After a successful 2010 season, the 麻豆社国产Paddling Club (SPC) is getting ready to gear up for a busy spring and summer of 2011.
The group recently finished its Kids in Kayaks program, which took place on Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 and SPC president Dave Berisford said the program was well received.
"The response to the Kids in Kayaks program has been great," he said. "It did exactly what we wanted it do, which was to introduce kids to the sport. We had 18 kids and we decided to add kids to our adult introductory classes to keep up with the demand."
The SPC is in the midst of an intro to kayaking program at Brennan Park and will start a new session of lessons on April 2. The new session will be the first set of lessons to allow kids to participate with the adults in an introductory course.
"I think letting the kids learn with the adults will be great for their progression in the sport," he said. "We have a lot of fun in the kids-only sessions but I think working with the adults will help them learn some new things and develop a little more enthusiasm for the sport."
After the final four weeks of lessons in Brennan Park, the SPC will head outside to Alice Lake for night sessions on May 3. Berisford said that the Alice Lake sessions, which will take place on alternating Tuesdays, are designed more for beginners.
"It's almost like a big version of Brennan Park out there," he said. "Sessions usually last about two or three hours and we usually begin around 5 p.m."
The SPC will also stage more advanced whitewater kayak sessions on alternating Tuesdays starting May 10. Berisford said that those interested in participating must have done at least some beginners' sessions with the SPC.
Toonie races are also making their return this year and will be happening much more frequently than last year. Instead of the monthly races like last year, they will now be running every second Sunday starting on May 8. Race times begin bright and early at 9 a.m.
The group will also be involved in several events off the water this summer. The first ever Reel Paddling film festival comes to town on April 29. The group will show a variety of paddling movies as a fundraiser for the club. Berisford said it's a similar idea to the Reel Rock film festival and hopes to have door prizes and several other family-friendly activities at the event, which is planned to take place at the Eagle Eye Theatre.
The SPC will also be involved in the 麻豆社国产Outdoor Recreation Expo, which takes place on April 30 at the 麻豆社国产Adventure Centre.
"There's going to be an incredibly diverse group of clubs at this event," Berisford said. "From gardening to snowmobiling and everything in between."
For more information on the club, visit www.squamishpaddlingclub.com or check out their Facebook page by typing "麻豆社国产Paddling Club" into the search bar.
