RESCUE FOR REC BOATERS

EVENT DETAILS

1-DAY AND 2-DAY OPTIONS:

July 27-28, 2024  or August 24-25, 2024

• DAY 1 | Lake Day | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Lake Allatoona, Old Hwy 41 #2 Day Use Area, 6693 North Main Street, Acworth GA
  A limited number of rental kayaks will be available for Lake Day during registration for $33
• DAY 2 | River Day | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Rivercliff Swim & Racquet Club, 4706 Carlene Way, SW, Lilburn, GA
  Optional PFD rental for $20 (no boat required)
• $95 per day or $160 for both days
• Unless otherwise noted, registration for all classes opens March 1 and closes 2 days before the class.

THE CLASS

Rescue for Rec Boaters is an entry-level safety and rescue class for paddlers who plan on paddling flat water lakes and slow moving rivers. A comprehensive Safety & Rescue class for lake and Class I river paddlers is a rare offering in this region, so we are excited to offer it to you!

This class is a game changer for new and experienced paddlers alike. The curriculum is built from tried and true techniques utilized in higher level training for sea kayakers and whitewater paddlers which has been dialed in to the most useful information and techniques for entry level paddlers in Georgia.

This class is not intended for paddlers who plan to paddle advanced ocean conditions or Class II or higher whitewater rivers. This is not a paddling class; if you do not have basic paddling skills, you are welcome in this class but we also encourage you to sign up for Intro to Kayaking or Intro to River Kayaking to learn techniques for boat control.

Your instructors will be ACA (American Canoe Association) certified River Rescue or Kayaking Instructors. The class will contain lectures, group discussions, demonstrations and lots of actual hands-on practice where you will learn how to rescue yourself, how to rescue someone else, how to be rescued by someone else…and how to avoid problems in the first place!

For additional information contact Andrea White.

LOGISTICS: LAKE DAY

We will meet at 9 a.m. at Lake Allatoona, Old Hwy 41 #2 Day Use Area, 6693 North Main Street, Acworth GA

Bring a camp chair, your lunch and plenty of water. We will meet on land for 2-3 hours of “classroom” learning and have lunch together before hitting the water.

Plan for full immersion during our on-the-water training. We will be swimming!

Life jackets will be worn anytime we are within 10’ of or are on the water. Please leave unsecured valuables and jewelry in your car or at home.

LOGISTICS: RIVER DAY

We will meet at 9 a.m. at Rivercliff Swim & Racquet Club, 4706 Carlene Way, SW, Lilburn, GA. We will run shuttle to stash our cars at the nearby Lowe’s so we do not overwhelm the parking at the Swim and Racquet Club.

We will gather for several hours of “classroom” learning. Please bring a camp chair, your lunch and plenty of water.

After lunch we will practice several on water drills to simulate what to do when things go wrong (no boat required!). Plan for full immersion during our on-the-water training. We will be swimming! Please leave unsecured valuables and jewelry in your car or at home.

Life jackets will be worn anytime we are within 10’ of the river or are on the water. You will need a paddle and life jacket — but not a boat — on River Day.

REQUIREMENTS:

Basic swimming and paddling ability.*

*Kids aged 10+ are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian and if they can swim and paddle independently.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

• Boat/Paddlecraft (*only required on Lake Day; not required on River Day)
• Paddle
• PFD/Life Jacket
• Clothing suitable for swimming (poly pro materials; no cotton)
• Closed toe footwear that will not come off while swimming and offers traction on rocks (old sneakers work great)
• Camp chair, lunch, water bottle, sunscreen, snacks

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: LAKE DAY (OPTIONAL)

• Whistle
• Boat flotation bags and bilge pump (for sit inside kayaks)
• Paddle float
• Tubular webbing
• Waist-belt tow rope
• Dry bag/dry box
• Strap for glasses
• Rain jacket

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: RIVER DAY (OPTIONAL)

• Whistle
• Helmet
• Throw rope
• Strap for glasses
• Prusik loops
• Locking carabiners
• Hiking shoes for the hike in/out
• Rain jacket

ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS

Our amazing team of nationally certified ACA certified instructors teach Georgia River Network as volunteers to share their love of paddling with other Georgia paddlers. Because of our volunteer instructors, in 2023 Georgia River Network was recognized by the American Canoe Association as the paddling organization that trained the most beginners in the nation.

Rescue for Rec Boaters, in particular, regularly gets the benefit of several Guest Instructors who volunteer their time to share more advanced training opportunities with Georgia River Network paddlers! Please thank them for sharing their excellence and expertise with you and your family on their day off!

The GRN safety and training program is led by Andrea White, an ACA certified Level 2 River Kayaking instructor with an instructor endorsement as a Paddlesport Safety Facilitator. She has been named one of Paddling Magazine’s 2022 Top 20 River Heroes for her commitment to training beginners and received two awards from the American Canoe Association for her service as 2020 Outstanding ACA State Director and as a member of a team of volunteers who won 2022 ACA Volunteer of the Year. She has a passion for building a community of safety conscious paddlers who can help each other when things on the water go sideways. She currently serves in a volunteer capacity as the ACA Southeast Regional Chair and Chair of the ACA Regional Activity Council.

REGISTRATION CHANGES / REFUNDS

This class requires a significant amount of planning and volunteer support so we are limited in our ability to make last minute changes. You can make changes to your order until 1 week prior to class by logging back into the system with the password you created to update your orders. No refunds will be issued after 1 week prior to class. Thank you for understanding.

SUPPORTING GEORGIA RIVER NETWORK

Your class fees support Georgia River Network’s advocacy work for the Right to Float Georgia Rivers, to Save the Okenfenokee, and other intitiatives in support of the Georgia Water Coalition, the Georgia Outdoor Recreation Coalition, Georgia Water Trails and the Georgia River Guide free mobile app, and the Okefenokee Protection Alliance.

Georgia River Network is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1998 to serve as the voice of Georgia’s rivers. GRN works to empower everyone to connect with, and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers in Georgia.