Learning POOL SESSIONS CWA sponsors pool classes which introduce the students to whitewater boating in kayaks. Strokes, braces, the eskimo roll and safety considerations are all taught in these classes, unless otherwise noted. The following locations sponsor these classes and anyone interested in taking a class should visit the website for exact dates and contact information. Most classes start in October and again in January. This page is now updated dynamically with the most current pool sessions available.. Conant High School - Fall Pool Session, Schaumburg 9/25/2008- 11/6/2008 (7 weeks) Thursdays, 7:30 - 9:00 PM Cost: $85 Contact/Registration: R326-01 http://www.d211.org/ContinuingEd.shtml Notes: 9:00- 10:00 instructor time. contact Diana Kittelton if you want to aid for this class Oak Park YMCA - Fall Pool Session, none 10/5/2008- 12/7/2008 (10 weeks) Sundays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Cost: $140 M/ $200 Non Member Contact/Registration: YMCA (708) 383-5200 Notes: Listed as AQ998. YMCA Brochure Sundays 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., 7:30 - 9:00 for instructors. Instructors can contact John Karch Lattof YMCA - Fall Intro to Kayak, Des Plaines 10/26/2008- 12/20/2008 (8 Weeks) Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:30 PM Cost: $80 M/ $160 Non Member Contact/Registration: 847-296-3376 (call ahead to verify enough boats available) or Contact Dan Leigh 847-392-8190/d.leigh@att.net Notes: www.ymcachgo.org to register whitewater boats, spray skirts and paddles provided by CWA members. Naperville North High School - Fall Intro to Kayaking, Naperville 11/2/2008- 11/23/2008 (4 weeks) Sundays, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm students only Cost: $150 / $180 non resident Contact/Registration: recenroll@napervilleparks.org or call 630-848-5000 Notes: http://www.napervilleparks.org/recenroll/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=5147 Naperville North High School Pool classes will run for 4 weeks in November starting Sunday 11/2 –Sunday 11/23. Classes will run in the afternoon from 3:00PM until 5:00PM. Cost will be $150 for district residents and $180 for non-residents. Class will emphasize river/whitewater kayaking. Class will cover equipment, strokes, techniques, self rescue, assisted rescue, paddling community, and river reading/safety. Rolling will be demonstrated, but not taught in this class. Those wishing to learn rolling should attend the Spring Rolling Clinic. Boats, skirts, and paddles will be provided. Instructors Needed: 1-3 instructors will be needed for this class. Due to the time constraints, there will be no open pool available during the class. We will strictly limit the number of instructors based on class size. Instructors who help teach will be offered free time in the open pool sessions that will start up Sunday mornings at Naperville later in the year. Those who are interested in earning free pool time (will be multiple weeks for each session taught), contact Randy Hetfield at 847-507-8507 or rhetfield@earthlink.net. Please state which weekends you would be interested in helping (showing up for all is not required). Those who help more will earn more free time. Lattof YMCA - Winter Intro to Kayak, Des Plaines 1/4/2009- 2/28/2009 (8 Weeks) Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:30 PM Cost: $80 M/ $160 Non Member Contact/Registration: 847-296-3376 (call ahead to verify enough boats available) or Contact Dan Leigh 847-392-8190/d.leigh@att.net Notes: www.ymcachgo.org to register whitewater boats, spray skirts and paddles provided by CWA members.   CWA BEGINNER TRIPS Learn to paddle safely and responsibly at our Fall and Winter pool classes offered at locations in and around the Chicago area. More experienced boaters can use their pool time to join us for a game of kayak polo or fine-tune new moves. During spring and summer months, the CWA offers learning opportunities on local rivers. We also offer special workshops for our members, including instructor development, certification and safety. All classes require advance registration and many are available to CWA members only.  Visit our Beginner trips page or our full Calendar page to see what is coming up. Please contact individual organizers for more information.

Tips Pool tips Bring bathing suit, towel, eyeglass guards (if you wear glasses), nose plugs (you’ll be upside down a lot), synthetic sweater or similar garment for warmth, some pools are cold. Leave jewelry at home, it can break, or fall off; there’s no time to search the pool for lost charms! Bring a lock for the locker room. Leave valuables at home. You do not need to bring your own equipment, unless you have your own whitewater kayak you wish to learn in. Please be on time for all classes, especially the classroom session, as topics will not be repeated, come a few minutes early.