After School Kayaking
The Potomac River and its surrounding parks are only a short drive from Maryland and District schools – with wildlife, and islands and white water rapids, that make it a paddlers’ paradise.
You can easily learn the skills needed to enjoy this beautiful and exciting natural resource.
The 2012 Schedule: (Please check the calendar (link on Right) for days and times. Look for: Westland, Pyle, or High School Kayaking).
Level 1 Beginner Youth Class for First Timers – Here is your first kayaking class! In a six week program, you will paddle various flat and moving water sections of the Potomac River working on your skills as we go. Students will be introduced to: boat control, rolling steps, safety awareness and rescue skills. Level 1 is offered for Pyle and Westland Middle Schools. High School Level 1 and 2 Classes are offered at the same time, Tuesdays and Fridays, as the more advanced level group.
Level 2 Advanced-Beginner Youth Class – (For those who have already taken a class). Returnees from our after school programs or who have experience in other programs will be working to make their skills truly dependable and exploring more parts of the river with riffles and rapids. We work on basic techniques in the slalom gates, and for fun surf the waves in the river.
Intermediate Youth River Class – For High Schoolers (or Middle Schoolers who are advanced in white water from prior programs), we offer an Intermediate class for those who can roll in moving water. We will go out on class II-III white water, playing the water features, and taking on selective, fun challenges of the river. It is for paddlers from high school, who have been in our classes a couple of times or have comparable experience in other programs. Level 1 and Level 2 are available coincidently with the Intermediate Class.
To Register: Register and pay through our online registration system for High School Kayaking, Pyle Level 1, or Pyle Level 2 (click ‘register’ on the Right). Westland students will go through the Westland After School Programs.
River trips to area rivers
You will run a river, scout the rapids and pick out passages through the rocks. It’s a white water trip with rapids, waves and beautiful scenery. Paddle either the Shenandoah or the Potomac at Harpers Ferry on a weekend.
What to bring: All kayak equipment is provided, including boat, PFD (lifejacket), helmet, spray skirt, sprayjacket, and paddle. On chilly days, students should have one or two thick layers of synthetic pile or fleece shirts (depending on the temperature) to wear under a spray jacket. Students must have appropriate water shoes.
Cost for after school classes: $ 180 for 6 afternoons on the river.
Signup: For Whitman, Westland, Pyle, BCC and for other classes and trips, you can be register directly from this website by following the registration link on the right.
Transportation is provided for students from Westland, Pyle, and Whitman. BCC students can catch the Metro Bus to Whittier Blvd. and be picked up at the bus stop near Pyle. We will return to Whitman H.S to drop off all students at about 6:15 PM.
For questions: related to the after school kayak program, please call the LAKS office at 301 229 0428 or Tom’s cell at 301 980 1889. For days and times please visit our website calendar.
Tom and the Liquid Adventures’ staff are well known in the DC area for introducing newcomers to the sport of white water kayaking. Tom is a long-time paddler and coach of white water sport, having designed over the years both the Valley Mill Camp and Camp Calleva programs.
