Kids' Summer Kayak Day Camp
Since 1998, White Water Learning Center of Georgia introduced more kids to the sport of whitewater kayaking than any other instructional program in Georgia. The focus of our kids program is our summer day camp for children aged 9 to 14. We also provide instructional services to residential camps and youth groups such as scout troops.
The Program
The goal of our summer day camp program is to provide an enjoyable and challenging experience for kids in a natural environment. We emphasize teaching proper paddling technique and have developed simplified instructional methods to assure success. Whitewater kayaking is a skill that requires balance and coordination more than strength and is an activity that can be mastered by most kids who are in reasonably good physical shape. However, many of the techniques involved in the sport are counter-intuitive and require working with an experienced instructor. WWLC instructors have many years of whitewater teaching experience and many are involved with kids as school teachers and scout leaders. Each session is led by an American Canoe Association-certified whitewater kayak instructor.
The format for the five fun-filled days is to spend the first two days at Allatoona Lake and the last three days on scenic Class I and II north Georgia Rivers. If drought conditions persist into the summer and no suitable free-flowing rivers in Georgia are runnable, we will go to the Metro Chattahoochee on Wednesday, the Tuckaseegee in North Carolina on Thursday and the Hiwassee in Tennessee Rivers on Friday. These rivers are dam-controlled and are expected to have recreational water releases on those days.
The first thing we do at the lake is outfit each camper with the proper-sized gear. Kayaks are not "one-size-fits-all" pieces of equipment. We have several models of small volume kayaks for children and youths in the 50 to 125 pound weight range, along with youth-sized paddles, life vests and helmets. This is top quality equipment from manufacturers such as Perception, Dagger, Werner and Lotus. We also have adult-sized gear for big kids.
On the lake, campers become comfortable with their kayaks in the water and learn to get out properly when they turn over. We intersperse teaching paddling technique with playing games and take frequent breaks. On the first river day, we emphasize basic boat control-- going straight, avoiding obstacles, stopping by turning into eddies, etc. By Friday, the kids will have learned all the basic skills and we make the last day a "fun run" with a minimum of drills.
We introduce river safety and related topics at "teachable moments" during the week, rather than through formal lectures. All instructors hold current First Aid and CPR certifications and most have had specific training in river rescue techniques. We believe that individual attention and small groups are important to a quality learning experience and we stay within American Canoe Association guidelines for maximum student-to-instructor ratios
Parents
may choose to drop their children off at the teaching site each day. We also
provide free van pooling from our headquarters location near Lenox Square,
leaving at 7:15 am and from a designated point north of I-285, leaving at
7:45 am. The perimeter location is the McDonald's restaurant at Windy Hill Road
and I-75 on Monday and Tuesday and either there, the REI parking lot off Ga. 400 at exit 5
or the Indian Trail MARTA Park/Ride lot off I-85 at exit 101 on other days,
depending on our destination. Further out pick-up and drop-off points en
route to the day’s teaching venue can also be arranged. Afternoon pick-up
times are 4:00 pm on lake days and 4:30 pm on river days at the perimeter
locations and 30 minutes later at headquarters.
2008 Sessions Dates
June 9 - 13 June 23 - 27 July 7 - 11 July 21 - 25
We have also scheduled an advanced session for June 2-6. Kids who have demonstrated proficiency in a regular camp session and other accomplished youth kayakers up to age 16 with verifiable class II whitewater kayaking experience are eligible to attend. Please contact us for further information.
Cost
The cost of a five-day session is $400 per child. This includes all required kayak equipment: boat, paddle, helmet, personal floatation device (PFD), spray skirt, paddling jacket and nose clips. (A complete checklist of suitable clothing and personal items will be sent to parents with a confirmation of registration.) It does not include any meals. Parents should pack a lunch, snacks and a beverage each day.
After Camp, then What?
After attending camp, kayakers will be qualified to go on our biweekly one-day guided trips on class II rivers. These trips are usually led by an American Canoe Association-certified WWLC kayak instructor. The cost is $45 ($40 if you register 5 days ahead.) Equipment rental is $25, $15 off our normal daily rate. Transportation is not included but car-pooling can often be arranged. We can also provide information on family-oriented paddling clubs in the Atlanta area and on organizations involved with the competitive aspects of kayaking that have youth programs.
Participant Requirements and Behavioral Expectations
The appropriate age range for our kayak day camp is 9 to 14. (Mature, athletic kids 13 and older are also welcome in our weekend courses.) Campers should be emotionally stable, in reasonably good physical condition, able to swim and comfortable being upside down under water. Participants must have written parental consent and sign a waiver of liability.
Campers are expected to behave and respond positively to instructors’ directions. Physical aggression, teasing, harassment, or conduct that poses a risk to their own or others’ safety will not be tolerated. Serious or repeated offenses will result in expulsion from the program, without refund. Disruptive behavior while in moving vehicles is considered a very serious safety threat.
Registration Information
and Payment PoliciesThe cost of camp is $400 per child. Space is limited, so an early registration will help assure your child a place on your preferred dates. Feel free to call to check space availability. We require a $100 per child deposit at the time of registration, with the balance due 10 days before the scheduled beginning date of the course. Payments are refundable up to 10 days before the camp start date. If you register within 10 days of the start date, full payment is required. Please indicate a second choice of dates to help us if your first choice is oversubscribed or undersubscribed. If the registration minimum is not met 10 days before the camp start date, you will be notified and asked to choose among your options.
To make a reservation, please print the Registration form below, fill it out completely and mail it with payment to White Water Learning Center of Georgia, 3437 Rockhaven Cir. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324. If you are paying with a major credit or debit card, you can fax the registration form to 404-231-4749. For further information or to register by phone with a credit card payment, call Bruce Williams at White Water Learning Center of Georgia, Inc. at (404) 231-1199 (day or evening).
Cancellations/Refunds
A full refund will be given for cancellations made 10 days or more before the camp start date. Transfer requests made at least 10 days before the start date will be accepted. Those received after that will be accepted only if the child's place can be filled from a waiting list. A pro-rated refund will be given if we are forced to cancel a particular day's activities before we leave in the morning. No partial refund will be given if a child withdraws or misses days for any reason or is expelled for misbehavior. If a child refuses to participate in required training exercises, including practicing "wet exits," his/her participation will be terminated and no refund will be given.
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Registration Form
If you are mailing or faxing your registration, please print this page and fill in the information.
If lines wrap or are cut off when printing, set printer margins to 0 and/or reduce font size .
(Hint: To change the font size, hold the CTRL key down and move the scroll wheel on your mouse.)
Name ________________________________
Age ______ Sex______ Height______ Weight ______ Shoe Size______ T-Shirt Size ______
Parents' Names _____________________________________________________
Address _________________________________________ City ___________________ State ___ Zip ________
Home Phone ( ) _______________ Day/Work Phone ( ) ________________ Cell Phone ( ) _________________
E-mail address(es) ______________________________________________________________________________
Please describe your child's previous paddling experience, if any. ___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Session Dates: (1st choice) ____________________________ (2nd choice) ________________________________
Enclosed is my check for $ ________
Please charge $ ______ to my VISA ______ MC ______ AMEX ______ Discover ______ card.
Card # _________________________________ Expiration date ___/ ___ Name on Card _____________________
CVVC Code : ________ May we charge any balance due to your account on the due date? ______
Signature _______________________________________ Date ________
How did you find out about WWLC? Ad in _______________ Flyer at ____________________
Word-of-mouth from __________________ WWLC web site _____ found using: (a) search engine ______________
or (b) link from another site _________________ Other source _______________
