Local students learn about kayaking
paddling - The Claresholm Aquatic Centre has been offering sessions on kayaking to students in Claresholm, Stavely, Granum, and Nanton schools over the past few weeks. Here, a group of students from Stavely Elementary School take their turn in the water on Jan. 10. In back from left are Kilee Lange, Karson Eskeland, and Haylee Creason, while in front from left are Noah Scott, Alexis Pineo, and Alex Loewen. Photo by Rob Vogt
By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer
It is a chance for students to learn a little bit more about the sport of kayaking.
The past few weeks students from West Meadow Elementary and Willow Creek Composite High Schools in Claresholm, Stavely Elementary School, Granum School, and A.B. Daley School in Nanton have hit the water at the Claresholm Aquatic Centre where they get hands-on experience and instruction in kayaking.
The equipment comes from the Alberta Whitewater Association who provides 18 kayaks, 17 paddles and 14 sprayskirts for four weeks from Dec. 16, 2018 to Jan. 18, 2019 for the aquatic centre to use for the purpose of teaching kayaking in the pool.
The program began in Claresholm back in 2016 when the pool received a grant from the Alberta Whitewater Association that included the training of two instructors.
One was Ethan Watt, who is entering his third year of teaching kayaking.
Denise Spencer, the town’s recreation manager, said Watt is perfect for the role.
“He does kayaking,” she said. “He likes the outdoors and he is that adventurous soul.”
Students learned how to get into the kayak, paddle, how to get back into the kayak if they have tipped over, and much more.