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Member Led (Independent)
Club Outing - you must provide your own kayak and
related gear- Don't have your own boat, you can purchase one
from the Chicago Kayak Shack in time to get out on the
water.
Buy a Kayak
It is your responsibility to contact the trip leader to
discuss your skill level and determine if the trip is
appropriate for you. The trip leader is listed on the
calendar page, click on their name to send them an e-mail.
Club Led (Sponsored) Outing - your kayak and gear are
provided
**Each
outing will have a trip leader and a co- leader or
assistant. This is designed so that the person pulling the
trailer, does not have to do everything on their own. The
co-leader or assistant will help new members select boats,
get their equipment ready, and show them where to put
personal item etc. Each member will be required to fulfill
this role at least once per year. You can do this after
attaining a Level 3 status.
Level 1 Beginner -Suitable for your first
paddle after taking class. Calm, protected water and an easy
pace. At this paddle you will get assistance from another
member with picking your kayak and assembling the required
gear.
Level 2 Beginner - Suitable for those who
are new. Level 2 is held at a slightly quicker pace OR may
involve camping overnight. Wave height under 1 foot, wind
speed under 10 knots. Prerequisite: Completion of 1 to 2
outings at level 1.
Level 3 Advanced Beginner- Lake Michigan or
other large bodies of water. Wave height 1-3 feet, wind
under 10 knots. You are able to get your gear ready on your
own as well as assist others. Prerequisite: 3 paddles at
level 1 or 2. You have practiced the Assisted Rescue at
least once outside of class and carry appropriate safety
gear. After 2 of these Level 3 paddles, you are certified to
assist with leading trips.
Level 4 Intermediate Lake MI or other large
bodies of water. These paddles may involve long distances at
fast paces. Wave height 2-4 feet and wind speeds of up to
20 knots. Paddles in areas where there are few landings, or
little chance of help. Remote areas or encounters with
wildlife or full moon paddles on Lake MI can also merit this
rating. Prerequisite 3 level 3 paddles. You will have
co-assisted at least one trip. Recommended class:
Intermediate 1 or Intermediate 2.
Level 5 - Leader - This level is for those
who wish to lead trips. These are special training sessions
that are free to members who have completed a minimum of 8
trips and exhibit good leadership and communications skills,
as well as common sense and developing kayaking skills.
If the Leader column is still blank that means we
are looking for a volunteer to coordinate. This does not
mean you need to drive the trailer, On shorter trips, this
means you will be in charge out on the water and if
appropriate, check the marine forecast and make decisions
about the viability of the trip given that forecast. For
longer trips, you would organize, make reservations (where
applicable), gather information, and be the contact person
for that trip.
** For outings where there are hotel or campsite or entrance
fee expense, we have done our best to approximate these.
Please realize that total cost may be more or less than
noted.
Details
Kayaking Skokie Lagoons, Kayaking in Chicago on Lake
Michigan, the Chicago River, or any other kayaking outings
Whether kayaking the Skokie Lagoons, or in Chicago on Lake
Michigan, these kayak outings are a fantastic way to get
out and enjoy kayaking in the Chicago area. Open to all CKC
members on a first come first served basis. Bring your own
Kayak or use one of ours! Join us at no cost -simply rsvp
via e-mail. Prerequisite: You must have taken the Intro to
Kayaking Class or have the equivalent skills. You must be a
CKC member to participate. This is not a class, but a
recreational paddle. While you certainly don't have to be an
expert - you should have kayaking skills and be self
sufficient. Weather conditions may force us to cancel.
Last minute changes will be posted to our Yahoogroups e-mail
list. You must rsvp for any of the paddles or hikes to
attend. Please send an e-mail rsvpchicagokayak@comcast.net
Assisting with Kayaking Trips
New members need lots of help! They might have just taken their class
the week before, or it might have been months ago! Usually people
forget things like how to adjust footpegs, which skirts go with which
boats, they forget to take safety gear, and they frequently need help
choosing a boat that is appropriate for their body type and skill level.
This is evident when you see someone who is 6 feet tall pulling off a
13.5 foot kayak. Nowhere for their legs! Sometimes I see members
with two mismatched paddles, trying to put on a kids size PFD, or other
interesting experments
Since I pull the trailer most of the time, and teach classes, members
look to me for help with these tasks. It is impossible for me to
personally help 10-15 members, all arriving at different times, with all
of these things. This is where you come in!
All members, are encouraged at some point to "assist" with a kayak
outing. Ok, well this year we made it a club requirement. The work
load is getting too great for whomever pulls the trailer and we want to
be sure that getting out is a team effort, and that one or two people
are not continually getting swamped with questions.
For each outing, there will be a minimum of 2-3 members who will be
there to help the newer ones sort out gear and get ready for launch.
This is a great way for members to learn more, and also a way for
everyone to get to know each other a little better. This frees me
up to untie boats, get my gear ready, move or park the trailer, and
store any extra gear in the truck or do anything else that needs done.
This will help the newer members immensely and make them feel much more
welcome and confident that they have the right equipment and the
right kayak
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