COURSE INFORMATION:

Kent Canoe Services is a B.C.U. Approved Canoe School and is headed by Grant Scamell who has over twenty five years canoeing experience, has been ranked in Division One for slalom competition, and is a current Level 5 B.C.U. Coach. We have over the years, won a very high reputation for coaching of the highest quality. To ensure we maintain our high standards it is our policy to only use Instructors who have gained their BCU qualifications through our Canoe School, and whom we feel are a credit to the Coaching Scheme. Our Instructors are all required to have a current first aid. Our aim is to provide coaching in canoeing skills to a very high standard and provide our customers with courses that will ensure they progress both quickly and safely in the sport. To this end we always work to a maximum ratio of 1:6 on Star Awards and 1:4 on Coaching awards. We also never mix different levels of courses so you can be sure that when you book a course with us, not only are you getting the best instruction available, but you are also getting great value for money as well.

A one day course leading to the BCU One Star Award. This course is designed for complete beginners, and covers all the basic techniques to safety manoeuvre a canoe on flat water. The BCU One Star Award may be taken at the end of the day.

BCU Two Star Course:      Click here for our article on the BCU Two Star Award

The Two Star course is designed for those who have some canoeing experience, and covers more advanced paddling techniques such as sculling supports and Eskimo rescues. The BCU Two Star Award may be taken at the end of the day at the discretion of our Instructor, or the day can be treated purely as a training day with the assessment being taken on another date. (Please refer to our programme). Should you wish to take the award you will need to provide evidence of at least one journey of 6 km.

BCU Three Star Award:    Click here for our article on the BCU Three Star Award

The Three Star course is available to those paddlers who are above Two Star standard and are competent canoeists. The aim of the course is to refine your paddling techniques to a level where you would be at the required standard to become a BCU Trainee Instructor. The BCU Three Star Award may be taken at the end of the day at the discretion of our Senior Instructor, or the day can be treated purely as a training day with the assessment being taken on another date. (Please refer to our programme). Should you wish to take the award you will need to provide evidence of at least three journeys of 10 km.

BCU Four Star Award:  Click here for our article on the BCU Four Star Award

This course caters for those paddlers who wish to progress onto white water canoeing and covers the techniques required to safely negotiate grade 2 white water. The BCU Four Star Award may be taken at the end of the day at the discretion of our Senior Instructor, and provided evidence is shown of journeying as outlined in the BCU syllabus, or the day can be treated purely as a training day with the assessment being taken on another date. (Please refer to our programme).

Canoe Safety Test:

This course covers both "prevention and cure". It covers the skills required to allow you to go canoeing safely, and the rescue skills needed to help should any incident arise.

Coaching Awards:

We also run a range of BCU Coaching courses ranging from Instructor Training to Senior Instructor Assessment. Please let us know if you would like further details on these courses.