Not all of my canoe trips are extreme in distance or physical endurance. I believe in building a heritage, and that gift begins decades before my deathbed. It begins with children, when they are small.
For some a heritage is not important. My grandparents left a legacy (sometimes infamy) that formed me as a child. I had their favor; I knew who I was in them and in the world. My grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my cousins and siblings, my parents and friends had a part of forming who I am now.
Like it or not hard times come to us all. It rains on the just and the unjust. The good experiences we have as children and adolescents sustain us through those difficult years as adults. Healthy people draw their identities from achievements and from good times. Though the thought is likely counter to public consent, I consider self respect and a knowledge of oneself some of the fundamental blocks to a successful life. I want my children to be successful people, what ever that looks like for them.
So among other things, I take my children canoeing. Young children can canoe with you too. There are some things that will help them to be successful. I will add that I have never accidentally tipped a canoe, these things do not require a degree to work.
There are a couple things to consider when taking children. Rather than give things a value, I am making everything priority...(hey, oilfield mentality does carry over...kind of. (In my previous career, I would sit through a production meeting where every bullet point was the #1 priority. After 45 minuets of one way diction my comrades would walk outside and say, "So basically we work 80 hours a week until they tell us to go home." Then we laughed and went back to work.)
Of course the seasoning of grace works best with families... And everything being #1 here is meant in fun. Canoeing can be fun and life giving. So...
1) Safety first.
Life jackets are a must. In Texas people eighteen and under must wear life jackets by law.
If your children are light complected use sunscreen.
Small children need to sit flat on the bottom of the canoe. This keeps the canoe center of gravity low and helps the canoe to be more stable.
1) Keep the trip simple and short.
It is OK if the trip only is 30 - 45 minuets long. Even if you sometimes make longer trips its good to shuffle in some short trips. Children have short attention spans. The big goals are
a) together time
b) working together. With small children this basically means learning to be familiar with canoes, water, life jackets, balancing a canoe...that's a lot right there!
c) ...and parents being able to stretch their children in healthy ways while knowing when it is time to turn around.
1) I have learned the importance of food.
When their is a launch that allows a pick nick and a playground take that opportunity! Remember the big part of a kid's day will probably be the hot dog, popsicle, or playground, not the canoe ride. It's ok. The canoe will be what they ride into adulthood, not the jungle gym.
A chilled watermelon is a no brainer on a warm summer day. What kid doesn't like watermelon? Almost any reasonable stress is obliterated by a fun, tasty meal.
1) After a short trip or two, you can take a longer trip.
By long I mean an hour and a half of paddle time. It helps if the children can get out and play. In urban Houston settings there are numerous playgrounds to explore. Usually these come at the end of a trip due to launch sites and the terrain. Frequently these parks are equipped with grills and tables for pic nicks. That is a nice advantage and opportunity. Seize that moment!
Sandbars are naturally wondrous places. Some interesting things that can be found are mussel shells (freshwater clams), animal tracks, driftwood, petrified wood, river rocks and lots of other things. Here I remember a quote from General Colin Powell, "...don't step on enthusiasm."
1) Patience and Grace make things better.
I do not always have these things in abundance, so sometimes I need it for myself too. Mistakes will happen, learn from them without polarizing yourself or other family. That's what I am working on as a father. We could all go to group therapy and learn about the theories, but certain family activities bring the concepts to a tactile level of reality.
1) Take pictures.
My children enjoy pictures after an event. I don't usually ask for a pose, but sometimes when they are having fun I do, to capture their spirit for later viewing. Remind them were they have been, what they have seen.
1) Let them be part of the team!
I encourage the children to paddle every chance I get. They sometimes complain, but when they help paddle they push the canoe faster than Dottie and I can ourselves. Every little bit helps, and it builds their sense of pride. When I can I let them pick a course, or let them decide to paddle to a scenic place. I might ask if they want to get close to a bird, or to see an outcropping. "Do you want to get out on this sandbar?" is never a bad question. If the water is calm I usually let them swim.
1) One last #1. Have fun.
quote from General Powell, My American Journey, page 195.
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