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KNOW YOUR STROKES!

Every year, OSSCC offers canoe lessons to teach you safe canoeing practices, and canoe strokes and skills to navigate safely on the water. Whether you are a newbie to the club or a member who has been with us for a while, it never hurts to review and practice the basic canoe strokes we learn in our courses and use on our many trips. Each stroke has a purpose. Do you know what they do? Below are links to resource materials to assist with providing a better understanding of basic canoe strokes we should know and have learned in our lessons.

Forward and Back Stroke

J-Stroke & Canadian C-Stroke (Stern) – includes video

Draw and Cross-Bow Draw Stroke

Pry Stroke

Videos

Path of the Paddle: Double Basics (Bill & Paul Mason)

How to Steer and Paddle a Canoe – Forward Stroke – Bruce Lessels

How to Canoe – 3 Key Strokes all Paddlers Should Know -PaddleTV

Tadem Canoe Basics (Paul & Willa Mason)

Tandem Canoe Essentials (Paul & Willa Mason)

Essential Strokes for Tandem Maneuvers – Westwood Outdoors

Parts of a Canoe/Paddle and Strokes – Northern Tier High Adventure

OSSCC CIVIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY!

eARTH DAY COMMUNITY CLEANUP – April 26-27

Celebrate Earth Day as we work to remove litter from public parks and trails in Waterloo during our annual city-wide cleanup from April 26 to 28, 2019. In the past, the OSSCC has participated so we are asking volunteers to come forward and represent the Club. If anyone is interested in taking the lead on this worthwhile project and/or would like to participate, please contact info@oldsaltsclub.com to get the ball rolling. Your support would be greatly appreciated!

annual stocking of the Conestoga river

Last year, several of our members participated in the annual stocking of the Conestoga River. This year, the stocking will take place on May 8th and May 9th. This is a rain or shine event, but in the event of high water may be cancelled as safety is paramount for volunteers.

Volunteers will be meeting on both days at the Macton access between 9:30 – 10:00 am to break into groups and receive instructions prior to the stocking tanker’s arrival. Total fish around 16,000.

Fish on Wed. the 8th will be all stocked with pails, while on Thurs. the 9th we will be using canoes and pails. If you would like to participate, please let the organizer know. His contact info is: Brad Knarr. His email is: rogue_wave@hotmail.com. Since club canoes won’t be available May 9th because of the Hespeler Pond canoe trip, you would need to bring own.

What to bring: 1) a friend 2) camera 3) sunscreen 4) hat 5) sunglasses 6) weather appropriate clothing 7) boots, waders 8) snacks, beverages (water, pop will be supplied.

This is a rain or shine event, so please contact Brad if you plan on attending, which days,and if you can bring a canoe so he can get an idea of numbers for planning purposes. Last year, those who participated had a great time.

ARE YOU READY? {Training Spots Filling up Fast}

With the 2019 canoe season almost upon us, it seems prudent to provide some resources to review canoe skills for our club members. All our training sessions provide valuable lessons no matter what your skill level and can certainly be taken more than once – you will always learn something new or possibly master a maneuver you couldn’t quite get last year. You can never be over trained when it comes to canoeing!

If you haven’t yet signed up for training, please check out the schedule here and contact Lynn Warmington (lynnwarmington1@gmail.com) asap as spots are filling up fast. We want everyone to enjoy their canoe outings this year and feel confident and safe while doing so! Whether you are content to enjoy the simple tranquility of our “Easy Breezy” outings or want more challenges with our longer and faster moving water trips, there is something for all skill levels. Check out the schedule here or here.

That said, in the following video, Paul Mason and his daughter Willa demonstrate tandem (bow and stern) basics in a canoe. Included is how to properly get in a canoe without tipping, positions in the canoe, and basic stern and bow strokes.

Pond training (free) at the Victoria Pond is strongly encouraged on April 23, 26, and 30. This is the perfect opportunity to practice strokes and other skills, getting in and out of the canoe, etc. before we actually get on the rivers and lakes. You might also want to consider our first “Easy Breezy” on May 9th at Hespeler Pond. Details to follow.

If you have any questions, comment below or contact: info@oldsaltsclub.com

SEASON 2019-2020 {Announcements}

The new season is now upon us as we begin our training and the weather slowly starts warming up to welcome us on the water. Our Membership Drive was a great success and we are very happy to welcome 21 new members to our club. We look forward to meeting you all and seeing you on our trips and at our upcoming social events.

Announcements!

