Southern NSW - Venturer, Rover and Leader - White-water Skills Development 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 in white-waters up to and 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 of 14-15 Oct 2023 – Flat-water canoe/kayak Trained Participant Workshop (Exped format)  – Kangaroo River / Lake Yarrunga – Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend of 11-12 Nov 2023 – White-water Skills Development canoe/kayak workshop – Childowla/Nanagroe (Murrumbidgee River). Camping at Nanangroe Capsite on the Murrumbidgee River – Cost $42.00 per participant.
• Weekend of TBC Late2023 – 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. Those who attend this workshop will need to have completed a flat-water workshop or have completed a recent Guide run paddle and rescue skills development package or have Guide witnessed paddle and rescue 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 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 between Bidgee Lee and Nanagroe. 

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 29 April 2023 at Nanagroe campsite on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. Participants may wish to camp at the Nanagroe campsite on the eveing of Friday 28 April 2023, to allow arirval  in sufficient time for the workshop start time. 

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. This activity will involve swimming of rapids and the fitness necessary to self-rescue from whitewater. 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.