Directions, General Info, The Fine Print
New England Intermediate
Rough Water Symposium
General Info
Welcome Paddlers and Friends,
We are getting closer to our NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium featuring Tidal Streams, Kayak Surfing, Rock Gardens. Rolling and a dash of BCU thrown in, June 10-13, 2010. We’re looking forward to playing in the warm water with you all, and helping grow our paddling community. We choose Camp Fuller in part because we can all gather, eat and sleep as a group. So please bring your community cooperation, your stories, your helping hand – and with a bit of paddling, I’m sure we’ll all leave with new friends and greater knowledge of our chosen sport.
Arrival & Departure. Directions are available below.
Sleeping. We recommend that you bring your tent, if you want sleep privacy. This year we have plenty of cabins but they are all shared occupancy of 4-8. Let us know if you are a group that wants to bunk together. Cabins are available until filled. There’s a set of cabannas out back for a roof but maybe no screens; I heard tell of bugs last year but being from Maine, didn’t notice.
Camp Fuller. This 110 year old YMCA camp is on a beautiful spot on the water inside Point Judith’s protected bay. It does have rules that we need attend to so it works out for the Camp and its neighbors, the locals. Mostly they ask that the road into the Camp be driven slow-and-easy. Camp quiet hour begins at 9:30PM. No smoking or drinking of alcohol (unless its in your own unmarked private cup or non-alcoholic bottle which you might want to bring. Message, be discrete, and for sure none in the dining hall). All else is basic courtesy. Once at the camp we ask for no use of cars – it’s a kayaking event. So lets all park and walk the short distances, you’ll get to know your neighbors better.
Showers & Bedding. Please bring your own bedding and towels; there’s none supplied. Camp Fuller has community shower rooms and baths that are very decent, kind of like high school. Its up to us to keep them clean while in Camp.
Meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served over a half hour period each day so you need to organize yourself accordingly. We’re again bringing in Chef Bill Hinderer to oversee meals. He’s worked w us for years. You’ll need your own snacks, special foods or dietary needs beyond simple vegetarian for those who’ve so signed up (we’re providing a lot but not a restaurant). June’s a vegetarian so that part is well done. For those that ordered a field lunch, it will be ready for your pick up after breakfast each AM. If you didn’t, then be sure and bring your own lunch as you’ll be gone all day each day. Regardless remember your on-water snacks and water.
Clothing. Its mostly a personal and weather dependent decision. Dress for your course. If its warm weather, we found light stuff was great. Water temp is really decent for the NE as we are on the S side of the glacial banks which receive the Gulf Stream. Rain gear is recommended, tho we’ve been lucky the last years. Drysuits are a not a necessity, unless you are with Cheri, or highly susceptible to immersion or to cold water. A good paddling top is worthwhile. You should know your personal needs. If you’ve questions, ask one of us before you arrive. Wool, poly and fleece are great. Cotton is nice for the campfire or dining hall. More dry stuff is better than none. We are not a fan of sandals, and the coaches will prefer closed-toed shoes, and may require for rocks and surfing. Everyone should have a helmet – if you have none then the half helmets usually fit in our day hatches. We’ll have some for sale. Brings some sort of vehicle bag for quickly moving from car to boat; we will be car pooling to the paddling venues.
Personal Paddling Gear. Suggest you have your paddling gear organized into a net or duffle bag of appropriate size for an easy, quick load each morning into the cars driving to the put-ins, and then into the boats. You should plan on being dressed for paddling when you leave Camp Fuller (maybe a change for afterwards in someone’s car). You might want to mark your gear, then we’ll know who to call for all the stuff we found last year!
Cars and Boats. Camp Fuller and RWS policy is ‘no cars’ once on the grounds. There are designated parking areas which we ask you to use. As you come in each day we’ll ask you to drop your boat down on the field and later move it near the appropriate trailer marked for your next day’s paddle. If you must park right near to your tent, please recognize that it is probably right next to another’s tent too.
Course Meeting Immediately After Dinner on Fri and Sat nights, there’s a mandatory meeting for the next day’s course with your coaches and fellow paddlers. Please don’t wander off w/o attending or you may miss your agreed upon departure time or venue location the next AM. Coaches will be checking in with each of you, answering questions, organizing expectations and setting the schedule for your group for the next AM. Trailers will be organized and probably loaded the night before so our morning will be smoother. As for Friday’s courses there will be a meeting at 8pm Thurs eve in the dining hall for all paddlers who have already checked in. If you are arriving Friday morning, please have your gear ready to throw on and your paddling equipment already packed so you can immediately find the marked trailer for their course and move quickly.
