Southern NSW - Venturer, Rover & Leader flat-water canoe/kayak Trained Participant Workshop (Overnight expedition format

Workshop Aim: This series of paddling workshops are aimed at providing Venturers, Rovers and Leaders with opportunity:

• To establish and maintain a safe, competent and networked Scouting flat-water paddling community capable of supporting, enabling and facilitating Youth paddling opportunities.
• To develop the foundation skills, knowledge, attitudes and abilities/experience (Kayak or Canoe) necessary to enable activity leaders to progress towards paddling competency and water activity supervision capacity required to plan and lead safe, fun, challenging and rewarding paddling activities in inland flat-waters, such as lakes, dams and rivers in less than moderate wind conditions, where the current is less than one knot, within 400 meters of shore. 
• In addition to face-to-face learning, provide opportunity to accumulate logged performance evidence to contribute towards currency and/or qualification in Scout and/or VET Flat, Moving and Whitewater paddling Units of Competency (Safe Participant, Trained Participant, Assistant Guide and Guide).

Scheduling: This workshop is one of a series of workshops:

• Weekend of 14-15 Oct 2023 – Flat-water canoe/kayak Trained Participant Workshop (Exped format)  – Kangaroo River / Lake Yarrunga – Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend 0f 11-12 Nov 2023 – Introduction to white-water canoe/kayak workshop – Childowla/Nanagroe (Murrumbidgee River). Camping at Nanangroe Capsite on the Murrumbidgee River – Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend of TBC late 2023 – White-water paddling and River Rescue Skills Development – River TBC (location and campsite to be confirmed subject to water levels) – Cost TBC.

Kayak and canoe participation. Kayak and canoe skills development will be separated during the workshops, so participants will need to select either Kayak or Canoe. 

Activity Pre-requisites. There will be no prior experience required for those who attend all of the workshops. If individuals seek to participate in the Whitewater or Moving Water workshop, without participation in the flat-water workshop, they will need to have completed a recent Guide run paddle and rescue skills development package or have Guide witnessed skills/experience.

Equipment. Participants will select kayak or canoe for these workshops. Participants will require an appropriate servicable paddle, PFD, whistle, wetsuit (or dry suit), water shoes, Cag / rain coat, barrels/floatation, white-water helmet, sleeping gear/tent, food and cooking gear, etc (A detailed packing list will be provided to registered participants by email). All personal gear for the activity and for sleeping and eating during the activity will be carried in boats, wioth no access to cars at the night location. Those seeking to kayak will be required to bring a Kayak. There are a limited number of canoes available on request. Particpant kayak/canoe arrangements will need to be confirmed with the Workshop Activity Leader (Mic Doyle) at least a week prior to the workshop (There will be scope for participants to borrow from a limited pool of paddle equipment, barrels/flotation, paddles, etc). Canoes and kayaks intended to be used will need to be a suitable modern plastic hull design (It would be useful if boat type and make could be confirmed as part of registration). 

Activity Area. This activity will be conducted on Lake Yarunga and the Kangaroo River between Tallowa Dam and Honeysuckle Campsite. 

Catering. This workshop will be self-catered by participants. Participants should bring breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and water to each workshop for consumption during allocated breaks (There is no scope to buy takeway food during breaks, as breaks will occur on the water where there are no shops nor refrigeration. there willbe no access to vehicles during the activity and camping is occuring away from vehicles).

Accommodation. Participants will be overnight camping on the evening of Saturday 14 October 2023 at an available and open campsite on the Kangaroo River arm of Lake Yarunga (Campsites are managed on a first come first claim basis - likely in vicinity of Sawyers or Bee Hive). Participants may wish to camp at the Bendeela Recreation Reserve on the evening of Friday 13 October 2023, to allow arrival at Tallowa Dam in sufficient time for the workshop start time (Camping at Bendeela Recreation Reserve on Friday 13 October 2023 need to be books ahead of time by participants through the on-line booking system at a costs $6.00 per booking at: https://nsw.rezexpert.com/book?business_code=500675). 

Transport. Own means or car-pooling as arranged with participants from similar areas.

Workshop Locations. The workshop location and campsites will be confirmed in the week leading up to the workshop, based on safe water conditions and levels. Where water conditions and levels are not appropriate for the safe conduct of a workshop, every effort will be made to find an alternative location for the workshop.

Qualification Acquisition. This workshop will present opportunities for development and to demonstrate evidence required for Scout and/or SAIT VET qualifications. All participants seeking qualifications should register with the Scouts Australia Institute of Training (SAIT) and complete the Adventurous Activities On-Demand Scout Central e-Learning units relevant to the level of qualification they hold or seek (Core, Common Core and Canoeing/Kayaking). Workbooks will be made available on request to participants for preparation of knowledge evidence for Scout and/or SAIT VET qualifications.