ERA ANNUAL KIDS' KAYAK WEEK
2010 Camp: July 1st - July 4th

What Kids' Week is All About:

Who is Kids Week for? EVERYONE! Or at least everyone between the ages of seven and fifteen who is stuck on the idea of kayaking.
How Does it all Work?
Each day we have whitewater kayak sessions going different skill levels. And for 2009 we will also have guest ERA kid instructors to help out. Each day offers one of two sessions, with a description of the session and prerequisites needed. Do not feel obligated sign sign up for every day—or to sign up for just one day. There is flexibility in the schedule to accommodate everyone’s need.
New in 2010! Slalom Training Day as the grand finale!

Session Times: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m each day
Cost: Each session is $110.00/person/day
Lunch,equipment and transportation are included in the price of the session.
Group Size: Maximum 5 kids per instructor
Please note: The focus of this week is to combine fun and learning! Our goal is to make you a better kayaker. No parent tag-a-longs please!

Detailed 2010 Itinerary

Thursday, July 1st
Meet & Greet for Everyone from 8:45-9 a.m.

Session:Review Day & Bring A Friend
The focus on day one is to give an initial introduction to kayaking to new kayakers while surrounding them with experienced paddlers working on their advanced skills. We will start on the lake for the morning, followed by an afternoon paddle down a Class II River. For experienced boaters, this is the opportunity to brush up on your technique, work on your roll (right-hand, left-hand and hand rolls), and begin working on play boating technique.
Prerequisities: This day is for all skill levels.

Have a friend you want to get hooked on paddling? Bring your friend along for the day at no additional cost. Only stipulation: friends cannot have taken instruction with us before

Friday, July 2nd
Meet & Greet for EVeryone from 8:45-9 a.m.

Session One: Tuck Gorge Day Class II
This is a day of warm water and fun rapids. It can be your first time down the Tuck Gorge or a refresher play-day run.
Prerequisites: Time has been spent on flat water, comfort with wet exits (doent's mean you have to love them, but you will do them); at least one run down a Class II moving river; a willingness to get more comfortable with the whitewater part of kayaking.

Session Two: Nantahala Day
Rock and Roll! This is for any boater who wants to learn new moves on the Nantahala and become more confident running Nantahala Falls. Prerequisites: Comfort on Nantahala-type Class II-III rapids and a motivation to knock out moves on the Nantahala.

Saturday, July 3rd
Meet & Greet for Everyone from 8:45-9 a.m.

Session One: Nantahala Day Class II-III
This session is open for experienced Nantahala paddlers, as well as first-timers. We will use more than one put-in, so those who want to paddle from top to bottom may do so; as well as those who are ready for their first run down the river.
Prerequisites: Comfort on moving Class II water, an understanding of river running techniques (ferrying, eddy catching).

Session Two: Class III River Running on Ocoee or Pigeon
Have the Nantahala dialed in? Rolling at Nantahala Falls? Ready for the next step? Then it is time for the next step. With the Pigeon, Ocoee as options, we will taylor the day to the group and what they want to work on. pushier rapids and great play spots.
Prerequisites: A solid roll, comfort running Nantahala Falls, mental comfort with tackling pushier rapids and checking out great play spots. Depending on the river we do, we can arrange to meet participants at the river.

Sunday, July 4th
Meet & Greet for Everyone from 8:45-9am. This is Family Day!

Kids Slalom Day
New for 2010!!
Tapping into the treasure chest of past and currently training olympic slalom boaters that work and play in the Nantahla Gorge, this will be a day of slalom training. We will do a mixed bag of personal boats and slalom boats and work on strategy, prep work and actual gates. This is valuable training regardless of whether you have the goal of being a great whitewater kayaker or maybe trying out the slalom angle of kayaking.

Additional Activities

Kids Swap - Saturday July 3rd. From 8AM-8PM AT ERA

No, this is not the opportunity to swap kids. But to swap kids gear!! We will have an area set up where gear can be swapped, bartered, exchanged (okay, maybe kids too--but we get first choice for new staff). Check out the Kids Swap Page for more information.

Networking:
Parents use each morning's meet and greet time to enjoy some of our Costa Rican coffee and find other parents looking to play. We will set up an email exchange ahead of camp for parents to communicate and hook up to go and have some fun also!

Small Town 4th of July Festival, Bryson City
Enjoy Bryson City’s All-American 4th of July Festival. This is an all-day affair just jam-packed with fun for all ages. River Front Park is headquarters for the fun. Included in the festival:
5K Race – registration at 8am, Race start at 9am, awards at 9:30
Games, Crafts and Entertainment for kids: all day; pet show, puppetry, watermelon contest, potato sack race and raft rides on the Tuckaseegee.
Fontana Jam – live country music from 7 – 9:30
Firework Show – 9:30 (with the Railroad parking lot the best place to be!)

Stay Tuned for More additional activites to come!