route Choice: This is wholly dependent on the temperament of the toddlers. Start with short day trips, then lengthen them accord- ingly, but don’t be afraid to think big. I took my two- and three-year-old kids on a 450-kilometre trip on Ontario’s Albany River. During those two weeks, plenty of gorp breaks and beach stops kept the kids happy, even on some 50-kilometre days.
diapers: I generally despise disposables, but admit they are a godsend on canoe trips. You’ll need a barrel lined with garbage bags for either soiled disposables or dirty cloth diapers. The key is a liberal sprinkling of baking soda to keep the smell down and bears away.
toys: Make room in the canoe for another small barrel full of toys, games and stuffed animals. Having these diversions readily available is essen- tial. Kids drop stuff overboard constantly, so you may want to tether in any “on-the-move” play toys, or risk perfecting your pivoting strokes.
tents: A larger tent is a must. It’s a great play-place for toddlers and kids and will be well worth the extra effort it takes to pack it and carry it around when the bugs or weather are bad. A “family-bed” of sheets and throw blankets works best when toddlers need the security of their parents. Introduce toddlers to their own sleeping bags, and eventually an adjoining tent when they are ready, but if you rush it you’ll find they would rather stay home.
Bugs: Some might say I was cruel, but when my kids were toddlers I let them get bitten a little just to strengthen their immune systems. Today, black flies and mosquitoes don’t bother them, at least not enough to ruin an outing. That being said, some measures are sensible. I used to set up a light mesh tent at the end of portages where my wife and ba- bies could escape to while I carried over the gear. Sheets of loose bug netting can be draped over kid-carriers, and bug jackets are essential once they are a few years old. Don’t slather your kids with caustic repel- lent! A light dab of Tiger Balm, orange rind or citronella on the exposed backsides of their hands works well.
safety: Your job is to plan well and remain calm if things get tense; your kids will pick up on neurotic behaviour and it may sour the next trip. As usual, safety comes down to attentiveness and common sense—don’t tether your kids to the canoe thwarts! There are excellent baby and toddler PFDs on the market. Make sure they wear them at all times, even around the campsite.
Invest some energy in making sure your kids travel in comfort and security when they are young and by the time they are seven or eight they will carry their own packs, paddle with efficiency and be full partners in your outdoor pursuits. » HAP WILSON
Kootenay Paddling Store
S P E C I A L I Z E D
Hobie • Sailboats Standup Paddle Boards Kayaks • Canoes Paddling Accessories
N E L S O N B . C .
www.hellmancanoes.com 1-866-991-7975
KOOTENAY 16´6˝
» liteweight Duralite 55lbs/24kg » tougher than kevlar » stable » affordable $1800.00 Cdn
NAYA WATER GEAR Baby PFD
Parents will like the Naya Baby PFD because its mesh harness keeps toddlers as small as nine pounds precisely in place and its two flotation panels work together to flip swimmers over onto their backs and cradle the head facing skyward. Toddlers will appreciate how the wide chest panel makes paddling difficult, giving them an excuse to get free rides, at least until they are 25 pounds.
$59 •
www.nayawatergear.com www.canoerootsmag.com 21
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48