Sheepscot Falls with Kawanhee (part 2)

Hooray, let's go surfing!!! BenCon leading the charge from the front of the lineup.



an overview of the beautiful reversing falls on the Sheepscot



Eduardo throwing down.



Johnny is figuring it out too.



Mr. Watson showing us how it's done.



in between helping out swimmers and losing paddles



a one handed loop attempt





most of these campers had learned their roll the day before. By the end of the session most of them had hit a couple of moving-water rolls









Eduardo had never been the Squashtail before. He started figuring out the boat just as the wave got really fast and difficult. He turned out a couple of good surfs towards the end of the session.



www.KAWANHEE.com



oh the fun these guys had (who stayed for the full 7 week program)

Sheepscot Falls with Kawanhee (part 1)

I was able to help Camp Kawanhee run a trip to the Sheepscot Reversing Falls this week. It is a prefect place to take adventurous beginning kayakers and let them learn by experimenting, making mistakes, and gaining confidence in the water.




This first part is mostly pictures of me because I am often the photographer as well as instructor so don't have many photos of myself. Gregor Hoffman had the camp's Pentax Optio in his lifevest pocket and took some nice shots. I'll share some more that he took as well as the ones I took with my SLR in the next post.



Here I am giving the opening lecture about surfing and eddy line-up courtesy so that these eager campers would know how to hold their place in line without annoying the locals.



Lastly, a photo of Ed Watson, ready for action in the Thruster. Ed is a skilled and dedicated counselor who mostly works in the canoe and swimming departments. His interest in whitewater is part-time, but he does quite well in a kayak (and is a valuable asset managing the group of kids).




If anyone is interested in this general boy's summer camp program you should check out the website.
http://www.kawanhee.com

Kawanhee Kayaking Reunion

Camp Kawanhee in Weld, Maine is a general summer camp program on a beautiful lake, that has turned out a few good whitewater kayakers.



Here is Steve Ruhle who's family has been involved with the camp for a long time. This was his first time down Bulls Bridge. Looks like he dialed the surfing rapid in quickly.





Ted DeVoe is a Housatonic local legend who started boating while at camp as a camper. He went on to spend a few summers as a kayak department instructor and lodge counselor.





This is David Ruhle who has spent several summers at Kawanhee as both camper and counselor. Last year he decided to pursue his kayaking more and spent many weeks up on the Ottawa River.








Above, you'll see Maurice Convard in the new Pintail he got for his birthday, closely followed by Ted in the next picture.










Maurice spent his years at Camp Kawanhee teaching wood shop and kayaking. He returns every summer with his wife, to rent a cabin on the Kawanhee Inn beach.







The community at Kawanhee is very similar to the whitewater community in the way it is friendly and inclusive. On this trip we were joined by two local boaters; Kenny and Steven





Sunny day and smiling faces.



Kawanhee