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Sue H.

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  1. Sue H.
    Would be there if I could be in 2 places at once…visiting family in NY.
  2. Sue H.
    Hi Folks, Saturday May 13, 2023 (1:00-3:00 pm) we are hosting a "New to Sea Kayaking Pool Session". This event is free to participants and volunteer members. Mike and I are looking for a few volunteers to be in and around the pool to assist with wet exits, rescues and the like. Some of the participants are likely to have kayaks and some will not, so we may need members to bring a couple of boats. More to follow on that note once participants register. So if you are game, please respond here so both Mike and I can see our potential volunteer group, and if you are willing to bring a boat and what type of boat. FYI At our recent NTSKW Workshop at the Gould Barn, we had 21 participants ! Myself, Mike, Rob, Jeff and Joe were presenters. Support volunteers were Janice, Prudence, Ricardo, Fred, Dana, Jody and Don. Thanks again to all who contributed to this effort !
  3. Sue H.
    I have partially adjusted my schedule...just now working on the second half to be confirmed before I can commit.
  4. Sue H.
    Possible, waiting on details
  5. Sue H.
    9/23/23 Skills Session 9:15 am - 4:00 pm We will launch from West Beach in Beverly Farms at 121 West St., Beverly, MA. There is free public parking at this site during the off season, otherwise restricted to locals during the summer months. Please arrive at 9:15 am. During the beach briefing we will hear from you regarding your paddling experience and interests, followed by a discussion of the specific plans for the day. Our general intention is to provide an instructive journey to the islands off West Beach. During this approximate 9-10 nautical mile trip there will be opportunities to practice on-the-go navigation, hone strokes and obtain related feedback if you choose. We will practice landing and launching, assisted rescues and provide support to expand your paddling understanding and experience. What You Need to Bring: A kayak with bulk heads, a spray skirt, PFD, paddles, hat or helmet (if want to get near rocks), tow belt (if you have one, not required), hand held compass, appropriate dress for immersion, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, water and a chart of the area if you have one. Arrive: 9:15 am, Beach Briefing at 9:45 am (personal gear on, boat unloaded and packed with kit for the day) and followed by a launch at 10:30 am. Return: by 4:00 pm We use ACA insurance for skills sessions. You need to either be an ACA member (join here for $40/year) or pay a $10 event fee here. The annual membership is a better deal, as it covers all our skills sessions and pool sessions for a year. You also need to sign the ACA waiver at our special NSPN link here, once a year if you're an ACA member, or for each session if you're paying the event fee. Registration: To register for this event please clink this link https://forms.gle/M6auuhEUruTmGUwYA and follow the instructions.
  6. Sue H.
    Skills Practice Session #4 will take place Saturday 8/5/23 at Cedar Point Parking Area (West Bound) in Durham NH (https://goo.gl/maps/yNj3YYBwNqPjsqqz5), on inner waters of the Piscataqua River. Please arrive at 10:00 am (or sooner if you need more time to be ready), with a launch by 10:30 am. We will be off the water by 4:00. This session will focus on skills for paddling in tidal current, in a location which is perfect for a gentle introduction to this topic and can serve up challenges if desired! There will be a range of conditions available at different times and in varying locations on the upper reaches of the Piscataqua. We will also land on Goat Island, a small public island that is a great place to take a break and have lunch. The flood current will slowly build over the course of the afternoon. Some of the things we may practice include: understanding currents, eddies and eddy lines reading the water surface to recognize what is happening entering and leaving bodies of water that are moving relative to each other (crossing eddy lines) maintaining a ferry angle when crossing current maintaining position and/or doing rescues in current advanced: playing in faster current under the SR 16 bridge Parking: There are twin parking lots in this location, directly across from each other on US Route 4. We will be launching from the lot accessed from the westbound side of the highway (i.e. on your right if you are coming from I-95 and SR 16). If this lot starts to fill up we will ask you to drop your boat & gear in this lot and park across the street on the eastbound side. There is no fee for parking in either lot. What You Need to Bring: Kayak with bulk heads and a spray skirt, PFD, paddles, helmet required (if you don't have one pls PM Sue H), dress for immersion, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, and water. Arrive: 10:00 am, Beach Briefing at 10:20 am (personal gear on, boat unloaded and packed with kit for the day) and launch at 10:30 am. Return: by 4:00 pm We use ACA insurance for skills sessions. You need to either be an ACA member (join here for $40/year) or pay a $10 event fee here. The annual membership is a better deal, as it covers all our skills sessions and pool sessions for a year. You also need to sign the ACA waiver at our special NSPN link here, once a year if you're an ACA member, or for each session if you're paying the event fee. Registration: To register for this event please clink this link and follow the instructions. https://forms.gle/QdzQ81ZSzNax6Usa6
