Level 4 – Essentials of Rescue

River safety is fundamental to all paddlers. How do you recover from a swim? What hazards can you expect on rivers? How can you guard against them? What basic equipment should you carry on the river and how do you use it?

These are all questions that you should be able to answer before the need arises. We cover river signals, safety equipment, how to use ropes, boat-on-boat rescues, swimming rapids, and more. Essentials of rescue class prepares you to help both yourself and your partners on the river. Bring your paddling friends to learn to go out safely as a team. This class is part of our beginner’s progressive learning package(PLP).

Who: Beginners, Advanced Beginners and any Intermediates who have yet to take a safety class

What: 4 hour class on the river, including practice of skills.

Where and when: The last Saturday of the month at 1:30 PM, May through October at Anglers Inn (meet at Carderock at 1:15 PM).

What to bring: Use our equipment or bring your own. See what to bring for details.

Cost: A single 4 hr class is $90. Intro to river kayaking package (4 – 4hr. classes) costs $320.

Prerequisites: Must have completed the beginner river classes or equivalent: familiar with bow rescue, basic river strokes and maneuvers in current.

Go to our registration page to sign up and consult the calendar for dates.