Summer 2024
Cheema Active Under 6
This full-day program is designed for 5- and 6-year-olds who will enjoy a largely outdoor movement experience for summer vacation. Like Cheema’s AfterSchool Program that runs September to June, participants are provided with childcare where they play outdoor games, swim under the supervision of a trained lifeguard, experience Dragon Boating and mini kayaks/canoes, and spend time in the beautiful McDonald SportsPark adjacent to Cheema. At times, the fun moves indoors where crafts, snacks and free play time is supervised.
The program runs from July 2 to August 23, 2024 with no programming on August 5. We offer full-year or one-month options where families cannot commit to a full summer.
Dates of monthly options:
- July 2 – 26
- July 29 – August 23
Under 8
The U8 full-day program is designed to give our youngest paddlers structured aquatic programming. They will learn the basics of canoe/kayak skills applicable in our most stable boats.
Our experienced coaches will teach participants all about water safety in a fun, supportive, age-appropriate environment. We pair the morning’s paddling experiences with an afternoon full of fun and adventure that takes place in our beautiful and secluded property on Lake Thomas.
Our primary objective is to keep kids active, have fun, learn the basics of paddling, and enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer during the summertime. For those not so nice days we have activities planned for indoor fun as well.
The program runs from July 2 to August 23, 2024 with no programming on August 5.
We offer full-year or one-month options where families cannot commit to a full summer.
Dates of monthly options:
- July 2 – 26
-
July 29 – August 23
Under 10
The U10 program offers coached sessions in singles, crew boats, war canoes and our dragonboat complimented by a variety of land-based activity. Our goal is to make kids comfortable in the boats and learn to love the sport. For those sessions in challenging single canoes and kayaks, we will group the kids according to their ability levels so that they experience a similar level of success as their friends and are capable of practicing as a group. Over the course of the summer, participants will be re-grouped frequently based on their acquired skills and fitness.
Our U10 boys and girls annually work towards having a competitive war canoe at all local regattas. This group activity is usually the highlight of the summer. Participants will also learn how to paddle tandem and four-person boats and have racing opportunities at Cheema or at other clubs. The kids round out their water activities, spending lots of fun time in the McDonald SportsPark playing games.
Other aspects of the program include:
- Boating and water safety/education
- Becoming comfortable playing in, on and around water
- Learning the FUNdamentals of Canoe/Kayak in age-appropriate canoes and kayaks
- Becoming confident in movement skills, coordination, and balance
- Learning teamwork through land games and crew boat activities
- Building skills and confidence in all forms of Canoe/Kayak
- Learning to care for Canoe/Kayak equipment
- Learning to respect others and become part of a team
The program runs from July 2 to August 23, 2024 with no programming on August 5.
Under 12
The U12 program offers coached sessions in singles, crew boats, war canoes and land-based activity. For those kids who have the interest, our goal is to provide them with all the tools they need to pursue competitive paddling. For our less stable and more challenging single canoe and kayak sessions, we will group the kids according to their ability so that they experience success relative to their peers and are able to paddle together. Over the course of the summer, participants will be re-grouped frequently based on their acquired skills, fitness and group dynamics.
Our U12s typically have separate boy and girl groups that will develop team activities on and off the water, although they may be grouped together for some activities. Crew boats and war canoeing are central to our program and there will be lots of team sport activity at the McDonald SportsPark
Other components:
- Boating and water safety/education and awareness
- Physical literacy (competent in fundamental movement skills)
- Basic Canoe/Kayak boat steering skills and general boat control
- Ability to paddle continuously in a single and team boat
- Build technical skills in all forms of Canoe/Kayak
- Introduction to racing singles and team boats
- Learning to respect others and become part of a team
The program runs from July 2 to August 23, 2024 with no programming on August 5.
Under 14/Under 16
Our U14/U16 program can be transitional for participants. Some of our U14 and U16 paddlers are on their way to highly competitive careers, while others simply want to enjoy the outdoors and a summer on the water. For one of the three daily blocks, the U14 and U16 program is designed to accommodate those differing interests. Those kids pursuing year-round training, who are more committed to racing at a high level and have a burning desire to develop into a high-performance athlete – they will have dedicated technical coaching during their daily singles training block.
Those with more of a recreational bias will have specifically designed opportunities that they can influence. Activities include extra war canoe time, basketball, swimming, recreational canoe excursions, fitness/strength training, team sport activities and racing Canoe/Kayak paddling at their desired pace, with appropriate instruction.
The desired group can be selected at registration, though changes can be made throughout the summer – either at the suggestion of staff or the request of the child/family.
The U14/U16 program is for participants ages 13 to 16. The program consists of the following:
- Learn to paddle with proper technique – racing or recreational
- Opportunity to specialize in either Canoe or Kayak
- Introduction to fitness and strength training education
- Develop speed and strength, and build general and specific strength, speed and endurance specific conducive to racing
- Introduction to nutrition and recovery education, as well as lifestyle and basic goal setting skills
- Learning to respect others and become part of a team
The program runs from July 2 to August 23, 2024 with no programming on August 5.
Regattas
The ADCKC Summer Regatta Schedule can be found here. All summer program participants U10 and above participate in a variety of regattas throughout July and August.