Beaver Canoeing Trip

Today both the Beavers had their Beaver canoeing trips which were held over the Barleylands lake. The weather forecast was pretty grim with predicted heavy rain, but fortunately the weather was pretty good. We had one small rain shower mid way through Brandon's session, but otherwise lovely and sunny. Both Joshua and Brandon thoroughly enjoyed the canoeing and were almost old Pro's compared to most of the other Beavers.

 

Brandon's Wickford Oak Beavers group went out first and they had about an hour on the water using large Canadian kayaks. During the hour they got to practice their oaring, but mostly to have fun and gain confidence on the water. Each lap of the lake that they completed they had to do another skill, such as waving to parents, standing up on the kayak, swapping seats, climbing into another canoe and best of all, standing up and singing "head, shoulders, knees and jump" and having to jump up high in the canoe as they shouted the word "jump". Very funny.

 

The terrible trio ready to hit the water, Brandon, Zac and Harry.

All the kids lined up for their safety briefing before getting given life jackets and then getting in the water.

This is the launch jetty at the lake where the kids can safely climb into the canoe's.



Brandon like an old Pro oaring away and swapping boats with ease.

As much as I love canoeing it was actually nice to stand on the banks and actually watch the boys for once.

Brandon with Calum who is one of his Beaver leaders.

The number of times I have been to Barleylands and never even realised there was a canoeing lake there!

A nice shot of Brandon over the top of some lake reeds.

All the canoe's rafted up and the kids standing up singing "head, shoulders, knees and jump!".

Brandon's session is over and its time to head back to the jetty for a picnic lunch.

After a spot of lunch Joshua's Wickford Lilliput group started to arrive for their turn on the lake. His group is starting to look a bit like our Tigers football team with 3 of the Tigers now part of his lodge. 



Is it 1st Wickford Lillyput or FG U6 Tigers, Joshua, Max and Ethan.

Joshua climbs into his canoe.

On Joshua's first run around he was stuck in the middle with no oar! But this didn't last long and gave him the opportunity to look at all the fish in the lake.

After a boat swap Joshua was soon at the stern and rowing very strongly with good technique.

I wish I could have done activities like this as a kid. These two boys are very lucky to have what they do?

Like Brandon's group they all rafted up for a verse of 3 of "head, shoulders, knees and jump".

Joshua was very confident at the stern and was jumping quite high in the canoe.

Once the kids all sat down the raft split and they all raced back to the jetty. Joshua came 3rd in a race that was far more interesting than the Oxford vs Cambridge affair!

The water looked lovely and clear and full of fish including some rather large koi.

Race on as they all charge back to the jetty.

So another Beaver event over and both boys have now earnt their canoeing badge - so some more sewing for Mummy! It was a really enjoyable day for everyone and even Holly enjoyed a little Daddy snuggle as we walked around the lake watching the boys and looking at all the fishies.