2014 NSPN CAM Workshops

[PeterB]

2014 CAM Workhops

For the 2014 season, NSPN members are invited to participate in a series of four CAM workshops. The goal of these workshops is to help club members build the skills and knowledge they need to be active participants in club trips, and, as in past years, the workshops will be led by club members who are volunteering to share what they have learned. While we discuss the Common Adventure Model (CAM) for club trips, the principles and practices we cover apply to all trips on the water.

1^st session: classroom: Sunday March 23^rd: REI Reading

2^nd session: classroom : Sunday April 6^th: location TBA

3^rd session: on-the-water: Sunday May 18

4^th session: on the water: Sunday June 1^st

This is a great opportunity for the club to get together and paddle as a group, working together on essential group skills along the way. and participants might then pass these skills on to fellow paddlers in subsequent club trips . It is also a great opportunity for relatively newer paddlers to paddle alongside experienced paddlers and practice new skills that are best introduced in an environment with the support of others.

While is possible for members to take part in individual sessions, it is recommended that these be taken in sequence, each one building on earlier workshops. So for each workshop, we will assume participants have the knowledge or skills of previous sessions.

The classroom workshops are open to paddlers of all levels of ability and experience.

The on-water workshops will require that participants have basic boat handling skills and be comfortable maneuvering their boats in coastal ocean conditions.

If there is sufficient interest in a Level 2 group for the on-water sessions, we are prepared to run a session in Level 2 (protected or semi- protected) areas, which may be possible to do in a wet suit and paddle jacket. But all of te on-water workshops involve getting in the water multiple times, so immersion gear is essential: these sessions are intended for paddlers prepared to get wet.

Because the ocean temperatures are still very cold in May and June, we will require proper immersion gear of all participants—specifically dry suits and neoprene gloves and hoods. If you do not have the appropriate gear and protective clothing, we may be able to arrange a loan of a limited number of dry suits, tow belts, gloves, hoods, etc.

CAM workshop scheduling

Both classroom and on-water sessions will be held on the North Shore, somewhere between Boston and Portsmouth, NH, depending on room availability and conditions on the day of the on-water sessions.

The individual workshops will be posted on the Trips/Event message board in the coming weeks.

These postings will include more trip details and attached syllabus material

Check the message board and calendar for updates: this posting will be updated with details in the coming weeks .

if you have questions on gear or whether the on-water sessions are appropriate for you, contact Peter Brady or Scott Camlin by PM on the message board

The workshops will be run as RSVP trips, meaning people will need to register in advance. Times and locations will be emailed to registered participants only and will not be posted on the NSPN website.

To sign up for the workshops:

RSVP to Coordinator:Scott Camlin

Email Contact: scamlin at restructassoc dot com

[PeterB]

This is a reminder that the first session of the NSPN CAM will be this coming Sunday, March 23rd , 11:00AM at REI in Reading.

For paddlers who plan on posting or participating in club paddling trips this year , you're encouraged to attend, as we cover all of the related matters relative to paddling as a club. Most of the material is basically sound paddling as a group, also with club specific material such as procedures for planning and posting a trip, the role of the trip initiator, float plans, etc. It's a fun time when club members have the opportunity to be together and review club paddling. Hope to see you there.

RSVP to Coordinator:Scott Camlin

Email Contact: scamlin at restructassoc dot com

[EEL]

Folks, you can pay someone at least a $150 per session to learn the basics and a little more about the skills needed to plan and be responsible on a trip or you can take advantage of the these CAM sessions which will prepare you not just for planning and initiating a trip, but also to be a responsible active paddler on any trip as well as giving you what you need to plan and safely take your own trips. The instructors are top notch and the mentoring experience is, IMHO, worth a very great deal. You would have to take a variety of courses at some distance away for big bucks to gain the knowledge and real world experience you obtain in these free NSPN sessions in your backyard.

Just a shameless plug, but no puffery. I have no doubt given the folks involved these are absolutely great sessions.

Ed Lawson

Edited March 19, 2014 by EEL