Last Wednesday, 29 April, Year 12 Outdoor Education students headed to West Lakes for their Kayaking Skills Day, designed to prepare them for their upcoming expedition in the Riverland.
With warm, sunny weather and glassy water conditions greeting us in the morning, it was the perfect opportunity to get straight out on the water. Students began by refining their basic paddle skills before progressing through a series of strokes that enabled them to manoeuvre their kayaks with increasing control and efficiency. This included navigating between buoys and taking on the challenge of turning in a “doughnut” using as few strokes as possible.
One of the standout moments of the day had students rafting their kayaks together and testing their balance by running across the rafts before jumping into the water.
A key component of the day was ensuring students are equipped to manage safety situations during their expedition. All students successfully completed a practised capsize while wearing a spray skirt, demonstrating their ability to remain calm and exit safely if required.
The practical water session was followed by land-based learning, where students explored how to efficiently pack a kayak, along with navigation and route planning skills essential for their upcoming journey.
Overall, it was an incredibly enjoyable, valuable and successful day, leaving students well-prepared and excited for their Riverland adventure.
Mrs Bronwyn Dutch
