Rescue for Rec Boaters is an entry-level safety and rescue class for kayakers, canoeists, and stand-up paddlers who plan on paddling flat water lakes and slow moving rivers such as the Wolf, Hatchie, Caney Fork, Cumberland, Harpeth, Piney, Duck, (Tennessee) Buffalo or Stones Rivers. It is not intended for paddlers who plan to paddle Class II or higher whitewater rivers such as Spring River (AR), Clear Creek (TN), the Hiwassee or Warrior River. For these rivers, please attend a Swiftwater Rescue class.
This is not a paddling class; if you do not have basic paddling skills, please first attend Intro to Kayaking or Intro to Rivers.
Cost
The cost of the training is $150 per person.
If we have to cancel the class for any reason, participants will receive a full refund.
Requirements: Basic swimming and paddling ability
Required Equipment:
- Boat/paddle craft
- Paddle
- PFD (life jacket)
- Whistle
- Clothing suitable for swimming
- Closed-toed footwear that will not come off while swimming and will protect your feet when walking in water and on rocks. (Old sneakers work great.)
- Proper Attire – poly/synthetic, nylon, hat, rain jacket
- Lunch, Water Bottle, Snacks.
- No bare legs (tights or synthetic long underwear worn under shorts is acceptable).
- Watersports specific Helmet (no bike helmets).
- Appropriate boat flotation. If you have any questions on this please contact Tom Burroughs
Helmet will be required on moving water. A few helmets will be available for students to borrow but if you have access to a helmet, please bring it with you.
Recommended Equipment:
- Paddle float
- Bilge pump or bailer
- Waist-belt tow rope
- Throw rope (50' of 3/8” rope in a throw bag; rivers)
The class will consist of 2-3 hours of classroom / dry land time, and 4-5 hours of in-water time practicing rescues each day. Saturday will be focused on lake skills and Sunday will be focused on River skills.
Your instructors will be ACA (American Canoe Association) certified River Rescue or River Kayaking Instructors. The class will contain lectures, group discussions, demonstrations and lots of actual hands-on practice where you will learn how to rescue yourself, how to rescue someone else, how to be rescued by someone else...and how to avoid problems in the first place!
*Kids are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian and if they can swim and paddle independently.
For additional information contact
Tom Burroughs or
Chris Hugo.
Other Details
This will be a Bluff City Canoe Club (BCCC) sanctioned event and insurance will be required. The BCCC encourages everyone to join the American Canoe Association (ACA) and help them in promoting all paddle sports.
Click Here to Join the ACA.
If you are not a member of the ACA, you will be required to pay a $10 one time event insurance fee. This will be collected on the day of the event. Please bring exact cash or a check.
Whether you are an ACA member or not, you MUST have completed an ACA Waiver. We will have waivers available at the event.
COVID PROTOCOL:
If you have any symptoms or Covid exposure that lead you to think that you may be a risk to the other students in the class, please let Chris Hugo know so that your cancelation can be approved.
Click here for the OSRE Covid Waiver
You will be asked to complete a Health Screening Questionnaire during the week prior to class and masks will be required on land at all times. Class size is being limited to minimize the chances of group exposure. You will be required to sign a waiver to attend this class.