  7. Sue H.
    until
    Skills Session #3 (Saturday 7/22/23) will continue to bring awareness to the characteristics of the ocean environment, body position and edging, while adding turning strokes to your tool kit. After some attention to these skills, we will go for a moderate paddle and apply the skills underway. Upon returning to the launch, will will pause for rescue practice if appropriate. All skill levels welcome, experienced paddlers will have the opportunity for refinement and those with emerging skills will find support and guidance in your pursuit of sea kayaking. Location: Odiorne State Park Boat Ramp, NH-1A, Rye, NH 03870 What You Need to Bring: Kayak with bulk heads and a spray skirt, PFD, paddles, hat or helmet, dress for immersion, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, and water. Arrive: 10:00 am, Beach Briefing at 10:20 am (personal gear on, boat unloaded and packed with kit for the day) and launch at 10:30 am. LT at Jaffery Point, Newcastle is 8:54 am and HT at 3:12 pm. Return: 3:00-4:00 pm We use ACA insurance for skills sessions. You need to either be an ACA member (join here for $40/year) or pay a $10 event fee here. The annual membership is a better deal, as it covers all our skills sessions and pool sessions for a year. You also need to sign the ACA waiver at our special NSPN link here, once a year if you're an ACA member, or for each session if you're paying the event fee. Registration: Register by signing up at https://forms.gle/dEZdvjZ3DBocvow59. You'll need your ACA member number. Please remember to make your parking reservation at the link below. https://www.nhstateparks.org/fees-reservations/make-an-online-reservation
  8. Sue H.
    Skills Session #2 (7/9/23) will focus on overall body position in your kayak We will achieve this through getting comfortable with the body mechanics of posture, cooperation between upper and lower body to form a C for edging and keeping loose whilst underway. We will also look at the components of a forward stroke to maximum efficiency and power. After some attention to these skills, we will go for a moderate paddle and apply the skills underway. Upon returning to the launch, will will pause for introductory assisted rescue practice. All skill levels welcome. Location: Odiorne State Park Boat Ramp, NH-1A, Rye, NH 03870 What You Need to Bring: Kayak with bulk heads and a spray skirt, PFD, Paddles, hat or helmet, dress for immersion, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, and water. Arrive: 9:00 am, Beach Briefing at 9:30 am (personal gear on, boat unloaded and packed with kit for the day) and launch no later than 9:45 am. Low tide at Jaffrey Point is 10:49 am, so punctuality is key to launching on time or before to avoid slogging through muck. Return: 3:00-4:00 pm Registration: We use ACA insurance for skills sessions. You need to either be an ACA member (join here for $40/year) or pay a $10 event fee here. The annual membership is a better deal, as it covers all our skills sessions and pool sessions for a year. You also need to sign the ACA waiver at our special NSPN link here, once a year if you're an ACA member, or for each session if you're paying the event fee. Register by signing up here. You'll need your ACA member number. Please remember to make your parking reservation at the link below. https://www.nhstateparks.org/fees-reservations/make-an-online-reservation
  9. Sue H.
    until
  10. Sue H.
    Very likely to be there, will say for sure by tomorrow evening.
