| e with your kids outdoors can be really magical. | | | | ability to hike the long days with a good amount |
| Integrating them into the natural world is good for | | | | of weight on their backs. I know their camping skill |
| them and can be rewarding for you as a parent | | | | levels are high and my abilities are good. |
| as well. Some parents wonder just how far to go | | | | 3. Where can you take your kids? Areas that are |
| in leading young children out on trips, especially | | | | appropriate for your kids and your family abound. |
| overnight trips. Trying to figure out those | | | | The biggest question is what level you will conquer |
| boundaries and come up with places that are safe | | | | in your quest to take your kids out. A big part of |
| and appropriate for children can be challenging. | | | | managing this consideration is limiting the activity |
| Ultimately, the decision comes down to your | | | | and area to what is appropriate. You may not be |
| comfort level as a parent, so having some basis | | | | comfortable kayaking with your kids in the |
| for challenging your comfort zone can be helpful. | | | | Broken Group. There are water taxis, float plane |
| We will look at some of the issues and relate | | | | services, and guide services in the area, so you |
| them to kayaking in the Broken Group Islands on | | | | may want to head off to a base camp with |
| the west coast of Canada. | | | | kayaks and paddle close by with your kids, then |
| What is the best age to start taking your kids | | | | get picked up again at the end. Being well aware |
| out? I have met families that take their wee | | | | of both their abilities and your abilities will help you |
| infants out on multi-day canoe trips. The families | | | | decide this. I chose the Broken Group because |
| had a lot of experience in canoes, so they had | | | | they have a great many islands grouped well |
| enough knowledge and skill to be able to deal with | | | | together, providing sheltered paddling; they have a |
| any emergency. Being able to give the needed | | | | sheltered starting point in Toquart Bay; they have |
| amount of time to your children is critical. If you | | | | good communication access by cell phone or VHF |
| have no experience, you will be putting all your | | | | radio; and they have a tremendous amount of |
| attention on figuring out what you are doing. I | | | | sea life to fascinate the kids. I knew I would |
| have taken my 9 and 11 year old kids on a five | | | | probably avoid the outer islands, but once in the |
| day trip to the Broken Group Islands in single | | | | group, we could try out some different challenges, |
| kayaks. To many, this would be uncomfortable, | | | | such as travelling in fog, making small crossings, |
| but I have enough paddling experience to be able | | | | and peaking out into a little ocean swell. |
| to give them a safe trip. I will go over what I did | | | | 4. What activities can you do with your kids? Part |
| to prepare them and myself for this great trip. | | | | of picking an area is also picking what you do |
| 1. Do you know the abilities of your kids? | | | | there. If your kids cannot handle a pack, then go |
| Although I had no original plan to take my kids to | | | | on day hikes in the area. Maybe you pick an area |
| the Broken Group, it was a good natural | | | | as a precursor for a more challenging trip in the |
| progression for them. I made sure to take them | | | | future. If you have prepared your kid, then find |
| out a number of times in kayaks, pushing their | | | | an area where you can do the activity at their |
| progress along the way, so they were well | | | | level. There are trails with short distances |
| prepared for this trip with me. I started them off | | | | between campsites that would be great for kids. |
| as the second paddler in double kayaks to give | | | | There are also a great many paddle destinations |
| them the feel of paddling and being in a kayak. My | | | | that can fit any family’s skill set. Canoeing |
| partner and I were the main paddlers in each | | | | is a good experience for kids. Day trips or shorter |
| double kayak, so we had no problem getting | | | | multi-day trips work with kids if the structure, |
| around. This was a three day trip, with two nights | | | | skills and support are there. Just be aware that |
| out, all along the eastern shore of Vancouver | | | | your kids may whine about how long you travel, |
| Island in the Johnstone Strait. The next | | | | but can usually cover a lot more ground than |
| progression was to get them into single kayaks. | | | | they let on. In the Broken Group, we had three 4 |
| After a couple of day paddles, they took a week | | | | mile days and they whined every mile. We stayed |
| long kids kayak camp to learn some basic skills. | | | | at one site for two days while it rained on us |
| They paddled a couple of more day paddles, | | | | incessantly. On the third morning, they protested |
| picking up more skills before we took our trip. By | | | | and urged me to take them back home to dry |
| the time we went to the Broken Group, they | | | | out. I warned them that it was an 8 mile trip |
| were very comfortable in single kayaks and used | | | | back. They totally rose to the occasion, did not |
| to carrying a bit of the gear around. My kids and I | | | | whine, and ended the trip by helping put three |
| want to hike the West Coast Trail together, and | | | | kayaks onto the van and load up all the gear. Of |
| this may be a next progression, however, | | | | course, I had some backup plans along the way |
| kayaking requires more ability on my part to look | | | | just in case, but they completely surprised me |
| after them in the possible scenarios that can | | | | with what they could do. If you are committed to |
| develop on the water. Hiking requires more | | | | an activity or to getting your kids out into the |
| stamina from the kids. | | | | wilderness, then you will do what it takes with |
| 2. Do you know your own abilities and skills? You | | | | them to progress them into it. |
| will need to be able to bring a good set of skills to | | | | Many of the benefits of taking my kids into the |
| bear on your trip with your kids. I was | | | | Broken Group are intangible. I cannot measure |
| comfortable taking my kids into the Broken | | | | them or see them, only feel them. I certainly |
| Group, even with a couple of 2 nautical mile | | | | forged a new, stronger bond with my kids on this |
| crossings. I knew their paddling abilities, I knew my | | | | trip. Being able to forage in the tide pools with |
| rescue skills, and my ability to deal with on-water | | | | them, pulling out shells, moon snail casings, crabs, |
| emergencies. Even if I had not had a good | | | | and interesting driftwood was really magical. |
| amount of training for my own benefit, I would | | | | Watching them challenge themselves paddling their |
| have taken a good multi-day kayak skills course | | | | own kayaks in more open waters was truly |
| to prepare myself to take my kids out on my | | | | awe-inspiring. I left that trip with a deeper love for |
| own. If my partner had come along, we could | | | | my kids having connected with them in a new, |
| have stretched things even further because I | | | | intense, and intimate way. They finished the trip |
| could have shared the load and attention on the | | | | with a much higher sense of their own abilities, of |
| kids. So, one of my considerations was whether I | | | | their skills at handling difficult situations, and a |
| could deal with everything on my own. You may | | | | closer connection to me. The Broken Group |
| have to get yourself up to speed with an activity | | | | Islands are a great family ocean kayak destination |
| before taking your kids out. I paddled the Broken | | | | on the west coast, if you are prepared. If you |
| Group with my partner before this trip, so that I | | | | take small steps with your kids and plan how to |
| knew what to expect. You may want to consider | | | | increase your skills, introduce skills to them, and |
| asking someone else who has the skills whether | | | | find great places, you can also have the kind of |
| they will come along to help out with areas where | | | | incredible experience with your own kids like I did |
| you are weak. When I consider the West Coast | | | | with mine. |
| Trail for my kids, I am only reticent about their | | | | |