Syllabus - School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism - George ...

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism
PRLS 173/5P1– Core Coastal Kayaking Skills 74215 (2) Credits
Spring 2013
DAY/TIME: 3:00 pm-5:35 pm, Fri
4/05/2012
4/13/2012 ,4/14/
LOCATION: Pool GMU
Potomac River sections
4/ 20/ 21/ 2012
8:30 am-5:30 pm S/S
INSTRUCTOR: Mike Aronoff, ACA IT EMAIL
ADDRESS:
mikearonoff@aol.com
www.CKAPCO.com
OFFICE CKAPCO
PHONE 703-264-8911
LOCATION:
NUMBER:
OFFICE HOURS: By Appointment FAX NUMBER: 703- 716-8560
COURSE FEE: $180 paid to CKAPCO prior to the class start by check or credit card for sea kayak, paddle,
pfd, safety rescue gear, trailering and wet suit rental etc.
PREEQUISITES: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed to provide students with the core skills and knowledge necessary to safely paddle
sea/coastal kayaks and execute trips on non whitewater rivers and coastal environments. This course will
include instruction in, but not limited to, boat handling, terminology, kayak design, trip planning, marine
hazards and safety, rules of the Nautical Road, weather and tides and environmental ethics. There will be
several trips within 50 miles of GMU.
OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course students should be able to:
1. Properly fit & adjust their kayak for effective control and comfort.
2. Safely portage their kayak to the water.
3. Attach/detach their sprayskirt.
4. Properly & safely enter and exit their kayak from shore.
5. Safely & effectively wet-exit their kayak.
6. Demonstrate proper use & control of the paddle.
7. Perform basic strokes and maneuvers. (Stroke list attached).
8. Perform a T assisted - and Paddle Float Self-Rescue.
9. Explain and demonstrate use of essential safety equipment.
10. Describe the influence of weather and tides on the coastal kayaker.
11. Identify marine hazards & safety concerns and explain strategies for dealing with them.
12. Demonstrate Rules of the Nautical Road.
13. State their personal limitations and skill level
TEXT:
Wyatt, J. Michael , Kayaking : Basic Essentials SEA KAYAKING a Falcon Guide
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES:
Sea Kayakers Handbook by Shelly Johnson, Essentials of Kayak Touring by American Canoe Assoc.
NATURE OF COURSE DELIVERY: Face to Face

EVALUATION:
Skill Competencies (40%): will be required and evaluated each class session.
Written Exam (20%): Written exam on coastal safety topics.
Final Exam (40%): Practical evaluation on paddle strokes and maneuvers in moving water.
Students will be evaluated on the following skills:
1. Properly adjust foot braces and attach spray skirt
2. Safely enter & exit their kayak from shore
3. Perform a wet-exit with comfort & control
4. Maintain good posture and balance in the kayak
5. Perform the basic strokes, maneuvers & rescues with efficiency
6. Identify common coastal/marine hazards
7. State their physical abilities & limitations
8. Explain when it is safe & appropriate to paddle
GRADING
A = 100-90
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-60
F = 59 and below
REQUIREMENTS:
Physical exertion on this course is considered moderate to strenuous. Students (in pairs) will be responsible for
carrying kayaks weighing up to 60 lbs. There are required supervised wet exit capsize drills as part of the
course where the student will be completely immersed. Accidental capsize is always a possibility. Kayaks have
a 275 pound paddler weight limit. Shortie wetsuits are required for the Spring class and provided via course fee.
Equipment:
Properly sized & outfitted sea kayaks with front and rear flotation and related paddling & safety
equipment (i.e. paddles, PFD’s, sprayskirts, paddle floats, bilge pumps, slings ,wet suits all in $ $180 fee.
All students are required to pay the fee to cover equipment (wetsuit included), if they do not have their
own acceptable equipment.
Contact Mike Aronoff for approval of personally owned kayak and gear.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Location: Teaching Locations will be GMU classroom, the Aquatic Center, freshwater river sections including
one with class one rapids and a marine environment with waves up to 1.5 feet, winds to 15 knots, and the group
may be up to 1 mile from shore. There will be several trips within 50 miles of GMU.
1. Introductions & Expectations
Enrollment/registration/liability
Welcome & introductions
Student & instructor expectations
Environment-underwater learning
Physical-flexibility, fatigue
Emotional-fears
Cognitive-information overload

