Junior Novice Introductory Courses 2023

Find out here about our beginner courses, summer camps, one-off taster sessions during May half term and our Under-10 fun sessions.

Under 10s – Junior Fun Sessions – May to September

Each year the Club runs junior fun sessions for the under-10s (your child’s age is taken from 1st January, so if they are 10 after that date, they still count as under-10). In past years, it’s been possible for non-member juniors to participate. However, now we run it as a MEMBER-ONLY session. This would mean your child would need to be a member of the Club for these sessions. The current price for this is £100 and would cover a once-weekly session from May to September.

The boats used by the children in these sessions are stable plastic kayaks, so the children feel safe and build confidence. The number allowed at the session is limited to the coaching staff available, but will be made clear from the booking sheet.

The time on the water is spent playing around in canoes and kayaks with the emphasis on having fun and gaining confidence with the boat and the water. Some instruction is given, but it is not a course. Still it’s surprising how much the children still pick up from this. Whatever, the fun sessions are a good way to see if your child would like to become more involved and perhaps take on a course in the future.

The sessions are aimed at under 10s, but bear in mind that they must be strong enough to paddle about in a boat and swim with the aid of a buoyancy aid.

Fun Session information (PDF)

Children’s Festival Beginner Taster Sessions for Juniors
9 – 16 years old:

The next set of Taster Sessions will be running in May half term 2024. The session times each day are:

  • 10:00am to 11:15am
  • 11:45am to 1pm
  • 1:45pm to 3pm

There are 10 places per session at £5 per child. Places can be booked from spring 2024, complete one form per child.

Booking is essential and you must please bring a signed parental consent form (on our website). Your place will be confirmed by email, at which point you will need to make payment to secure the place. Please do not turn up unless your place is confirmed.

Junior Beginners Courses for 10-16 year olds

The Club runs Junior beginner courses from late April until late summer. They run on Saturday mornings, 11am-12pm and after school on Wednesday, at 4pm-5pm. Please note, there is currently a waiting list, so it’s best to register your interest as soon as possible, by filling in the form. If your child isn’t able to have a place this year, they can stay on the waiting list and get priority for next year’s courses.

Dates for these 5-week courses for 2023 – please note these courses are now full
If you are interested in a place for your child (10-16 years) on one of the courses next year, please fill in the form here, to register your interest. We will then be in touch when a place becomes available.

  • Saturdays, 11am-12pm:
    Course 1: Saturdays 15th April, 22nd April, 29th April, 6th May, 13th May 2023
    Course 4: Saturdays 1st July, 8th July, 15th July, 22nd July, 29th July
  • Wednesdays, 4pm-5pm:
    Course 2: Wednesdays 19th April, 26th April, 3rd May, 10th May, 17th May
    Course 3: Wednesdays 7th June, 14th June, 21st June, 28th June, 5th July

These sessions are designed to give junior beginners a feel for kayaking and for the type of paddle sessions that are run at the Club. We expect your child to be on the course for 5 weeks, after which they may join the Club and progress to other junior sessions, promoting further paddler development.

These junior courses run for 5 weeks and cost £60. To put your child on the list for these courses, please register your interest and we will let you know when a place becomes available.

All courses are subject to there being enough participants and coaching staff available. The minimum age for participating in a junior course is 10 years old. Juniors should be confident in water and should be able to swim in light clothing. All junior beginners wear a buoyancy aid.

All courses are subject to there being enough participants and coaching staff available.

Summer camps 2023

We will be running summer camps again this year, both the week-long beginner course summer camps and the 4-day Development camps.

Beginner camps:
These are aimed at 10-16 year olds and will run in small groups, a maximum of 10
participants, to build confidence and skill. Camps will be 5 days (Monday – Friday) and participants can choose to come either:
• Morning Session – 10am to 12 noon
OR
• Afternoon Session 1pm to 3pm

Camps will run on the following dates:
• 24th July to 28th July 2023
• 31st July to 4th August 2023

The cost for the 5 days, including all equipment is £100 pp. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Development camps:
These camps are aimed at 10-16 year olds who have completed either the summer camp beginners course or a club-run beginners course in the last year, and will run in small groups, max of 10 participants to accelerate development.

Camps will be 4 days long and run 10am to 2pm on the following dates:
• 8th August to 11th August 2023
• 14th August to 17th August 2023

The cost for the 4 days, including all equipment is £140 pp. Spaces will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

To register interest or to book a place, please fill in the form you’ll find here.

Schools

If you are a school interested in kayaking lessons within school hours or as an after-school activity, please contact the Club. We are able to offer dedicated courses.

As part of our work in the community, the Club has a number of courses dedicated to particular schools, running from April through to the end of July. Priority on school sessions is given to the pupils of the designated school, but, if there are any spare places, they will be allocated on a first come first served basis to any other junior keen to learn.

Further Info