Water Sports Leadership Program
1 weeks
Wilmette, IL
$750
Looking for an amazing opportunity to learn leadership skills and build confidence in paddling skills? Our one week leadership development course will teach teens group leadership dynamics and decision making within their peer group through the various watersports paddling. The week is spent getting to know one another through daily paddles on Lake Michigan and the Skokie Lagoons, combined with leadership training from our experienced outdoor education staff. Participants will also learn watercraft maintenance and repair techniques to bring their technical skills full circle. This is a fantastic opportunity for teens to learn leadership and water skills with their peers!
Group members will spend the week with their instructors in Wilmette, getting to know one another and begin learning about group leadership. Daily paddle outings each morning will allow participants to learn and refine paddling skills and competencies, as well as get the chance to lead the group through a paddle outing (collaborating with their instructors who will be present throughout the leadership opportunity). After paddling we'll head back to land to work on educating and teaching technical outdoor 'hard skills' (knots, shelters, gear repair, map and compass, etc). Group members will be challenged to communicate and work together with one another through group initiatives and challenges. The Northwest Passage instructors will also be teaching the group how to make simple and intermediate repairs to watercraft and get the chance to collaborate with one another on service projects that will promote responsibility and a sense of 'giving back' to the local kayak community.
Monday: Meet Gillson Park Kayak Launch
9:00am Meet Time
Confirm paper work/Answer any Parent Questions
Provide Schedule for week
9:30 Introduction/Games/Daily Morning Activity
11:00 Kayak Safety Talk/Outfitting/Paddling
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 Paddling Games
3:00 PICK- UP at GILLSON PARK
Tuesday: Meet Gillson Park Kayak Launch
9:00 Games/Daily Morning Activity
9:30 SUP Safety Talk/Outfitting/Paddling
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 Paddling Games
3:00 PICK- UP at GILLSON PARK
Wednesday: Meet Gillson Park Kayak Launch
9:00 Games/Daily Morning Activity
9:30 SUP Safety Talk/Outfitting/Paddling
12:00 LUNCH
12:30 Commute to Centennial Park, Wilmette
12:30 Water Park (Centennial Park, Wilmette)
3:00 PICK- UP at Gillson Park
Thursday: MEET AT SKOKIE LAGOONS
9:00 Games/Daily Morning Activity
9:30 Safety Talk/Outfitting/Paddling/Orientation to Lagoons
11:00 ECO-CHALLENGE
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 Kayak the Lagoons
3:00 PICK-UP Skokie Lagoons
Friday: Meet at Gillson Park Kayak Launch
10:00 Games/Daily Morning Activity
10:30 Kayak or SUP Safety Talk/Outfitting/Paddling
12:00 LUNCH
1:00 Kayak/SUP the lake front
3:00 PICK-UP at Gillson Park
* Itinerary subject to change.
Wilmette is a village which borders Lake Michigan. According to stats Wilmette was ranked the best place to live in 2015 based on several factors. Wilmette has a developed urban forest.
History Trivia: Wilmette is the home to the Baha’i House of Worship, the only one in the United States.
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