Kayaking program helps campers build confidence
Kayaking program helps campers build confidence
By MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff Writer
BIG BAY — It has been said that water can have a therapeutic affect on humans — whether drinking it, swimming in it or paddling on it.
Teenagers at Bay Cliff Health Camp for children with physical disabilities experienced that therapeutic affect first-hand when they familiarized themselves with the art of kayaking at the camp’s swimming pool recently.
“For a lot of people who have disabilities, being in a kayak it gives them a sense of freedom because all of a sudden they sit in a boat just like everybody else,” said Nancy Uschold, kayak instructor and physical therapist. “They work on their comfort in the water. That becomes very therapeutic.”
Uschold’s students are teenagers who are participating in the camp’s teen program. Learning how to kayak is one of the rewards the teenagers can choose from when they successfully complete their responsibilities in the program.
“They get their job assignments and then they get evaluated and then they get a ‘pay check,’ ” Uschold said. “We are trying to get them to learn real life skills.”
Before they can go kayaking on Lake Independence, Uschold’s students must attend a training session in the pool where they learn a variety of skills.
“Some of these skills are being able to float with a life jacket and keep their head out of the water,” Uschold said. “They also have to practice a wet exit in case of a capsize, so they would know how to get out of the boat. We also practice rescue.”
Andy Rhoden, 16, of Sault Ste. Marie and has been coming to Bay Cliff for the past 10 years. He has dwarfism, but his disability did not hinder him from kayaking last year. Although Rhoden’s training session, which needs to be renewed every year, was not until later in the week, he decided to offer moral support to his friends. Sitting on the edge of the pool, he watched them practice the wet exit for the first time.
“When you flip the boat, you slide out,” he said. “You just have to have the guts to do it.”
Rhoden said he got so comfortable with the wet exit — which is really a rescue technique — that he started flipping his boat for fun.
“I enjoy getting out in the water,” he said. “It’s fun to get out there and forget what’s going on in the world.”
Rhoden said kayaking is all about balance and that it is important to concentrate on what you’re doing. With a smile he pointed to his friend Al Swenor,17, of Ishpeming who had just flipped his boat because he had lost his balance after lightly bumping into the side of the pool.
“You need to know your balance, need to focus,” he said.
He added that the activity is also a good workout.
“The way I see it, it also helps with arm strength,” Rhoden said. “You have to pull yourself back into the boat.”
Uschold agreed with Rhoden that learning to kayak has a lot of physical and mental benefits. She also said that the sport is great for anyone — not just people with disabilities.
“It is very therapeutic in the sense that it can work balance, coordination and strength,” she said. “I think even if you don’t have a disability, being comfortable in the water is a very good skill to have with any water sport.”
Uschold said she has heard stories of people who capsized their kayaks or canoe, panicked and didn’t know how to get back into the boat or what to do.
“I think just being comfortable in the water and knowing what to do when you capsize is important for anybody,” she said.
Joey Oaks, 15, of Lake Linden has a speech and hearing impairment. He said flipping the boat and being under water for a short time was a little scary.
“It was a little bit scary but mostly fun,” he said.
Although only five kids participated in the training session, the pool was buzzing with people. Uschold made sure that all kids were assisted by at least two counselors who helped — among other things — kids getting in and out of the boats.
One of the kids who needed assistance was Zachary Wakeman, 14, of Atlantic Mine, who has spina bifida and his legs are paralyzed. Others had to have their seats adjusted and some boats needed more padding to create a better balance for the kayakers.
Uschold said once the kids find the best fitting boats and paddles and they are comfortable in the water, they show a great sense of accomplishment and pride.
Bay Cliff Health Camp offers an adaptive paddling weekend workshop in the fall for members of the community.
“(It’s an) opportunity for people with disabilities who want to learn to paddle as well as people interested in instructing and assisting with programs,” she said. “What we teach is applicable to both kayaking and canoeing.”
Interested individuals can contact assistant camp director Karen Schlicher at (906) 345-9314.
Previous page: Garden fireworks celebration turns ugly
Next page: On the rise U.P. wolf numbers up to at least 434