Some members didn’t sign their waivers on page 2 of the membership registrations/applications. You will be getting an email to let you know and to make arrangements for you to get it signed and back to us BEFORE you get on the water. You can get the waiver here.
Here is the link for you to see a copy of the OSSCC Handbook/Club Rules that was mentioned in the waiver. Please read and be familiar with it before getting on the water so you are aware of protocols and expectations.
The newly revised Emergency Contact cards were handed out at the Membership Drive meeting. For potential emergencies, it is essential that everyone either has one on them or in their dry bag whenever out on one of our canoe trips. Trip Co-Ordinators will be checking before we leave on any trips. If you don’t have one, they will be available at the shed and at training sessions.

Volunteers – the success of the OSSCC depends on its volunteers! Many thanks to everyone who signed up to help. You will be contacted by the committee co-ordinators. For those who didn’t sign up, please consider volunteering in some capacity. Send a quick email to: info@oldsaltsclub.com. We will send out an SOS when we need you:)
The trip schedule will be posted shortly with the names of trip co-ordinators and towers. Take a look and consider signing up to co-ordinate a trip. There is a detailed “Trip Organizer” job description posted in the “Printables” section of the Blog shortly.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR posts will continue this season beginning with May. These monthly posts will tell you about our planned trips as well as any upcoming club events and will be updated as new info emerges. If you are wondering about a trip further down the road, you can find that info on the season’s schedule located on the web page as well as a more complete schedule (with Trip Coordinators and towers) that will be posted shortly in the printable section of the blog.
Membership Forms – if you weren’t at the Membership Drive and still plan to renew your membership, please let us know by April 15th so we can keep you on our mailing list. You can find the form on the web page or in the “printables” section of this blog. Don’t forget to sign the waiver on page 2 before submitting!
The Blog is still going to be the main communication tool to let you know about trips, cancellations, postponements etc., announcements about club social events, Bondi etc., as well as a resource hub with canoeing videos, the club handbook/rules, forms and other printable material. If you have something to contribute that would benefit club members, let us know at info@oldsaltsclub.com. You can also provide feedback, suggestions and concerns at the bottom of each post.

We look forward to a wonderful canoe season! See you soon:)

CELEBRATING SENIORS!

Hello OSSCC Members!

The OSSCC Board is happy to share some wonderful news!!

Our club was chosen by the City of Waterloo to be part of a city initiative called “Celebrate Seniors“. This is a three part campaign featuring City of Waterloo senior groups that are actively contributing to the health and wellness of seniors in the Waterloo community.

Why? Because they want to showcase senior groups that are making a difference. As seniors, we are an integral part of the community with lots to contribute. By staying active, we maintain our overall health not just physically, but mentally and socially as well. Our canoe club covers all aspects of this in spades, so lets give ourselves a big, collective pat on the back.

We are very pleased that our club was asked to participate in this campaign. Larry Martin and Pat Kalyn kindly volunteered to be our spokespeople and participated in a lovely interview/video which is now featured on the City of Waterloo “Celebrate Seniors” web page. You can check out the write up and video here. If you like it, leave a comment after the video!

Thanks again to Larry and Pat for representing us so well!!!!!!

“EMERGENCY CONTACT” Cards – Do you have one?

****2019 UPDATE***

Although accidents and emergencies are rare, they do happen and we need to be prepared to have the best possible outcome. Therefore, we are strongly encouraging all members to make sure they have a completed Emergency Contact Card on them whenever you are canoeing or on other club activities. (See OLD SALTS SENIORS CANOE CLUB MEMBERSHIP WAIVER)

We are keeping Emergency Contact Cards available at the Wing 404, by our sign-in sheet for our trips. We encourage everyone to have their pertinent information filled out on one of these cards. If any of your information changes, please pick up another card.

These cards should be kept in a waterproof pouch and attached to your pfd, or kept inside your dry bag. It could save your life!

The Emergency Contact Cards will be available throughout the canoe season.

Thank you.

Always carry with you!

Canoe Terminology!

Every year, our canoeing instructor uses canoeing terminology that some of us have never heard of. Wonder what “river left” or “back ferry” means? Check out “Announcements & News! (Membership Content) menu tab: CANOE TERMINOLOGY

Here you will find a collection of canoeing terms that have been collected over the last couple of years and that we may have all heard at one point or another during our canoe training and outings.

This will be a living list, so if you see something that is missing, incorrect or can add a term, please use the comments section below to provide your input.

QUIZ (answers below)

What are “painters”? a) people who paint your house b) mesh that is woven for canoe seats c) rope attached to the bow and stern of canoes

What is a “lilydipper”? a) a slow moving paddler b) the bottom portion of a paddle c) throw bag

What is a “lead boat”? a) a boat filled with lead b) the first boat down the river c) the boat that tips first

ENJOY THE REST OF THE CANOE SEASON…THERE ARE SOME GREAT OUTINGS PLANNED. YOU CAN CHECK out THE SCHEDULE HERE!

