Welcome to the Idaho River Kids!
We are glad that you have chosen to participate in the Idaho River Kids Club. We hope to offer your child an opportunity to enjoy the river, develop character and self-confidence, confront new challenges, and make new friends. Our primary goals are your child’s safety and happiness. In addition, we want to pass on a love and respect for the river, promote a healthy and active lifestyle, and help youth meet and conquer the challenges of learning to kayak and the rest of their lives. Out of respect for your time, we strive to keep the schedule we have set for the club. To better understand how we can work together to provide the best experience possible for all involved in the Idaho River Kids, we have outlined the policies and expectations of the club in this pamphlet. We look forward to seeing you and your family on the river!
How to Join IRK
Membership is annual. Prior to participating in any Idaho River Kids Club activity (excluding pool sessions prior to May 19th), all members must complete and submit the following:
- ACA membership/waiver form (www.americancanoe.org)
- Cascade Raft and Kayak waiver form
- Contact information including phone number and email address
- IRK participant agreement
- $25 annual enrollment fee
Club members will be contacted by email on Friday as a reminder of the weekly meetings. Sign-ups must be made through the IRK website at least 24 hours in advance to secure a spot in the session. Please be attentive to this process as it helps us plan so that we can provide your child with the best possible experience each week.
Club Structure
Pool Sessions:
IRK will have open pool sessions for kids ages 8-18. These will be held at the Downtown YMCA from 5:30-6:30. The dates available are May 19th & 26th and June 2nd and 9th. No previous experience is necessary. Space will be limited to 15 kids Sign ups available on our website.
Pre-registration is required. Price-Free
River Running Sessions:
-Lower Main-Wednesday 5:00 pm: This session is available for kids ages 8 and above. All participants must have previous experience on this section of river either with parents or an instructor before participating with IRK. Space is limited to 15 kids per session. Must pre-register online at least 24 hours in advance in order to participate.
-Upper Main-Wednesday 5:00 pm: This session is available for kids ages 8 and above. All participants must have previous experience on this section of river either with parents or an instructor before participating with IRK. Space is limited to 15 kids per session. Must pre-register online at least 24 hours in advance in order to participate.
-Advanced Coaching Session-TBD: This will be a stationary session that is focused on rodeo or slalom technique for the more advanced paddler looking to improve their skills. Child must have a consistent river roll and personal equipment. Event location will be at the Boise Whitewater Park or at the Gutter in HSB.
Tuition Fees and Payment Policy
As the club has grown, there has been an interest in securing instructors with additional training and experience in coaching youngsters. While volunteers will remain an integral part of the club’s operation, the addition of professional instructors will offer new resources to further the personal growth and kayaking skills of club members. Tuition fees will be used to compensate the professional instructors working with the club, cover overhead costs such as insurance and fuel.
Idaho River Kids has an annual enrollment fee of $25 per person. Designated Kids Club pools sessions are offered at no cost to members. For the months of June, July and August, all sessions will be offered on the river. Tuition for this program is $25 per session and is due at the time of registration. Scholarships are available upon request.
Equipment
Cascade Raft and Kayak and Alpenglow Mountain Sports donate equipment for use by the kids club. As your child progresses, it will be beneficial to his or her learning to have personal equipment. All kids club members must provide their own insulation (wetsuit, fleece or polypropylene, splash gear, etc) as dictated by the weather. For those who are new to kayaking, IRK will provide kayaks, paddles, spray skirts, lifejackets and helmets. When you are ready to purchase equipment for your child, IRK instructors recommend that equipment be purchased in the following order: lifejacket, helmet, spray skirt, paddle, boat. Packages for club members are available through Alpenglow Mountain Sports. Please contact Chuck Cremer for details.
Please be conscientious when using and caring for donated and kids club gear. As a member of the club it is expected that you will return borrowed equipment to the proper location in the same or better condition than when you borrowed it.
Board Members and Instructors
Idaho River Kids is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. It is governed by a 5-member volunteer board which handles administrative and financial issues. For the calendar year 2013, board members are: Krista Long, Wink Jones, Marty Cullen, Anne Long, and Steve Severn. On-the-water sessions are organized and executed by professional and qualified volunteer instructors under the direction of head coaches Tom Long and Chad Long. In the interest of safety and clarity, all decisions, instructions, assignments, and other issues associated with the on-the-water sessions will be the responsibility of the head coaches. Any concerns regarding these sessions should be directed to them.
Parent Participation
Volunteers are an important part of the Idaho River Kids club program. If you, as a parent, would like to assist with logistics such as shuttle driving or extra-curricular gatherings, please contact Chad Long. All volunteers must have current first aid and CPR training, complete a river safety course and instructor training workshop each season.
Donations and Scholarships
Tax-deductible donations to help defray overhead expenses cover costs that the club incurs, and fund scholarships are gladly accepted. If you are or know of a family who would like to participate in the Idaho River Kids but are financially unable, please contact Krista Long (krista@cascaderaft.com) for information regarding scholarships and financial assistance.
|
