Our county paddlesports weekend this year will be over the weekend of 6–8 September on the Thames in Henley where we will be running sessions on canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, traditional rafting and safety and rescue.
Initially the weekend is open to Explorers (including Young Leaders) and Scout Network members who would like to have a great fun weekend learning to paddle, and for those with previous experience to improve their paddling, and even go for a permit so they can go paddling without a leader or run paddling themselves. If we have any spaces left after the Explorers have had a chance to apply, we will open it up to Scouts.
With two days on the water with experienced coaches and instructors, our young people will be able to develop their skills including in how to rescue paddlers in trouble. We will be providing boats, paddles and buoyancy aids, and there are hot showers and changing facilities at our riverside base. However, participants will need to bring their own clothing for paddling together with a towel and spare dry warm clothing for when they get wet.
For those wishing to stay overnight, there is a large camping field on site and we will be providing catering centrally. However, as some participants will live nearby, we are offering the alternative of going home each night. Anyone doing that will need to be on site and ready to go on the water by 09.00 hours on both the Saturday and Sunday and bring their own packed lunches and snacks, as while there will be hot and cold drinks for everyone during the day, we are not catering for participants not staying overnight.
Cost
The fee for participants for the full weekend including campsite fees and catering starting on the Friday evening and running through to mid Sunday afternoon will be £80. The cost for those who are only coming for the activity sessions and are going home each night will be £50. There is no option to only come for a single day.
The fee for Leaders coming with their units and not going on the water will be £40 for catering and campsite fees if they are staying overnight, but there will be no charge for those leaders only there for the day and catering for themselves
Booking and payment
If you want to come, don’t delay. Numbers will be restricted by the instructors and boats we can obtain, and in view of the success of last year’s event, we expect that the event will be oversubscribed.
You can apply as a group or Unit by completing our online application form for groups, or if you are an Explorer (that includes a Young Leader) or a Scout Network member, you can apply as an individual by completing our online application form for individuals.
You will need to pay a deposit of £25 per participant once we have accepted your application and have sent you the payment details. Your place(s) will only be confirmed once you have paid your deposit and the balance will become due at the beginning of July.
Group applications will need to include the names of all those coming but you will be able to substitute participants.
If you need any further information at this stage or are interested in helping to run the event the event, contact [email protected]