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 Caney Fork, Cumberland, Harpeth, Piney or Stones Rivers. It is not intended for paddlers who plan to paddle Class II or higher whitewater rivers such as Clear Creek, the Hiwassee, Ocoee, Nantahala or Tuckaseegee rivers. For these rivers, please attend TSRA's Basic River Rescue or Swiftwater Rescue. This is not a paddling class; if you do not have basic paddling skills, please first attend Intro to Kayaking or Intro to Rivers.
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.)
Recommended Equipment:• boat flotation bags• paddle float• bilge pump or bailer• helmet (optional)• waist-belt tow rope (lakes)• throw rope (50' of 3/8” rope in a throw bag) (rivers)
Class starts at 8:30 a.m. Class will end promptly at 5 p.m
River Day Location: Harpeth River Golf Range, 7629 Old Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37221
River day will also have 2-3 hours of classroom / dry land time and 4-5 hours of time on a slow moving river. Water levels permitting, we will be on the Harpeth River for river day.
Your instructors will be ACA (American Canoe Association) certified Swiftwater Rescue or River Kayaking Instructors. The class will contain videos, 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 both can swim and paddle independently.
For questions, please contact Samantha Satterfield samantha@paddletsra.org or Gary Weatherford gary@paddletsra.org
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