Montreat College

Canoeing
P.E. 230

Montreat College Mission:

Christ centered, Student Focused, Service Driven:
Equipping agents of transformation, renewal and reconciliation

Instructor: Glenn Middleton

Phone: (828) 301-2074 cell (used only for emergencies!)
Email: gmiddleton@montreat.edu (primary contact with instructor)

Course Description

This course emphasizes tandem canoe paddling philosophy, safety, ethics, and skills for both flat water
and whitewater canoeing. Safety and basic rescue will be discussed. No certification is offered.
Swimming skills are required.
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Course Objectives

To develop a sense of safety awareness and personal judgment;

To develop a trust and concern for others;
To develop communication skills necessary to work effectively with a partner and/or team;
To develop awareness of hazards/obstacles in both flat and whitewater;
To develop awareness of risk management of both flat and whitewater environment;
To develop an appreciation and concern for Gods creation;
To develop terminology associated with techniques, gear and environment of flat and whitewater
canoeing;
To understand use and care of gear for flat and whitewater canoeing;
To develop correct paddling techniques for maneuver required;
To execute correct maneuver for safe/efficient travel on flat and whitewater; and
TO HAVE FUN!
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Course Requirements

Attendance:
Due to the interactive and participatory nature of this course, attendance at each class session is
mandatory. Your presence in class is important to us. Students are required to attend all regular classes.
Therefore, no absences are allowed. Students final grade will be reduced for each absence. These
requirements are provided to maximize your learning and to contribute to a safer environment.

Preparation:
Trips will occur rain or shine and weather can have a dramatic affect not only on your enjoyment, but also
on your safety. The following clothing is mandatory for either lake or river trips. We hope you wont
need most of these items, but we need to be prepared for the worst.
NOTE: Please use the following guidelines AS A MINIMUM for clothing requirements:

Lake or Rolling Session* River Trips*

Bathing suit
Synthetic upper & lower layer
Change of dry clothes
Towel
Neoprene booties or strap on shoe
Sunscreen/Sunglasses w/ retainer strap (optional)
Extra Food and 2 liters of water
Bathing suit
Synthetic upper & lower layer
Change of dry clothes
Towel
Neoprene booties or strap on shoe
Sunscreen/Sunglasses w/ retainer strap (optional)
Extra Food and 2 liters of water
Mid-weight synthetic upper/lower layer
Expedition synthetic weight upper layer

* NO COTTON CLOTHING is to be worn.

Personal and Academic Conduct:

Students must demonstrate courteous and Christ-like behavior towards other members of the class.
Academic dishonesty, such as cheating on tests and plagiarizing essays, violates the fundamental trust
underlying all academic work: that the work be the product of the student who submitted it. Montreat
College defines academic dishonesty as the representation of anothers words, ideas, or images as ones
own. It applies equally to intentional and unintentional quotations, paraphrases, visual images, auditory
images, and all electronic means of storage and communication. When professors suspect students of
academic dishonesty, they will confront the students with their charges in writing. The only possible
disciplinarian actions are, (1) a zero for the assignment, or (2) an F for the course. Students may
choose to admit their guilt of Academic Dishonesty and waive a hearing. For more information see
website at: http://www.montreat.edu/aa/integrity.htm

The use of cell phones, radios, ipods, etc. is not permitted during class. Students are
encouraged to get to know each other and enjoy the opportunity to spend time in the
outdoors.
Drugs, alcohol and tobacco are not permitted during any period of the class.

Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities who may need academic accommodations are asked to speak with the professor
within the first two weeks of class. Students are also responsible for making sure that proper
documentation of the disability is on file with Jane Carter, the college disability services coordinator.
Jane Carters office is located in the Health and Counseling Center in the lower level of Bell Library.
She may be reached by phone at extension 3538, or by email at jcarter@montreat.edu. Failure to inform
the professor of a disability or provide appropriate documentation to Ms. Carter may compromise our
ability to provide the accommodations needed in a timely manner. For more information about Montreat
College disability services, see: http://www.montreat.edu/academics/academic-support-
services/disability-services/ http://www.montreat.edu/academics/academic-support-services/disability-
services/

Quality of Work and Submission Deadlines:

When evaluating your written work, I will look for quality, clarity, completeness and professionalism.
Please note that all assignments must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font.

