Tips for the Pool

Bring your bathing suit, towel, eyeglass guards (if you wear glasses), nose plugs* (you’ll be upside down a lot), synthetic top or similar garment for warmth as some pool water is cold.
Leave jewelry at home, it can break, or fall off; there’s no time to search the pool for lost charms!
Bring a lock for the locker room.
Leave valuables at home.
You do not need to bring your own equipment, unless you have your own whitewater kayak you wish to learn in.
Please be on time for all classes, especially the classroom session, as topics will not be repeated, come a few minutes early.

* Nose plugs vary and we highly reccomend paddling specific ones - some classes even provide these for you! Check out the gear section to see what we reccomend!

Learn to whitewater kayak!

student doing a roll CWA sponsors pool classes which introduce the students to whitewater kayaking. Strokes, braces, the eskimo roll and safety considerations are all taught in these classes, unless otherwise noted. The following locations currently sponsor these classes and anyone interested in taking a class should note the exact dates, registration, and contact information. Most classes start in October and again in January or February, but few are offered in the summer but we are hoping that will change soon. This page should show the most current pool sessions available.

Current Pool Sessions

Oak Park YMCA

Winter Intro to Kayaking, Oak Park
1/8/2012- 3/18/2012 (10 Weeks)
Sundays, 6pm - 7:45pm
Cost: $115 members/165 non + $15 gear fee
Contact/Registration: Register: West Cook YMCA at 708.383.5200

Notes:

Ten-week sessions also begin at the West Cook YMCA in Oak Park on Sunday, January 8th at 6 p.m. Classes run from 6 to 7:45 p.m., and are taught by Chicago Whitewater Association volunteers. All gear is included. This is NOT an open pool session. It is instructional.

*Kayaking (Ages 14+) AQ998*
Learn the fundamentals of this great water sport. Participants will learn how to roll, change direction, stop, exit the craft and much more.

YMCA Registration Page

Harper College

Winter Intro to Kayaking, Palatine
1/23/2012- 3/19/2012 (8 Weeks)
Mondays, 8:15-10:00 PM
Cost: $149
Contact/Registration: Bob Menard/Harper (reg info below)

Notes: In a safe, controlled environment you will learn the basics skills needed to begin whitewater kayaking. You will be taught proper paddling and stroke techniques in addition to developing individual rolls and braces. In each class you will spend a half-hour in the classroom and over an hour in the Harper pool practicing. Bring a swimsuit, towel and nose plugs. Equipment and kayaks for the class are supplied by the Chicago Whitewater Association. You must be able to swim to participate in this class.

Register for the class through Harper College CE directly - search under LPS Sports, then type in kayaking into the title field, hit enter.

Note: the Harper site lists the class as : WHITEWATER KAYAKING - 50881 - LPS 0025 - 001 or 002 under LPS Sports in the Continuing Education area.

Lattof YMCA

Late Winter Intro to Kayaking, Des Plaines
2/21/2012- 4/3/2012 (7 weeks)
Tuesdays, 7:30 to 9:30
Cost: $$70 - CWA Club Discount
Contact/Registration: 847-296-3376 http://chicagoymca.ebookview.net/lattof/aquatics.php

Notes: Members of the area paddling clubs (PCP, CASKA, CWA, PSC) will be charged a much lower fee to take the kayak lessons offered at Lattof Y this fall, winter, and spring (make sure to mention when registering). There are 7 lessons in the fall series for $70/student.

Tuesday night, February 21st, is the start of 7 lessons to be held at Lattof Y in Busse Pool from 7:30 to 9:30. Boats, spray skirts, and paddles are provided for student use.

If space permits, the warm Busse Pool is also open for those wanting to tune up their skills prior to the paddling season. Bring in your own clean boat and paddling gear for $10/ session. Call the Y to register for these sessions.

Lattof Y is along NW Highway in DesPlaines, IL. It's a quarter mile SE of the Prospect Road and NWHwy intersection.

Conant High School

Winter Intro to Whitewater Kayak, Schaumburg
3/1/2012- 4/12/2012 (7 Weeks)
Thursdays, 7:30 - 9:00 PM student , 9:00- 10:00 instructor
Cost: $105
Contact/Registration: R326-01 http://www.d211.org/ContinuingEd.shtml

Notes: This class will cover the basics of whitewater kayaking with a half-hour of classroom work prior to practice in the pool. Students should bring swimsuits, towels, glasses guards, and nose plugs. The class and equipment are supplied by members of the Chicago Whitewater Association. Conant High School- Room 114/Pool

Contact Steve Paolini if you want to aid for this class

Harper College

Spring Intro to Kayaking, Palatine
4/2/2012- 5/14/2012 (8 Weeks)
Mondays, 8:15-10:00 PM
Cost: $149
Contact/Registration: Bob Menard/Harper (reg info below)

Register for the class through Harper College CE directly - search under LPS Sports, then type in kayaking into the title field, hit enter.

Note: the Harper site lists the class as : WHITEWATER KAYAKING - 50881 - LPS 0025 - 001 or 002 under LPS Sports in the Continuing Education area.

Open Pool

More experienced boaters can use their pool time to join us for a game of kayak polo or fine-tune new moves.

The Next Step: Beginner Trips

Beginner Trip on Hickory Creek Learn the basics of paddling in our pool sessions, then take these skills and put them to use on moving water.

We also offer special workshops for our members, including instructor development, certification and safety.

All classes require advance registration and many are available to CWA members only.

Visit our Beginner trips page or our full Calendar page to see what is coming up. Please contact individual organizers for more information.