Paddlesport Center Classroom
The Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center is the only Paddlesport Educational Center on the Hudson River. Many exciting programs are offered both on and off the water. The classroom is the focal point of the Center.
Registration and Policies
- For Free Programs register by e-mailing name and number of attendees to info@AtlanticKayakTours.com
- For Paid Programs send in normal registration form on the Literature Page.
- You must sign up for classroom programs by Monday at noon the week of the program.
- Minimum participation is required or program will be cancelled.
- Stop in to sign up for any classroom program or download Classroom registration form on the website.
- Please note that classroom programs have a minimum number of students. If the program does not meet the minimum, it will be cancelled at the latest by 6:00 PM the day before the program. Cancellation notification will be by e-mail or phone if requested.
Teaches how to recognize and care for victims of injuries and sudden illness. Topics include bandaging, splinting, care of burns, poisoning, diabetic emergencies, bites and stings, heat and cold emergencies and seizures. As an American Red Cross Provider, we can arrange custom first aid or CPR programs for your group.
A First Aid Skills card, booklet and certification card are provided as part of the course fee. This course has a 3 year expiration.
This course teaches how to recognize and care for victims of breathing and cardiac emergencies. Topics include: recognizing emergencies, preventing disease transmission, clearing a blocked airway conscious and unconscious, rescue breathing, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and heart disease prevention. An Adult CPR skills card, booklet and certification card are provided as part of the course fee.
Learn the basics of maintaining a kayak and other paddling equipment. This sessions covers both fiberglass and plastic kayaks along with paddles, dry suites and other items. Also see Kayak Repairs
This is a two part theme. Navigation is an important skill many paddlers lack. In part one you will learn to; read a chart, plan tides & currents, take a bearing, plot a course, use transits and many other important skills. Navigation equipment will be provided. Part two will be held as a Thursday Night Skill Session.
How to Dress for Cold WaterLearn what to wear for Fall and Winter kayaking. This session will cover clothing layering systems, wetsuits, drysuits, Gore-Tex vs. coated materials. Coldwater safety equipment will also be shown.
How to Get Started in Kayaking
Interested in kayaking, but don’t know how to get started. This session will cover many of your options. Bring your questions to learn even more.
Different types of repairs will be covered. When should a scratch or damaged area be repaired? How do you fix gel coat damage? Repair materials and tools will be shown. This session mostly covers composite (fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar) boats. If you own a composite kayak you should understand the process of repairing it, even if you don't plan to do the work yourself.
The use of VHF, FRS, GMRS radios, flairs, cell phones, whistles and hand signals.
What cameras and film work best from a kayak? Various methods to keep your equipment dry. What makes a good kayak photo? A short slide show will be presented.
This class will focus on getting kids into paddlesports. We will discuss the equipment that is available for kids, safety concerns, planning trips with kids in mind and suggest ways to make it fun.
This course is intended for outdoor enthusiasts of all backgrounds and interests. The course includes hands-on learning activities, application of the 7 LNT principles and reflection. The goal of the U.S. Leave No Trace educational program is to avoid or minimize impacts to natural area resources and help ensure a positive recreational experience for all visitors.
Learn how to pick a kayak that fits your body and your paddling needs. Should you get a rudder or a skeg? Is fiberglass worth the extra money? What is; rocker, secondary stability, edging and other terminology
Learn how to pick the best paddle for your boat, skill level and size. Learn why some paddles cost more than others. Is carbon worth the price? Why so many different shapes?
True Tales and the Saga of Bannerman's Island
Thom Johnson is a student of Bannerman's Island . He has been on and off the Island since he was a youngster and as an adult knew the last on-island superintendant of the armory and storage facility. Now an Irvington , New York , high school art and photography teacher , he brings his students onto the Island to photograph the structures that still remain and attract many peoples imagination . Thom will be able to vividly describe and discuss the architecture of Mr. Bannerman imagination and give the listener a picture of what life was like on the Island at the turn of the 20th century.
A Workshop For Outdoor Professionals
This four hour workshop is a must for outdoor sports professionals. More and more people of varying abilities are looking for adventures once thought to be only for people with great physical and mental ability. Today, despite issues of physical fitness, disease, developmental disabilities or physical disabilities, customers come to us seeking not just access to our sport but full participation. Helping them succeed enriches the experience for everyone. And for us professionals, reveals new dimensions of the sport we thought we knew.
Topics included in this presentation: Understanding Disabilities, Accessibility: What Is It, The Law of the Land, The Language We Use, Our Attitudes, and Adaptive Technology Theory. You will leave this workshop ready to explore possibilities.
Includes all materials
World Kayak Travels with Jon Bowermaster
Jon Bowermaster has paddled many oceans and seas under the sponsorship of the National Geographic Society. His articles and the associated photographs of peoples and their tie to the worlds large bodies of water are well documented on public television and many of the best publications offered to the interested scientific and lay organizations of the planet. He is to complete paddling the five (5) continents of the globe shortly and will discuss some parts of his many trips. He will have come back from paddling in Croatia at the time of this seminar. The next stop is expected to be the continent of Antarctica.