PLEASE NOTE:

Although we do our best to be accurate, it's always a good idea to confirm with the event organizer.

CWA Beginner Trips 2012 - General Information

The CWA sponsors beginner trips to introduce new paddlers to the river and to continue the education started in our pool sessions. All trips listed here are led by ACA-certified instructors.

NOTE: All underlined links on this page expand to show more content. Make sure to expand all necessary sections!

--> Beginners

Please read ALL instructions carefully. Please note that we are now requiring advance registration for the DuPage trip!

--> Certified Instructors

Please notify trip leaders of your intention to teach ASAP, as the number of students that can be registered depends on having instructor commitments. It's also not too late to add additional DuPage or Vermilion instructional trip dates. Please contact Randy or Astrid to add another trip to the roster.

--> Aides

We need a limited number of aides to help run these trips. Qualified aides should have a solid roll, the ability to effortlessly demonstrate skills for the students, good skills for rescuing others, and a desire to stay with and help the instructional groups. Please contact the lead instructor for whichever trip you plan to attend to offer your services as an aide.

--> Social paddlers

Always welcome! Please remember that the beginner trips are designed to introduce new paddlers to the river—if you are coming as a social paddler, you may be asked to paddle with a social group rather than with a class group and to give up large eddies and good instructional areas to student groups coming down the river.

About the Rivers

CWA organizes the river trips to be successive - each river is more challenging than the last and the trips are designed to build on a growing foundation of river experience. It is assumed that all students will attend the river trips in sequence - a DuPage trip followed by a Vermilion trip, followed by the Wisconsin trip, followed by the River Rescue trip. Typically, students who have not attended a DuPage trip will not be allowed to join a Vermilion trip, students who have not attended a Vermilion trip will not be allowed to join the Wisconsin trip.

Trip Details

DuPage River April 23 Registration Required by April 16
DuPage River (or Equivalent) April 30 Registration Required by April 23
Vermilion River Equivalent May 14 Registration Required by May 7
Vermilion River Equivalent May 21 Registration Required by May 14
Wisconsin Whitewater June 11-12 Registration Required by June 3

DuPage River Trip, Sunday April 23

Trip Leader Steve Paolini

This trip will be held rain or shine. Be at the river ready to run shuttle and paddle at 9:30 am.

This river provides a good introduction to moving water and your first chance to try eddy turns, peel-outs and ferries. If there is interest, a group dinner will be arranged after the trip.

Directions: Take 55 South to Rt. 52 West, take a right onto Rt. 59. The put in is located in Hammel Woods Forest Preserve just north of Shorewood, IL. The entrance to Hammel Woods is located on the east side of Rt 59 about a half-mile north of Rt 52. There is a small sign noting the Woods Entrance, possibly a large sign noting a Golf Store is nearby. Follow the road through the park to the parking area closest to the river (look for boats).

DuPage River Trip, Saturday April 30

Trip Leader Diana Kittelton

This trip will be held rain or shine. Be at the river ready to run shuttle and paddle at 9:30 am.

This river provides a good introduction to moving water and your first chance to try eddy turns, peel-outs and ferries. If there is interest, a group dinner will be arranged after the trip.

Directions to DuPage: Take 55 South to Rt. 52 West, take a right onto Rt. 59. The put in is located in Hammel Woods Forest Preserve just north of Shorewood, IL.. The entrance to Hammel Woods is located on the east side of Rt 59 about a half-mile north of Rt 52. There is a small sign noting the Woods Entrance, possibly a large sign noting a Golf Store is nearby. Follow the road through the park to the parking area closest to the river (look for boats).

Erik's River of Choice Trip, Saturday, May 8

Trip Leader Erik Sprenne

Be at the river ready to run shuttle and paddle at 9:30 am.

This trip would normally be held on the Vermilion River. As we don’t yet know whether the Vermilion will be open to paddling, Erik will find another river (Mother Nature willing), and details will be emailed to those registered for the trip the week before the trip. Participants should expect to drive up to 3 hours one-way for this trip, ride-sharing is requested.

Vermilion River (or Equivalent) Trip, Saturday, May 15

Trip Leader Randy Hetfield

Be at the river ready to run shuttle and paddle at 9:30 am.

The Vermilion River is more difficult than the DuPage, and offers many practice sites and your first look at Wildcat Rapids. Expect to be on the river until around 5 pm. If there's interest, there may be a post-trip group dinner.

Directions: The put in is located near Utica, IL. From I-80 exit onto 178 heading south. Pass through Utica and continue past the stop sign at 71. After about 3-1/2 miles look for a small road off to the right that has a Rafting sign. The road dead ends at the put in. Park on the side without houses.

Wisconsin River Trip, Sat/Sun, June 11-12

Trip Leader Pat Rivers

Attending 1 of Eirk or Randy's trips is a pre-requisite for this trip. If you did not go on either of those trips, you must obtain the permission of the trip leader to attend this trip. This trip includes two days of on-river instruction on Class I-II sections; camping and dinner with the group is optoinal and offered for an additional fee. Look for trip details and signup procedure in a future Gradient.

