| Skill Builders Checklist |
- In the presence of an ACE certified instructor, demonstrate the ability to go under water and back up to the surface of the water, confidently and at your comfort level in the water while wearing a PFD.
- Learn and demonstrate to instructor that you can handle a canoe or kayak. Perform the following:
- Balance your craft and get in it safely.
- Start, stop, dock, and beach your craft.
- Go straight for 50 yards.
- Go backwards for 50 yards.
- Go sideways for 50 yards.
- Make a left turn, a right turn, and a 360-degree turn.
- Lift your craft and safely portage.
- Demonstrate with proficiency for your instructor the following strokes:
- Sweep stroke
- Feather Stroke
- Reach and pull
- Rudder
- Forward paddle
- Double-blade paddle
- Single person paddling. If tandem, double person paddling·
- Help plan and take part in at least one day canoe/kayak trip.
- Learn to “read” the water conditions and know the international scale of difficulty
(Class I-VI).
- Understand the importance of planning a safe trip; include in your plan time for reading the river, checking the weather, and assessing whether or not you will portage your craft at any point on the river.
|
| Technology |
| Interview a sales person at ACE outfitters store about the materials used to construct today’s canoes, kayaks, water clothing, and supplies. Find out why these materials continue to change and where this technology is going in the near future. Report back to your troop or group. |
| Service Project Suggestions |
| Participate in a river cleanup. For more information, check out www.nationalrivercleanup.org |
| Career Exploration |
| Find out the necessary skills and age certification requirements for a job as a river guide by interviewing an ACE river guide or instructor. |
| Additional Resources |
Scale of River Difficulty at www.americanwhitewater.org
www.gorp.away.com |