Carpooling. We carpool to the put-ins so if you are interested, the coaches will be counting car seats each evening before. Several of the put-ins are slim on parking, so one and two seaters (LOVs) aren’t our first choice. If you are willing to be a driver, please fill up before pulling into Camp, as there will be NO TIME for gas stops in the AM. Please fill up in evenings.
BCU 4 Star, 5 Star and Coastal Navigation. All BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training and BCU 5 Star Tidal Training paddlers need to be responsible for BCU requirements. Please go to www.bcuna.com . There are definite pre-requisites for those seeking to obtain BCU endorsement signatures. You need read and follow the requirements; several weeks may be required to complete necessary paperwork – don’t wait until the week before. We don’t have discretion to bend the BCU’s rules which is how it maintains its quality of programming. There will likely be opportunity for those seeking to just audit the new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader training if your pre-requisites are not in place. Read the website and drop Tom an email w questions – after you have read the website. These are great opportunities, but definitely require homework and planning on your part.
Questions and Concerns. We encourage timely questions and concerns. Please know that if you ask us one day before the event to help you with a special need, ex: to bring you a skirt cause you can’t find yours, that is unlikely to happen. On the other hand if you ask me today about whether your boat is right? Or whether you can rent a Romany RM, then we will have time to help.
New NDK Kayak. The RWS is a teaching event, but MIKCo is in the business of selling boats, and many of those that paddle these boats around the world are here to answer questions. So if you want that new NDK (Nigel Dennis Kayak) from our set of highly customized expedition grade retail boats, then check the MIKCo website for what’s in stock. We’ll prep it for you and bring it on down! All new boat purchasers receive custom fitting. RWS participants receive 10% off for boats purchased in Y 10. No sales tax for non-Mainers.
Your Paperwork. Its up to you to get it to us, please. If you move after signing up, or there are changes in contact info, medical conditions, need-to-know’s then please send in writing or by email so it will be attached to your other papers.
So You’re Ready to Paddle Bring a smile and a treat for a friend, bring your stories, your questions and deepest wonders, bring your guitars and song, the magic of the sea… and lets see what we can create down in the sweet, warm waters off Pt Judith at our annual NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium. We are very pleased to have such a great set of committed coaches, guides and staff to bring their version of sea kayaking to us all. Until we get a paddle wet…
Good Journeys,
Tom and June of MIKCo tom@maineislandkayak.com
Nigel Dennis and the NDK Pro Paddlers
Fishers Race Team
Greg Paquin coach@kayakwaveology.com
Rick Stoehrer rickstoehrer@hotmail.com
Paula Riegel coach@kayakwaveology.com
THE FINE PRINT
NEW ENGLAND INTERMEDIATE
ROUGH WATER SYMPOSIUM,
TERMS and CONDITIONS of PARTICIPATION
RESERVATIONS. A 50% deposit mailed with your completed Reservation Form and Release will reserve your space. For immediate reservations please call 207-766-2373. The balance (if any is due on or May 15th, 2010. If you only paid the deposit, then your credit card will be run automatically for the remainder due on that date. If paying by check it is your responsibility to ensure timely payment or we may fill your space. If reserving less than 30 days prior to the event, full payment is due. Deposits by credit card require a signed Registration form or authorization before final confirmation. Personal checks are acceptable. Reservations will be accepted up to the event if space is available, and we can accommodate you. You must agree to and fully complete the required Waiver of Liability and Release, and provide the Confidential Health Questionnaire info.. Your space is confirmed when we receive all of the following: Reservation Form, Waiver of Liability and Release and Confidential Health Questionnaire, and full payment.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUND POLICY. If we cancel any days event due to too few participants or due to unsafe weather or sea conditions we will do our best to replace with a reasonable alternative. If you cancel with 45 days notice, we'll send you a full refund less $50 admin fee, 75% of the total cost 30 - 45 days, 50% of the total cost 15 -30 days, but no refund if you cancel with less than 15 days notice, unless we can fill your spot from our waiting list at least 5 days before.