  11. Sue H.
    Hi Jim, Barb and Jody...I just completed float plan to join this paddle...looking forward to seeing you all. Sue
  12. Sue H.
    Thanks Gary, great video packed with information and helpful tips ! Looking forward to more in the series. What a practical resource for our kayak community.
  13. Sue H.
    I’m interested and I’ll be more definite on Sunday or Monday am. Thanks, Jim
  14. Sue H.
    PS I did read the newspaper article noted and looked at Hans website. Stuff looks legitimate, but just wondered what you thought... If we were to post this request, I don't think the General Message Board would be the appropriate place and probably should say members would be volunteering at own risk. Helping others is noble, but finding a dead body would be very traumatizing, folks receive special training for such work and rescue & recovery folks have debriefing protocols to assist in minimizing negative effects.
  15. Sue H.
    So…what to do about this ? I just looked at floating trails for Merrimack charting… only displays River from Haverhill-Bradford area to Newburyport. I didn’t look for very long but couldn’t find charting online for Lowell to Haverhill. I don’t think there are any dams or fish ladders in that section, but I am not sure. Since there was next to no ice in the river this winter, it is less likely that a body would have been trapped and slowed down by ice over etc, getting hung up on debris is possible. The person has been missing for some time and I think one would have to look the entire length of the River from Lowell to Newburyport. This appeal was written oddly, do you think he is legitimate?
  16. Sue H.
    Hi Folks, Just in case you have never explored what the Boston Harbor Islands has to offer, in particular the associated National Parks Service happenings, I wanted to fill you in on an interesting upcoming event. "Revolutionary Harbor: Storms, Weather & Climate in Boston Harbor" 3/29/23, 6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom (bostonharborislands.org/events), go to this website to register for free. Additionally, the general website (bostonharborislands.org) offers great information on all the islands to include bathroom and composting toilet locations, hiking trails, picnic areas, interpretive walks, rec programs, concessions and visitor centers. Let's plan a trip or two, early or late in our kayaking season to avoid boat traffic, no one wants to become a power boat speed bump! I look forward to any ideas you may have to explore our historic harbor islands. Your Prez, Sue
  17. Sue H.
    Hello Fellow Paddlers, We are not waiting til the official start of summer (Summer Solstice 6/21/23) to hold our annual-start-of-the-summer club paddle ! Our Kick-Off Event will be as noted above, Saturday 6/3/23. Alternative dates TBD if the weather and associated sea states are too gnarly. As usual we are likely to have pods at different trip levels, although an effort will be made to support paddlers who want to begin to work on expanding their comfort zone. This will depend on the number and constellation of participants, and the pod facilitators available. As always, you will need to be an NSPN member and to have signed the participation agreement (waiver). More specifications regarding boats and kits required will follow, as the particulars of this event are ironed out. So the launch and return times, the event location, sign-up and other relevant details TBD. I have made this announcement to give you a glimmer of hope that warmer weather, sunshine and joyful paddling are on-the-horizon !!! Save the date, I hope to see you there ... whenever and wherever venue unfolds. Your Prez, Sue H
