What is Canoe U?
Canoe U is our spring collection of whitewater Kayak and Canoe courses. Courses this year meet one weekend in May and a second weekend in June. See Course Descriptions Page for individual course dates. To register, download a form and mail it in.

Who is Canoe U for?
Anyone interested in learning how to handle a canoe or kayak on whitewater. We offer courses for people who have never paddled a boat and courses for paddlers who would like to tune up their skills. Previous whitewater experience is not a prerequisite to enroll in a Rapids Riders fundamentals class; however, comfort on and in the water is a plus.

People can learn whitewater boating at any age! However, courses are geared toward adults. Students under 18 will be accepted when partnered with a parent or guardian, or at the instructor's discretion.

Time Commitment?
Plan on full days. Classes vary from 6 to 40 hours in length. Most of your time will be on-water. Classes build skills progressively, so plan to participate in all instruction days. Several classes require two full weekends of your time.

Who teaches the classes?
Each course is lead by at least one instructor who has been certified by the American Canoe Association. Instructors also have training in CPR and First Aid. They are also people who love to paddle! Instructors are volunteers and don't get paid to teach.

Introductory Classroom/Pool Session - Date To Be Announced
For the classes that include this four-hour session you will go over a few whitewater fundamentals in a class room situation before spending a little boat time in the pool. This session is held at the Brooklyn Center Community Center. When the date is determined this page will be updated and it will be posted on the Rapids Riders Events page. Our best guess for the date is Sunday May 3.

Canoe U Weekend - May 22 & 23 Location for this weekend to be announced shortly. Food will be provided from Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch.

Graduation Weekend - June 5 & 6 Last year we stayed at Robinson Park, on the Kettle River in Sandstone, MN.Check back here to for updated information at the actual date nears. Robinson Park is a tent camping only situation. You are responsible for your own meals, with the exception of dinner on Saturday night.

Canoe
Whitewater Fundamentals - If you want to learn how to paddle a solo or tandem whitewater canoe, this is the course for you. You progress from a warm pool on the first night, to a lake, to moving water, and graduate on Class II whitewater.

Canoe Tripping - The focus of this class is preparing yourself for canoe trips on lakes and rivers up to Class I.

Canoe Tandem Refresher -
The two-day tandem canoe refresher course provides two fun-filled days to work on improving stoke effectiveness and making successful ferries, peel outs, eddy turns and S-turns on moderately challenging whitewater. The course will help build your competency and confidence for the coming season.

Kayak
Whitewater Fundamentals - This is our keystone whitewater kayak course. You progress from a warm pool on the first night, to a lake, to moving water, and graduate on Class II whitewater. This is not just for people who have never paddled before. If you are a self-taught paddler, this course will give you a solid foundation in paddling skills and concepts.

Whitewater Refresher & Whitewater Continuum
The Refresher and subsequent Continuum courses are for paddlers who have taken paddling instruction and paddled whitewater several times in the past year. You should feel comfortable on Class II water.

What if I need a boat or gear?
If you don't have a boat, we will provide you a discounted rental rate from Midwest Mountaineering. If you don't find what you need, don't worry we will do our best to find you a boat. You will need to supply your own PFD, helmet and clothing.