Introduction to Sea Kayaking
Cornell Outdoor Education
Phillips Outdoor Program Center
B01 Bartels Hall, Campus Road
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-6183
Program Coordinator:
Sarah Myers (607)255-3802
Class Schedule: refer to https://coe.cornell.edu/physical-education-courses
Class Description: Learn the basics to get you started with sea kayaking out on the lake. This class will cover information about equipment, loading, launching & landing your kayak, exiting and re-entering your kayak in open water, and basic paddling stroke technique. Class will paddle on Cayuga Lake or other Finger Lakes area waterways. No previous paddling experience necessary.
Pre-requisite: Students must be comfortable recreational swimmers in order to take this class.
Attendance Policy
COE requires that students attend the first class meeting because of the critical logistics, policy, liability, and safety information that will be covered. If you do not show up for the first class you lose your right to retain your spot on the roster, and we may enroll another student in your place. In this event you will still be held responsible for full tuition fees, and may receive unsatisfactory grading. If you are on the waiting list, you will only have a chance of being added to the class if you show up to the first class meeting and a student on the roster is not present.
We expect all students to be on time and ready to participate at the start of class. Students must actively participate in all offered class meetings to earn a satisfactory grade for PE credit. Because of the nature of this class, missing critical skills that occur in progression will prevent you from continued participation in the class.
Cell Phone use is not permitted during class.
Please take time to review additional Cornell Outdoor Education Course Policies.
Things to Bring to the First Class
· Swim suit & towel
· Synthetic shirt (optional, but will keep you a bit warmer)
· Water bottle & snack
· Strap for glasses or goggles to protect contacts
· Completed Medical Form
SEA KAYAKING
Curriculum
GOALS:
· Students should have fun and develop an appreciation for sea kayaking
· Students should gain an understanding of basic kayaking skills as identified in the core curriculum
· Students should learn about the safety considerations involved in planning a kayaking outing
· Excitement for further pursuit of sea kayaking
CURRICULUM NOTE: We recognize that weather, conditions, and student characteristics (previous experience, physical ability, group dynamics, etc.) will partially dictate what can be covered in a given class. This is an introductory course and topics covered may include the following:
Ø SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
___ Rescue priorities: (people, boats, gear)
___ Water comfort and confidence
___ Cold water shock/Hypothermia: HELP, Huddle, clothing
___ Dehydration, hyperthermia, sun protection
___ Hazard recognition: wind, waves, weather, rocks/shoals, piers/dams, boat traffic, etc.
___ Lightning Protocol
___ Injury Prevention (paddler’s box to protect shoulders)
___ Pod travel with lead and sweep boats
___ Paddle/Hand & whistle signals
___ Emergency procedures & group management
Ø EQUIPMENT
___ Kayaks, Paddles, Spray Skirts, PFDs, Bilge pump & paddle float
___ Personal equipment: dress for a swim, footwear, whistle, dry clothes in dry bag, hydration, food, sun protection
___ Instructor equipment: 1st aid kit, tow belt, rescue slings, knife or shears, extra paddle, flashlight, hypo kit, signaling kit, VHF radio / weather radio
___ Loading & unloading trailer
Ø SPECIFIC SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
___ Launching, landing, and boat carrying techniques
___ Wet exits, emptying a kayak & bilge pump use
___ Effective body mechanics and torso rotation
___ Paddle strokes:
___Forward & back/stopping
___Sweep & reverse sweep
___Draw/ sculling draw
___Stern draw/rudder
___ Low & High Brace
___ Crossings / Ferrying across current/wind
___ Edging / J-leans
___ Deep water re-entries (assisted & solo with sling & scooping techniques) ___ Paddle float self rescue
___ Bow rescue & kayak roll
___ Navigation using chart & compass
___ Rinsing boats after use to reduce the chances of spreading invasive species from one body of water to another
___ LNT Principles
Ø GUIDING PRINCIPLES
___ COE’s mission “Teamwork, leadership, and growth through outdoor experience”
___ Experiential learning, comfort zone, and challenge by choice models
___ Full value contract & Expedition behavior
___ Natural history, flora & fauna and historical significance of areas visited