The Sebago Canoe Committee offers a range of activities for those interested in canoeing. These include day and overnight regional trips, trips on Jamaica Bay in our beautiful 10-person canoe, and canoe sailing. The Canoe Committee supports Sebago’s public programs such as our Open Houses. For many years, Sebago canoeists have served as coaches for collegiate teams of engineering students who design and competitively paddle canoes made of concrete. As an all-volunteer run Club, the interests or our volunteers direct our programming. Getting actively involved and volunteering to work on canoe committee initiatives provides interested members the opportunity to help promote the sport of canoeing among Club members and the public.
Use of Sebago Canoe Club Canoes and Equipment
| Activity | Lake Sebago | Paedegat Basin | Jamaica Bay | Day trips/camping trips |
| May use club canoes on own? | Yes | No | No | Yes. Must have permission of canoe chair. |
| Age | Any age with adult | 18 | 18 | Any age with one adult per canoe. |
| Minimun Skill Level | Beginner;A Trip leader is required | Beginner;A Trip leader is required | Basic Paddler;A Trip leader is required | Beginner;A Trip leader is required |
| Minimum number of canoes and/or kayaks in group | 1 | 2 1 if trip leader or assistant trip leader | 2 1 if trip leader | 2 strongly suggested1 if trip leader |
Summary of Sebago Canoe Skill Levels
| SKILL LEVEL | REQUIREMENTS |
| Passenger | Permission of Trip Leader. No skill requirements. No minimum age. |
| Beginner | No Canoeing experience required |
| Basic Paddler | ACA* Level 1 (Introduction to canoeing) skills as assessed by ACA* or Sebago (see below). |
| Assistant Trip Leader | ACA* Level 2 (Essentials of Canoe Touring) skills as assessed by ACA* or Sebago (see below) plus local knowledge and rescue training |
| Trip Leader | Experience as an Assistant Trip Leader on Sebago trips and assessment by Sebago (see below). ACA* Level 2 training strongly suggested. |
| Instructor | ACA* Level 2 instructor: Certification by ACA* |
| Committee Chair | Organizational Skills. No canoe skill requirements |
Club Boat and Equipment Use:
- Boats and equipment may be used by any member of Sebago Canoe Club when accompanied by a trip leader, or without a trip leader if the member has been assessed to have the required Basic Skills (see below). Senior Sebago members may use Sebago Canoe Club equipment at their own risk. Members who use club equipment within Paedergat basin or at Lake Sebago are encouraged to paddle in a group containing at least two canoes. Members who venture into Jamaica Bay with club equipment must paddle in a group containing at least two canoes and/or kayaks or, for the large canoe, four paddlers.
- Posted club paddles including but not limited to Open Paddles shall have equipment priority.
- A Sebago Canoe Club Waiver must be on file prior to use of any club equipment. Stations for filing wavers are available inside of the Sebago Club House. Wavers may also be submitted on line at Sebago Canoe Club Waiver (smartwaiver.com). Visitors to Lake Sebago must file waivers prior to arriving at the ACA camp since phone reception may be poor.
- A properly fitted Personal Flotation Device (PFD) must be worn at all time when on or near the water.
- Posted club paddles including but not limited to Open Paddles shall have equipment priority.
- Club boats and other club equipment may not be taken from Jamaica Bay or Lake Sebago without the permission of the Canoe Committee Chairperson.
- All boats & equipment must be inspected but the paddler/user before and after each use. Any damage issues must be brought to the attention of the Canoe Committee Chairperson via an E-mail note.
Basic Skills Requirements
Basic Skills is defined as having, at a minimum, ACA (American Canoe Association) Level 1 (“Introduction to Canoeing”) canoe skills. A member may become assessed as having Basic Skills by either of these routes:
- Completing an ACA Level 1 canoe course or by
- Demonstrating the knowledge and abilities of the ACA level 1 skill set. Arrangements to be assessed as a Basic Skills Canoeist may be made with the Canoe Committee Chairperson.
A description of the ACA Level 1 Canoe Skills can be found at the ACA web site: Canoeing Courses – ACA | Canoe – Kayak – SUP – Raft – Rescue (americancanoe.org).
Assistant Trip Leader Requirements
- The Assistant Trip Leader’s skill should match or exceed the location and specific activity (e.g. flat water in protected areas, canoe sailing, camping, moving water). Trip planning is such a crucial requirement for any Trip Leader.
- Assistant Trip Leader status is designated by the Canoe Committee Chair.
- Assistant Trip leaders must meet the Basic Skills requirements as well as the
- Be over the age of 18 years
- Demonstrate safety and rescue skills by either:
- completing an ACA Canoe Safety and Rescue course, or by
- demonstrating equivalent safety and rescue skill s via comparable training and experience.
- Demonstrate small group management skills by:
- completing a Canoe Committee Trip Leader Workshop, or
- completing a Kayak Committee Trip Leader Workshop, or
- completing ACA canoe instructor certification, or
- demonstrating equivalent group management skills via comparable training and experience.
Arrangements to be assessed as an Assistant Trip Leader may be made with the Canoe Committee Chairperson.
Trip Leader Requirements
• The Trip Leader’s skill should match or exceed the location and specific activity (e.g. flat water in protected areas, canoe sailing, camping, moving water). Trip planning is such a crucial requirement for any Trip Leader.
• Trip Leader status is designated by the Canoe Committee Chair.
• Trip leaders must meet the Assistant Trip Leader requirements as well as the following:
- Demonstrate canoeing competence by
- completing the ACA Level 2: Essentials of Canoe Touring course (or higher level ACA level canoe course), or
- demonstrating knowledge of the ACA Level 2 skill set.
- Demonstrate a local knowledge of Jamaica Bay and its conditions that may affect paddling.
- Experience as an Assistant Trip Leader on at least three Sebago canoe trips.
Arrangements to be assessed as a Trip Leader may be made with the Canoe Committee Chairperson.
- Trip Leaders shall comply with the ACA guideline of a maximum of 5 participants to a Trip Leader. A Trip Leader together with an Assistant Trip Leader may handle up to 10 participants. The Trip Leader may lower the leader/participant ratio at his/her/their discretion.
- Trip Leaders shall ensure that all trips are posted on Sebago’s calendar. (Note: All open paddles and a number of member paddles are posted at the season’s inception.)
- The Trip Leader shall have the ultimate authority over all major decisions including but not limited to: go or not go; accept any participant; select an assistant; when & where to launch or land; etc.
- While each trip member is ultimately responsible for his/her/their own safety, the maintenance of the integrity of the group is very important for safety reasons. Failure to heed the instructions of the Trip Leader shall be considered a serious issue.
- If a trip will include guests, the Trip Leader should gather participants together; arrange for introductions; assign boats; adjust equipment; describe basic strokes; summarize the trip plan; describe signals to be used; discuss what to do in the event of a capsize; and cover such other issues that may be necessary.
- The Trip Leader shall maintain Trip Rosters of all paddlers, including supporting Trip Leaders, and is responsible for ensuring that the Trip Rosters and all waivers have been executed and properly processed and maintained. The Trip Rosters shall be deposited in the Trip Leader Cabinet.
- Trip Leaders should have all appropriate safety equipment including extra paddle(s), bailer(s) tow rope, first aid kit, VHF radio. In Jamaica Bay channel 68 or 69 are frequently used on the VHF radios, but the channel to be used shall be the decision of the Trip Leader, within Coast Guard parameters.
Canoe Committee chair: John Thomas Canoing@SebagoCanoeClub.org
May 20, 2021