TRIPS Club Policy 2022

Rules to paddle by:

• All club activities are approved by the club and sanctioned through the Recreational Canoeing Association of BC who hold the insurance policy.  These activities can be paddling sessions, day trips, training sessions or events and must adhere to the Club Trip Sanctioning Guidelines on the RCABC website.

 

• All boats for club trips must have at least minimal floatation at all times so that they are at least neutrally buoyant and will not sink.

 

• If club boats are used in races organized and insured by another association such as CKBC then their rules will apply for those events.

 

• All sessions take place with approved and certified leaders.  Paddling sessions out of pioneer park may include only 1 boat include cell phone, first aid kit and other pertinent items. Paddling sessions run in other locations should have at least 2 boats and 3 is recommended.

 

• Club boats may be used for un-scheduled training and recreational use by club trip leaders out of Pioneer Park without previous approval so long as it does not conflict with scheduled club activities.

 

• All participants shall adhere to any posted rules or those outlined in the RCACB Club Trip Sanctioning Guidelines including always wearing your P.F.D.

 

• Club trip leaders borrowing or using equipment outside of regular scheduled activities must ensure that any and all users of club equipment have signed a club waiver.

 

• Most of the equipment located in our compound is club equipment and open for members to use during offical paddling sessions led by a Club Trip Leader. Other is on loan or personal equipment being stored in our compound. Please ask before using if you are unsure. All equipment  is to be treated with care and damage or loss is reported.

 

• Due to the nature of some of the equipment such as the marathon racing canoes which may be fragile and unstable, participants shall take care to choose watercraft that meets their skill level, water and weather conditions.

 

• Sessions will be either cancelled or postponed due to poor weather which includes lightning, wind, rain or water and air temperature.  Outings can also be cancelled due to insufficient numbers. Trip leaders should email a cancellation notice to the membership as soon as they are able too. 

 

• When attempting to participate in a session, if your going to be late, please let someone know as soon as you are able to.

 

• No equipment is to be rented for personal outings.  Equipment will be used by members for sanctioned activities with no charge. Only certified Club Trip Leaders are permitted to borrow equipment, and only if it does not conflict with the use by other members for club activities.

 

• Club boats may be used for un-scheduled club training sessions up to easy class 1+ moving water at other locations such as on the Shuswap River near Enderby WITH PREVIOUS APPROVAL by email, so long as it does not conflict with scheduled club activities. Boats and other equipment should be signed out using a log in our storage facility for these types of out-of-town trips.

 

• Club boats may be borrowed for personal use by club trip leaders on lakes and rivers up to class 1+ WITH PREVIOUS APPROVAL by email from the executive so long as it does not conflict with scheduled club activities. The members borrowing equipment are responsible for any and all damages and will affect suitable repairs or pay for repairs or replacement of equipment should damage or loss occur.

 

• It is required that club boats used for trips at locations away from our home compound at pioneer be used only in trips with at least 2 boats in the group. For training and recreational use out of Pioneer Park, it is appropriate to only have 1 boat out.

 

• In addition to the standard safety items required by Transport Canada (throw bag, bailer, PFD, spare paddle, whistle) all boats for club use must have at least minimal floatation at all times so that they are at least neutrally buoyant and will not sink.

 

• Any use of club boats in class 1+ or greater water such as (Hefley Creek Rapids) should be done with some additional flotation so that the boat is more than neutrally buoyant, so as to reduce the risk of loss, damage, and injury.

 

• In even harder white water (Class 2 – 3) including the Adams or Nicola Rivers, additional safety gear is required such as full floatation, helmets, wet or dry suits, etc. Club boats are not to be used for trips of this nature due the the risk of damage to club equipment.

 

• For all trips, Trip Leaders should make sure that all participants have the appropriate skills and equipment to safely participate.

 

• Club Trip Leaders should check the forecasted weather using the Environment Canada Forecast for the closest station and take any necessary pre-cautions for inclement weather including changing the location to a more sheltered spot or bringing additional supplies for managing hypothermia (dry bag of warm cloths, tarp, fire starter, thermos of tea, etc.).

 

• In general trips should be cancelled or moved to a very sheltered location if the forecast calls for wind at 50km/hr or above.

 

• If there is a chance of lighting storms at 60% or higher than the trip should also be cancelled.

 

• If the combined water and air temperature are less than 35 degrees Celsius, hypothermia prevention should be considered such as wet suits/ dry suits, or a warmup kit (dry bag with warm clothing, a thermos of tea, snacks, tarp, fire starting kit, etc.). The need will depend on the ability of the group though and is especially important on trips outside of town.