Class: AL: Tree Amigos 4H Group

At 10:00am, six girls from the “Tree Amigos” 4H group based in Anniston Alabama, arrived at the Terrapin Creek Outdoor Center for a beginners class in kayaking. They were accompanied by two counselors and the founder of the ‘Tree Amigos’ program, Dr. David West. Besides organizing the day’s event, Dr. West is the Coordinator for the Calhoun County Extension Office.

The boats and gear to be used for the class were already loaded onto the shuttle waiting to take them to the put-in point. The weather forecast called for rain in the afternoon, so the group loaded up and proceeded to the put-in point for a brief safety talk given by Fred Couch of the ASRT. Don Coley, who knows the river like the back of his hand, was going to lead the group down river. Terrapin Creek is a wonderful place to teach entry-level paddling. The moving water is calm enough for students to learn proper paddle strokes and how to control their kayak, before they reach the sections of the river where these basic skills will be tested.

Joan Alexander, Fred Couch and myself, were going to be the class instructors; dividing the group of students between us. Being the paddler that I am, I quickly took two of the girls under my protective wing to teach them a few paddle strokes and the basics of boat control. Both girls were eager to learn and in short time, they were literally paddling circles around the rest of the group; navigating around rocks and between over-hanging branches, having a fun time paddling. This was a beginner kayaking class and most of the girls couldn’t swim, but that didn’t stop them from having a good time or learning.

After a brief lunch stop, the girls cooled off in the river and had a splashing party before continuing the trip downstream. When the group finally arrived at the section of the river where the girls had been told to watch for obstacles in the river, they were instructed how best to get through and deal with the faster moving water. With groups of novices, someone always goes swimming and this group was no different. I have a policy that I tell everyone at the beginning of a class: “No-one goes in the water without me!”. True to my word, when one of the girls upset her boat -I was right there in the water beside her. I have found that actually being in the water, talking to someone who is scared, has a more effective calming effect; besides, I am an excellent swimmer! With the girl clutching to my back, I swam with the current though both deep and shallow, fast moving water; smiling and talking the whole way to where their boats were. Paddling is, after all, a water-sport and even the more experienced amongst us takes a dip in the river now and again.

The trip sadly came to an end when the group arrived at the take out beside the Terrapin Outdoor Center. It had been a great day on the water. Everyone was smiling and the girls were ready to go again.

This was a great trip and one of the most enjoyable groups that I have taught. The girls were wonderful; enthusiastic; listened intently and followed directions. I made the comment to the adults that it would be my pleasure to take these girls on the upcoming three-day Paddle Alabama trip on Lake Weiss.

Thanks girls; counselors; Dr. David West; Fred; Don; Joanne and the Terrapin Outdoor Center for another great afternoon on the river.