HarborLAB is happy to offer free introductory kayaking lessons by our American Canoe Association certified instructors and kindly hosted by Variety Boys & Girls Club of Astoria. This is part of HarborLAB’s Instruction for Inclusion program to safely welcome underrepresented communities into NY Harbor’s maritime life and careers, marine biology, and to inspire STEM studies through boating adventures in nature.

We thank our volunteer instructors and coordinators, Steven Chu, Dee Dee Maucher, and Scott Wolpow, and instructor training by Prime Paddlesports.

Students must agree to participants in all four lessons. Those who are assessed as successfully mastering Level One paddling skills will be sponsored for an introductory American Canoe Association membership. To express interest, please email edu@harborlab.org with the subject “Paddling at Variety Boys and Girls Club.” Include your name, age, and a statement of why you wish to begin paddling (for example, to see more nature, get exercise, overcome fear of the water, explore the city, make new friends, etc.).

SCHEDULE

Open House on March 4! Come try the boats, meet the instructors and coordinators, and learn while playing.

The first cohort session will consist of four Sundays, from March 11 through April 4, with classes for ages 8-12 running 3PM-4PM and ages 13-adult from 430PM-6PM. Each class will be followed by unstructured fun time to practice new skills independently, though instructors at their discretion can extend teaching as needed.