Introduction

As you know, it isn't safe to go boating alone. To solve this problem, most of us join canoe/kayak clubs. We are very fortunate in the Baltimore/Washington area to have quite a choice of clubs - each with a very rich history. Just like paddlers, each club has its own personality. Club dues are generally quite inexpensive and come with a great deal of benefits. Many paddlers join several clubs.

Canoe Cruisers Association (CCA)

The CCA is one of the oldest whitewater clubs (founded in 1956) in the country and at one time was the largest club in the world. The club holds its meetings at the Clara Barton Community Center near Washington, DC. No club can match the history of this club. Many of its members are legends in our sport: Ed Gertler, Ed Grove, the Hearns to name a few. Ed Gertler and Ed Grove are authors of the best guide books for Maryland/Delaware and Virginia paddling streams. The Hearn family is one of the most famous in slalom racing. The CCA is the club for all forms of racing and sponsors numerous races in our area. The CCA runs several ACA Swift Water Rescue classes and has the only Instructor Trainer - Tim Bromel - in our area. The CCA membership tends to be on the older side but is trying to recruit new members. Club dues are $15/Year per family. The CCA has just revamped their web site: CCA Web Site.

Monocacy Canoe Club (MCC)

The MCC is headquartered in Frederick Maryland and is another club that is rich in history. Lately, many of the young guns from the DC Area have joined this club and the club hosts the famous Paddle Praddle BBS. Some famous members in the past are Bob Burrell (Author of Wildwater West Virginia - the "Bible" to us old-timers) and Randy Carter (Inventor of the bridge gauge system). Many MCC members are very competitive in extreme whitewater racing. The MCC leads the area-wide New River Rendezvous. The MCC also runs ACA Swift Water Rescue classes. If you want hook up with lots of class V boaters, perhaps this is the club for you. Club dues are $15/Year per family. The club website is: MCC Web Site.

Conewago Canoe Club (CCC)

The CCC is headquartered in York, Pennsylvania and is 36 years old. This is a very family oriented club and is the club for formalized Whitewater training and it is excellent! Many paddlers join this club just to participate in their extensive training system that culminates with the Upper Youghiogheny. This club also provides ACA Swift Water Rescue classes. The club caters to all levels of paddlers from novices to experts. Club dues are $20/Year per family. The club website is: CCC Web Site.

Baltimore Canoe & Kayak ClubGreater Baltimore Canoe Club (GCKC)

Started in the early 70's. This club has undergone numerous changes over the years and is the best club in Baltimore for whitewater paddling. In the old days, many of the club members paddled canoes. The club used to sponsor slalom and down river races on the Patapsco and then the Lower Gunpowder. The club no longer organizes races but heavily participates in all of the major races in our area. Some famous alumni are Jesse Whittemore (Invented Squirt Boating) and Bryan MacKay(Author of several outdoor guides) Few clubs can match the party going atmosphere this club has to offer. This is especially true during the annual Cheat Festival. The club is affiliated with the American Canoe Association and American Whitewater and donates to many charities. The club also conducts Beginner , Intermediate paddling classes and Swift Water Rescue using ACA certified instructors. The GBCC member ages run the whole gamut from youngsters to paddlers in the seventies. They also publish a jam-packed club schedule. Club dues are $20/Year per family. They host an excellent well maintained web site: GBCC Web Site.

Other Clubs - AW Website

Other clubs can be found via: AW Club Search.

Sea Kayaking

Canton Kayak Club

The Canton Kayak Club is 10 years old and hosts a BBS. If you live in the Baltimore area and are interested in Sea Kayaks, perhaps this is the club for you. Their website is: Canton Kayak Web Site.

Chesapeake Paddlers Association (CPA)

The CPA is another good sea kayaking club that is very active in our area. Their website is: CPA Web Site.

This class is just the beginning. The goal of this class is to build a foundation for safe boating. All of you are members of a great local canoe club. Canoe clubs provide numerous benefits like free or inexpensive training, a large schedule of trips throughout the year, and a roster of club members to plan trips with. In the Baltimore/Washington area, we have lots of special events like races (both slalom and downriver), play boat rodeos, and whitewater festivals. We also have a wide variety of commercial outfits that provide excellent instruction as well as the local Dickerson course sponsored by the Bethesda Center for Excellence. Take advantage of these resources and get lots of seat time in your boat. Whatever you do, don't try to climb the whitewater river classes scale as fast as you can. Take your time developing solid skills before tackling the harder runs. This will make your boating hobby far more enjoyable and help you in avoiding injuries. Just remember this sport is supposed to be fun, not work. If you are looking for another great course to take, I highly recommend first aid & CPR as well as ACA boating skills classes.

• Local Kayak Clubs
• Local Instruction
• Local Outfitters
• Suitable Starter Rivers

Introduction

The goal of the ACA SWR Class is to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills necessary to safely enjoy this great sport of boating. Hopefully you will enjoy boating as much as I have for over 30 years and counting. As you gain more experience, there are several other types of training that you should consider. First on this list is CPR and First Aid training. Many businesses sponsor Red Cross CPR classes at their place of business. I strongly recommend taking them up on their generosity.

Many of our favorite runs are pretty remote. For many runs in West Virginia, it may take a team of emergency responders a half-day to reach you - AFTER they have been properly contacted. Unlike urban locations, cell phone coverage might not be available. It doesn't hurt to carry your cell phone in a dry bag, you might get lucky if you have a decent wireless provider like Verizon of AT&T.

It is essential to properly prepare for that initial contact for professional help. As a general rule, serious injuries can't wait that long - First Aid needs to be started quickly. For your piece of mind and your fellow paddlers, it only makes sense to get proper First Aid training as described below.

CPR and Wilderness First Aid Skills are Essential for Rescuers

OK, so SWR skills enable us to get the victim out of harms way - now what? In some cases, First Aid will need to be performed. At a minimum, get CPR training. CPR training is often available at work sites for free or a nominal fee. Red Cross CPR certification classes are a half-day and cost $45 - $65. The certification must be renewed annually. The Red Cross First Aid certification class is also 4 hours, costs $40, and is good for 3 years. A combined Red Cross CPR and First Aid class (8.5 hours) costs $75.

The Wilderness First Aid certification class is much more comprehensive. The class is roughly 18 hours over 2 days, hands on testing is outdoors, and costs roughly $200. The training is very comprehensive and well worth the time.