Summer Courses: Fort Langley

Spring/Fall Courses: Pitt Lake

Duration: 9am – 4pm

Course Content:

Safety and Rescue

Summer Courses: Fort Langley

Spring/Fall Courses: Pitt Lake

Duration: 9am – 4pm

*Price per person, based on 2 participants 

Course Content:

Safety and Rescue

• Carrying a canoe
• Basic environment hazards like water, wind, waves, weather
• When to get off the water
• Being prepared for hypothermia and hyperthermia
• Personal preparation (clothing, water, snacks, medication, etc.)
• Transport Canada regulations and requirements
• Safe canoe procedures (lead/sweep and on water leadership)
• Canoe over canoe rescues
• Towing a canoe
• Throw bag practice

General Paddling Skills

• Getting in and out of a canoe at a dock or easy shoreline
• Paddling in cadence
• Rafting up

Strokes

• Forward
• Reverse
• Check (stop)
• Draw
• Pry
• J-Stroke or rudder
• Forward and Reverse sweep (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop Skeg

Maneuvers

• Forward paddling
• Wide turns (rectangular course)
• Pivots
• Left and right turns
• Docking (basic)
• Reverse paddling

Concepts

• Momentum and initiation
• Trimming a canoe

Knowledge

• Basic canoe and paddle parts
• Paddle and canoe care
• Knots for canoe tie down (bowline and truckers hitch)
• Equipment for a half day tour
• Paddling within your ability
• PaddleSmart
• Leave No Trace principles

Virtual preliminary meeting –  March 27th @ 7pm

Practice Journey @ Alouette Lake – April 1st + 2nd

Qualifying Journey @ Pitt Lake – April 7th – 10th

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were created as a way for each participant to set individual goals for personal improvement and growth. As part of this award, there is an outdoor component for each of the three levels. A big part of what we do at Ridge Wilderness Adventures is getting people outside and empowered to achieve their personal goals. In saying this, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great fit, as it involves the outdoor empowerment and growth that we love to see. We offer adventures for all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as Preliminary Training and Practice Journeys.

Virtual preliminary meeting –  March 27th @ 7pm

Practice Journey @ Alouette Lake – April 1st + 2nd

Qualifying Journey @ Pitt Lake – April 8th – 10th

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were created as a way for each participant to set individual goals for personal improvement and growth. As part of this award, there is an outdoor component for each of the three levels. A big part of what we do at Ridge Wilderness Adventures is getting people outside and empowered to achieve their personal goals. In saying this, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great fit, as it involves the outdoor empowerment and growth that we love to see. We offer adventures for all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as Preliminary Training and Practice Journeys.

Virtual preliminary meeting –  March 27th @ 7pm

Practice + Qualifying Journey Combined @ Pitt Lake – April 8th – 10th

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were created as a way for each participant to set individual goals for personal improvement and growth. As part of this award, there is an outdoor component for each of the three levels. A big part of what we do at Ridge Wilderness Adventures is getting people outside and empowered to achieve their personal goals. In saying this, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great fit, as it involves the outdoor empowerment and growth that we love to see. We offer adventures for all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as Preliminary Training and Practice Journeys.

SKIPPER COURSE

(Big Canoe Leader – Paddle Canada)

Learning to lead a big canoe with a novice crew.

Duration: 2 days 

Content: Paddling in a straight line, turns, docking, with and without the help of your crew. Crew commands, and leading skills, rescues, big canoe safety, paddling with other big canoes, what to expect from novice paddlers, packing for a trip, trim and balance of a canoe, how to work together

Intent: To introduce big canoe paddling to those individuals who have a basic knowledge of paddling strokes. To gain knowledge and skill for the stern position in the big canoe and to gain the skills to lead novices in a big canoe on easy water (flat/lake water)

*Includes a workbook, skipper talk + manual.

Prerequisites: 

• Minimum age of 16 years or high level of fitness and maturity.
• Must currently hold at minimum a Standard First Aid up to a Wilderness First Responder certificate, depending on where you plan to travel. It is the participants responsibility to ensure their First Aid certifications are of the appropriate skill level for their paddling destinations/journeys.  

