HIGH ADVENTURE

"Our past activities, like white water rafting and ropes courses, just do not compare to Past The Edge programs.”
~L Howe, Coach Belmont Women's Soccer PTE does not conduct white water rafting trips, but uses kayaking to teach in ways that rafting cannot. Rafting is less challenging and not conducive to learning as the guides of such trips normally make all of the decision and simply instruct on when to paddle and when not to paddle. For the purpose of leadership and team development kayaking requires quick decision making and a team dynamic which allows every person to lead at some point and determine the consequences for their entire team. Kayaking is a unique and creative way for participants to spend one day of their leadership/team development program. The rivers of North Georgia lend a variety of flat, moving, and white water experiences to our clients.

For those who have never kayaked before or have limited experience, the course will use fast moving but stable one or two person inflatable kayaks. The curriculum begins by teaching in the boats on land where we will focus on the basics. This includes; equipment identification and use, paddle strokes, safety, and hazards.

The course then moves on to the river where you will spend time learning how to maneuver and master several paddle strokes. Just as you begin to get used to your boat, the river begins to move faster and you will get plenty of opportunities to develop and practice some river reading skills, identifying eddy lines and understanding stream flow dynamics. For those up to the challenge we will also instruct students and allow them to practice surfing in the many class II rapids. Our kayaking instructors help you learn the lines through the rapids and clue you in to the best routes. Excellent and personalized kayaking instruction makes for a quality learning experience.

For those on any team who have experience kayaking, particularly with a previous PTE program, hard-shell kayaks may be used and students will be taught how to maneuver these very responsive and quick one man boats down class II-III rapids.

All of this while teaching leadership and team development principles such as preplanning, calculated risk taking, and quick decision making which can best be taught and learned in this kind of fast flowing environment. We can also design boat rodeos and scavenger hunts which help to teach specific team development principles. Classes cater to all ability levels.

Kayaking is normally a one day activity and can be combined with other PTE activities to form a 2-5 day program. When combined with rock climbing the normal program time is 3 days or more.