This is the outline for the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club Winter kayak class.
As the web site developes, we will expand on each of the topics. 

KAYAK COURSE

 
Session  SUBJECT  Text reference 
1 
Lesson 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 Red Cross, ACA, pool etiquette, ground rules; 
release forms; safety; 
warm up; 
swim test; 
swim test 2 (with life-jackets); 
boat familiarization; 
enter and exit boat; 
wet exit - pound on bottom of boat, count to ten; 
self rescue; 
throw bags (instructors); 
emptying boat; 
balance exercises; 
hip snap 
- hand on hand 
- the critical point 
- head out last 
- roll hips under shoulders 
- release with top hand to simulate holding paddle 
free paddle - hand paddling; 		  
4.1-4.5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 ch 1 
 3.52-3.58 
 4.5-4.6 
4.31-4.36 
2 
Lesson 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 warm up; 
strokes 
- forward 
control of paddle 
use of foot braces, etc. in the strokes 
opening hands to prevent fatigue 
- back 
look over one shoulder 
- sweeps 
balance exercises 
three sweeps for a complete circle 
hip snap with instructor 
- little fingers exercise 
- simulate motion of paddle (top arm to sky) 
Eskimo rescue - keep driving boat; 		  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

4.6-4.19 
4.31-4.36 
3 
Lesson 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 warm-up; 
strokes 
- draw, flat on water, top hand down 
- braces 
- sculling, elbows down 
towing; 
kayak over kayak and deep water re-entry; 
hip snap with paddle 
- 1 ready, 2 hit surface, 3 sweep, 4 snap; 
duffek;		  
 
 
 
 

3.46-3.47 
4.20-4.31 
4.40-4.43 
4 
Lesson 4 
 
 
 		 warm-up; 
stroke drills; 
gate work; 
braces & sculling; 
hip snap with paddle; 
5 
Lesson 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 warm-up; 
braces & sculling; 
duffek; 
gates; 
Eskimo roll 
- 1 ready 
- 2 hit surface 
- 3 sweep 
- 4 snap		  
 
 
 
 
 

 4.36-4.39 
6 
Lesson 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 warm-up; 
Eskimo roll; 
Review Drills 
- boat familiarization 
- balance exercises 
- wet exit 
- self rescue 
- towing 
- throw bag (students) 
- hip snap 
- Eskimo rescue 
gates; 		  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3.45-3.48 
7 
Lesson 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 warm-up; 
Stroke Drills 
- forward 
- back 
- sweeps 
- duffek 
Eskimo roll; 
wild roll; 
8 
Lesson 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 Stroke Drills 
- draw 
- braces 
- sculling 
Eskimo roll; 
Rescue Drills 
- kayak over kayak, deep water re-entry 
- towing 
- self rescue 
9 
Lesson 9 
 
 
 
 
 		 Stroke Drills; 
Gate Work; 
Eskimo roll; 
Rescue Drills 
- kayak over kayak, deep water re-entry 
- towing 
- self rescue 
10 
Lesson 10 
(bring all 
equipment) 		 Review 
- Eskimo roll 
- gates 
- kayak polo; 
11 
GROUND 
SCHOOL 
(A MUST SHOW) 
- Classroom 
 
 
 
 
 		 hypothermia; 
river reading; 
map reading; 
knots; 
eddy turns; 
ferrying etc.; 
movies; 
trip planning; 
transportation; 
roll videos; 		  
 
 
 
 

ch 2 
ch 5 
ch 9
WHAT TO BRING TO THE POOL 

Bathing suit 
Towel 
Lock 
Paddling clothes (not cotton) for warmth & fiberglass protection 
Paddling shoes 
Nose plugs (optional) 
Goggles (optional) 
Boat 
Paddle 
Spray skirt 
Float bags 
Helmet (perhaps) 
Life jacket (see schedule)
SOME RULES: 

1) Wash boats inside and out before putting them in the pool. 
2) Treat the pool with respect. No bashing the sides with boats 
or paddles and avoid hitting the bottom with your paddle. 
3) Treat borrowed equipment with respect, especially wooden paddles 
and neoprene spray skirts. 
4) If you are borrowing equipment remember: You break it you buy it! 
 

Back to the School

Back to the Put In