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Online Viewing Quiz
- The family visited a Pennsylvania State Park whose name in French means "almost an island". Can you name the park?
- Can you name the number of visitors this park receives annually? (That means every year)
- In addition to the kayak and the paddle, can you name the most important piece of equipment needed for a safe kayaking experience?
- Can you name the muscles used in paddling a kayak?
- The family ended their adventure with a challenging quiz. Can you answer some of the questions they were asked? The beaver lodge shown was a _______lodge.
- How many species of turtles can be found at Presque Isle State Park?
- The three techniques used by Presque Isle State Park to destroy an invasive species are physical, chemical and A. spiritual, B. biological C. temperamental and D. physiological?
Answers
Show/Hide
- Presque Isle State Park
- 4 million
- Life vest or personal flotation device (PDF)
- Abdominals (stomach muscles) and triceps and biceps (arm muscles)
- Bank lodge
- 9 species of turtles
- B. Biological
Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening
PA Academic Standards - 1.4.3 A
Kayaking can be a wonderful way to explore nature, exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. Sea kayaking, white-water racing, and many Olympic kayak events can be fast paced and extremely challenging. However, the sport of kayaking is diverse enough to include: peacefully paddling in a quiet lagoon or slowly gliding down a calm waterway. Because the experience can be relaxing, it may not always appear to be dangerous. Forgetting some basic safety rules can turn a pleasant kayaking trip into a disaster. A common saying among kayakers is "less than three, there should never be", which means you should always kayak with at least two other people. Imagine you were in charge of designing an ad campaign to encourage people to kayak safely. Write an advertisement or poem using the "less than three, there should never be" slogan.
Arts & Humanities
PA Academic Standards - 9.1.3 B
Using the "less than three, there should never be" advertisement or poem you designed in the previous section, draw a poster highlighting the importance of water safety while kayaking. Use a variety of materials such as pencil, paint or chalk to make your poster interesting. When your work is complete, share your ad with a local park (try Presque Isle) or a boating club. They just might display your work or use your advertisement to educate others.
History
PA Academic Standards - 8.1.3 C & D
The kayak is probably eight or nine thousand years old. Historians believe it was developed by the Aleut people and then refined by the Inuit people (sometimes called Eskimos). The Inuit people live along the Artic shoreline of Canada. Using the Internet or a book on kayaking see if you can answer the following questions.
- Using a world map or globe, locate northern Canada, Greenland and Alaska.
- Describe the climate of northern Canada, Greenland and Alaska.
- Why do you think the early Inuit people invented kayaks?
- How did the kayak help the Inuit people survive?
- What materials did the Inuit people use to make their kayaks?
- Did different tribes of Inuit people build different kayaks? Why?
Health, Safety & Physical Education
PA Academic Standards - 10.3.3 B, D & E
Read the following two paragraphs taken from the book Kayaking Have Fun, Be Smart written by Allison Draper.
Good for the Mind and Body
Kayaking is a sport that requires strength and endurance, and it is a great workout. However, it is not only good for your body, it's also good for your mind and spirit. Like other outdoor sports, kayaking can teach you a lot about yourself. Whether you're trekking across a wide stretch of open water or battling the raging rapids, you're becoming smarter, wiser, better. You're meeting challenges, overcoming obstacles, and working as a team with your fellow paddlers.
In recent years, more people than ever have begun to recognize the mental and spiritual value of outdoor activity. Doctors and counselors are encouraging people with physical disabilities and emotional problems to find power and strength in nature. In some places, judges are sending at-risk teens and juvenile offenders to wilderness programs as alternatives to imprisonment.
- After reading this excerpt, your challenge is to think about the following questions and answer them for yourself.
- Do you feel better when you are physically active? What are the positive (good) and negative (bad) effects of regular exercise?
- Do you think judges should send at-risk teens to wilderness programs? How could participating in a sport like kayaking help a teenager who is in trouble?
- Because you should always kayak with at least two other people, what do you think you could learn about being a good leader or a good follower from the sport?
Learn Even More About Kayaking
After watching the Eco-kayaking Outdoor Family Adventure episode do you want to learn more about the sport? Here are some fun facts and tips. The best way to learn more about kayaking is to get out there and try it for yourself. Just remember to bring along at least two other friends and a qualified leader because the as the saying goes "less than three, there should never be". Good luck on your kayaking adventure!
- A kayak's speed depends upon its size. Shorter boats are slower and longer boats are faster.
- Never try to lift a boat that is full of water. Always turn the boat on its side to drain the water out first.
- Because it is sometimes difficult to communicate with other kayakers while on the water, there are universal river signals so you can "talk" with your paddle. Here are a few of the signals:
- If you are in an emergency or need help: wave your paddle, helmet, or PFD over your head in a circular motion.
- To tell other paddlers to stop: Raise your paddle horizontally above your head and make a pumping motion, or stick out your arms and flap like a bird.
- If you want worried paddlers to know that you are okay: Raise your open hand above your head and pat yourself on the helmet.
- The Eskimo roll is a self-rescue maneuver use to turn over a capsized boat.
- Never practice rolling alone and always make sure that the grab handle on your spray deck is easily available.
For even more information check out these kayaking web sites:
American Whitewater
The National Rivers Website
National Park Service
Resources Used
Kayaking, Have fun, Be Smart by Allison Draper, copyright date 2000 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
Radical Sports, Kayaking by Phil Revell copyright date 2000 by Reed Educational E Professional Publishing.
Performance Kayaking by Stephen B. U'ren copyright date 1990 by Stackpole Books.
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