Quiz answers:

c) Painters – Line attached to the bow and stern of canoes, used for tying the boat ashore or lining the boat down through rapids. These should not be stored loose and should have no knots that can catch and hang up the canoe. Painters are also useful to grab hold of after a capsize, aiding in boat rescue and recovery, so that you can go paddling again next week.

a) Lilydipper – A dawdling, slow moving paddler. Also the moniker of a dawdling, slow moving Adirondack paddler of some repute.

b) Lead Boat – The first boat down the river in a trip. Hopefully this is someone who knows the river.

Safety on The Water! Paddle & Whistle Signals

Canoe safety is very important to the OSSCC which is why we insist every member take basic canoe training to assess skill levels and ensure members don’t go on excursions beyond their skillset and comfort zone.

That said, our canoe schedule has trips that accommodate everyone’s ability from our gentle “Easy Breezy” paddles on area lakes and rivers, to our more challenging trips on moving water. You can check our schedule on either the blog or on the web site to check out which trips you wish to go on. Mark your calendars and watch your emails if the weather looks dicey on trip day!

Whichever trip you go on, it is important to be aware of both whistle and visual safety signals.

Be safe and have fun! Check out these posts before going out on the water:

Did You Forget Something? What to Bring on a Canoe Excursion

Check List for a Fun Day on the Water!

Remember not to schedule anything else on the same day as our canoe trips as we can’t guarantee when we will be back!

Check List For a Fun Day on The Water!

Our main goal whenever we set out on a canoe excursion is to have fun and be safe. With that in mind, we have certain guidelines that we like to follow to make sure we can all have a fun day on the water.

With both our river training sessions and canoe excursions (schedule) beginning this week, here is a check list to show how everyone can pitch in to help make each outing run smooth:

Make sure you are familiar with OSSCC Rules.
When we get to the put in site, make sure you assist with unstrapping and transporting the canoes to the launch area as much as you are able.
Pick out the correct size paddle for yourself. Ensure that you and your partner have secured an extra paddle and bailer to the canoe as well as obtained a throw rope and sponge from the canoe trailer.
Secure your dry sack and personal belongings to the canoe.
Don’t forget to put your PFD on! (No PFD = No Canoeing!)
Carry the canoe to the water with at least one other helper. (Four makes it even better!)
Place the canoe correctly in the water – no bridging (canoe must be floating completely on the water)
Keep low when entering and leaving the canoe and keeping your weight centered – see video
Make sure you and your partner stay between the lead (first) and sweep (last) canoes.
When on the water, don’t crowd other canoes. Stay at least a generous canoe length behind another canoe when moving down the river.
Read the river as per training!
Be in control of your half of the canoe.
Always communicate with your partner if you need to change position so you don’t catch them by surprise (and cause a potential dunking:)!
Work together with your partner at all times and take whatever opportunity you can to practice canoe maneuvers and strokes learned in your canoe lessons.
At the end of the excursion, help to transport canoes back to canoe trailer and strap them in (as you are able), and/or return paddles, bailers, sponges and throw ropes into the canoe trailer.
Bring extra cash……we always stop for a treat at the end of a canoe excursion as a reward for a job well done:)
Don’t forget to give a little something to the driver if you are carpooling. (General guideline – $5 for short trips, $7 for longer trips)

If you happen to take any pictures…..please share! We’d love to include them in the OSSCC gallery.

If you have any questions, insights or suggestions, please share them in the comments section below!!

Have a great season!

What to Bring on a Canoe Excursion

When we go on any of our canoe excursions, whether they are for training or fun, someone always forgets something. Here is a checklist that should help you remember what to bring:

PFD (Personal Flotation Device) -Transport Canada approved and worn correctly
Emergency Contact card
waterproof whistle – attached to PFD
dry sac to hold a complete change of clothes (should you get wet), towel, rain gear, toilet paper, zip lock bags
lunch/snack (depends on excursion) in small cooler/lunch bag
water bottle (extra water for longer trips)
hat, sun glasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, lip balm
medical information, health card, personal medication
waterproof flashlight (extra batteries)
bungee cord, carabineers (to attach things to canoe), straps or elastic loops to hold in extra paddle
cell phone, camera in waterproof container
money to pay for trip ($6 for shorter trips, $9 for longer trips)
money “tip” driver if being carpooled (to say thanks!) (Guideline: $5 for shorter trips, $7 for longer trips)

For more information, check out “THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW” on the OSSCC web page!

Did we forget something on this check list? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Don’t forget to check the latest trip schedule! We will no longer be sending emails when there is an update or change. If a trip is cancelled because of weather or river conditions, check your email for a blog notification as this will be posted on the blog.