Safety and Rescue

• Carrying a big canoe
• Environment hazards (water/ wind/waves/weather) when to get off! Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
• Group management
• Transport Canada regulations
• Safe canoe procedures and development of a float plan
• Signals (multiple canoes): whistle/paddle
• Canoe rescues
• Communication devices

General Paddling Skills

• Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
• Paddling and commanding a crew

Paddling Strokes

• Forward & reverse strokes
• Check (stop)
• Draw and pry (active and stationary)
• Forward and reverse sweeps (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop skeg
• Optional strokes for the bow position: Draws and pry’s (active and stationary)

Concepts

• How to hold a paddle
• Position and roles of crew
• Commands for crew

Maneuvers

• Straight lines
• Turns (wide and tight) (active and stationary strokes)
• Pivots
• Reverse paddling
• Docking and shoreline
• Changing paddler placement

Knowledge

• Group management
• Risk management
• Paddling within your ability
• Paddlesmart
• Leave no trace principles
• Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)

SKIPPER COURSE

(Big Canoe Leader – Paddle Canada)

Learning to lead a big canoe with a novice crew.

Duration: 2 days 

Content: Paddling in a straight line, turns, docking, with and without the help of your crew. Crew commands, and leading skills, rescues, big canoe safety, paddling with other big canoes, what to expect from novice paddlers, packing for a trip, trim and balance of a canoe, how to work together

Intent: To introduce big canoe paddling to those individuals who have a basic knowledge of paddling strokes. To gain knowledge and skill for the stern position in the big canoe and to gain the skills to lead novices in a big canoe on easy water (flat/lake water)

*Includes a workbook, skipper talk + manual.

Prerequisites: 

• Minimum age of 16 years or high level of fitness and maturity.
• Must currently hold at minimum a Standard First Aid up to a Wilderness First Responder certificate, depending on where you plan to travel. It is the participants responsibility to ensure their First Aid certifications are of the appropriate skill level for their paddling destinations/journeys.  

Safety and Rescue

• Carrying a big canoe
• Environment hazards (water/ wind/waves/weather) when to get off! Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
• Group management
• Transport Canada regulations
• Safe canoe procedures and development of a float plan
• Signals (multiple canoes): whistle/paddle
• Canoe rescues
• Communication devices

General Paddling Skills

• Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
• Paddling and commanding a crew

Paddling Strokes

• Forward & reverse strokes
• Check (stop)
• Draw and pry (active and stationary)
• Forward and reverse sweeps (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop skeg
• Optional strokes for the bow position: Draws and pry’s (active and stationary)

Concepts

• How to hold a paddle
• Position and roles of crew
• Commands for crew

Maneuvers

• Straight lines
• Turns (wide and tight) (active and stationary strokes)
• Pivots
• Reverse paddling
• Docking and shoreline
• Changing paddler placement

Knowledge

• Group management
• Risk management
• Paddling within your ability
• Paddlesmart
• Leave no trace principles
• Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)

Virtual preliminary meeting –  June 23rd @ 7pm

Practice + Qualifying Journey combined @ Pitt Lake – July 1st – July 3rd

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were created as a way for each participant to set individual goals for personal improvement and growth. As part of this award, there is an outdoor component for each of the three levels. A big part of what we do at Ridge Wilderness Adventures is getting people outside and empowered to achieve their personal goals. In saying this, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great fit, as it involves the outdoor empowerment and growth that we love to see. We offer adventures for all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as Preliminary Training and Practice Journeys.

SKIPPER COURSE

(Big Canoe Leader – Paddle Canada)

Learning to lead a big canoe with a novice crew.

Duration: 2 days 

Content: Paddling in a straight line, turns, docking, with and without the help of your crew. Crew commands, and leading skills, rescues, big canoe safety, paddling with other big canoes, what to expect from novice paddlers, packing for a trip, trim and balance of a canoe, how to work together

Intent: To introduce big canoe paddling to those individuals who have a basic knowledge of paddling strokes. To gain knowledge and skill for the stern position in the big canoe and to gain the skills to lead novices in a big canoe on easy water (flat/lake water)

*Includes a workbook, skipper talk + manual.

