WISSAHICKON >> As one of the oldest canoe clubs in the nation, the Philadelphia Canoe Club has been consistently operating out of its 4900 Ridge Ave. location since it was formed in 1905.
The Philadelphia Canoe Club is a group for canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts, as well as novices who are interested in learning the sport. The club offers kayak, canoe and stand-up paddle board (SUP) lessons taught by instructors certified through the American Canoe Association.
The clubhouse, located on the bank of the confluence of the Wissahickon Creek and the Schuylkill River, dates back to the late 1600s and was originally a mill. After the Civil War, the building was no longer used as a mill and became the park ranger headquarters for Fairmount Park and then the Schyllkill Fishing Co. clubhouse before eventually becoming the clubhouse for the canoe club.
For more than a century, the canoe club has made use of the space, which maintains a lot of its original character and features a variety of boats – some of which are antiques – hanging in the building’s interior.
Summer courses begin in May, with a two-day intro to flatwater canoe course, as well as a novice whitewater training course, which entails one classroom session, four days on the water and a Pocono camping trip.
Classes focus on both building skills and confidence, but there is also a major emphasis on safety and awareness, said Looie Voorhees, instructor and training director for the club.
Classes are open to anyone over the age of 12, and participants do not need to have any prior experience. However, Philadelphia Canoe Club does offer some intermediate and advanced courses for those who have already mastered some more basic skills. The level of difficulty of the classes relates to river classification, and they will help students build the necessary skills for paddling up to class three water.
To accommodate beginners, the club owns all of the necessary equipment for students, including flat water and whitewater canoes, paddle boards, kayaks, paddles, helmets and more .
“People can come and not feel pressure to buy things,” said Beth Fast, whitewater kayaking instructor for the club. “Once you get into it, you want to buy your own stuff.”
However, the classes offered by the club give people the opportunity to figure out if they really like the sport, without having to invest in their own equipment, said Fast.
The club is a nonprofit, which allows it to keep its prices modest. Prices start at $40 for one-day intro classes for adults.
“All of the instructors are volunteer, or else it wouldn’t work. That’s what makes it possible,” said Voorhees.
Proceeds from enrollment fees help cover the cost of equipment, as well as training and certification costs for the instructors.
Those who participate in a course are encouraged to continue to practice what they’ve learned, and the club is open one night per week for those who want to do so. While the club has about 250 members, you do not need to be a member to participate in activities, like meetings, classes, events and trips.
Fast and Voorhees emphasized that the club’s mission is to encourage people to try something new and to focus on learning safety basics.
“It’s important to us that people try the sport,” Fast said. “Our mission is to engage people in all types to paddle sports.”
According to Fast, many people begin the sport without ever having taken a lesson. That might be OK until there is a problem, she said. Just having basic safety training can help when challenges arise. One of the first things taught in the intro classes is what to do if your boat flips over, said Fast.
“It’s just a really supportive atmosphere. Boating is not a solo sport. You progress at your own rate, but you have to be with a group for safety reasons,” said Fast.
The club will have an open house on Sunday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone interested in learning more about classes. In addition, the club hosts a general meeting on the third Monday of each month for anyone to attend.
For more information about the club and about the classes offered, visit philacanoe.org.
