.
If you are not a member of the ACA, there is an additional $5 charge to cover insurance for the class.
You will be required to fill out and turn in this waiver, along with the $5 fee at the beginning of the class:
2019 Adult Waiver
2019 Minor Waiver
Topics Include:
- How to transport your kayak safely
- How to pickup and carry your kayak safely
- Basic Equipment needed to get started plus a few "nice to haves"
- Proper paddling clothing
- Basic Terminology
- Getting in and out of your kayak the right way
- Holding the paddle
- Basic Strokes
- Forward Stroke (How to paddle in a straight line)
- Backward Stroke
- Turning Strokes
- Sculling strokes
- Dealing with flipping over
- Safety on moving water
- Eddy Turns
- Ferrying