Kayak And Canoe Club Of New York 2008 Trip Participant Procedures

Thank you for joining one of our trips. This summary of our procedures is intended as a guide to help you and the others with you enjoy the event.

Read and familiarize yourself with the ACA risk management requirements for Paddle America Clubs and ACA affiliates. A copy may be found here. These procedures must be followed on all trips and events.

All participants must read and sign the ACA waiver and release of liability before the event begins. One waiver per year is required for members. Trip coordinators will be furnished with a list of those members who have previously signed waivers. Waivers for minors must be signed by a parent or guardian. Adult and child waiver forms may be found at the KCCNY website here and on the ACA website here and here.

In general, unless otherwise noted in the trip description, there are no KCCNY paddling fees for our trips. There is a $5 ACA event fee for any non-ACA member, which is to be collected at the start of the trip with the waivers.

If you have not signed a waiver and paid the $5 event fee, if applicable, then you are not a participant in KCCNY’s trip or event. If you choose to paddle the river on your own then you do so at your own risk.

We do not post the time or meeting place of trips on our website, because we want potential participants to contact the trip coordinator in advance and discuss their qualifications and abilities and preparedness for the conditions expected to be encountered. Participants are responsible for discussing the trip candidly with the trip coordinator or other experienced paddlers in order to make a determination as to whether the trip or event, at the expected water levels and weather conditions, is appropriate for them.

KCCNY club trips are characterized by all the paddlers contributing what knowledge and experience they possess towards the group’s fun and safety on the river. A trip coordinator is merely a club member who has volunteered to arrange the meeting of interested members to paddle at a particular place and time. While coordinators often have specific knowledge of the river in question, this is not part of their responsibility. Once on the river, coordinators have no burdens as guide or trip leader.

Any participant that the coordinator feels is not suited for the trip shall not be permitted to participate. This may include, but is not limited to, assessment of skill level, appropriate clothing and equipment and its condition, and suspected use of alcohol or illegal drugs. Any paddler whose conduct is, in the opinion of the trip coordinator, potentially hazardous to him or herself or to the group will be asked to leave the group.

The trip coordinator has the authority to adjust the specifics of the trip, including the river (and the section of the river) to be paddled, to account for conditions existing at the time of the event, such as weather, water levels, or the specific make up of the group ( i.e. number of paddlers, ability levels, etc.). Any changes are to be noted on the trip report filed with the ACA.

Revised April 23, 2008