Southern NSW - Venturer, Rover and Leader - White-water Paddling and River Rescue Skills Workshop (Canoe / Kayak)

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 white-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 white-waters, up to anf including Grade 2 waterways. 
• 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 25-26 March 2023 – Flat-water Canoe/Kayak Trained Participant Workshop – Riverina Region (Lake Burrunjuck - Wee Jasper) - Cost $40 per participant. 
• Weekend of 31 March – 02 April 2023 – Flat-water canoe/kayak Trained Participant Workshop (Exped format)  – Kangaroo River / Lake Yarrunga – Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend of 14-16 April 2023 – Moving Water canoe/kayak Workshop (Exped format)  – Tumut or Murrumbidgee River (location to be confirmed subject to water levels) - Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend 0f 28-30 April 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 19-21 May 2023 – White-water paddling and River Rescue Skills Development – Cotter, Murrumbidgee and/or Shoalhaven River (location and campsite to be confirmed subject to water levels) – Cost $42.00 per participant.

Kayak and canoe participation. Participants will need to select either Kayak or Canoe. 

Activity Pre-requisites. Those who attend this workshop will need to have completed an introduction to whitewater workshop or have completed a recent Guide run whitewater 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, throw bag, white-water helmet, sleeping gear/tent, food and cooking gear, 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. Those seeking to kayak will be required to bring a whitewater 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 the Murrumbidgee River and Cotter River, subject to safe water levels. 

Catering. This workshop will be self-catered by participants. Particiopants 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 will be no access to vehicles during the activity. Camping is occuring at vehicles).

Accommodation. Participants will be overnight camping on the evening of Saturday 20 May 2023 at Cotter public campground. Participants may wish to camp at the Cotter public campground on the evening of Friday 19 April 2023, to allow arirval in sufficient time for the workshop start time. Campsites will need to be booked by participants. 

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. The alternate waterways are the Shoalhaven River or Goobragandra River. 

Qualification Acquisition. This workshop will not be sufficient for accomplishment of complex whitewater / River Rescue qualifications, but will provide development of basic whitewater rescue skills. This activity will involve swimming of rapids and the fitness necessary to self-rescue from whitewater. This workshop will present opportunities 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.