Moving Water
Learning moving water skills increases safety on all bodies of water. Participants learned how to do eddy turns, read the river, and do rescues on the Gwayee river. As part of this program, participants will receive their Paddle Canada Moving Water Intro Certification
Length: 4 days Dates: July 15-18, 2025
Trip: Sadzalla – Uk̕wanalis Ages: 16-30+
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Staff Training
The training began in Uk̕wanalis (Kingcome Village) where participants expressed how each of them hopes to use these skills. Some will be leading a week-long youth canoe program this summer, others work with a youth camp and will be teaching canoeing, and others hope to develop some multi-day canoe programming in future years, all in Musgamakw Dzawada̱’enux̱w territory. Participants were engaged in the training throughout and also shared their own experiences and knowledge with each other.
Some of the topics covered this week include intention of outdoor programming, flow of a longer program, student care, group management, meals, route planning, risk management, legalities/waivers, paperwork, first aid and repair kits, gear organization, cultural teachings, charts, navigation/compass, camp set-up (kitchen, bathroom, fires, tarps), hygiene, LNT, river hazards, intro canoe skills, canoe rescue, and evening meetings. There was time for participants to hone skills, practice, and even teach each other.
Paddle Canada Instructor Certifications
Emmily Wildman and Dante Willie, two A̱ka̱la Instructors have been financially supported by A̱ka̱la to further their Paddle Canada certifications. They both took a course on Mayne Island and received their Intro Lakewater Instructor, and there Advanced Coastal Canoe Skills. We will continue to offer our future instructors these opportunities to increase their certifiable skills.