BBCC CANOE KIDS
Welcome!
The Balmy Beach Canoe Club’s Canoe Kids program is a skill development program that focuses on the fundamentals of canoeing and kayaking. This program is designed as a fun based introduction to the sport. Campers will have the opportunity to paddle in canoes and kayaks of different varieties, as well as participate in dry-land and on water games. The program will have a balance of technical instruction along with play-based learning. Weekend competition opportunities will be provided to campers who wish to get more involved in the sport at no extra fee, however, racing is not a required component of the program.
Canoe Kids runs with an 8:1 camper to coach ratio. All Balmy Beach Canoe Kids coaches are NCCP Canoe Kids Trained and are level one first aid certified. Campers must be at least 8 years of age and have a Red Cross Level 6. All campers are required to wear a PFD when participating in on water programs. All equipment, including PFDs, are provided by the canoe club. Registration can be done on a week by week basis or for the entire summer.
Meet Our Coaches!
Grace Rockett
Canoe Kids Director & Special Olympics/Para Sport Coordinator
"To say that I am excited to be back on the water is an understatement, it is a privilege that I am to be working with such amazing and dedicated athletes and coaches once again this year. I look forward to coming up with new and exciting covid friendly on land and on water games for the kids and for ideas to soar and fail all at the same time. This summer will be one to remember and I am lucky (to say the lease) that I get to do it along side my awesome team."
Favourite Boat:
My favourite boat to paddling is the war canoe (duh) though I think it may be a while till we can all shove 15 athletes into a boat LOL
Elliot Smith
Canoe Kids Director & Master’s Coordinator
" I'm most looking forward to get on the water, driving around in our beautiful motorboats with the sun shining and the water glistening. There's a million amazing ways to spend your days at the balmy beach canoe club and I'm extremely excited to be working with an amazing team for my 5th summer in a row."
Favourite Boat:
My favorite book to paddle in is a vanquish 1. Nothing gives you more power than one of those.
Natalie Smith
Canoe Kids Senior Coach & CIT Coordinator
"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is being back at the club and hopefully creating a very fun summer for the kids at camp this year. I always enjoy coming back to coach because its both a fulfilling and exciting way to spend the summer, as well as I love being apart of the club and doing what I can for it."
Favourite Boat:
My favourite boat to paddle would probably be my K1 but I also love war canoe and racing most team boats, so I guess I enjoy all of them!
Jess Owens
Canoe Kids Coach
"I’m most excited to be working alongside the other coaches at the club. They’re a great group to be around; nice, funny, enthusiastic, and very welcoming to all. I’m also looking forward to returning as a coach for some of the best behaved kids I’ve been able to coach. The kids are always eager to learn and have fun; it makes it easier to share my knowledge of the sport, while keeping the drills fun."
Favourite Boat:
I can easily say my favourite boat to paddle in is War Canoe. As one of the few canoeists at the club, team boats are hard to come by, however, War Canoe is unique. Everyone, even kayakers, participate in it. War Canoe is always a wild race and you’re not in it alone, it’s overall a great boat to be in.
Kyle Jackson
Canoe Kids Coach
"I’m really excited to coach again this summer to actively engage a safe and fun environment for kids to learn the fundamental of paddling. My goal is to pass on the love I have in this sport to young athletes so they can have the love and fun I have today training."
Favourite Boat:
My favourite boat is K1...wait wait no K4, I changed my mind.
Brett Jackson
Canoe Kids Coach
"I’m looking forward to beach day the most."
Favourite Boat:
My favourite boat is the joe
CANOE KIDS INFORMATION
CANOE KIDS 2021 DATES
AN AVERAGE DAY AT CANOE KIDS
8:50 am Arrival & Sign In
9:00 am Warm up games and Activities
9:30 am On water session #1
10:30 am Dry land games
11:30 am Lunch
12:00 pm On water session #2
1:00 pm Sign out and goodbyes!
Week 1: June 28 – July 2* SOLD OUT
Week 2: July 5 – July 9 SOLD OUT
Week 3: July 12 – July 16 SOLD OUT
Week 4: July 19 – July 23 SOLD OUT
Week 5: July 26 – July 30 SOLD OUT
Week 6: August 2 – August 6* SOLD OUT
Week 7: August 9 – August 13 SOLD OUT
Week 8: August 16 – August 20 SOLD OUT
Week 9: August 23 – August 27 SOLD OUT
Week 10: August 30 – September 3 SOLD OUT
*Short week due to holiday
AGES: 8 - 14
DATES: June 28 - September 3
TIMES: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Ashbridges Bay
WEEKLY: $200*
FULL SUMMER YOUTH: $1100**
*Reduced price for short weeks, see 2021 Canoe Kids Dates
**prices include racing fees & Fall program to Thanksgiving (learn more here)
Meet Chris Mehak
BBCC Assistant Head Coach
Chris started his paddling career with the Balmy Beach Canoe Club and was a paddler in the BBCC Canoe Kids program from 1999-2002. He went on to be a member of the Canadian Canoe/Kayak National Team where he was a member of the 2010 and 2011 world championship teams. Chris returned to the Balmy Beach Canoe Club in 2019 as the assistant head coach. He is most passionate when teaching youth the fundamentals of canoeing and kayaking technique.
