Outdoor Paragon Canoeing

http://op.davidspencer.ca

What is Outdoor Paragon? Outdoor Paragon is a free web resource portal for experiential, environmental, outdoor and recreation education hosted on David Spencer's Education Paragon. Resources include green energy sources, astronomy, birding, camping, canoeing, climbing, conservation, dogsledding, environmental issues, geocaching, hiking, indigenous plant species, kayaking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, wilderness ethics and wilderness survival. Learn about the history of the Outdoor Paragon Professional Learning Network and the now defunct Outdoor Paragon E-Newsletter. Please consider joining the 385 members of Outdoor Paragon and subscribe to the Ecosource Trailblazers Newsletter and Beyond Our Classroom and COEO: Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario Outdoor Paragon on Facebook Outdoor Paragon on Flickr COEO: Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario on LinkedIn

Outdoor Paragon Canoeing on May 31, 2011

David Spencer and Outdoor Paragon members organized this after school professional learning session with financial support from the Instructional Coordinator for Health and Physical Education at the Peel District School Board. Participants spent 2 hours on land and canoeing at Professors Lake on Tuesday May 31, 2011.

Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid shows a powerful draw stroke as she and David paddle into the wind towards the canoeing participants. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Canoeing Instructors included:

1. Sue McDermid, Canoeing Instructor
2. Rob Chassels, Canoeing Instructor
3. James Nunes, Canoeing Instructor
4. David Spencer, Lead Canoeing Instructor and Organizer

Participants and Their Comments About the Canoeing Session:

1. Tammy Bowman "I learned about holding the canoe between your legs when someone is getting in. Being with other educators was a good way to observe how they might teach a skill to their students, rather than other groups who might be just learning it for themselves."
2. Man Cao "I learned the names of canoeing strokes, caneoing techniques, how to rescue a tipped canoe, and canoe games. It was great to have team collaboration."
3. Fiona Crocker
4. Zamina Daniel "It was great. Teamwork in the outdoors is very important. The session was a good opportunity to exchange ideas and meet people. The event was well organized."
5. Cathy De Rubeis "This class was good review for me. It has been 5 years since I have gone paddling. Everyone was open to learning and we shared common interests."
6. Celine Di Nova "I learned how to maneuver the half moon stroke, and how to stop a canoe, and move backward. I found working with educator's a very positive experience - we all love to learn."
7. Kate Lee " I learned two new strokes: the draw and feathering. This canoeing session allowed me to connect with another educator at my school that I wouldn't necessarily have had the opportunity to work with."
8. Linda Lively
9. Peter Luu "I learned about a place that is close to my school. Glad to learn about the access to rentals for canoeing, swimming and water programs. I picked up some great ideas from other educators about other programs. We were talking of different ways to use our community (new ideas) to include into the phys. ed program.For me, the session was a good refresher on the basic strokes to padding, getting into the canoe, canoe over canoe rescue."
10. Divya Na "I learned four new strokes and the technical terms for front and back of the canoe. It was also good to know what the canoes are made of. It was good to compete with other educators in the no paddles canoe race."
11. Nikki Pineau
12. Michelle Quinn "I learned different paddle strokes, types of canoes, safety, class lesson ideas and outdoor class management. The canoeing session was a huge benefit because the focus was how to work with students, sharing of lesson ideas and group management and safety. I enjoyed it emmensely!"
13. Valerie Shepherd
14. Nancy Skinner "Everything was new to me as I had never canoed before. Learning with a group of educators was excellent and provided a great networking benefit. I found the instructors were great and I would love to learn more.
15. Stephanie Skye
16. Jonelle St. Aubyn
17. Julie Smitka "Thank you again for the canoeing... it was terrific!!! These photos are terrific!"
18. Branka Stojanovic "Thank you for giving me an opportunity to participate in your Canoeing Session. I learned to sweep, stop, reverse and use different strokes. In addition to that, I have learned to trust another person in order to complete the task.
19. Jennifer Turner "I learned some new strokes that helped me with my paddling ability. I met some new people who had similar interests to me. Learning with a group of educators showed me that we are all dealing with the same issues and we could relate to each other.
20. Truong Vu
21. Brian Waltman
22. Kubra Yousuf

