The AMC NY-NoJ Chapter's canoeing and kayaking activities are planned and run by this group of dedicated volunteers. Each member has an area of responsibility. Every year some Canoe & Kayak Committee members complete their two year term and others are asked to replace them. The Committee plans the schedule, decides what equipment needs to be purchased and replaced, and generally is responsible for the administrative tasks necessary to maintain the Chapter's canoe and kayak program.
The Chapter's Canoeing newsletter is usually published bimonthly. It is automatically sent, free, to all members who have actively paddled during the past year. 
is the communication link between the Canoe & Kayak Committee, the paddling community, and the canoeing and kayaking members. It features paddling news, helpful hints, canoe schedule changes, advance schedule and canoe-related advertisements. Non-paddlers may purchase a subscription for $10.00 a year by sending their address and a check, payable to the AMC NY-NoJ CHAPTER Canoe & Kayak Committee, to the Canoe & Kayak Committee Chair.
The Club owns, and the Canoe & Kayak Committee administers, two canoe trailers and four fleets of boats, paddles, life jackets, first aid, safety and rescue equipment, and cooking and eating equipment for the members to use at a nominal cost.
The Yellow Fleet is kept on the yellow trailer and has 8 canoes, paddles, life jackets, and eating service for 30 people. The yellow trailer, which may be parked in New Jersey, also has 4 roof racks for cartopping the boats from the trailer.
The Green Fleet is considered the "whitewater" fleet and is kept on the green trailer which is normally parked at the barn. In this fleet are 7 ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, a vinyl plastic composite) canoes suitable for whitewater tandem paddling, paddles, life jackets and eating service for 24 people.
The Blue Fleet boats and equipment are stored in the barn and is considered the cartop fleet. It includes a variety of makes and styles of ABS boats that are excellent for solo or tandem whitewater paddling,
life jackets, paddles, safety equipment, and eating supplies for 24 people.
The Red Fleet boats are also kept in the barn. This fleet consists of the kayaks (K-1) and covered canoes (C-1, C-2), kayak paddles, spray skirts, helmets and throw bags and low-rise PFD's. These boats are reserved and assigned to specific individuals by the Equipment Coordinator. It is important that you take only the equipment assigned to you. Even though there may be no other kayakers on your trip, it could reserved by someone else for another trip. Do not assume you'll be able to "swap" equipment later.
The Yellow, Green and Blue fleets are assigned to a leader for a specific trip. Usually the Yellow Fleet is assigned for brown water trips, the Green Fleet for Class 1 and Class 2 Trips and the Blue Fleet for Class 3 trips. If you wish to use a specific boat, request it when you register.
The Club brings people together so that we can mutually support each other's paddling. Together we can enjoy paddling more extensively, economically and safely than by using commercial liveries. Volunteer leaders scout rivers, plan, organize and run the trips. Others teach paddling, plan meals, cook, write, pay bills, repair equipment, haul trailers, cartop canoes, etc.
Some of the money you pay for canoe and kayak trips is used to reimburse some of these volunteers who have greater out-of-pocket expenses. The volunteer trailer haulers are paid from the boat rentals to reimburse them for additional wear and tear on their vehicle, increased gasoline consumption, and additional tolls. There are never enough trailer haulers, and if you are willing to haul on a few trips a year, the Committee will reimburse you for the installation of a trailer hitch and the electrical connections.
On some trips, boats have to be cartopped by the people on the trip. If you volunteer to cartop a boat, for your use or someone else's, you will be paid a nominal fee. Trip leaders may be able to help make the cartopping arrangements.
From the information on the trip registrations, the leaders list on the dope sheet the names and phone numbers of those offering rides and the names (and #'s) of those needing rides. If you need a ride, it is up to you to contact the drivers offering rides and make the arrange ments. Traditionally, riders have paid $.05 a mile and everybody shares any tolls.
Riders should be aware that drivers are only offering transportation convenient to their location, and riders should be willing to meet the drivers at a location convenient for the drivers. Riders need to understand that they are passengers and must keep their personal gear to a minimum. On the other hand, drivers need to understand that passengers must be informed when it is necessary to change driving plans.
The Club offers training courses to help members develop paddling skills from the beginner level through expert whitewater paddling. We also have courses specifically for learning various safety and rescue techniques. Many of our instructors are American Canoe Association (ACA) Certified (Whitewater & Flatwater) Canoe and Kayak Instructors.
Some of our currently best whitewater paddlers were, just a few years ago, awkward and frightened novices. Some of our more aggressive paddlers have won gold medals in National and International competition. The formal part of our training program is offered through scheduled weekend courses; but on all trips, the more advanced paddlers - usually the trip leader, lead or sweep boats, and often others - are willing and competent instructors. If you ask for help, you'll get it.
Chapter members have been paddling and scouting the local, and not so local, rivers for many years. We usually know when to run or not to run specific rivers and the trips are scheduled accordingly.
Our leaders are familiar with the best access places to use and the ones to avoid, the good runs and the not-so-good runs. They know how to get you from the put-in to the take-out and back home again. However, please remember that our leaders are not infallible, and, even with careful planning, there is always the possibility of surprises.
Clearly, there is an element of danger when you put yourself in a new and unfamiliar environment like paddling a canoe or kayak, especially in whitewater. We can not guarantee your safety, but our trip leaders try to make the trips as safe and enjoyable as possible. Most of our canoe and kayak trip leaders have been trained to help you recognize and avoid unsafe paddling situations.
Our leaders will insist that you follow certain safety measures. As an example: Legally, you MUST have a United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved life jacket (Personal Flotation Device, [PFD]) in the boat and on AMC whitewater trips, WE REQUIRE THAT YOU WEAR IT.
If you are paddling a kayak or covered canoe, YOU MUST WEAR A HELMET! The Club has a good selection of helmets. Learn which size fits you and protect your dome. New covered canoe and kayak paddlers will be asked to demonstrate that they can safely "wet exit" from the boat.
We think that the best canoeing and kayaking safety device is a trained and skillful paddler, and this is what our instruction program is intended to produce. Much of our instruction is directed at helping you to develop paddling skills and to gain experience so that you are better able to control your boat to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
To become rated at Class 2, which many leaders are, paddlers MUST demonstrate their knowledge of safety and rescue skills and experience, as well as paddling expertise.
While our leaders and your companions are all willing to help you to the best of their ability, in the final analysis:
Last updated: January, 2000