| August 11, 2004
Photos
Upward Bound Program at the Boys and Girls
Harbor gives kids who wouldn’t have a chance, get on
the right path with the goal of getting 100% of them into
college. Jessie Stone has a vision of turning them into kayakers
as well. This is the third year for Jessie’s NYC Kids
Camp. She gets 14 kids for five days to turn them on to kayaking
and introduce the outdoors to kids who, for the most part,
haven’t been exposed to it. She recruited my help in
the first year along with the other two instructors who have
been here for each one, Margie and Hayden from Oregon (instructors
for Sundance). This is the second year for Emily and Dane
being involved. Last year Emily and Dane only ran the river
on the last day with the group. This year, they are full on
instructors, teaching the roll, strokes, outfitting, everything…
very cool.
The kids range from 14 to 18 years old
and are mostly girls. They requested the camp, so they are
totally into the whole thing. They all have terrific energy
and are a pleasure to be with. They show respect, have a great
time, smile a lot, and are terrific kayak students.
The camp started off in a pool on the 6th
floor of a building that is inscribed with, “dedicated
to the prevention of neglect and cruelty to children.”
That is paraphrased, since I can’t remember who said
it or exactly how it went. It is adjacent to Central Park.
Jackson Kayak brought 16 kayaks up, including 8 that were
FedEx shipped to make it on time. The boats are 2 Fun, Fun,
4 Fun, and Super Funs. Jessie also got 14 AT 3 paddles sent
from AT. Talk about top of the line equipment for their first
lessons! Shred Ready provided the helmets, and Astral provided
the lifejackets. Smiley’s Noseplugs provided noseplugs
too! Mountain Surf was the sprayskirt supplier and hopefully
they will show up tomorrow- we were scrounging today. We did
two pool sessions and then today we went to Pier 63. This
includes a bit of shuffling boats from Jessie’s parents
house in Purchase, NY to the city, then to the 6th floor,
then to the van, and Mini, then off to the Hudson again, down
to the pier, whew!
Eric Stiller owns Manhattan Kayak Company-
a sea kayak touring company, with instruction, and daily physical
workouts. Eric may well star in my workout video next year,
he is a madman! We used his river access and docks to get
on the water on the Hudson on the lower west side of Manhattan.
What a first open water experience! Big boats go by continuously
and make great “macho move” waves, or major fast
track intro to keeping your weight over the boat for the kids!
I am in a bad way for teaching, because my 10 stitches are
still an issue. My hand is barely moveable and everytime I
accidentally use my little finger, I feel like I am tearing
the muscle apart again. Since it is still bleeding, I figure
I probably shouldn’t let the Hudson River Water into
my wound. Therefore, I have two little Jackson’s who
are doing a terrific job in replacing me. I think Emily is
perhaps one of the best rolling instructors I have ever seen!
Dane is awesome also and has several rollers that he can take
a least partial credit for.
After a few hours of open water paddling,
a strokes and concepts course, and plenty of games, the kids
wrapped it up, the boats were reloaded and ready for our first
river run with the kids- the Housatonic river in Connecticut.
I am now back at Jessie Stone’s house- that is the next
story. I will go to be soon, and be ready to get the dogs
to the vet, before we head to Salt Lake after the camp.
Back at the plant- the First Fun 1.5 came
out of the mold!!!! The graphics will be in tomorrow for it!!
EJ
|
