Eight years ago, April 2013, discussions began which led to Get Kids Paddling. (See some of the history below.*)
Last year about this time, in response to the unresolved Nicholas Mills trial, and the new Covid-19 pandemic, we re-organized.
Throughout 2020, our working groups continued to study the many issues around paddling in schools. In addition, we developed a stunning visual entitled Why Paddle? Why Canoe Trip? which has been well received. https://getkidspaddling.ca/december-2020-update-from-get-kids-paddling.
Surveys were developed that went across Canada searching out locations where paddling programs were available for kids, as well as attempting to initiate a national dialogue. The website was activated; a pilot project training Basic Instructors was begun; discussions with PC, ORCKA, CKQ and RCABC took place.
In the last two months we’ve been refining our Vision, Mission and Pillars statements, and have been studying the pros and cons of incorporation.
In the upcoming year, we are going to need more help. We’ll especially need people who like working with communities; others who are interested in statistics; and, of course, those who want to get kids paddling. Please consider joining us.
Next Tuesday, April 27, at 7 pm, we will have a presentation by Cadets Canada**. That presentation is part of our exploration of programs currently available for kids across Canada that can lead to paddling.
Immediately after the Cadets presentation we will be have the regularly scheduled April meeting of the GKP Committee.
If you would like to attend the Cadets presentation, and possibly audit the Committee meeting, please respond to getkidspaddlingon@gmail.com.
There are only 70 spots available.
If you are interested in becoming a GKP committee member, write me at poppadave@mac.com.
Finally, as we continue to cope with Covid-19 and its variants, the climate crisis, and increasing civil unrest, especially south of the border, we do have the luxury of time to plan a hopeful future for our kids.
Best wishes.
Dave Goldman
Chair, Get Kids Paddling
A Brief History of GKP
In 2013, ORCKA had a spring retreat at Mono Mills, Ontario, that I attended. There I met John Burton from the Bluewater School Board, who was really concerned about the increasing amount of paperwork needed to take classes tripping. Phil Matsushita a school principal from the Durham Board joined us at the time and our discussions are still going on. We met at Phil’s school in Pickering in the autumns of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, drawing in increasing numbers of concerned teachers.
I began a survey of the 72 school boards in Ontario to get a handle on the situation. John approached OPHEA with the idea of removing the NLS, and brought along Dale Radin of ORCKA and Graham Ketcheson of PC. OPHEA agreed to remove the NLS.
In November of 2017 we had a Rendezvous at Phil’s new school in Liverpool drawing over 70 attendees and generating a lot of energy. On July 4, 2017, however, Jeremiah Perry drowned on a TDSB school trip to Algonquin Park.
In November, 2018 we held Rendezvous 2. More attendees. Glenda Hanna on insurance opened a number of eyes.
The 2019 Rendezvous didn’t take place, mainly because of the repercussions and uncertainty arising from the 2017 drowning of Jeremiah Perry, and the lack of closure by the continuous postponement of the Nicholas Mills trial.
And then of course, Covid-19.
In the last year discussion has been more broadly focussed on getting all kids paddling not just kids in secondary schools. Originally GKP had focussed on paddling in secondary schools and had been successful in removing OPHEA’S NLS requirement that was hindering trips from happening. That was short-lived.
In 2020, our think tank steering committee has used its time sharing perspectives (visual), reaching out across Canada (survey), connecting (PC/CKQ,+), and piloting some new endeavours (BI course). And broadening beyond schools. Exploring.
Cadets Canada
Come learn about the oldest and largest youth program in Canada. This presentation will be a general overview of Cadets Canada programs and a specific presentation on the Royal Canadian Army Cadets and the Expedition programs they operate. Cadets Canada is supported by the Department of National Defense and has approx 54 000 youth enrolled and 7800 adult staff. Cadet Canada operates in all parts of Canada with over 1200 individual units/squadrons located in over 800 communities. The presentation will be approximately 20 minutes long with a Q&A afterwards.
The objective is to give everyone an understanding about the Cadets Canada program and more detail on the Royal Canadian Army Cadets and their expedition programs and training. We will also be discussing what help the program needs to get more youth out paddling and tripping.
If you have any questions that you wish to have answered please send them to us so we can compile a list of questions to be answered.
Please let us know if you wish to attend this presentation via email and also indicate if you would like to stay around to find out more about Get Kids Paddling and how you might support our efforts.
