Canoeing on the River Tone

This evening I was out on the River Tone in Taunton Town Centre with a small group of Staff and young people from Cambian-Signpost. Cambian-Signpost are a group of care establishments that support young people with hearing impairments.

The aim of this initial session was to meet the staff and some of the young people with the view to provide regular activities and alternative education.

It was a glorious evening to be out on the water followed by positive conversations about future work. 

Taunton Academy Sports students 'Go Canoeing'

Yesterday with the help of Dave Bullock from SASP (Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership) I took 14 year 9 students from Taunton Academy's Sports Academy programme Open Canoeing.

Over the 2 hour session the students were challenged to control their canoe and take part in various team and pair tasks. They all came prepared to get wet and took on the challenges without hesitation. We started at Firepool Lock and paddled upstream to French Weir.

Raft Building on the Tone

Today I have been working for Active Adventure South West delivering a Raft Building session to Year 9 students from West Somerset College. 

The River Tone in Taunton was the Venue and the session involved time to build a raft and then enjoy a relay race from Fire Pool Lock to Priory Bridge and back. The students first efforts were not that great and the rafts fell part on attempted launch. We went about building two 5 minute rafts which nearly lasted the duration of the race. 

All the students came prepared to get wet and thats exactly what they did. Lots of smiles and laughter so a good session all round. 

More Open Boating with Kings College CCF

Today I was back out on the River Tone with the other half of the year 10 Kings College Royal Marines section of the CCF.

The session was almost a mirror image of last weeks session to keep consistency in the delivery of their adventure training. It has been really good to work with a small group to teach solo open canoeing skills.

Next week all 10 will be with me for a session of tandem canoeing, completing a short journey.

Open Canoeing with Kings College CCF

The River Tone in Taunton was the Venue for todays session with the Royal Marines section of the Kings College, Taunton Combined Cadet Forces.

As part of their adventure training I am taking them for various outdoor activities. Due to exams we were light on numbers so I took 5 cadets for some solo open canoeing while Steve took the other 4 for a climbing session at Norton Manor Camp.

All of the cadets did really well considering it was their first time in a canoe solo. In the 2 hour session we looked at various solo strokes, played a few confidence building games and paddled about a mile.

Next week I will take the other 4 canoeing while these cadets go climbing.

Open Canoeing - Hen party

 

 

 

 

A fun session today out on the River Tone with 12 ladies on a hen weekend to Somerset organised by Lucy Porter.

 

We got on the river near Firepool Weir and made our way upstream and against a stiff breeze to French Weir playing a few games and learning a few skills along the way.

 

After a quick chocolate stop and a stretch of the legs we made our way back to Firepool. The ladies tried paddling standing up, counter-balancing themselves over the sides of the boat and raced to see which team could get themselves, their paddles and their boats through a hoop.

 

A great session enjoyed by all with 4 taking an accidental dip in the river.