This past weekend I had a great time helping introduce about 40 Boy Scouts and adult leaders to the skills, thrills and joys of whitewater kayaking. Whitewater instruction was one part of the big BSA Bay-Lakes Council “Camporee” held at Gardner Dam Scout Camp on the Wolf River near White Lake, WI. In all more than 400 Scouts, leaders and parents attended the Camporee. (COVID-19 protocols were enforced.)
Kayak instructor-trainer Dave Benton leads whitewater instruction at Gardner Dam and has been a mentor and inspiration for countless whitewater kayakers across the Upper Midwest for the past 20 years. Anyone who has ever taken a course from or helped instruct with Dave knows he runs a great program, always emphasizing safety and fun, in that order.
Saturday morning after an instructors’ meeting, we welcomed the Scouts and got things started with introductions and classroom learning. The Scouts then split into four- and five-person pods with two instructors per pod. I’ve been instructing sea kayaking at Gardner Dam for several years but this was my first time instructing whitewater kayaking there, so I was glad to share a pod with two other capable instructors — Miki Gould on Saturday and Bruce Nelson on Sunday. We got the Scouts outfitted with wetsuits, splash jackets, spray skirts, helmets, paddles and kayaks and headed to the pond to learn and practice wet exits, strokes and other basic skills. After lunch we cranked things up a notch by launching at Herb’s Landing and paddling this class 1+ section of the Wolf River back down to camp.
Sunday began in the classroom again — allowing the air to warm a bit before we went back to the river. Next we launched below Boy Scout Rapids and paddled to the “M” Bridge takeout. We worked on skills and took our time, catching just about every eddy that presented itself. There were a couple of accidental swims and subsequent rescues along the way — all part of the learning process. Per Dave’s instructions the Scouts portaged around the upper part of a class II+ rapid called Hansen’s. Some Scouts who demonstrated the proper skills were allowed to put in and run the lower half Hansen’s. My guys came through like rock stars!
Back at camp I asked the boys in my pod if they intended to continue their kayak training with future opportunities at Gardner Dam. They responded “Yes!” enthusiastically. That’s what you love to hear.
