YCCC...............Ottawa's Canoe Camping Club

Whitewater Program

The Whitewater Program offers river trips and training for members who wish to paddle in moving water and run rapids. Trips range in duration from a single evening to several weeks.

Club trips range in difficulty from gentle Class I / II rivers like the Mississippi, to roaring class III / IV rivers like the Ottawa. To ensure everybody's safety, whitewater trips are only open to club members who have qualified for the club's Whitewater List.

Club whitewater paddlers use the Whitewater List to seek paddling partners; whitewater trip leaders use it to identify members who have up-to-date whitewater skills.

Qualifying for the Whitewater List

You can qualify for the Whitewater List in a number of ways

• Successfully completed the YCCC's Paddle Canada Whitewater Introduction Tandem or Solo course and be assessed as competent on Class II whitewater by club instructors.
• Show proof of successful completion of a minimum of ORCKA Moving Water 1A (tandem) or 1B (solo) or Paddle Canada Intermediate Tandem or Solo at another organisation. This must have been achieved in the last three years and will be reviewed with you by the Whitewater Co-ordinator or another designated experienced club member. If you have passed Paddle Canada Whitewater Introduction Tandem or Solo at another organization, you will have to be assessed as competent on Class II whitewater by the Whitewater Co­ordinator.
• Be recommended to the Whitewater Co­ordinator by an experienced club member, or by a Paddle Canada or ORCKA Moving Water Instructor who has detailed knowledge of your skills and capabilities.
• Demonstrate you have the required skills on a "qualifying trip". This can provide an opportunity for members with some whitewater experience to demonstrate their abilities and gain admission to the whitewater list. Qualifying trips are to be organized with the Whitewater Co­ordinator, who will evaluate members' abilities or designate another experienced trip participant to do so.

River Trips

In order to ensure the safety of all participants, whitewater paddlers are required to be on the Whitewater list before they may go out on trips with the Club.. Once qualified you may sign up for advertised trips with the trip leaders. If you are having difficulty finding a trip please contact the Whitewater Co-ordinator who will help you make contact with trip leaders running trips that suit your skills and abilities.