Big Canoe Lake Water & Ocean Endorsement Skipper Training - Squamish (Private DFO Course)
Event Details
Part 1: Big Canoe Lake Water Intermediate Leader Course (Big Canoe Skipper Course) Paddle Canada Certified Course Dates: Monday June 2nd + Tuesday June 3rd Location: Alice Lake – Squamish
Event Details
Part 1: Big Canoe Lake Water Intermediate Leader Course (Big Canoe Skipper Course)
Paddle Canada Certified
Course Dates:
Monday June 2nd + Tuesday June 3rd
Location: Alice Lake – Squamish
This Big Canoe Skipper Course is designed to help participants develop intermediate skills for leading and paddling in a big canoe. Perfect for those with a basic understanding of paddling strokes, the course focuses on teaching the stern position and preparing participants to lead novice paddlers on easy (flat/lake) water.
Participants will cover essential leadership and rescue techniques, as well as strategies for managing groups of paddlers in a safe and effective manner. By the end of this course, you will have the skills needed to safely guide big canoe trips, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved.
Prerequisites
- Minimum age of 16 years or demonstration of a high level of fitness and maturity
- Recommended to hold at least Standard First Aid, with up to Wilderness First Responder certification depending on planned paddling destinations/journeys
(It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure they have the appropriate first aid skills for their paddling environments)
Check out our Ridge First Aid course offerings here!
Course Details
- Duration: 2 days of on-water instruction
- June 2nd + 3rd: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Alice Lake – Squamish
Course Content
Safety and Rescue
- How to carry a big canoe
- Recognizing environmental hazards (water, wind, waves, weather)
- When to exit the water due to hazards
- Understanding and managing hypothermia & hyperthermia
- Transport Canada regulations for safe canoeing
- Developing a float plan and managing a group
- Signals (whistle/paddle) for communicating across multiple canoes
- Basic canoe rescues
- Using communication devices
Paddling Skills
- Entering and exiting a canoe from dock or shoreline
- Paddling strokes (forward, reverse, sweep, draw, pry)
- Crew commands and leading paddlers
- Docking and shoreline maneuvers
- Straight-line paddling and turns (wide and tight)
- Pivots and reverse paddling
- Changing paddler placement for trim and balance
Leadership and Group Management
- How to lead novice paddlers and manage group dynamics
- Risk management strategies on the water
- Following Leave No Trace principles
- Understanding your limits: Paddlesmart
Knowledge
- Understanding the roles and positions of your crew
- The fundamentals of holding a paddle
- Commands for your crew
Part 2: Big Canoe Ocean/Coastal Skipper Course
The Introduction to Coastal Canoeing course is designed to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skill for safe and efficient coastal big canoeing.
Students will develop solid big canoe handling skills as well as canoe rescues in the context of coastal canoeing.
The introduction of tidal prediction, marine forecasting and navigation with nautical charts also occurs at this level.
Duration:
- Duration: 3x days
- Time: 9am – 4pm each day
- Location: Mouth of Squamish River + Porteau Cove
Prerequisites: Intermediate Big Canoe Leader Skills (aka Lake Water Big Canoe Skipper course)
Course Topics
Safety and Rescue
- Review of Introduction to Big Canoe Leader skills
- Environment hazards including water, wind, waves and weather
- Tides
- Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
- Personal preparation (clothing, water, snacks, medication, etc.)
- Transport Canada regulations and requirements
- Safe canoe procedures
- Signals and communication
- Rafting up to rescue in wind and waves
General paddling skills
- Enter and exit a canoe: dock or easy shoreline
- Paddling in cadence
- Rafting up
Paddling Strokes
- Refine intermediate, Big Canoe Leader
- Bow draw
- Basic bracing
- Stern draw and pry
Maneuvers
- Refine intermediate, Big Canoe Leader skills
- Navigating shoreline using piloting techniques: checkpoints, handrails and natural catching features
- Forward straight-line paddling
- Pivot turns in tight locations
- Large to small arc turns (under power)
- Paddling in cadence
- Left and right turns under power
Knowledge
- Basic understanding of nautical charts
- Accessing/interpreting land and marine forecasting
- Introduction to high and low water times
- Equipment for half-day tour
- Paddling within your ability
- Paddlesmart
- Leave no trace principles
- Historical or local coastal paddling events
- Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)
