Youth Park & Play Discover and Explore Awards - River Ness - 2025  

Youth Park & Play Discover and Explore Awards - River Ness - 2025

youth-park-play-discover-and-explore-awards-river-ness-2025 

Meeting place: Dochgarroch, Inverness

Meeting time: 6:30pm (Boat and kit hires people meet at Muirton Basin Inverness Canal at 6pm)

Finish time (approx): 8:30pm 

ICC Contact: Kirsten Petrie/Eleanor MacDonald email:Invernessccyouth@gmail.com

Meeting place: Dochgarroch, Inverness

Meeting time: 6:30pm

Finish time (approx): 8:30pm

Tuesday Night River Ness Park & Play

This year the youth park & play sessions will run as two six week blocks from 22 April to 24 June before the school summer holidays. Leaders and coaches Kirsten Petire and assistant Neil MacDonald will be delivering moving water skills and the Discover and Explore Awards - River Ness - 2025 to one group while Eleanor MacDonald will offer coaching on sheltered water progressing to moving water and the awards to another group.

Youth Park and Play sessions on the River Ness will run for two six week blocks from 22 April every Tuesday night until 24 June then there will be regular Tuesdays throughout the summer term to follow. These sessions provide a great opportunity to work on river skills, kayaking fitness and rolling, plus they are fun and sociable too! We plan to provide these as progressive sessions offering up to 12 participant places each night with two groups one for beginners and one for those with more paddling experience depending on who books we'll accommodate everyone's needs when leaders and coaches are available

Those that need boat hire will meet at Muirton Basin at 6pm get kit then meet others at 6:30pm at the Scottish Canals carpark at Dochgarroch (three miles west of Inverness on the A82). Boats can drop off boats in the small car park where the tourist boats leave from but must then relocate our vehicle to the carpark to the east. Transport is not provided. Parents must transport children and boats and be available at drop off and pick up contactable throughout the duration of the session in the event of an early finish or curtailment.

Loch Dochfour at Dochgarroch and the moving water of the River Ness provide a fantastic play ground for river kayakers. Come along to learn more.

From here we have many options including:

1. Park and play at the top of the river in a quiet sheltered pool of water
2. Short river trip around the islands and back up the canal
3. Medium length River trip to Fast eddy and back up canal
4. Medium length trip to serpents tail and return by canal
5. River trip to above the top of the weir at town
6. River Trip including the weir to the skate park

The sessions will take into account the people the activity and environment (PEA).

Young people will be coached in a person centred way developing their skills and knowledge to enable independent paddler. Everyone is welcome and we'll chat to you about your needs and wants to make the sessions work for you and your family.

Meet Times

We meet at 6.30pm at Dochgarroch and are off the water approximately 8:30pm/9pm

Your Current Ability/Pre requisites

 As paddlers that have attended winter pool sessions who are keen to progress from flat water to grade 1-2 water to get the skills that are required to hold a Personal performance Discover and Explore award or be competent at the following skills:

Controlling the direction of my craft

Developing effective and efficient strokes to move forward, stop and steer the craft

Able to demonstrate effective and efficient posture

Safety and rescue

Confident in my ability to get myself back in my boat with assistance

Grade 1-2 trips are open to all club members that meet the required standard to participate in the environment

 These river session can be used to develop introduction to moving water skills. If you're unsure if you meet the skill level please email us at Invernessccyouth@gmail.com or eleanormacdonald@ymail.com or youth@invernesscc.org.uk

 Booking

You must book via WebCollect so we have an accurate list of attendees (including their up-to-date contact/emergency contact details). This is to ensure coaches and leaders are within remit.

Bookings will open in advance and sessions are dependent on leader availability so may be cancelled if there are pressures on the volunteers that mean they cannot go ahead. You will be contacted if there is a cancellation.

Please note that we will endeavour to run sessions each week however alll coaches are voluntary and there may be occasions that we cannot run the planned sessions If you are interested in volunteering please contact me on Invernessccyouth@gmail.com

Cancellations

Please contact me on Invernessccyouth@gmail.com as soon as possible if you are unable to attend so that your place can be released for someone else.

What to bring or hire (hires are free for all under 18s);

1. Boat or Paddle ( Hire is available with prior notice on booking)
2. Wetsuit/ Dry suit
3. Cagoule
4. Wetsuit Boots/ Shoes
5. Spray deck. (Ensure you deck fits your boat!0
6. Water sports helmet
7. Buoyancy Aid
8. Dry bag for snack and a spare fleece clothing layer
9. Towel

Don’t worry if you don’t have some of the essential items above, equipment hire is available…except footwear you do need your own.

Club Equipment Hire; £FREE per youth person, per week.

Boats, paddles, helmet, buoyancy aid, cag & spray decks will be available for hire each week.

Kit hire should be added to your booking and paid via WebCollect.

Medical/ Learning Needs

It is essential on booking that you disclosure any medical or learning needs. This allows coaches and leaders to deliver the best possible experience for you.

If you have a medical condition or injury that has not been disclosed on booking please advise the coach or Leading on the evening before the session starts.

Please carry with you at all times any medication, such as an inhaler or EpiPen, and let your coach or leader know where it is AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SESSION. Any information will be treated in confidence.

Hope to see you all on the water, happy paddling!

Location: Dochgarroch, Inverness

Contact: Icc Youth