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PFD
FITTING TIPS FOR KIDS:
Life Vests for kids are sized based on the weight of the child. Each life vest is printed with a weight range. There are three basic sizes. 0-30 pounds, 30-50 pounds, 50-90 pounds. From there kids move up to "adult" sizes such as "youth", extra small, and so forth, based on fit and chest size. The weight range is printed on the inside of the back panel of the PFD. You will have to look carefully to find it among all the other "legal warnings" and notices. It is not printed in bold letters, so you may wish to take a marker and write the weight range in a more readable way, when you write your family name in it. Many kid size life vests are quite affordable, so there is no need to purchase a size too large and let the child "grow into it". In fact a wrong size, ill-fitting, PFD for a child is dangerous & will be considered "no PFD" by the marine patrol and you could get a ticket. Be aware of the weight of the children who will be kayaking and have PFDs checked for size and ready before you get to the water. You may want to consider having a few extra, in assorted sizes, for your kid's friends and for your growing children. This way you will always be prepared with the right size for the right kid. |
Sit-on-top Kayak Summer Camp for California Youth
Article & photos courtesy Kayak 4 Kidz Directors:
Frankie Smith, Gay Brewer & Lorraine Johnson
Kayaks
4 Kidz is a youth development program endeavoring to improve health
and well being through participation in water (paddle) sports.
Located at Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, California, this
Youth Water Sports Camp is offered as a free community service to boys
and girls ages 7 to 17 and their families from June through September.
The half-day summer camp provides instruction in the basic fundamentals
of sit-on-top kayaking, including: boat handling, equipment care, water
safety and navigation rules, paddling techniques; capsize recovery,
proper use of safety gear, environmental awareness and LA County Lifeguard
Association beach safety techniques.
Kayaks
4 Kidz is the brainchild of veteran "Water Dogs" Frankie Smith
and Gay Brewer who have been active in water sports and recreational
boating for over 25 years and who received extensive training and certification
from the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for Boating Skills and Seamanship
along with continuing education classes with the UCLA Marine Aquatics
Program.
The concept of the program grew from their passion and love for kayaking, swimming and boating and their desire to share this experience with their own children and their friends and others interested in learning to kayak.
In
2004 Smith and Brewer began purchasing used kayaks and safety gear to
accommodate the growing popularity of their weekend paddling excursions
in Marina del Rey. The comment from a grandchild after a day on the
water "with all these boats you should start a class."
sparked their decision to offer classes in kayaking so that lots of
youngsters and their families could also learn the sport as a way of
staying fit and enjoying the great outdoors together. (photo: Instructor/director
"Mr. Waterdog" presenting the certificate of completion to
a student)
Their collaborative efforts, with the help of family, friends and volunteers, formally shaped the program which has been in operation since 2005. Now in its fourth year of free classes, the program has graduated over 600 students from the Introduction to Kayaking classes held at Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey Lagoon.
In 2007, the Kayaks 4 Kidz program received their certification from the Internal Revenue Service and the State of California as a tax-exempt, nonprofit, public benefit corporation. The program's Board of Directors consists of Frankie Smith, Gay Brewer and Lorraine M. Johnson.
The
Kayaks 4 Kidz mission is to promote healthier minds and bodies
through physical exercise while developing the cumulative benefits from
sports participation such as self-esteem, leadership, increased physical
strength, confidence, team building skills, cooperation and respect
for our environment and each other.
SUMMER CLASSES run 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on Sundays and are FREE, but Pre Registration is required. They are held at Mother's Beach at Marina del Rey Lagoon. (Palawan Avenue & Admiralty Way Next to Casa Escobar Restaurant)
Introduction to Kayaking
Each 3-hour workshop will cover:· Basic fundamentals of sit-on-top kayaking
· Introduction to recreational boating, beach and water safety
· Rules of navigation and boating courtesy
· Paddling techniques, strokes and capsize recovery
· Proper safety gear and equipment careEquipment used: A variety of ocean-rated Kayaks with adjustable seats - designed for youthful boaters. U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets and paddles.
All equipment is provided by Kayaks 4 Kidz Class Instructors are U.S. Coast Guard and American Canoe Association certified water sports and boating safety instructors, and master swimmers
For
a current calendar of classes go to: www.kayaks4kidz.com.
For Information and Registration Forms E-mail: nolimitspr@ca.rr.com
or Call Gay Brewer at 323-298-2060
Sponsorship: Kayaks 4 Kidz is a registered 501 Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation which relies solely on support from the donations and contributions of parents and interested members of the Southern California community.
Branding
and advertising sponsorships are available for companies and organizations
committed to fighting national health concerns such as obesity and juvenile
diabetes, improving environmental awareness and youth development through
amateur sports participation.
Kayaks 4 Kidz is a member of the American Canoe Association, US Boating Association and certified by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary for Boating Safety and Seamanship.
For additional
information visit: www.kayaks4kidz.com,
contact via e-mail at nolimitspr@ca.rr.com or by phone at: 323.778-2277
- 323.298.2060 - 310.562.8597.
More articles :
- Properly Fitting A Child To A PFD.
- Kayaking with Kids: A Practical Guide To Kayaks, Gear & Having Fun Paddling With Your Children by John Enomoto
- K-9 Kayaking - Kayaking With Your
Dog
By Lonnie Olson, Director Dog Scouts of America - Proper Care & Feeding of Your PFD
(Life Jacket)
An excerpt from the book "River Safety" by Stan Bradshaw - Choosing the Right Personal Flotation Devices
- PFD's
An excerpt from the book "River Safety" by Stan Bradshaw - Deep Water Re-entry w/ Children by Tom Holtey
- Artist Boat of Galveston, Texas Opening The Eyes of Our Youth For Tomorrow
- Introducing Children To Kayak Fishing by Mike Kogan
- Kayak 4 Kidz: A free sit-on-top kayak summer camp for kids from seven to seventeen.
LIFE JACKETS - PFDs can be found at:
Tom's TopKayaker Shop: Quality PFDs for Children & Infants
BOOKS: PADDLING
WITH KIDS By Bruce Lessels and Karen Blom
See also "SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKING, A BEGINNER'S GUIDE" & "TANDEM SIT-ON-TOP
KAYAKING" by Tom Holtey
CHILDREN'S PADDLES can be found at the REI banner below. Purchases help support Topkayaker.net:
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