Canoeing
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Includes
- Kayaking
- Sea Kayaking
- Katakanuing
See also
Description
The use of open paddle-propelled boats for
recreation or racing on various types of water.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to those aged seven and over.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions.
Participants must be able
to
- swim 50 metres
- keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes
normally worn for the activity.
Participants may fulfil these rules wearing a
buoyancy aid or life jacket when either is required for the
activity.
If you have a participant with a medical
condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to
participate safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
A ratio of one adult to eight girls must be
observed.
Commercial providers may have different
ratios; whichever is stricter must be observed.
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that
the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
- When offering this activity to participants
under the age of 18, and in sea, tidal or inland water that is more
than 50 metres from land, it is a legal requirement that the
activity provider be properly licenced by the Adventurous
Activities Licencing Authority: AALA
- Additional awards to help you determine the
quality of a centre are Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
These endorsements are not applicable in
Northern Ireland, where you should ask your local Outdoor
Activities Adviser to recommend an approved provider.
The Leader must:
- ensure the required buoyancy aids/life jackets are used
- ensure that safety rules and alarm signals
have been explained to the participants
- be satisfied that everyone understands the
need for instructions to be obeyed immediately
- follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are
familiar with them
- ensure that the water is suitable for
canoeing, seeking advice if necessary
- decide on the day, with the instructor(s),
whether conditions are safe for canoeing.
Instructor
qualifications
Instructors should hold the qualification
applicable to the nature of the activity from
British Canoe Union (BCU)
If alternative qualifications are held, please
seek advice from your Outdoor Activities Adviser, the BCU or
contact activities@girlguiding.org.uk
to ensure the instructor’s qualification is appropriate to the
nature of the activity.
Members under 18 wishing to canoe without an
instructor must each hold the BCU award relevant to the nature of
the activity and gain permission from their Outdoor Activities
Adviser.
Useful
information
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- in good condition
- the correct size for the participant.
Water should be inspected for signs of visible pollution, for
example rubbish, blue green algae or
chemicals.
If either the Leader or the instructor is not
satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be
abandoned.
The Leader should ensure each participant (or
her parent if the participant is under 18 years old) is aware of
the dangers and symptoms of Weil’s
disease and knows what action to take if infection is
suspected. On the day of the activity participants should be
advised to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help
prevent infection.
Girlguiding UK Activity
Centres
Try this activity
at:
Blackland
Farm (Sussex), Foxlease (Hampshire),
Hautbois (Norfolk),
Lorne (Belfast)
or Waddow (Lancashire).
Try Canadian canoeing (ideal for younger
girls) at Netherurd (Peeblesshire).
Useful websites
Water and leisure safety advice
Royal Society for the Prevention of
Accidents
http://www.rospa.com/LeisureSafety/AdviceAndInformation/WaterSafety/Default.aspx.
For Girlguiding UK areas that own
canoes or have them on a long-term let please see the information on craft
certification.
Page last updated:
5/18/2012