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Small Craft Safety

Small Craft Safety certification meets the Safety-Wise requirement for a canoe trip leader, is valid for a three year period. Please note that this is a safety and rescue certification course, not a canoeing skills class.

Learn the skills necessary to prevent, recognize, and respond to canoe emergencies, and gain the knowledge to assist a troop in planning and implementing a canoe outing.  Participants must be experienced canoeists who are prepared to pass a prerequisite canoe skills test at the beginning of class (no advance practice time). Participants who are unable to pass the prerequisite test will be unable to continue with the training.

Who Should Attend: Experienced canoeists who are planning on leading girls on a canoe/rowboat/small sailboat trip.

Prerequisites:

In order to complete the mandatory prerequisite test, you will need to demonstrate the following:
  • Float or tread water for one minute without a life jacket
  • Swim any stroke for 25 yards without a life jacket
  • Swim any stroke for 25 yards with a life jacket
  • Safely launch and control a canoe using the proper strokes while paddling forwards and backwards, turning, stopping, and holding position
  • Paddling will be done solo, either alone in a canoe or with a non-paddling partner to help balance the canoe.
  • When paddling forward and backward steering strokes, such as J-strokes or sweep strokes, must be used to maintain a straight line course without switching sides or ruddering.
Duration: Eight and a half hours
Cost: $15.00, includes the cost of certification and the required textbook.
Materials to Bring:
  • Your favorite paddle
  • Adult-sized life jacket (if you have one). A limited number of life jackets will be available at the training.
  • Comfortable layered clothing and/or swimsuit
  • Change of dry clothes/shoes
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Pen/notebook
  • Bottled water
When to Complete: Before leading girls on a canoe trip
How often to Complete: Every three years

Ways to Complete:

Re-Certification Challenge

If you are currently Small Craft Safety Certified, you may renew your certification in challenge format and be exempt from the classroom portion of the class. You will still need to complete the pretest upon arrival, and there will be no practice session beforehand. This certification covers flat water canoeing, rowboats and small sailboats, and is valid for a three year period.

Who Should Attend: Volunteers interested in renewing their certification

Prerequisites:

You must have current Small Craft Safety Certification.

In order to complete the mandatory prerequisite test, you will need to demonstrate the following:
  • Float or tread water for one minute without a life jacket
  • Swim any stroke for 25 yards without a life jacket
  • Swim any stroke for 25 yards with a life jacket
  • Safely launch and control a canoe using the proper strokes while paddling forwards and backwards, turning, stopping, and holding position
  • Paddling will be done solo, either alone in a canoe or with a non-paddling partner to help balance the canoe
  • When paddling forward and backward steering strokes, such as J-strokes or sweep strokes, must be used to maintain a straight line course without switching sides or ruddering
Duration: 3.5 hours
Cost: $5.00, covers the cost of certification
Materials to Bring:
  • Red Cross Small Craft Safety book and current certification card
  • Your favorite paddle
  • Adult-sized life jacket (if you have one). A limited number of life jackets will be available at the training.
  • Comfortable layered clothing and/or swimsuit
  • Change of dry clothes/shoes
  • Sunscreen
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Pen/notebook
When to Complete: Before your Small Craft Safety Certification expires
How often to Complete: Every three years

Ways to Complete:

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