CWA 2012 Beginner Trips - Beginner Instructions

Please read all instructions carefully. To gain the most from these trips, it is highly recommended to paddle all three rivers, as the rivers progress from easier to harder in a stepwise fashion. Insurance regulations mandate prescribed instructor/student ratios, and these are the rules for the trips:

These trips are open only to those having been through a CWA pool session, with those having completed a pool session in the last 12 months have priority, or permission of the lead instructor. Pool session students from prior years can repeat the trips if they are not full with the current years' pool students
Paddlers must be CWA members to participate in these trips
Paddlers must be American Canoe Association (ACA) members for these trips, which is a liability insurance requirement. Daily ACA memberships can be purchased for $10, but a yearly $30 membership provides a break-even point for three days of instruction, and saves money if more than three days of instruction are received. Kids under 18 can join ACA free - see: www.acanet.org/sei-kids.htm
With two Vermilion River trips offered, and limited student spots, priority will be given to ensuring that all who desire can participate in one of these trips, with priority given to pool session "graduates", with the most recent graduates having the highest priority. If allotted spaces are not filled, students are welcome to sign up for a second day of Vermilion instruction.
Registrants who have not received confirmation of registration are not officially signed up for the trip

Trip Registration

You MUST pre-register for ALL trips. Registration deadlines are listed in the General Information section above, and the registration form is on the next page

Trip Cancellation

River trips are held rain or shine and with many different river levels. Unless you hear explicitly from your instructor that your trip is cancelled or moved, the trip is still on. Because river levels rise and fall very quickly, it is the responsibility of each student to check your voicemail and email the night before a trip to ensure that you receive any last minute changes.Our cancellation policy requires that you inform your instructor no later than 48 hours in advance of a river trip if you wish to cancel. Cancellations later than 48 hours before your trip will not be refundable.

Equipment

It is up to YOU to show up at the beginner trips with ALL of the proper equipment. The instructor at your pool session should have discussed equipment options. If you're not sure after reading the list below, call one of the instructors from your pool session. Don't wait until the last minute to get gear, or you may be left high and dry.

There is a lot of equipment that can make your paddling experience safer and more comfortable, but this is the bare minimum MUST-HAVE equipment list:

Whitewater kayak (NO sea kayaks or recreational boats)

If you don't yet own a boat, the club has a limited number of boats available to rent for beginner trips, and some members may rent out their personal boats. If you are a confirmed trip participant, the trip leader can try to help you find a boat to use. YOU will have to arrange boat transport yourself. You can usually arrange for the paddle, skirt and kayak flotation bags at the same time you arrange for the boat. To rent a club boat, contact Pat Rivers at 630-334-1113 or email riversboof@aol.com. There are a limited number of boats available so don't miss out by waiting until the last minute. These boats are available for CWA sponsored training trips only and will not be rented out for personal paddling adventures. You will be responsible for picking up and returning the club boats to Lombard, IL.
Kayak sprayskirt

Make sure the sprayskirt fits you and the boat you are paddling.
kayak flotation bags

Flotation that fits the boat you are paddling. Flotation helps keep as much water out of your boat as possible if you swim.
Paddle

A whitewater paddle has blades on both ends. Do not bring a canoe paddle!
PFD

Personal Flotation Device - also known as a life jacket. Your PFD must be type 3 and fit properly. If you are not sure what a proper fit is, contact your pool instructor.
Helmet

Bicycling helmets are not acceptable, as they're not designed for river use. CWA has a half dozen paddling helmets that students can arrange to use, and the trip leader may be able to round some up.
Wetsuit & Footwear

You must dress for immersion. A wet suit and a pair of booties will insure you have a safe comfortable trip. If you do not have access to a wetsuit, you may be able to borrow one, or wear layers of synthetic clothing, NO COTTON ALLOWED.
Lunch and drinking water

Lunch and Drinking Water are necessary for keeping the body fueled and hydrated - to help prevent "running out of gas" on the river.

Transportation

Please try to carpool to the Beginner Trips with other paddlers. One of the problems we continually face on beginner trips is having too many vehicles at put-ins and take-outs. CARPOOL if at all possible!

Trip Changes

The trip leader may, at his/her discretion, change the location of the trip as late as the evening before the trip, or cancel the trip due to inappropriate conditions - sometimes there is too much water in the rivers! All confirmed students are responsible for checking their phone/email the night before the trip in case the trip is either moved to a different river or cancelled.

Summary for Beginners

Register for the trip(s) of your choice - you are not registered until confirmation is received
Make sure you have all the proper gear well in advance of the trip
Check for last minute trip changes the night before the trip
Show up on time, ready to paddle, learn a lot of practical stuff, and have fun!

Trip Costs

You must be a CWA member to attend a Beginner Trip. If you are not a CWA member, fill out the member registration form located in the Gradient to become a member. $15 annual fee.
You must be an ACA member or pay a one-day event fee of $10.00. If you plan to attend at least three trips, the 6 month or annual ACA membership at $30 and is the most cost-effective option. Those under 18 can join ACA for free - see http://www.acanet.org/sei-kids.htm. If you are an ACA member, we MUST have your ACA membership number.
Adults (18 and over) must pay a $30 instructional fee per person per day (waived for those under 18) or sign up for the Beginner Trip Package described below.
Optional - Beginner Trip Package: Package includes CWA Membership, ACA Membership, at least 4 Days of Instruction (1 DuPage, 1 Vermilion, 2 Wisconsin, and as room permits additional DuPage or Vermilion trips). Cost $165 for non members, $120 for CWA/ACA members.

Registration

If you are already a CWA/ACA member, you should fill out the appropriate trip registration forms and mail them to the membership address indicated on the form along with your instructional fees.
If you are not yet a member of CWA/ACA, you must submit your membership form for CWA and ACA (see details about ACA membership in the Trip Costs section above) along with your trip registration form to the membership address. Your membership to CWA/ACA must be complete before you will be allowed to register for trips. You may send the instructional fee and the CWA/ACA membership fees as one check.
Fill out the registration form and mail it, along with all applicable fees and registrations, to CWA Beginner Trips, c/o Heidi Haas, 1701 Genualdi Ave., Streamwood IL 60107. Make all checks payable to Chicago Whitewater Association.
If you have registration questions, contact us at cwa@chicagowhitewater.org

Registration coming soon!