Prerequisites: 

• Minimum age of 16 years or high level of fitness and maturity.
• Must currently hold at minimum a Standard First Aid up to a Wilderness First Responder certificate, depending on where you plan to travel. It is the participants responsibility to ensure their First Aid certifications are of the appropriate skill level for their paddling destinations/journeys.  

Safety and Rescue

• Carrying a big canoe
• Environment hazards (water/ wind/waves/weather) when to get off! Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
• Group management
• Transport Canada regulations
• Safe canoe procedures and development of a float plan
• Signals (multiple canoes): whistle/paddle
• Canoe rescues
• Communication devices

General Paddling Skills

• Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
• Paddling and commanding a crew

Paddling Strokes

• Forward & reverse strokes
• Check (stop)
• Draw and pry (active and stationary)
• Forward and reverse sweeps (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop skeg
• Optional strokes for the bow position: Draws and pry’s (active and stationary)

Concepts

• How to hold a paddle
• Position and roles of crew
• Commands for crew

Maneuvers

• Straight lines
• Turns (wide and tight) (active and stationary strokes)
• Pivots
• Reverse paddling
• Docking and shoreline
• Changing paddler placement

Knowledge

• Group management
• Risk management
• Paddling within your ability
• Paddlesmart
• Leave no trace principles
• Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)

SKIPPER COURSE

(Big Canoe Leader – Paddle Canada)

Learning to lead a big canoe with a novice crew.

Duration: 2 days 

Content: Paddling in a straight line, turns, docking, with and without the help of your crew. Crew commands, and leading skills, rescues, big canoe safety, paddling with other big canoes, what to expect from novice paddlers, packing for a trip, trim and balance of a canoe, how to work together

Intent: To introduce big canoe paddling to those individuals who have a basic knowledge of paddling strokes. To gain knowledge and skill for the stern position in the big canoe and to gain the skills to lead novices in a big canoe on easy water (flat/lake water)

*Includes a workbook, skipper talk + manual.

Prerequisites: 

• Minimum age of 16 years or high level of fitness and maturity.
• Must currently hold at minimum a Standard First Aid up to a Wilderness First Responder certificate, depending on where you plan to travel. It is the participants responsibility to ensure their First Aid certifications are of the appropriate skill level for their paddling destinations/journeys.  

Safety and Rescue

• Carrying a big canoe
• Environment hazards (water/ wind/waves/weather) when to get off! Hypothermia & hyperthermia (being prepared)
• Group management
• Transport Canada regulations
• Safe canoe procedures and development of a float plan
• Signals (multiple canoes): whistle/paddle
• Canoe rescues
• Communication devices

General Paddling Skills

• Enter and exit a canoe: dock/shoreline
• Paddling and commanding a crew

Paddling Strokes

• Forward & reverse strokes
• Check (stop)
• Draw and pry (active and stationary)
• Forward and reverse sweeps (stern only)
• Low brace
• Drop skeg
• Optional strokes for the bow position: Draws and pry’s (active and stationary)

Concepts

• How to hold a paddle
• Position and roles of crew
• Commands for crew

Maneuvers

• Straight lines
• Turns (wide and tight) (active and stationary strokes)
• Pivots
• Reverse paddling
• Docking and shoreline
• Changing paddler placement

Knowledge

• Group management
• Risk management
• Paddling within your ability
• Paddlesmart
• Leave no trace principles
• Where to go from here (paddle courses and resources)

Virtual preliminary meeting –  Aug 22nd @ 7pm

Practice + Qualifying Journey Combined @ Pitt Lake – Aug 30th – Sept 1st

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards were created as a way for each participant to set individual goals for personal improvement and growth. As part of this award, there is an outdoor component for each of the three levels. A big part of what we do at Ridge Wilderness Adventures is getting people outside and empowered to achieve their personal goals. In saying this, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great fit, as it involves the outdoor empowerment and growth that we love to see. We offer adventures for all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, as well as Preliminary Training and Practice Journeys.