The Cornwall Recreational Whitewater Club

Cornwall, Ontario – It has been 15 years of celebrating kids. Our parents always told me that everyday is children’s day. That was usually their answer when we asked “what about kid’s day” on Father’s or mother’s day…. I suppose that for many of us, every day really was children’s day.

But this is not the case for so many kids in our communities.
This is why we celebrate children’s day on November 21^st every year.

Partir D’Un Bons Pas Pour Un Avenir Meilleur is a not for profit organization that is dedicated to the well being of children. Every year in Cornwall, Ontario they have been celebrating children’s day in one way or another. CReW has been fortunate to be a part of this with pool sessions for kids.

This year, we were asked if we would be one of 15 events (15 years – 15 events over 2 ½ days) and come out to the Cornwall Aquatic Center and put on two 2-hour sessions for kids. Who could refuse? Certainly not me…

So on Saturday November 21^st we loaded 25 boats and all the gear we would need and headed for the Aquatic Center. With the massive help from our volunteers, CReW shared the kayaking experience with 41 new little paddlers between the ages of 4 and 10! What a great time. Lots of smiles, nervousness, and anxiety all rolled up into little people trying something new! It was great. You might think that it is not enough time (I could do this all day) but really for a first experience and considering the young age it was perfect. Even Sparky the Safety Dog got into it helping bring a few smiles and keeping our volunteers amused too

The following day (the 22^nd) we came back. This time the crowd was a bit smaller with an older group (11 to 18) this was a good thing. 19 new paddlers hit the water for the first time. With a smaller crowd the volunteers could put the kids in the boats with skirts and get past the wet exit then on to more fun skills (Including an intro to rolling for some!).

Once again 2 hours went by and fun was definitely in the equation. The questions from the kids were endless and the enthusiasm was overwhelming. In short it was awesome!

SO another Children’s day came to an end for CReW. CReW was not the only one out there. Other free programming included, a rock climbing wall, concerts, movies, swimming, bowling, curling, crafts and more!

Special thanks goes out to CReW’s awesome collection of volunteers. Isabelle Laberge and her daughter Maude Chiasson came all the way from Montreal. Mary Jane Hakvoort and her son Sean came out from Avonmore, Jennifer Plumondon from Long Sault, Cheryl McGregor came from Alexandria, an amazing local kid: Justin Litalien, an awesome little 10 year old boy named Chris (Mr. C.), and of course my own family – Sylvie, Emily and Zachary. All these people care and without them we could not do what we do.

Rest assured that the next time Lucy Hart, a special lady who cares soooo much about the region’s kids, calls out to CReW and the Adventure Sports Access Group, we will be there!

So what is in it for me? It is a question that people ask. I do not make money, so it can not be that… There are very few things in life that compare to this for me. Sharing the sport, bringing adventure to kids, watching them step up to their fears and the challenge and in the end coming away a bit changed for it…. Words like “good”, “rewarding”, “satisfying” (and so many more) do not do justice to it.

All I can say is come out with us and try it some time. Share the passion with the kids we see and then, only then… you will understand why I do this. And… you will smile inside and out.

I hope to see you with us one day.

Share the passion and happy children’s day,

Robert Zwanenburg

www.conrnwallwhitewater.com

for all the pics go to http://www.dropshots.com/crew#date/2009-11-21/10:47:12 and http://www.dropshots.com/crew#date/2009-11-22/13:28:58

The last time I posted I said I would post regularly….. doh… I wuz wrong. On the up side Zachary posted on his blog and so did Emily, Sylvie and Cheryl (See the CReW Girls Blog). To hear me say it was a good time would be a bit of overkill

So I won’t do that.

What I will do is happily announce that fall is making a slow move to winter and paddling continues. CReW managed to get out a bit in Valleyfield through the first part of November and it has been good so far.
Yesterday (Sunday November 15th) CReW was back in the pool for the first session of the year.
In the pool we had the familiar faces of the Hakvoort kids, Mary-Jane, Jennifer, Cheryl, Sylvie, Emily, Zachary and myself. AND we were joined by a new addition: Coulton and his Dad Miles.

Coulton is a 13 year old dude with lots of enthusiasm. He and his family are from Williamstown, Ontario (almost neighbors to us) and Coulton wanted to give it a go. When you live near a river it is a crime not to use it. He and his dad get out in a canoe often and now we will get him turned on to Kayaking!
The pool is a great place to start and he got right into it in no time at all. His dad watched from the side while Coulton worked the wet exit, then some basic paddling skills. (I really do love teaching the beggining part ). Then by the end of the evening he joined in for a few minutes of Kayak Polo. Again he will fit in just fine!