Photo #1: Canoeing instructor James Nunes leads the group of enthusiastic educators in a game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #2: Canoeing instructor James Nunes leads the group of enthusiastic educators in a game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #3: Canoeing instructor James Nunes leads the group of enthusiastic educators in a game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #4: Canoeing instructor James Nunes leads the group of enthusiastic educators in a game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #5: Nancy Skinner breaks out a smile during the game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #6: Participants try to balance their paddles during the game of James' Paddle Circle Spin. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #7: Canoeing instructor Rob Chassels teaches about the parts of the canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #8: Canoeing instructor Rob Chassels teaches about the types of materials used for building a canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #9: Zamina Daniel and Peter Luu demonstrate their skills as tandem paddlers. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #10: Canoeing instructor Rob Chassels keeps a keen eye on participants and offers paddling tips. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #11: Time to "raft up" and discuss paddling skills and pointers. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #12: "Rafting up" and grabbing the gunwales of other canoes without squishing fingers. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #13: Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid shows a cross bow draw on the open water of Professors Lake. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #14: Brian Waltman solos the Coleman canoe with grace. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #15: Nancy Skinner and Nikki Pineau demonstrate their port side powerhouse stroke. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #16: Celine Di Nova and Branka Stojanovic show how to power an aluminum canoe through the water. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #17: Julie Smitka and Divya Na synchronize their strokes. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #18: Julie Smitka and Divya Na show off their light blue Old Town Royalex canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #19: Divya Na demonstrates her bow stroke while Julie Smitka perfects her J-stroke. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #20: Julie Smitka and Divya Na are available for photo shoots and outdoor fashion modelling opportunites. Call 1-800-WOW WE ROCK. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #21: Julie Smitka and Divya Na demonstrate their synconized paddling technique. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #22: Peter Luu gazes into the deep blue wishing he brought his fishing rod and gear. Brian Waltman keeps the group together as we raft up. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #23: Man Cao shows off his wedding ring while paddling with one hand. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #24: The race begins with no canoe paddles. A great way to learn about balance and manoeuvring. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #25: The race with no canoe paddles. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Outdoor Paragon Canoe Over Canoe Rescue on May 31, 2011

Outdoor Paragon members David Spencer and Sue McDermid demonstrate a canoe over canoe Rescue at Professors Lake on Tuesday May 31, 2011. Two canoeing workshop participants volunteered to tip their canoe for the cause.

Photo #26: Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid leads the rescue canoe to the overturned canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #27: The first priority in a canoe over canoe rescue is to stabalize the victims. Canoeing instructors Sue McDermid and David Spencer paddle towards the victims instructing them to grab hold of the bow and stern of the rescue canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #28: Canoeing instructor David Spencer explains the rescue procedure to those watching. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #29: Canoeing instructor David Spencer grabs the victim's canoe while canoeing instructor Sue McDermid stablizes the rescue canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #30: Notice how the canoeing victim has secured herself to the bow of the rescue canoe. Canoeing instructor David Spencer flips the victim's canoe upside down and begins to haul the canoe over the centre thwart of the rescue canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #31: Canoeing instructor David Spencer pulls the victim's canoe over the centre thwart of the rescue canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #32: When the victim's canoe is halfway across the rescue canoe, canoeing instructor David Spencer prepares to flip the victim's canoe. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #33: Canoeing instructor David Spencer flips the victim's canoe and guides it back into the water. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #34: Canoeing instructors Sue McDermid and David Spencer stablize the victim's canoe against their rescue canoe. The victims climb in through the stern and bow. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #35: Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid stablizes the victim's canoe and helps a victim climb in through the bow. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #36: The water was refreshing! Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #37: Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid and David Spencer recommend keeping your weight low in the canoe by kneeling. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #38: Canoeing instructor Sue McDermid sets the paddling pace across the lake. Photo courtesy of David Spencer

Photo #39: Thanks to all our instructors and participants. We had a great day on the water. Photo courtesy of David Spencer