New to Kayaking/Beginners Workshop

Saturday, April 22

Time: 9-12 AM

Location: The Barn, Topsfield Center

Lunch: Possible informal lunch together at nearby location if there is interest.

RSVP required: Limited to 50. RSVP to [email protected]

Al Coons, Cathy Foley, Anne Harper, & Anne Reynolds will help those new or feeling new to kayaking become more comfortable about equipment choices, getting on the water, and NSPN.

GOALS

To help beginners:

A. make good choices in purchasing and/or renting equipment, and

B. understand the progression of sensible on-water training and trips.

EQUIPMENT

A. Boat Choices (Buy/rent, new/used, appropriate boats...)

B. Paddle Choices (inexpensive/expensive, feathering/not, adjustable/not, weight, costs....

C. Additional Equipment (spray skirt, , PFD, compass?, paddle leash, water bottle, gloves, first aid kit, maps, ...

D. Clothing (Basic clothing for safety and comfort at times when beginners would be paddling, water temps, emergency clothing,...

ON THE WATER

A. Training (Normal progression of training and experiences on the ocean).

B. Expectations (What expectations and responsibilities are there for a new paddler?)

OPEN DISCUSSION

Lead Organizer: Al Coons

DIRECTIONS:

From the south, take Rt. 1 north exit off of Route I-95. Follow that to Rt. 97 west into Topsfield. At the stop sign, the library will be on your left and a small side street immediately before the stop sign is on your right - that is East Common Street. Take a right onto this street and park in the lot on the right that is for the Emerson Center/Congregational Church.

From the north, take I-95 south to the Topsfield Rt. 97 exit. Proceed to Congregational Church on the right and Town Common on the left. Make a left turn onto Route 97 East, for 1/2 a second and then take a SHARP left onto East Common St and park in the lot on the right that is for the Emerson Center/Congregational Church.