Fall Creek Falls is one of 12 state parks to partner with the American Canoe Association (ACA) in a low-cost kayak instruction program.
Saturday’s program will be offered as part of National Boating Safety Week. ACA Tennessee State Director Andrea White:
“Well we know there has been a surge of folks who come to the rivers to start paddling and that’s amazing, that’s awesome,” White said. “But unfortunately, that has also led to an increase of fatalities on the rivers. And a vast majority of those are easily preventable.”
ACA Instructor Samantha Satterfield said the program is for newcomers and veteran kayakers alike. She said that participants can expect to learn anything from how to tow a boat to selecting a lifejacket to how to flip your kayak back over.
“I always compare it to you go to school, you go to college and you obtain a Bachelor’s in something and then you go on to get a MAster’s or a Ph.D. and so on, and I believe you should never stop trying to learn,” Satterfield said. “And I believe courses like this, even if you’ve been a veteran paddler your whole life, you still have things you can be exposed to and learn from other people and other areas of expertise that can help you build on the foundation you already have. ”
White said that the course will cost $15 and that there are 15 slots available. She said that all funds will go back to helping the parks. Satterfield said that she also plans on partnering up with the City of Sparta and Fall Creek Falls to host more courses throughout the season.
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