Fems & Thems Intro MW

$325.00
sold out

2026 Dates Coming This Fall

This Intro Moving Water course is meant to provide a safe space for marginalized communities to create a safe space for those wishing to expand their comfort zone while in a non-cis male community. Your non-Cis male Instructors will teach you the skills that competent flat-water paddlers need to maneuver safely in easy-to-intermediate-level rapids. You'll learn eddy turns, S turns, front ferries, and back ferries during the course. Participants will practice canoe-over-canoe and be introduced to throw bag rescues. At the end of this course, you'll be able to recognize and avoid hazards in Class I and II water, opening up many tripping possibilities for you, and most importantly, reducing the amount you need to portage!

Don't let the “Intro” fool you! People who have been paddling whitewater for years commonly think that their skills are too advanced for this course. Not true at all. This course introduces technical skills required for challenging ferries, S-turns in difficult rapids, and breaking bad or “inefficient” habits because… Why work harder than you need to? Experienced recreational paddlers, even those with many years of canoe tripping under their belts, will benefit greatly from this course, and it is a prerequisite for taking the Intermediate course. It is not advised to try to skip to the upper levels.

2026 Dates Coming This Fall

This Intro Moving Water course is meant to provide a safe space for marginalized communities to create a safe space for those wishing to expand their comfort zone while in a non-cis male community. Your non-Cis male Instructors will teach you the skills that competent flat-water paddlers need to maneuver safely in easy-to-intermediate-level rapids. You'll learn eddy turns, S turns, front ferries, and back ferries during the course. Participants will practice canoe-over-canoe and be introduced to throw bag rescues. At the end of this course, you'll be able to recognize and avoid hazards in Class I and II water, opening up many tripping possibilities for you, and most importantly, reducing the amount you need to portage!

Don't let the “Intro” fool you! People who have been paddling whitewater for years commonly think that their skills are too advanced for this course. Not true at all. This course introduces technical skills required for challenging ferries, S-turns in difficult rapids, and breaking bad or “inefficient” habits because… Why work harder than you need to? Experienced recreational paddlers, even those with many years of canoe tripping under their belts, will benefit greatly from this course, and it is a prerequisite for taking the Intermediate course. It is not advised to try to skip to the upper levels.

Since this is a two-day course it is important to come with the recommended skills to allow the course to run smoothly. These are what Paddle Canada and Wild Loon recommend:
You are a good swimmer and are not afraid of water; you have been in and around boats for a while and are comfortable maneuvering them. (You know the following strokes: bow, J, sweep, bow draws and pries.) or can demonstrate the skills required.
If you do not have the Paddle Canada Certification but are aware and can demonstrate the previously listed paddling skills, that is okay with us. Our goal is a smooth course for all participants and want everyone to start at a similar level.

Certification: A certificate is available to those that successfully demonstrate the required skills. 

What’s Included?

An Esquif Tandem Canoe fully outfitted (air bags, knee pads, and thigh straps) for moving water, PFD, Paddle, and Helmet. If you do not require a canoe, please contact us to review your boat and discuss a reduced price.

Please Bring:

A PFD, Paddle, and Helmet if you prefer to use your own.

Safety equipment (pump/bailing device, 15m buoyant heaving line/throwbag, whistle… typically included with boat rental)
Knee pads (usually cheap at the dollar store), unless your boat is already outfitted with foam pads, as you will be kneeling in your boat for all paddling exercises
Suitable paddling footwear and clothing - example: synthetic fabric clothing and jacket, secure fitting water shoes/sandals or running shoes (that you don't mind getting wet)
Water, snacks/lunch (lunches may be away from the vehicles and/or on the river)Hat, sunglasses & waterproof sunscreenTowel & change of clothes (for improvisational swims!)

Course Participants will be emailed approximately two weeks prior to their course with location information, camping/accommodation recommendations, rental confirmation, and Instructor introductions.
Courses typically run from 9am-4pm Saturday and Sunday at a variety of locations depending on current water levels. Friday evenings are a great opportunity to come early and meet other participants taking the course as well as have a little extra time to get geared up for the following morning!