Illustration by Stephen Michael Haas
While on vacation in upstate New York a few years ago, I woke up before the birds to go kayaking on Lake Chautauqua to watch the sun rise.
Now, I don’t use words like “glorious” or “fabulous” lightly or often, but they certainly fit that August morning. During that serene hour on the water, the kayak gently oscillating with the natural rhythm of the lake, I felt uncharacteristically relaxed. While on the water, I didn’t even think about my children. Not even the one who behaves.
Then when I returned to my regular life, kicking my weirdly dry water shoes off onto the porch of my rented cabin, I started thinking about how I could trick, I mean take, my family kayaking when I returned to Harrisburg. Sadly, I knew I couldn’t only bring the kid who behaves. And I knew I couldn’t navigate those waters myself without pushing them all into the Susquehanna by noon.
If your kid prefers computers or books over the great outdoors, and you’re wrenching them out of their comfort zone, getting them out on the water to connect with nature still has tons of benefits.
Cody Meassick, co-founder and head guide of Hershey-based Adventure Explorations, encourages the educational aspect of onsite learning about animal habitats.
“From waterfowl, fish and mammals hiding around every corner, you really want to discover their behaviors and habitats,” he said. “You also get to experience fluid dynamics and physics, not just reading about it.”
The need to preserve our waterways and outdoor spaces may be just as important in cultivating young conservationists.
“Water activities are multi-age, multi-generational—a great way to gain a lifelong love of water and to build confidence and self-esteem,” said Stephanie Hoover, owner of Halifax-based Appalachian Kayak.
If your child isn’t feeling confident, breaking down the steps and introducing repetition will help water safety lessons sink in. Hoover recommends a tactile approach to make learning as real as possible.
“Use real equipment at the water’s edge,” she said. “Tell them, then show them and then have them tell you and practice before they do it on their own for real.”
Mike Adams, Penn State Extension Master Watershed steward, feels it’s important to understand kids’ different learning styles when addressing water education and safety.
“Anything can be kid-friendly if you understand how kids like to learn,” said Adams, who’s also vice president of Swatara Watershed Association and co-owner of Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey. “And don’t worry about any agenda you might have about getting them on the water. Cater to their agenda instead.”
A common, single agenda for kids of any age?
“Keep it fun,” said Adams, who is the father of two young boys. “If they’re not having fun, they will have a negative experience. Give them a positive experience so they will want to repeat it.”
Meassick takes the time to “explain all the risks inherent in water sports, particularly drowning,” he said, which is why he stresses building the habit of PFD (personal flotation device) use early on.
“Although it’s only required for ages 12 and below for kayaking, everyone wearing them sets a good example,” he said.
Tips & Tricks
Although I didn’t become a parent expecting relaxation as a regular part of my schedule, being on a constant safety crusade is a well-placed outlet for my Type-A anxiety.
If you’re like me, not feeling confident in your ability to navigate your children through kayaking and water safety lessons, you can enlist the services of an outfitter or outdoor guide when you’re apprehensive or unfamiliar with the territory to help you relax.
“If you don’t consistently visit certain areas, you don’t know what hazards might be present,” Meassick said. There’s also the convenience. “You can avoid the headache of transporting boats, making sure everyone has the correct size equipment, and equipment storage.”
Kayaking can be tricky. For children aged 6 or older, Hoover recommends a tandem kayak when on the water until they learn. And when planning your trip, estimate your average speed on the Susquehanna or Juniata at 2 miles per hour.
If kayaking isn’t for your kid, well behaved or not, you could try a different kid-friendly watersport in the local area: row boating, pedal boating, canoeing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing or fishing. If your kid wants to kayak more than you do, some outfitters offer packages of kids’ kayak camps.
The Susquehanna might be the mightiest, but it isn’t the only waterway ideal for watersports. Our local area is blessed with these nearby navigable waterways: Swatara Creek, Juniata River, Memorial Lake State Park, Stillwater, Conodoguinet Creek and certain sections of the Yellow Breeches.
Watersports tips and tricks recommended by outfitters:
- Build in lots of snack and water breaks.
- Dress kids in bright colors so they stand out.
- Life jackets for all ages.
- Footwear: old sneakers, athletic sandals, water shoes. No flip-flops or Crocs.
- Adults: no alcohol or distracting electronics.
- Beware of poison ivy and insects on the shore.
- Bring sunscreen. Reapply often.
- Get a map of the route.
- Check weather conditions and water levels at www.water.weather.gov.
- Tell someone where you’re going.
- Avoid river hazards, such as low head dams and strainers (objects in which water may pass through, but will catch your vessel).
- Plan to be out of the water before dark. Bring a flashlight, just in case.
- Make sure your kids know how to swim. If you have a special needs child who needs swimming lessons, try the Easter Seals, www.easterseals.com/wcpenna.
One thing I forgot to write about my kayaking trip… I had initially been so nervous that I almost chickened out. I had never kayaked before that day, and I’m not terribly coordinated. But with just a quick lesson from the outfitter, the muscle movements came naturally. That sunrise hour kayaking was easily the best part of my trip.
I wish you fair winds and following seas (that’s nautical speak for smooth sailing with favorable currents)!
For more information about Adventure Explorations, visit www.adventureexplorations.com.
To learn more about Appalachian Kayak, visit www.appalachiankayak.com.
To find out more about the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program, visit www.extension.psu.edu.
The Swatara Watershed Association can be found at, www.swatarawatershed.org.
For more information about Cocoa Kayak Rentals of Hershey, visit www.cocoakayak.com.
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