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A Wet and Wonderful Weekend

20 April 2018
Hannah R, Mackenzie ‘18
For 20 Outdoor Pursuits students, Friday, April 13th was not unlucky in the least: it was the beginning of a weekend full of challenges, skill building, and fun on the Cowichan River. Every year, Mr Norman organizes and runs the Cowichan River Youth Kayaking Festival. The three-day event is designed to introduce youth to river kayaking, and to develop the skills of those who have white water experience, while presenting an opportunity to overcome challenges and gain confidence. Over 50 youth attended in total this year, from as far away as Prince George, BC.   Youth are divided into groups for the weekend, based on paddling experience. One great thing about CRYK Fest is that the ability of the youth ranges from beginner paddlers to students for whom the river is home, allowing us to learn from other students, as well as from the instructors. Each group runs an appropriate section of the river, lead by two to four instructors, all of whom are volunteers. At the end of the weekend, Mr Norman expressed his gratitude for their experience and willingness to give their time: “There is no way the festival could run without volunteers. As organizer, I need to have full confidence in the ability of each instructor to take care of the young paddlers, and with the crew who came out, that part is easy.”   Paddling is not the only great part of CRYK Fest: the evenings are spent playing cards, chatting, and enjoying a campfire. Despite wet weather, Brentwood students were able to grow closer as a group, and meet some great people who came as part of another group, or independently.  In the six years since the first CRYK Fest, a tradition has emerged: everyone runs a short section of the river together on Sunday afternoon. Youth from the beginner groups are paired with advanced paddlers, who lead them down, making sure that they know where the best line is and that they get to the end safely. Of course, the instructors are not far away, if anyone’s kayak does flip. A footpath runs along the side of this section, and a bridge goes over it, so it is an excellent opportunity for anyone who isn’t paddling to shoot some photos.  On behalf of all the youth who attended CRYK Fest 2018, I would like to thank Mr Norman for the time and effort he puts into the event every year, and to all the volunteer instructors who give their time to advance the sport and provide this opportunity for us!  Hannah R, Mackenzie ‘18

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