Reading Canoe Club is a volunteer organisations run by its membership and managed by its committee. It's focus is to provide kayaking and canoeing to Reading and the surrounding area. There is no commercial remit and we are looking to develop paddlers and our sport. We appeal to people for whom canoeing is not just a summer activity.

Take a look at our introduction leaflet for more details about who we are and what we do.

Our novice activities and programs run from spring to autumn, but for our members club activities take place all year round.

Introductory Courses
Our qualified and experienced volunteer coaches offer courses for junior and for adult beginners. The aim of these courses is to give you an appreciation of the sport and the basic skills and knowlege that will set you on your way to a lifetime of enjoyment on the water.

Adult Novice Introductory Course - 4 weeks (£30)
Saturday mornings 11am, or Tuesday evenings 6.30pm. During 2011 we will be running a series of 4-week courses for adult beginners. During those four weeks the novice paddlers will get out on the water in stable racing kayaks and will learn the basic paddling skills and safety information that they will need. After the four weeks we hope that our novices will be keen to continue paddling and will join the club. There will be suitable open-to-all sessions that our beginners can join straight after the course so that they will integrate into the club quickly and get to know everyone.

Availability:
Due to high demand all our adult novice courses are now full. We are operating a waiting list, so please email if you wish to be put on the list in case we have cancellations or are able to schedule more courses. You can find our email address in the introduction leaflet, or use the "find us" link on the menu (left).

Junior Novice Introductory Course - 6 weeks (£30)
During 2011 we will be running six-week courses as detailed below.

Availability:
Mondays 16:00-17:00 starting on 27th June
Wednesdays 16:00-17:00 starting on 15th June
Saturdays 11:00-12:00 starting on 25th June.
More courses will be scheduled in the coming months.

Booking onto a course
All of our courses are limited to a given number of paddlers per intake - so book early to avoid disapointment. We are now taking bookings for our 2011 junior intro courses, and operating a waiting list for adult bookings. To enquire please email us. You can find our email address in the introduction leaflet, or use the "find us" link on the menu (left).

In all cases we reserve the right to assess course members and if the course is deemed unsuitable for them we would do our best to recommend an alternative option and will refund the fee pro-rata for unused sessions.

Due to the nature of the sport conditons are sometimes such that it would be unsafe to go out on the water, and under those circumstances our coaches will do their best to either provide an alternative session or reschedule.

Our courses include temporary membership of the club for the duration of the course, and a condition of joining is that you agree to abide by the Club Rules and Policies (which can be found on the RCC website in our "the club" section). It is hoped that our beginners will go on to become full members of the club in due course.

Under 10s Fun Sessions
These popular sessions for under-10s will run on Mondays at 5.30pm and on Thursdays at 4.30pm from May 5th 2011 through to September.
Please note that these sessions will not run on bank holidays - and may be subject to occasional cancellation due to the work commitments of our volunteer coach.
Free to club members, the charge to non-members is £5 per session. There is a maximum of six participants per session, although this is reduced if the conditions are unfavourable. No booking required, but please bear in mind that the session size is limited. Priority goes to club members. Minimum age 6 years + (the coaches have discretion to decide whether the activity is suitable for the child.)

Note that the definition of "under 10" = any child who is under 10 yrs as at 1st January of the current year.


Please check website regularly in case of changes/cancellations.


Frequently asked questions:

What should I bring and wear?
Do I need to be able to swim?
Do I need any specific equipment?
I haven’t paddled for ten years?
Do I need to be fit?
When do next year's sessions start up?

What should I bring and wear?
While canoeing, it is important that clothing protects the body but does not restrict movement. Clothing that gets heavy when wet, like jeans and woollens, are unsuitable. Wetsuits are mostly unnecessary. For the majority of conditions, layers of light, fitted clothing that will dry quickly when damp are most suitable. Thermals are ideal. Beginners should bring:
Shorts or leggings.
T-shirts and thin long-sleeve tops.
Cagoule or other short light windy-proof top.
A change of clothes and a towel

Do I need to be able to swim?
It would be an advantage to be able to swim 50 metres but this does not necessarily prohibit those that cannot but please inform the instructor if you are a weak or nervous swimmer. Being onfident in and around water is more important. You will be expected to wear a buoyancy aid for most activities, and we do ask that you be capable of swimming 50 metres in canoeing clothing with the aid of a bouyancy aid.

Do I need any specific equipment?
We have everything to get you started : boat, paddles and bouyancy aid.

I haven’t paddled for ten years?
Drop us an email and give us an idea of what you were doing & in what type of boat, and we will assess whether you need to do an intro course or whether you can join the club straight away.

Do I need to be fit?
Not especially, however it is a great way to get fit if you want!

When do next year's sessions start up?
The information will be posted on this page as soon as we can confirm what we will be offering for beginners next season.

TIPS FOR NEW PADDLERS
DO wear the appropriate clothing. Ask where this maybe purchased.
DO wear a Bouyancy Aid.
DO listen to the Coaches.
DO be aware that the coaches are all volunteers
DO learn how to stop and how to make an approach to the bank without causing damage to your kayak.
DO when on the water stay in a group with your fellow paddlers and coaches.
DO be aware of other river users, especially rowing boats, they can move quickly.
DO help to put all equipment away after use and shut boatshed bay doors.
DO join us for coffee after paddling to discuss anything about the mornings activities. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience about canoe-sport amongst the members.
DO NOT place kayaks on the concrete areas if avoidable.
DO NOT sit in your kayak on the land.

If you capsize:
DO stay with your kayak, holding it lightly by one end.
DO try and retain your paddles.
DO move towards the nearest bank. Help will arrive and show you how to safely empty the kayak.
DO NOT attempt to climb on top of the kayak.
DO NOT get too cold, go back to the club and change. Bring extra kit.