Besides paddling skills courses and guided day trips, SherriKayaks Outdoor Programs offers a number of program options that can be customized to fit the particular needs of your club, school, youth group, or business.  I invite you to look through the choices below.  Whether you know exactly what you want, or are seeking inspiration for a new activity, let me design a unique program for your situation.  (Contact Us)

School Programs

Kayaking has become one of the fastest growing recreational activities in recent years.  My experience in local schools and summer camps has been that kids are typically very interested in this activity and are excited to have the opportunity to learn more about the sport, especially if that involves being able to paddle a kayak.  Since 2002, I have been presenting customized kayaking programs and teacher in-service seminars for physical education departments at several local high schools.  These programs generally vary in length from one to three days, but longer units can also be arranged.  The teachers and I discuss objectives for the class, available resources,  and then determine the appropriate content for the program.

Following are sample programs based on the number of days that I might visit a class as well as a video showcasing the activities of a typical physical education class.

1-day-school-outline-pdf

2-day-school-outline-pdf

3-day-school-outline-pdf

Paddling is also a great activity for students with mobility challenges.  In a canoe or kayak, these students experience the same freedom of movement as their peers.  I hold an instructor endorsement in “Adaptive Paddling” from the American Canoe Association.  Please contact me if you have questions about using kayaks in your special education classes.

While I can certainly help you to energize a physical education class by bringing kayaks into the pool, it doesn’t stop there.  For schools without aquatic facilities, I can give presentations in a classroom or gymnasium that involve hands-on exposure to the different types of kayaks and acccessory gear including the American Canoe Association’s “SmartStart for Paddlers” and the “Paddle Safe, Paddle Smart” curriculum.  Science teachers can take classes out into a natural aquatic laboratory or use kayaks to teach principles of physics.  Math teachers can use navigation and orienteering to demonstrate practical applications for math concepts.  English teachers can use the beauty and serenity of lakes and rivers to inspire creativity in writing, and history teachers can have their students follow the liquid highways that influenced the development of our country.  A kayaking field trip can also be just a great way to end a school year, especially for 8th graders who will be going their separate ways as they move into high school.

The list of topics below under “Seminars and Clinics” can also help to give you ideas about ways that a presentation by SherriKayaks Outdoor Programs might add some variety to your curriculum.

If you are interested in finding ways to incorporate kayaking or other outdoor skills into your school’s curriculum, I invite you to contact me by phone at 262-895-2008 or by e-mail on the “Contact” page of this website.  My school programs are both flexible and affordable.  I can also provide you with references, if you like.

“the three-day kayaking unit was the highlight of most of our students’ physical education experience.  Students were excited to challenge themselves. . .Kayak polo and wet exits sent a buzz throughout the school. . .Every student, even our non-swimmers, enjoyed the kayaking experience. . .We are thrilled to add kayaking to our outdoor education curriculum.”

-Dave Shaw, Whitefish Bay High School

Read a Waukesha North High School newsletter article about kayaking in physical education classes. – “Kayaking “101″ in physical education. . .”

The above video is another example of how kayaking could be incorporated into a larger “adventure PE” program at your school.  This program was implemented at a school in Fresno, California.

Seminars and Clinics

If you need to find a presenter for your school classroom, club, youth group, scout troop, business, or any other organization, I can come to your location and give a clinic or talk on any of the following topics.  The length of the presentations can be anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours, and some topics can be combined for a longer seminar.

• ACA’s Smart Start for Paddlers
• All About Rolling
• Basics of Backpacking
• Choosing Your First Kayak
• Canoe/Kayak Maintenance and Repair
• Cold Weather Paddling
• Gearing Up for Camping
• Getting Started in Whitewater Paddling
• Kayak Navigation
• Kayak Safety/ Essentials Skills and Equipment
• “Leave No Trace” Principles
• Lots of Knots (hands on seminar in which participants learn to tie several different useful knots)
• Managing the Surf Zone/ Paddling in Waves
• Nautical “Rules of the Road”
• Orienteering
• Outfitting Your Kayak
• Places to Paddle
• Planning and Packing for a Canoe/Kayak Camping Trip
• Tides and Currents
• Understanding Hull Design
• Wind and Weather
• Winter Camping
• Women’s Paddling Forum

Fitness Clubs and Recreation Departments,

If you are the program or fitness director for a health club or rec department, I would love to talk to you about the ways in which SherriKayaks Outdoor Programs can partner with your business.  There are several ways that we can benefit your organization:

Kayaking can be an exciting activity to make additional use of pool facilities during the fall, winter, and spring months.  In recent years it has been among the fastest growing outdoor activities.  There is a great deal of interest among the general population in learning more about this sport and having an opportunity to try it.  We can bring boats into your pool to do an introductory  survey class designed to satisfy this curiosity about kayaking.  You can also schedule a relaxing recreational trip on a local waterway as a non-threatening way to try kayaking for the first time.

Kayaking and canoeing are low-impact fitness activities that are perfect for people who might otherwise not be able to participate in more traditional fitness activities.  Even for those who have no such restrictions, paddle sports are an enjoyable work-out that can provide cross training benefits.  Paddling is a lifetime sport that can continue to be enjoyed by people well into their senior years.

Adventure racing is also becoming more popular, and you may have many members competing in these events.  Participants often need help to improve their paddling and/or navigation skills in order to turn in faster race times.  For more extreme adventure races, safety becomes a greater concern since many competitors are weak in important self-rescue skills.  We can offer these skill courses to your members outdoors or in your pool.

We can offer a variety of seminars and clinics relating to kayaking, canoeing, and camping that may be of interest to your members.  Most of these presentations are 1-2 hours in length, but can be customized to fit your situation.  We invite you to look over the list of topics under “Seminars and Clinics” below.

Corporate Outings

Are you looking for a new activity that you can plan for your employees to foster team building, improve morale, or encourage a healthy lifestyle?  A relaxing and enjoyable kayak trip on a local lake or river could be the perfect answer.  Contact me to discuss group size and what kind of trip would might best suit your needs.

Parties

A private kayaking trip on a local lake can be a fun and unique activity to celebrate a birthday or an upcoming wedding.  You can end your paddle at a nearby restaurant or bar.  We can handle groups up to 10.  Contact us for more information and special requirements for children’s parties.

Guide Services

I am an American Canoe Association and British Canoe Union certified paddler as well as a Wilderness Medical Associates First Responder with experience as a trip leader.  If you need a guide for a private trip or to lead a trip for your travel/outfitting business, I would love to talk to you about how I might be able to help you.

Home / About SherriKayaks / “Sherri Yaks” / Classes & Trips, etc. / Resources / Photo Gallery / Contact Us