Welcome

I hope you can join our paddle community. We are a family and singles friendly group, and often include our dog kayaker friends as well. In Arizona, there are places to paddle all year round, and our paddle club will be exploring many of the waterways throughout Arizona, and beyond. For the joy of floating, and the appreciation of venturing out to some relatively pristine and magnificent natural habitats. Any motor-less boat is welcome, though most of us use a kayak.

Float Types and Locations

We will be doing mainly flat water floats, all of which will be suitable for the inexperienced unless otherwise stated. For those with more experience and interest, there will be opportunities to do some swift water, class 1 and class 2 paddles. The book Paddling Arizona refers about 17 low elevation lakes, and about 20 high country lakes. During the warm season, we will mainly visit the more remote high country lakes, and in the cooler season the lower elevation rivers and lakes. A popular summer float in the valley would be moonlight paddles at several waterways.

Our visits to the high country lakes will often involve some car camping due to the distance from the city. Naturally, the car camping trips will be open to those who just want to spend the day with us, or find a hotel near our location. Included in our camping trips will be opportunities to hike, fish, do photography. We also plan some paddle camping trips, i.e., paddling with equipment to sites along the waterways.

Instruction

While most of our trips are appropriate for beginners who may have never been in a boat, keep in mind that we are a social networking group, and our organizers and hosts are not designated with the responsibility to teach paddling or boating skills (See list of Responsibilities below). On every trip, those that are experienced share their knowledge with the inexperienced. Instruction for flat-water and whitewater will be occasionally available through our community, including safety rescue practice.

Funding

We are a non-profit organization, a formal status provided by the IRS. While donations to our club are not tax-deductable, a status we may apply for in the future, we have a donation fund to help us with our club activities. At this time, we have no paid officers, and no one makes any money from our events. Our donation fund is (or will be) used for the following:

1. pay in advance for group campsites, to be refunded eventually by attendees

2. website fees.

3. signs for members to find us at events

4. donations to paddle friendly non profit organizations

We request donations for all of our events that are primarily organized by Paddle Arizona. If we are participating in an event organized by other clubs or venders (e.g., Paddle Fest), we do not request any donations. For a day event, we request 3 to 5 dollars, and for a multi-day event, 5 to 10 dollars. An alternative to "pay for the event" donation, you may give a $50 a year donation for all events you want to attend. For all of our organized events, there will be a Paypal link next to your name listed for the event. If you prefer, you may choose to bring cash or check to the event.

At this time, we have agreed to give 10% (more or less depending on our budget) to the River of Dreams, a non-profit organization with the mission to serve handicapped persons who need assistance to participate in sports activities, including kayaking.

http://river-of-dreams.com/

Rentals

If you do not have a boat, and want to join our activities, you can post our desire to borrow a boat in the comment section of any of our activities. We ask if you borrow a boat from a member, that you give a $20 donation to Paddle Arizona. There are also several Kayak rental places in the valley, including the Hiking Shack, Arizona Outdoor Fun, and Sports Chalet. Rental fees may be about $40 per day. Occasionally we may have a special arrangement with a kayak rental place for discounts, and the rental place will be listed as a sponsor on our home page.

Rules and Responsibilities

Because we are a networking group, we do not carry liability insurance. Instead, to minimize liability, and to increase awareness, responsibility, and best practices in safe boating, we use the following disclaimer, and list of safety rules and responsibilities. If you do not agree then don’t join our group.

By joining Paddle Arizona, you are making an agreement to the following disclaimer, safety rules, and responsibilities.

Disclaimer & Assumption of Risk/Liability:

Paddling, like all sports have inherent risks and dangers. All paddlers (on behalf of him/her self and his/her minor children) are responsible for their own safety during Paddle Arizona floats, voluntarily accepts any and all risks of injury, harm, medical conditions, or property damage, assumes all liabilities, and waives any and all damages against Paddle Arizona (including its organizers, hosts, and members).

"Paddle Club Safety Rules and Responsibilities"

Responsibilities

1.     Paddling Arizona, as many groups organized through meetup.com, is a networking group. Our organizers and hosts are not designated with the responsibility to teach paddling or boating skills.

2.     Our organizers and hosts are people who like to float, not necessarily expert paddlers.

3.     The host of each of our Paddle Arizona paddling trip events has some responsibility to post a description of our proposed trips, with suggestions about when and where we will go, and how we will get there.

4.     No one is leading any of our floats, or providing any formal instruction.

5.     Paddlers who join us will be responsible for themselves, and parents are responsible for their minors.

6.     You have a responsibility to ask questions and to share any concerns you might have about your abilities with the group before you launch and to make sure you are in a group where at least one other person has enough experience and is willing to take you under their wing or assist you when needed.

7.     As a community of peers, everyone should watch out for each other.

8.     Decisions about activities on trips are often made collectively, on the spot, by those who show up. Occasionally, but rarely, people that show up split into smaller groups each going their own direction based on similar interests. Members of each group are then responsible to watch out for each other.

9.   Paddle Arizona will sponsor formal instruction by experienced and expert paddlers (who may or may not be members of Paddle Arizona), outside of the scheduled paddle trip events, at various venues in the valley, to teach members skills for flat water, white water, and safety and rescue skills. The instructors may charge a fee to pay for the instruction.

Safety

1.     Most of our floats will be flat water floats on lakes and some rivers, and are normally suitable for persons who have little or no experience as paddlers.

2.     Some of our river floats may involve some class 1 or 2 white water, and may be suitable for those persons with prior experience and instruction. Members who lack experience will be responsible to consider taking formal instruction prior to the trips.

3.     Members agree to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest while paddling in the boat.

4.     Members agree to remain sober while paddling.

5.     Occasionally when people paddle the boat may go over for one reason or another (e.g., a strong wind). Wearing a vest and remaining sober will ensure optimal safety.

6.     One of the main events raising safety issues on a flat water venture is wind, which could make it difficult to paddle to our designated exit position, or may create some waves that occasionally may turn the boat over. To repeat once more, wearing a vest and remaining sober will ensure optimal safety.

7.     During long floats, especially river floats, the group members may get dispersed as some floaters float faster then others. It is important that each person is visible by some member of the group. On long floats, a relatively experienced paddler may be designated as the “sweep”, and will remain behind the paddling group. On lake floats with a small shoreline, this may be unnecessary.

8.     Safety aids that are essential to carry are

a. Plenty of water

b. Sun screen

c. Snacks

d. hat

e. extra set of dry clothes

9.     Safety aids that not everyone needs to carry are:

A whistle (that can be used if a safety concern arises, so other members can locate where you are and come to your aid), a rope (to lash onto a boat with a paddler that needs aid, a knife (to cut the rope), a first aid kit.

[From the Preface of Sea Kayaker, Deep Trouble by Christopher Cunningham]

A kayak puts you in touch with the elements. You feel the water on your hands, the wind on your face, and the sights, scents, and sounds of the coast surrounding you. The kayak feels like an extension of your body: it responds to your every move, and through it you can feel the water moving beneath you. For many of us a kayak is the means by which we can take in the full measure of the rich ...environment. But the environment where air, water, and land meet is notoriously variable, and the intimate connection a kayak provides with that environment leaves us exposed and vulnerable to forces that can easily overpower us.