SEA CONDITIONS. We are unable to provide a true, accurate and realistic statement on expected sea states and conditions, due to the variable and possibly challenging conditions often found on the sea. We will have a morning weather briefing after breakfast. Participants are responsible to decide if the day they’ve signed up for is appropriate for their skill set and for their conditioning. All paddlers must be in reasonably good condition appropriate for the rough water paddling, have good stamina, reasonable flexibility, and be able to paddle their kayak for several hours a day in varied conditions and weather. We will attempt to discuss the level of difficulty and expectations, and do ask your coaches any questions that you may have; everyone else in your group will appreciate it. Note that certain of these workshops require specific skills and prior experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES of PARTICIPANTS. Participants have the responsibility of:
- Selecting the workshops at these events appropriate to their abilities and interests, and
- Agreeing to study and comprehend the conditions implied in these events, and
- Being in good health and condition for these events, and
- Bringing appropriate clothing, sufficient equipment and any specific medications or supplies, and
- Acting in an appropriate, respectful, safe manner in respect of all other participants.
At the organizers’ discretion, a participant may be asked to change events or even refrain from paddling on a given event, if the course organizers, coaches or guides feel that such person’s further participation may be detrimental to or compromise the safety of that individual or the group as a whole, and participant accepts and agrees to this condition. Participants less than 18 years of age must have written permission from a parent of legal guardian on MIKCO’s forms.
LIMITATIONS & LIABILITIES. As a condition of your participation at these events, you agree that Maine Island Kayak Co, its principals, employees, contractors, assistants, instructors, coaches and guides shall not be liable directly or indirectly to you or your guests, for bodily injury or property damage or other loss for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to negligence, acts of God, weather, theft, or acts of third parties or organizations. Further, you agree that Maine Island Kayak Co and the above individuals shall not be liable to you or your guests for any delay, mishap, inconvenience, expense, irregularity, bodily injury or death to person or damage to property occasioned through the conduct or default of any individual, guide, company or other contractor engaged in providing any services to this event.
MEDICAL & HEALTH INSURANCE. Due to the physical nature of these workshops, we recommend that every participant have adequate and appropriate medical or health insurance coverage. Regardless, participant expressly agrees to be responsible for all their insured & uninsured medical and health costs and expenses arising from participation at these events. Although we hope to maintain a safety standard reasonable for these aggressive courses, they are physically demanding, do have risks and exposures, and you may be several hours or more from medical facilities or emergency care.
OTHER COSTS. Except as specifically stated in the Event materials, you are responsible for all other costs and fees incurred as a result of participating in this event, including personal medical costs and expenses, all travel costs to and from the event and the put in and take out of each workshop, and other extras that you may want beyond what the organizers are supplying to all others.
If you do not understand these terms & conditions, or in the event that you have any questions about them, please call us at 207-766-2373 or review the information on our website at www.maineislandkayak.com
Directions to
New England Intermediate Rough Water
Symposium
June 11-13, 2010
Camp Fuller
619 Camp Fuller Rd
Wakefield, RI 02879
Directions To Camp Fuller from BOSTON/PROVIDENCE/ POINTS NORTH:
- Follow I-95 South to exit 9 (a left exit) to Route 4 South
- Route 4 merges with Route 1 South, heading toward Narragansett
- Follow Route 1 South past Wakefield
- 3 miles past the Wakefield exit, watch for the highway sign “Jerry Brown Farm Road/Camp Fuller Road, Next Left.”
- Make a U-turn at this exit and travel north on Route 1 for 500 yards
- Go past the Jerry Brown Farm Road exit
- Immediately after the sign for Jerry Brown Farm Road, you will see the sign for Camp Fuller Road
- Take the Camp Fuller Road exit and follow approximately 200 yards and you will see the Camp Fuller sign on your right. There is a dirt road
- Go right onto the dirt road, which is Camp Fuller Road. Follow the road to the end, about 1.5 miles
Note: Please drive at 10 mph or less with caution on this road as it is very narrow and you may need to give way to cars exiting. Camp Fuller’s requested policy.
Directions To Camp Fuller from CT/NY/ POINTS SOUTH:
- Follow I-95 North to exit 92 (toward Westerly) near the Rhode Island/Connecticut border. At the end of the ramp, turn right
- Take Route 78 East towards Route 1
- At the traffic light, go left onto Route 1 North.
- Follow Route 1 north, passing signs for Green Hill, Charlestown and East Matunuck
- Immediately after the sign for Jerry Brown Farm Road, you will see the sign for Camp Fuller Road
- Take the Camp Fuller Road exit and follow approximately 200 yards and you will see the Camp Fuller sign on your right. There is a dirt road
- Go right onto the dirt road, which is Camp Fuller Road. Follow the road to the end, about 1.5 miles
Note: Please drive at 10 mph or less with caution on this road as it is very narrow and you may need to give way to cars exiting. Camp Fuller’s requested policy.