Why yes, those boats ARE steaming. Hard to believe that was just a month ago, and now...
Our classes are going (heh heh...) swimmingly! We've learned a fair bit about being better instructors and playing off each other well. I really like that we've arranged for classes to go from 2:30-4:30, while open paddling is 3:30-5:30. This helps the students not be distracted by watching the paddlers longingly while we're going through the necessary talking-before-getting-in-the-boat. It also gives the students time for free paddling practice after the class so they can practice and learn from the other paddlers. Also, (bonus!) they get extra time on the water, so they're getting something from the class that the other paddlers aren't. So far, though, although we've had several students who had paddled quite a lot before (one of today's students was even on the champion Epic league team last summer), we have yet to have a student who didn't learn something from even the introductory class. That's a nice feeling! :)
We're looking forward to teaching classes on the Air Force base in the fall, and are currently aiming to alert the home-schoolers (there are a LOT of home schooled kids in and around Fairbanks) to the option of canoe and kayaking classes year-round. (If we're lucky, we'll have a youth Epic league in no time!)
In the meantime, Mike has been working hard preparing a presentation for the Fairbanks Paddlers Club, which means he's been going through tons of pictures and GoPro videos from last summer. His excitement is contagious, and all of us are just itching to get out and have summer fun now!
Though as much fun as it was, I hope we don't end up having to do this again:
