Paddlers' Pool Sessions

No experience necessary. Beginners as well as intermediate and advanced boaters are welcome. At the pool sessions you can learn or practice Eskimo rolls, Eskimo rescues, bracing, basic strokes, etc. which are skills helpful for both sea kayakers(calm, flat water kayaking) and whitewater kayakers. There is more information on bracing and Eskimo rolls and Eskimo rescues at Kayak Skills. We also have some people who practice in whitewater canoes or C-1's(decked canoes) although there aren't always instructors for them so they are usually practicing on their own. We always have instructors for kayaking at the pool sessions. Pool sessions are held semi-weekly usually November through April. Keep an eye on the calendar for the next one. If you are bringing your own boat make sure it is clean. We use whitewater kayaks due to the space limitations in the pools. We do occasionally teach lake lessons and do swim tests in the pool. These are generally held in March and April. Watch for emails announcing them or let one of the leaders know you are interested.

Where to Meet

The boathouse if you need to use Hoofer boats and gear or want to help new people pick out gear
Otherwise Park Street Circle (which is where Park Street dead ends at lake Mendota)
Do not show up at the pool unless you have talked to the leader. We sell the spots of people who don't show up at Park Street Circle so if you show up at the pool without letting the leader know even if you have a ticket you might have lost your spot. We have to do this since we are so limited in the number of participants and we want to keep the ticket prices down.

What to Bring

Current Hoofer ID
Swimsuit
Towel
Ticket or $5 cash for pool session(credit cards not accepted on the day of the session)
Lock (we have access to the locker room and showers)
Nose plugs - not necessary but you will want them
Warm when wet clothes - It's indoors but almost everyone wears some sort of shirt to keep warm. Polyester, polypro, fleece, neoprene(chlorine is hard on neoprene), or wool will keep you warm when you are wet. Cotton does not.
Goggles - optional but can be helpful when learning to roll
Extra money for dinner afterwards - Optional

How to Sign Up

Buy a ticket either:

after a regular Hoofer Outing Club meeting every week(see the calendar) -- Cash Only
from the Outdoor Programs Office(aka the hoofer office - for hours, phone number, and location go to http://www.hoofers.org/ ) -- Using cash or a credit card
by calling the Outdoor Programs Office and buying a ticket using a credit card

If tickets are sold out show up at the boathouse at the meeting time to see if there are any available spots to buy.
If you want to know how many tickets are left call the office since they have the tickets.
If you buy a ticket but can't go you can sell your ticket to someone else but there are no refunds. The point of selling the tickets in the first place is so we can at least come close to covering our costs for the pool even though we are allowed a limited number of people in boats in the pool.

Information for New People

Where do we meet for a pool session and what do I do when I get there?

Reading and memorizing the following paragraph is not necessary. Just show up if you want, but for those of you who want more information read on. On the day of the pool session go to Park St. Circle which is where Park Street dead ends at Lake Mendota. Go down the steps down to the lake and to the right is the boathouse. There is a garage type door that will be open. Go in and let the people know there that you are there for the pool session. Hand in your ticket. If you don't have a ticket let whoever is in charge know that you want to buy an alternate spot right away because it is first come first served. If you have a ticket or after you paid for your alternate spot sign up on 2 sheets - 1 is a waiver for the pool where we practice and the other is an outing club trip sheet. Tell people that you need help picking out your gear if someone hasn't already offered. You will need 3 things for a pool session: a boat, a spray skirt, and a paddle. For all other times when you are in a kayak you will need a lifejacket (pfd) and when you are whitewater you will also need a helmet and flotation. The boat should fit you so be sure to get in it. Even if you have used a particular boat before you should get in it every time because someone else may have adjusted it to fit them and it no longer fits you or something may have broken on it since the last time you used it. The spray skirt should fit your waist and the boat's cockpit so try that on both you and the boat. To try on a sprayskirt step into it and pull it up. The paddle should be either right handed or left-handed. For more information about choosing gear please see Boats and Gear. After you have those 3 things carry them up to Park St. Circle (ask for help with this if you need it) and help load boats if you are able. Even if you have never loaded boats onto cars before you can help by holding the boats as someone else ties them up. When we arrive at the pool help to carry the boats into the building and then go to change while we wait for the lifeguards to allow us into the pool area. No one should get into the pool until the lifeguards are seated and say they are ready. If you have kayaked before you will need to demonstrate a wet exit before you are allowed to practice. If you’ve never kayaked before or at least haven’t kayaked much then you will be taking an introductory class for the first part of the session and then you can practice what you've learned for the second part of the session. If you have any questions or want to learn how to roll or any other particular skills be sure to let the person in charge know so they can pair you up with an instructor. All the instructors in the outing club are volunteers so be sure to thank them. If you want to pay them back then volunteer in the club. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in the club so just ask. Pay it forward.

For more information email the Pool Session Coordinator.

	MEMBERSHIP FORUM PHOTOS RESOURCES CALENDAR CONTACT US
Activities Backpacking Canoeing Caving Cross-country Skiing Mountain Biking Road Biking Sea Kayaking Telemark Skiing Top-rope Climbing Whitewater Kayaking Other Activities Instruction Leading Trips Tips and Tricks For All Paddlers Lake Lesson Swim Test Lake Rules Chart Pool Sessions Lake Columbia About the Club Weekly Meetings Leader Recognition History Executive Board Policies & Procedures E-mail Lists Member List Club Wiki Login Username: Password: Lost Password? Want a login?	Paddlers' Pool Sessions No experience necessary. Beginners as well as intermediate and advanced boaters are welcome. At the pool sessions you can learn or practice Eskimo rolls, Eskimo rescues, bracing, basic strokes, etc. which are skills helpful for both sea kayakers(calm, flat water kayaking) and whitewater kayakers. There is more information on bracing and Eskimo rolls and Eskimo rescues at Kayak Skills. We also have some people who practice in whitewater canoes or C-1's(decked canoes) although there aren't always instructors for them so they are usually practicing on their own. We always have instructors for kayaking at the pool sessions. Pool sessions are held semi-weekly usually November through April. Keep an eye on the calendar for the next one. If you are bringing your own boat make sure it is clean. We use whitewater kayaks due to the space limitations in the pools. We do occasionally teach lake lessons and do swim tests in the pool. These are generally held in March and April. Watch for emails announcing them or let one of the leaders know you are interested. Where to Meet The boathouse if you need to use Hoofer boats and gear or want to help new people pick out gear Otherwise Park Street Circle (which is where Park Street dead ends at lake Mendota) Do not show up at the pool unless you have talked to the leader. We sell the spots of people who don't show up at Park Street Circle so if you show up at the pool without letting the leader know even if you have a ticket you might have lost your spot. We have to do this since we are so limited in the number of participants and we want to keep the ticket prices down. What to Bring Current Hoofer ID Swimsuit Towel Ticket or $5 cash for pool session(credit cards not accepted on the day of the session) Lock (we have access to the locker room and showers) Nose plugs - not necessary but you will want them Warm when wet clothes - It's indoors but almost everyone wears some sort of shirt to keep warm. Polyester, polypro, fleece, neoprene(chlorine is hard on neoprene), or wool will keep you warm when you are wet. Cotton does not. Goggles - optional but can be helpful when learning to roll Extra money for dinner afterwards - Optional How to Sign Up Buy a ticket either: after a regular Hoofer Outing Club meeting every week(see the calendar) -- Cash Only from the Outdoor Programs Office(aka the hoofer office - for hours, phone number, and location go to http://www.hoofers.org/ ) -- Using cash or a credit card by calling the Outdoor Programs Office and buying a ticket using a credit card If tickets are sold out show up at the boathouse at the meeting time to see if there are any available spots to buy. If you want to know how many tickets are left call the office since they have the tickets. If you buy a ticket but can't go you can sell your ticket to someone else but there are no refunds. The point of selling the tickets in the first place is so we can at least come close to covering our costs for the pool even though we are allowed a limited number of people in boats in the pool. Information for New People Where do we meet for a pool session and what do I do when I get there? Reading and memorizing the following paragraph is not necessary. Just show up if you want, but for those of you who want more information read on. On the day of the pool session go to Park St. Circle which is where Park Street dead ends at Lake Mendota. Go down the steps down to the lake and to the right is the boathouse. There is a garage type door that will be open. Go in and let the people know there that you are there for the pool session. Hand in your ticket. If you don't have a ticket let whoever is in charge know that you want to buy an alternate spot right away because it is first come first served. If you have a ticket or after you paid for your alternate spot sign up on 2 sheets - 1 is a waiver for the pool where we practice and the other is an outing club trip sheet. Tell people that you need help picking out your gear if someone hasn't already offered. You will need 3 things for a pool session: a boat, a spray skirt, and a paddle. For all other times when you are in a kayak you will need a lifejacket (pfd) and when you are whitewater you will also need a helmet and flotation. The boat should fit you so be sure to get in it. Even if you have used a particular boat before you should get in it every time because someone else may have adjusted it to fit them and it no longer fits you or something may have broken on it since the last time you used it. The spray skirt should fit your waist and the boat's cockpit so try that on both you and the boat. To try on a sprayskirt step into it and pull it up. The paddle should be either right handed or left-handed. For more information about choosing gear please see Boats and Gear. After you have those 3 things carry them up to Park St. Circle (ask for help with this if you need it) and help load boats if you are able. Even if you have never loaded boats onto cars before you can help by holding the boats as someone else ties them up. When we arrive at the pool help to carry the boats into the building and then go to change while we wait for the lifeguards to allow us into the pool area. No one should get into the pool until the lifeguards are seated and say they are ready. If you have kayaked before you will need to demonstrate a wet exit before you are allowed to practice. If you’ve never kayaked before or at least haven’t kayaked much then you will be taking an introductory class for the first part of the session and then you can practice what you've learned for the second part of the session. If you have any questions or want to learn how to roll or any other particular skills be sure to let the person in charge know so they can pair you up with an instructor. All the instructors in the outing club are volunteers so be sure to thank them. If you want to pay them back then volunteer in the club. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in the club so just ask. Pay it forward. For more information email the Pool Session Coordinator.
The Hoofer Outing Club promotes safe, fun, outdoor and social activities that are open to all. This means we promote diversity, try to accommodate people who are disabled (within budget constraints), and do not allow harassment of any kind. For more information, please email our Accessibility Chair.