ACA - Kayaking 101
Sat, May 18, 2024
Summer is right around the corner and kayaking is a great way to enjoy Texas’ beautiful outdoors! Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the certified paddle-sports instructors of American Canoe Association (ACA) Texas are teaming up to get you started!
ACA Kayaking 101
Locations:
- Inks Lake State Park
- Galveston Island State Park
- Sea Center Texas
- Goose Island State Park
- Cleburne State Park
Brought to you by:
As part of National Safe Boating Week, nationally certified ACA Kayak instructors are volunteering their time to offer you a special opportunity to take these classes for just $15. Typically, these same classes would cost between $75 and $150!
State Parks have waived the fee into the park for participants in this special event! We are limited to 15 slots per class so sign up now! All types of kayaks are welcome.
If you are new to paddling, looking to meet paddling friends or have had a bad experience and are looking to learn a better way to go about it, sign up now. Please reach out to contact us with any questions.
Below is a short list of the types of things that will be covered in the class:
- Trip planning, preparation, and prevention
- What equipment you should carry
- Parts of the boat, parts of the paddle
- Understanding how bulkheads/floatation help make you safer
- How to properly carry & transport your boat
- Basic posture for full body paddling and boat control
- Basic paddling strokes
- How to get in and out of your boat properly
- How to re-enter a kayak if you capsize in deep water
(multiple methods for self and assisted rescue) - How to empty a swamped boat
- How to tow a swimmer
If you need to borrow a kayak, paddle and life jacket, you will have the option to add one to your registration at no extra charge during the registration process (see questions in your preferred location). TPWD and Texas Outdoor Family are offering this gear available to you at no charge as a special opportunity for this class during National Safe Boating Week.
What to bring:
- Camp chair
- Life Jacket (You will be required to wear your life jacket at all times when on the water.)
- Paddle
- Kayak
- Plenty of water to drink
- Sunscreen or hat
- Strap for your glasses
- Bug spray
- Lunch and snacks (We will break for lunch but we will all eat together and then resume the class so we all need to bring our lunches.)
What to wear: Keep in mind we will be paddling and practicing skills for what to do if you capsize, so you will get wet. Quick drying fabrics and shorts are better for paddling than cotton clothing …which will just keep you wet and cold all day. Please do not wear flip flops. Closed-toe river shoes or sneakers are required. You need shoes that attach at your ankles and provide some amount of traction.
Weather: If you are concerned about the weather forecast, you should know we are already prepared for class to convene rain or shine so that you can at least get the benefit of on land education. Your nationally certified ACA Lead Instructor will make appropriate determinations about whether or not and when to get on water, and you will always have the option to decide about your level of participation. So plan to join us even if Texas weather is not totally cooperating!!