CANOEING/KAYAKINGACTIVITY CARD

Just what does it take to canoe orkayak?

Gear UpYou'll need a kayak (boat that'salmost completely closed on topwith space for just one person) or acanoe (open boat that can fit youand a friend or two) plus the rightkind of paddle. Kayak paddles havea blade on both sides, but canoepaddles have one blade. Be sure topick the right size paddle—the stickpart of a canoe paddle should beabout six to eight inches longerthan the length of your arm withyour fingers out. Don't forgetanother essential: the life vest!Water shoes or sneakers —notsandals —that grip on the bottomwill help your feet stay put whenyou are pulling the paddle throughthe water. Keep a whistle attachedto your life vest so you are alwaysready to get attention if troublestrikes.

Play it SafeYou need to be a strong swimmer because you mighthave to swim underwater, or in moving water. Always

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go paddling with another person—not just for times oftrouble, but because someone should help you carry,load, and launch your boat, right?

Make sure your life jacket fits. Since paddling is anactivity that you can do all through the year, leaveenough room to put clothes under it when it is coldout. Be prepared to get wet! Take along extra dryclothing, just in case. Remember to keep sun proofwith sunscreen.

Save paddling for good weather days. Since you don'tknow what mother nature will throw at you, knowwhere your float trip will take you, spots where you canget out or camp for the night, and different ways to goin case unexpected trouble strikes your route. Avoidwhitewater rapids, dams, and falls—only experiencedwhitewater paddlers should take these on.

Sure, you want all your friends and their stuff to comealong, but don't put too much weight in the boat—youshould have more than six inches of side between thetop of the fully loaded boat and the water. Spread outthe weight (including people) so the boat will staybalanced.

Take lessons to help you learn ways to get yourselfback in your boat if it tips over—before you take yourfirst trip. And then practice them. The main thing toremember is... Don't panic. If you can't get back in,stay with your boat and flip it back over—it'll float—and try to swim the boat to shore. (Remember, you'rewearing a life jacket, right?!)

How to PlayPaddlers (people who canoe or kayak) really know howto have fun on the water — just a boat, a paddle,nature, and you!

Canoeing. Hold the paddle with your inside hand ontop and your water-side hand two to three feet down.Your knuckles should be facing out. Withoutstretching, insert the blade of the paddle all the way inthe water as far forward as you can reach. Push yourtop hand forward and pull your bottom hand back,turning your shoulders to move the paddle blade

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straight through the water to your hip. Keep the top ofthe paddle handle lower than your eyes and don'tfollow the curve of the canoe. Again! Have a friendpaddle on the other side of the canoe, or switch sidesas you paddle, to keep the boat gliding along straight.

Kayaking. Kayak paddles have a blade on each side.Lift your paddle with both hands and hold it acrossyour chest. Place your hands the same distance fromeach blade, just outside your shoulders. Hold thepaddle out in front of you, just a few inches above thekayak. Keeping your left elbow straight, bring yourright hand straight back, letting your right elbow bendback toward your body. Your body will twist to theright a bit. Paddle. Now, use the other arm. You'rekayaking!

Kayakers and canoers follow these tips so they don'tannoy other people…or the environment!

So Polite!

Only get to the water through marked paths — notthrough someone else's property. Take your paddlingbreaks in public places too.

Keep your lunch spots and campsites clean — don'tleave garbage in the water or lying around. If there'snowhere to put your trash, take it with you and dumpit when you get home.

Give people fishing plenty of room and try not todisturb the water too much where they are — it'll scarethe fish off.

Keep away from the wildlife — even if they are as cuteas pets!

OlogyA Greek mathematician named Archimedes figured outthat when something is in water, the force that keeps itafloat is equal to the weight of the water that it pushesaside. Light objects (like a leaf) float because they pushaside more than their own weight in water, but heavy

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA

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Page last reviewed: January 22, 2013Page last updated: January 22, 2013Content source: Division of Population Health, National Center forChronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

objects (like a rock) sink because they push aside lessthan their own weight. A canoe pushes aside morewater that its weight, which means it can carry heavystuff inside and still float.

Fun FactsThe word "kayak" is a palindrome (PAL-in-drohm)."Racecar," "radar," and "Too hot to hoot" are too! Apalindrome is a word or phrase that is the samewhether it is read left to right or right to left. Whatother palindromes can you think of?

Native Americans used animal skins and a variety oftree barks to make canoes. The very best canoecovering was made from paper birch bark because itwas lightweight and very strong.

Thirty thousand years ago, canoes helped ancientpeople move to new places along the Pacific Ocean:first in Asia, then along the coasts of Canada, the U.S.,and South America.

Related LinksCanoe and Kayak Magazine(http://www.canoekayak.com) (http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html)

How to paddle a Canoe or Kayak Video(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3XIWpEn3_Y) (http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html)

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