Took a quick trip up to Bayfield, WI, launching spot for the Apostle Islands National Park, to participate in an American Canoe Association Instructors update.  I joined 37 other certified instructors in a two-day program which included a nice mix of technique and coaching method learning.  Under the techniqe umbrella, there is a new tool to use in teaching sweep strokes and an updated method for teaching braces.  I had seen the bracing method at our West Michigan Symposium last year, as it was developed by our guest speakers Leon and Shauna!  It impressed us then and now seems to be favored by many others as well.

As for coaching, it is surprising how much talking some of us do in relation to demonstrating!  I think our staff at Adventures does pay attention to this, but it's an important detail to keep in mind.  Listening vs. participating just doesn't work for many students!

The course was held at Living Adventures, the greatest outfitter for your Apostle Island trips!  Go see Gail and her wonderful team and explore one of the Mid-West's premeir sea kayaking destinations!

Bottom line, I was able to learn and share ideas with a large group of talented instructors from all over the region and brought it all back to share with you!  See you on the water! 

ps.  Many Thanks to fellow instructor Lara for her efforts in recovering my camera, which went to the bottom of Superior in about 15 FOW.  Thanks Thanks Thanks!

I was updating my list of weather sites and thought I'd share some of the less obvious ones.  The NOAA sites for wind and wave forecasts are pretty cool.  I use these to isolate when and where there might be good kayak surfing conditions but they would be useful to any level of kayaker in or around the Great Lakes.  If you've got a favorite weather site we'd love to have you share it.

General Conditions on Lake Michigan near Grand Haven:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/product.php?site=grr&product=nsh&issuedby=grr

NOAA Wave Forecasts for all five Great Lakes:

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=l&ext=wv&type=F&hr=01

NOAA Wind Forecasts for all five Great Lakes:

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=l&ext=wn&type=F&hr=00