Course itinerary
2. Dryland Presentations
Equipment orientation
Personal clothing & gear
PFD’s, wetsuits & sprayskirts
Safety equipment (i.e. pump, paddle float, sling)
Kayak nomenclature & terminology
Basic boat design (hull shape, length,
beam, rocker vs. keel, initial vs. secondary stability)
Boat fit & adjustment
Boat/body weld
Individuals get sized to boats
Sprayskirt attachment & use
Wet-exit explanation & dryland practice
Paddle orientation
Parts & design
Sizing, indexing, relaxed grip
Feathered vs. non-feathered, paddle control
Concept of torso rotation.
3. Launching & Landing/Wet-Exit Practice
Carrying kayak to and from water
Proper entry & exit of boat from shore or dock
Boat control/stability exercises (supported boogie-woogie, j-leans using partner’s bow for
support)
Demonstrate & practice wet-exits (one-on-one supervision by instructor)
Allow students to get oriented/familiar with their kayak
4. Introduction to Basic Strokes & Maneuvers
Sweep strokes (forward & reverse, spins)
Forward touring stroke
Reverse stroke & stopping
Draw stroke (draw-to-the-hip w/ in-water recovery)
5. Lunch Break/Discussion
Signaling & safety devices discussion/show & tell
6. Introduction to Basic Rescues
Demonstrate & practice T-Rescue (w/ & w/0 stirrup)
Demonstrate & practice Paddle Float Self-Rescue (w/ & w/o stirrup)
Reenter and roll with and without paddle float.
Towing basics.
7. Group Safety Talk
Paddling as a group
Group signals
What to do in the event of an emergency
8. Actual tours
Continue to develop good forward stroke technique
Discuss & practice course correction techniques for windy conditions

Observation & explanation of on-water hazards
Observation & explanation of tides & currents (if applicable)
Observation & explanation of weather, wind & wave dynamics
Listen to NOAA weather radio
Discuss current wind speed & direction concerns
Discuss knowing personal and group limits.
9. Additional Stroke & Skill Development
Low & high braces (w/ hip snap development/lower body boat control)
Low brace turns and bow draw turns.
Low brace support underway for looking behind you
Rafting up for support demonstration & practice
Reinforce the idea of paddling with a partner/group
10. Conclusion/Course Wrap-up
Load boats showing proper tie-down techniques
Provide individual feedback if possible
Group debrief of how course went
Explain what is next in their learning progression
Course evaluation
Student Expectations
• Students must adhere to the guidelines of the George Mason University Honor Code [See http://
oai.gmu.edu/honor-code/
• Students with disabilities who seek accommodations in a course must be registered with the George Mason
University Office of Disability Services (ODS) and inform their instructor, in writing, at the beginning of the
semester [See http://ods.gmu.edu/].
• Students must follow the university policy for Responsible Use of Computing [See
http://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/1301gen.html].
• Students are responsible for the content of university communications sent to their George Mason University
email account and are required to activate their account and check it regularly. All communication from the
university, college, school, and program will be sent to students solely through their Mason email account.
• Students must follow the university policy stating that all sound emitting devices shall be turned off during
class unless otherwise authorized by the instructor.
• Students are expected to exhibit professional behaviors and dispositions at all times.
Campus Resources
• The George Mason University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff consists of professional
counseling and clinical psychologists, social workers, and counselors who offer a wide range of services (e.g.,
individual and group counseling, workshops and outreach programs) to enhance students’ personal experience
and academic performance [See http://caps.gmu.edu/].
• The George Mason University Writing Center staff provides a variety of resources and services (e.g., tutoring,
workshops, writing guides, handbooks) intended to support students as they work to construct and share
knowledge through writing [See http://writingcenter.gmu.edu/].
• For additional information on the College of Education and Human Development, School of Recreation,
Health, and Tourism, please visit our website [See http://rht.gmu.edu].
CORE VALUES COMMITMENT: The College of Education and Human Development is committed to collaboration, ethical
leadership, innovation, research-based practice, and social justice. Students are expected to adhere to these principles.