This year we are going to keep make the polo games run without paddles. An awesome work out and also a great way to develop the body language you need to handle your boat on the river.
The sessions will continue every second Sunday through the winter. Will be an awesome way to get your paddle fix during the cold winter months.

The only sad thing about pool sessions is that they have to end… An hour shoots by and in no time at all we are loading up again.

Here in Canada there is something called National Children’s Day. This year national kids day falls on the 21st and in Cornwall the celebration of all that is kids starts on Friday and runs all the way through Sunday.
So what is CReW doing? … With the help of Partir D’Un Bons Pas Pour Un Meilleur Avenir (a kids help organization) we are hosting a pool session for kids between 4 and 12 on Saturday November 21st from noon until 2 at the Cornwall Aquatic Center and the following day (Sunday the 22nd) for kids between the ages of 13 through 18. Same time and place.
This means that we have 4 hours in the weekend to get as many kids into the pool and into kayaks as possible. Should be a great time. We have rounded up our volunteers, got all our gear ready to go and even scrounged a few good participation prizes to give away to the kids.

On the Saturday night we will host a BBQ at my place for the volunteers too

Rest assured that I will make every effort to get some pics of all those kids in the pool and in our boats. Stay tuned.

Robert Z.

We could also call this post: The ramblings of a very tired but very lucky man…..

Laying here next to my sleeping wife, kids and friends I realize that I am truly one lucky dude.
Where am I?… The Maple Leaf motel in Bruceton West Virginia.
Why am I here? Cause after packing all our gear into the car and CReW paddle trailer we left Williamstown Ontario at 6:15 this morning for a one month road trip.  The first destination to be Gauley Fest

Day one consisted of an early morning departure, the most painless boarder crossing ever, a stop in Water town at our good frien Tommy’s to pick up some stuff. then a really long day on the road.

So what makes me so lucky? Life!  A really simple answer.
Let me clarify:
I have a family that supports me and I in return give them everything that I am.
My work (though rediculously stressful most of the time) allows me to book a month vacation and tolerates my often informal management style…
I get to teach kids on the water all summer long and through the winter too. Hopefully make leave positive impact in their lives
I have a great orgnization and lub that provides kids the opportunity to get on the water.
My whole family kayaks an are quickly getting better than me
My good friends kayak
And… We are currently headed to Gauley Fest then will spend some time playing on rivers in West Virgina and Tenessee. Then on to Flower mound Texas to hang with my cuz and back on the Ottawa for our Thanksgiving weekend.
Moosefest with my friends….
I can go on an on but I think ou get the picture.

So back to lying here in a room full of happily sleeping people.
Tonight we sleep well and tomorrow we trek down to the festival. Fun, New Boats, Meet new people, WK Rodeo, and more fun.

Did I mention that tomorrow morning I will say HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND/WIFE: SYLVIE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYLVIE!!! I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY LIFE FOR SO LONG!
She is a great partner, awesome friend and amazing mom to our kids ,spuper kayak instructor and the list goes on

Nice way to kickoff a vacation don’t you think so?
I do!

Now I will get some sleep and enjoy the last bed that we will se for the next 3 weeks.

We will post regular updates (as regular as possible) subject to internet availability.

So time to embrace the adventure and see where it takes the 5 of us.

Goodnight and see you at Gauley

Robert
www.cornwallwhitewater.com

I am sitting here on a Saturday night while everyone is asleep and asking my self what is new….
This weekend is the Williamstown fair. Just another county fair? Maybe… but is is an off water tradition in my family since we moved here 5 years ago. My in-laws are here and it usually precludes paddling. Not so this year! We took them to Valleyfield for a couple hours of family fun! Sylvie mom got in a Fun and had a hoot. Sylvie worked on getting here in and out of current and Lise was smiling all along! even after an unexpected swim!
Gaetan, Sylvie’s dad, watched happily from the shore and enjoyed the antics of Zachary and Emily on the features there. He is not a paddler and will never be one but he encourages and despite his nervouseness around whitewater he had fun too
As for me I got some quality time on and off the water with my family Met a few new paddlers on the water got some good rides on the features with hour hand paddles.

When the Zwanenburg family takes a break does the club stop? Heck no. Cheryl invited the rest of the members to join her on the Ottawa for the Phil’s Rodeo and the after Party and John Masons. Looking forward to hearing about it.

Coming up soon: a few good weekend parties for club members, a weekend on the Ottawa, Fridays in Valleyfield, SKIP and Youth Programs 3 days a week, 2 World Kayak events (Slalom survivor on July 20 and Hometown Throwdown on the 23rd), The Youth progrma River day on the 22nd and then there is always September to come.
We have welcomed new members and thanked many members for their renewals.
Sylvie has been teaching a few private courses for families and kids in the area.

The 2009 season has been awesome so far and I enjoy every moment.

See you on the river,

Robert