Canoe skills "Discover" course - Maidenhead Canoe Club

Maidenhead Canoe Club has been launched, with membership at just £20 per year. Once new members have joined, they must attend the Discover course, taught by qualified club coaches, to learn basic canoe and river skills.

This lasts six hours in three two hour lessons and costs just £27. It takes place on:

Monday 18 August 1830-2030
Monday 25 August 1830-2030
Monday 1 September 1830-2030

On completing the Discover course, members are free to join club paddles and trips at no extra cost.

There are no changing facilities so please arrive dressed ready for the water. Boats, paddles, buoyancy aids are all provided.

Maidenhead Canoe Club is affiliated to Paddle UK. All our activities are insured. The course will be led by a qualified coach who also has qualifications in first aid and river safety and rescue.

The Discover course includes:

1. Getting ready for the water
   · Canoe clothing – what to wear
   · What equipment will I use?
2. At the venue
   · What water will I paddle, where can I go, are there any restrictions?
   · Weather forecast and river conditions
   · Accessing the water – getting in and out of my boat
3. On the water
   · Skill levels, how to control my boat
   · Paddling forwards and backwards, turning
   · River etiquette and respecting wildlife
   · River rescue basics
4. After the session
   · Consider how it went, how I can improve, what have I learned
   · Watching others and learning from fellow paddlers
   · What equipment worked well and not so well for me
   · Which type of craft do I prefer
5. Future development
   · Each day on the water is different, how can I improve?
   · Do I want to specialise in one type of craft, such as canoe or kayak?
   · What are the next steps on my paddle journey?
   · What training or learning could help me develop?

Please pay the £20 annual canoe club membership (reduced to £15 if you have paid for a taster session) plus £27 course fee.

Please pay in advance by bank transfer Maidenhead Waterways Restoration Group (our legal name), Account 00015476, Sort Code 40-52-40, at CAF Bank, adding your SURNAME/DISCOVER for reference. We are a charity so please use gift aid if you can.

Places are limited and booking is essential. Please pay at least 48 hours in advance or we will offer your place to someone on the waiting list.