Southern NSW - Venturer, Rover and Leader - River Rescue Course (Canoe / Kayak)

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

• To establish and maintain a safe, competent and networked Scouting 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 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 01/02 March 2025 – Flat-water canoe/kayak Workshop (Exped format)  – Kangaroo River / Lake Yarrunga – Cost $45.00 per participant.
• Weekend of 05/06 Aprill 2025 - Paddle Australia White Water guide Course - Canberra Area (Registrations through PAddle NSW)
• Weekend 0f 26/27 April 2025 – Introduction to white-water canoe/kayak workshop – Murrumbidgee River (Childowla to Nanagroe). Camping at Nanagroe Campsite  – Cost $42.00 per participant
• Weekend 0f 03/04 May 2025 – River Rescue Skills Course (canoe/kayak) – Cotter River (Cotter Bend, ACT). Camping at Cotter Bend Campsite – Cost $48.00 per participant.

Activity Pre-requisites. There will be no prior experience required for those who attend all of the workshops. If individuals seek to participate in a Whitewater or Moving Water workshop, without participation in the a preceeding 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.

Catering. This course 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. Camping is occuring at vehicles, but food breaks during the day will not occur in vicninity fo vehicles).

Qualification Acquisition. This workshop will present opportunities for development and to demonstrate evidence required for Scout Skills and/or 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 / Skills Sheets / Assessment sheets will be made available on request to participants for preparation of knowledge evidence for Scout and/or SAIT VET qualifications. 

Transport amd paddle craft transport. Own means or car-pooling as arranged with participants from similar areas.

Course Locations. This activity will be conducted on the Cotter and Murrumbidgee River in vicinity of Cotter Mouth, Cotter bend and Cotter Campground. Camping will occur at the Cotter campground (Booking of campsites is a participants own responsibility). Participants may wish to camp at Cotter campground on the eveing of Friday 02 May 2025, to allow arirval in sufficient time for the workshop start time. 

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.

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, note pad/pen, etc (A detailed packing list will be provided to registered participants by email). All sleeping and cooking gear will be left in cars, as there will be access to cars at the night location. Participants are required to bring a whitewater kayak or canoe. 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, with prior arrangement, 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).