  18. Sue H.
    Summer Skills sessions continue for 2023. Save the Dates ! Skills Practice sessions are a series of on-the-water events, offering NSPN members opportunities to practice and improve their fundamental paddling skills. These sessions will be held in coastal saltwater locations, allowing us to practice in a range of real-world conditions from protected water to open ocean. Each session is dedicated to specific kayaking skills, with peer facilitators from the club who will assist the practice and development of strokes and other ocean kayaking skills. The goal for these sessions is peer-facilitated practice, not professional coaching or instruction – those are great things, but not what we are offering with our sessions. Sessions will typically split into pods, each with its own facilitator(s). Although there will be a topic-of-the-day for each session, the activities of each pod are steered by its members, so not all pods will do the same things in the same way. All attendees are encouraged to contribute their own practice ideas. Skills Practice is a dogma-free zone! Who can benefit from Skills Practice? Any NSPN member, from newbie to expert, can get something out of a Skills Practice session. Practice at the level that works best for you. If you are familiar with a topic and want to help others gain that knowledge, consider being a facilitator. Is this some kind of official NSPN course on “How To Paddle” ? Nope, it’s not official, and it’s not even a set course. The focus is on picking up skills from each other, without prescribing any single way to paddle. What you get at a given session depends on who is there and your willingness to “practice” (sometimes this is simply listening, observing and asking questions, remember, you are in the driver’s seat!) Where and when does this happen? Sessions begin in the am (times TBD for a particular date) on Saturday or Sunday mornings at various locations in the North Shore/NH area. The end times may vary as we intend to incorporate a short journey after am sessions. See date listing below, and NSPN trip calendar for dates. Exact locations and activity focus will be announced a few days in advance to reflect weather and sea conditions. Want to attend a session? A link to a sign up form will be posted about 1-2 weeks before each session. There are no level requirements: all members are welcome. The number of slots will be limited depending on the number of facilitators available for a given session. However, some sessions may work best if you’ve done a preceding session that lays some foundation. What do I need? First, to be an NSPN Member and have a signed participation agreement! Our sessions use American Canoe Association insurance, so you will need either an annual ACA membership ($40) or a 1 day membership ($10) for each session that you attend. You will need a closed-deck sea kayak suitable for coastal paddling, with sealed bulkheads or float bags, and grab lines along the perimeter. Dressing for immersion and a spray skirt are required, and a helmet for any play near ledges or coastal rocks. Bring lunch, snacks, fluids for yourself and sunscreen. Optionally, bring a tow line, radio, and spare paddles. If you would like to practice using a tow line and don't have one, PM (Sue H) and the same goes for a helmet ! Want to facilitate a session pod? We want you on board to share your knowledge! Please PM (Sue H) with your availability, contact information, sessions of interest, experience helping other paddlers improve, and gear you may be able to lend. How does facilitation work? Although demonstration and explanation are part of the picture, the main aim of Skills Practice is to give paddlers the experience of performing a skill. This often involves breaking it down into clear, approachable steps. Before each session, we’ll have some online exchange among facilitators to share our thoughts. Got another question? Post it here or send a PM (Sue H). Tentative dates: Subject to change and will be kept up to date on the NSPN Calendar. Sunday 6/25/23 #1 Sunday 7/09/23 #2 Saturday 7/22/23 #3 Sunday 8/06/23 #4 Saturday 8/19/23 #5 Saturday 9/23/23 #6
  19. Sue H.
    Thanks Joyce… the more eyes the better!
  20. Sue H.
    Hi Folks, I am considering putting together a demo day for the club. Please chime in on outfitters or others to approach for such an event. Thanks, Sue
  21. Sue H.
    Thanks Don, yes on our FB and Meetup sites.
  22. Sue H.
    Thanks for the sentiment !
  23. Sue H.
    Hello Members, Please review the description of NTSKW on our calendar. If you are new to kayaking, and/or have a family member, or a friend who has expressed interest in kayaking, feel free to invite them to join you at the workshop through registering by email to ntskw@nspn.org or on our calendar, or via Facebook and MeetUp. We will be looking for volunteers to bring boats, help with set-up and break-down of the event, and to mingle with potential NSPN members. Mike Habich will be reaching out to some of you to bring boats for demonstration purposes. I would like folks to PM (private message) me if available for general volunteering support of the event. I also encourage any member to casually stop by to show your enthusiasm for kayaking and our club. Sharing how you got started as a kayaker, how you developed your skills and your experiences on-the-water, can be very encouraging and inspiring to newcomers! Attached find the NTSKW agenda and NTSKW flyer (which you can print and hang at your local outdoor shop or coffee shop etc). This is an opportunity to pay-it-forward and to assist growing the kayak community ! I hope to see you there! Cheers, Sue 1168940739_2023NTSKWFlyer.pdfINSKW 2023 Agenda.pdf
  24. Sue H.
    Another thing to consider is the parking, the lot will not accommodate a huge number of cars. I'm not sure how many, I'll ask someone who should know.
  25. Sue H.
    Yeah and Yeah
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