Overview
The North East Wisconsin Paddlers, formerly known as Green Bay Paddlers United, have been teaching kayak skills classes in Northeast Wisconsin since the early 1990's. Over the years, the classes have been hosted in partnership with YMCA's except in Two Rivers, where the classes are provided through the City of Two Rivers Recreation Department by NEWP instructors in the high school. Traditionally, these classes have been conducted between January and April each year.
In 2010, NEWP will launch two new classes in August. One will be conducted with the City of Appleton, through the City of Appleton Parks and Recreation Department in the Erb Park pool. The second will be conducted with the Village of Kimberly Recreation Department in the Sunset Point Park lake. The course content will be a modified version of the Kayak Essentials course described in the linked outline below, revised to fit the time schedule available. Both classes will offer an opportunity for a group paddle on the Fox River following the class. More detail will be provided as available and through each community's recreation department.
Fees charged by the host facility are split - half covers the cost of the facility use and lifeguards and the other half is used by NEWP to purchase and maintain boats and other equipment, or to cover the cost of the website and other activities. All instructors and assistant instructors provide their time and talent on a voluntary basis.
Class schedules and logistics vary a bit with each class location and the classes are taught by different groups of NEWP instructors, too. The classes generally follow a similar outline but are modified on a class-by-class basis to best reflect the interests of the students.
Click on the city names at the right for more specfiic information on classes hosted in each of them, information on where to register, instructors, etc. Downloadable copies of the class outlines and a resource sheet are available here:
Class Information by Location
2010 Winter Classes
Registration Open Now for classes in Green Bay, Two Rivers and Appleton!
Click on the locations listed below for more detailed information.
2010 Summer Classes
(IDetails pending)
City of Appleton - Erb Pool
Village of Kimberly - Sunset Point Park Lake
"Open Pool" - Dates and Policy
NEWP has arranged open pool dates for club members and students to maintain their skills through winter and early spring in Appleton and Two Rivers. The open pool dates and times are listed on each class-location page. Current year students of NEWP classes in any of our locations are entitled to free open pool participation. Other participants must be current NEWP/ ACA club members and pay a $5 fee for each session to help defray the costs of pool access and club operations.
All participants are welcome to use NEWP boats and gear or may bring their own boats and gear into the pool if it is clean and free of debris. All members are reminded that the pools can become crowded; courteous and safe conduct is expected. We expect members to follow these general guidelines during open pool sessions:
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Paddlers who are socializing or resting should either leave the pool or move to the side to allow other paddlers room to practice.
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Be aware that the host facility life guard has ultimate control of the pool area; lifeguard instructions must be followed immediately at all times.
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Personal boats and gear brought into the pool must be clean prior to entry, which includes removal of float bags for the pool session.
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Boats must be in the water when entered, not "seal-launched" off the pool deck.