Student Assignments:
Participation (50%)
Students are expected to arrive to class on time and prepared, actively participate in all aspects of the
course (including preparing for the trips and cleaning up afterwards) and give 100% in their effort.
Skill Assessment (30%)
Each students skill development will be monitored throughout the course. Skill assessments will be
recorded [on the last day of class] including demonstration of strokes, knowledge of equipment, river
hydrology, group management in a river environment, river maneuvers and self and assisted rescues.
Students are asked to give 100% and actively be pursuing opportunities to practice their skills.

Reflection Paper/Take Home Exam (20%)

Each student will be asked to write a 2- 3page reflection paper/take home exercise. Part I of the paper
should include general reflections of the following: 1) group dynamics effect on technical skills (i.e.
maneuvering) and 2) the role and importance of outdoor/adventure activities in leading a healthy life
including developing ones awareness and commitment to Christ. Part II of the paper will be composed
of your responses to the following: 1) your skill development and 2) your hazard awareness. Due May
30th!

Risk and Medical Form:

Each student is required to sign the departments acknowledgement and assumption of risk form and
have a complete medical history and insurance form on file with the campus nurse before participating in
the class. The choice to complete these forms is voluntary.
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Course Evaluation

Attendance and Participation 50

Skill Assessment 30
Reflection Paper/Take Home Exam 20
Total Points: 100

Grading:
A 90 100
B 80 89
C 70 79
D 60 69
F 0 59
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Course Text

Optional Course Text: Look up the following websites, if you feel you need extra clarification on river
information, terms, situations or techniques.

www.americancanoe.org (articles on strokes, maneuvers, rescue; links to paddling organizations; public

policy; stewardship; competition; instruction)
www.cboats.net (terminology, equipment, videos for strokes/maneuvers, transportation)
www.boatertalk.com (terminology, equipment, videos for strokes/maneuvers, transportation)
www.boatingbeta.com (local river info)
www.americanwhitewater.org (regional/national river info)
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Course Schedule

Date Time Details

 1/8/15 1pm Topic: Course Intro Canoeing Philosophy, Safety, Ethics and
Terminology; going over syllabus and signing forms
3/19/15 1pm Topic: Gear Intro (selection, care, and maintenance) and Lake Day
Technique: Balance, Positioning and Strokes Intro (Forward, Reverse,
Stern Draw, Stern Pry, Bow Draw, Cross-bow Draw)PADDLE!
3/26/15 1pm Topic: Strokes review and stepping it up!
Technique: Forward, Reverse, Stern Draw/Pry, Bow Draw and
Crossbow Drawcombinations, games, etc.!
4/2/15 1pm Topic: Transportation (lifting, carrying, racks, tie-downs) and
River Intro
Technique: Hydrology (reading downstream/upstreams Vs [eddies],
eddy lines, wave trains, hydraulics and other water-related obstacles
and hazards) and apply strokes practice (possibly include braces) to
moving waterPADDLE!
4/9/15 1pm Topic: Self, partner and gear rescue
Technique: Self-rescue, rescue priorities, basic assists,
equipmentPADDLE!
4/16/15 1pm Topic: Maneuvers
Technique: Eddy turns, ferrying, surfing, and sideslipsPADDLE!
4/23/15 1pm Topic: Review for Final Exam
Technique: Practicing all previously learned techniques in various
localesPADDLE!
4/30/15 1pm Topic: FINAL EXAM!
Technique: Putting it all together with demonstrations of strokes,
maneuvers, hydrology knowledge and rescuesPADDLE!

Please be aware that the itinerary is tentative. Plan on going no matter the weather, unless you hear otherwise. All
trips will leave as close to 1:00 p.m. as possible. It is fairly common for trips to return to campus as late as 7:00
p.m. so plan your schedule accordingly.