Canoe Field Work; Level 2 Canoe Cert

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Up early again for canoe field work with a Greenfield high school group. Today it will be me, Kristi, Jen, and Aaron with Kate observing. Got to the boathouse first so loaded the PFDs, throw ropes, first aid kit and tarp in case it was needed for rain at lunch. Austin came by so we loaded a single on his car roof since we were using his car to tow the trailer of 9 canoes.

We finished planning yesterday and given the time allowed, chose to put-in at Riverview across from Northfield Mountain rather than Munns Ferry and paddle down to Barton Cove. Jen and Kate both had car problems in the morning so we were pushing to get things unloaded and ready for their arrival.  We shifted roles several times so we needed to be flexible. Kristi and Jen were leading in the morning; Aaron and I in the afternoon. Originally they had planned to split up with students but I said I felt more comfortable being in leadership teams in case we had to run rescues.

We got everyone fitted with PFDs and paddles, taught a few basic strokes to make them mobile and then got them to carry their boats down the rocky bank and launch. Their chaparones, Steve and Kim, both have paddling experience. Steve paddled with a student and Kim with Kate. Kate was hanging back initially as the silent observer but eventually got involved in the banter and Stinky Fish play. Kristi did a good job with natural history talking about the French King Bridge and French King Rock a few hundred feet north of the bridge.

The kids paddled pretty well and by lunch Kate suggested we give them a looser rein. After lunch I was up for lead so we had a couple of relay races along the bank which was quite calm and offered few flipping issues. One of the boats decided to T-bone anyone who got in their way including instructors. After the races we headed down river toward Barton Cove and taking our time because, even though it took a while to get them on the river, we had made really good time on the morning run. Along the way, we offered fine-tuning to some of the student's strokes or alternate strokes. Some wanted and tried the info. Some didn't. We got a little too close to an area and flushed out an eagle who we saw again a little way down the river in a tree.

This was my first time coming to Barton Cove from the river and it looked like we had hit a dead end. Aaron was certain that there would be an opening up on the right though I couldn't make out the difference in landscape detail. The opening showed itself as we were close upon it and then we slid into the familiar Barton Cove boat launch, the island with the huge eagle's nest, the swans that look prehistoric when they fly, and the myriad of ducks and geese. I asked the group to give the island a wide berth so that we don't disturb the wildlife. I kept bringing up LNT principles when the opportunity arose. We will, after all, be official LNT teachers when we finish OLP.

We were going to find a last game to play in the Cove before wrapping up but it started to rain and Steve said he was ready to be dry. We paddled in because we needed to pull all the boats up and everyone seemed to be happy with what they'd done. We were maybe 5 minutes early. Steve and Kim left to get their shuttle vehicle while we completed a debrief with the group. All seemed happy with the day and several said that they never expected to canoe in the rain.

After we loaded all the boats and equipment, we headed to the Wagon Wheel to debrief with Kate. In general she thought that we did well and the day was a success. We realized that none of us have actually seen past evals from Kate, Evan, or Sean for events they've co-led so we'd all like to see those. I had talked with Kate last night to say that I was thinking about going for my Level 2 canoe instructor since I had missed it by a hairs breath a couple of weeks ago. I felt much more at ease leading a group that was not my peers and being out of white water made it easier, too. . . though the white water was often fun. This wasn't the place to discuss it so I figured I'd hear from her later. I got a call on my way home and it was Kate saying that she had talked with Evan and told him that I rocked my leadership and they agreed that I have bumped up to Level 2. It'll take several weeks to make the switch with ACA but I should hear something in a few months. Yipee! Actually, when I got home and put my stuff down, I just started to cry. I think the combination of making the upgrade, exhaustion, and a sense of tension ebbing away after the past couple of weeks, and today, just caught up with me. Lots of emotion. I fell asleep on the couch for a while before getting lunch and gear ready for tomorrow's Rock Climbing Field Work.