Disciplines
Juniors
What we do
Juniors is about having fun and making friends. We want young people to enjoy paddling in our beautiful harbour and to be asking to come back for more.
At the same time, they will develop a wide range of paddling techniques and skills, an appreciation of the environment in which they paddle and learn how to stay safe on the water. We use a variety of kayaks, paddle boards and canoes to keep sessions fresh and exciting.
Juniors start at the age of eight years old, and we encourage them to work towards recognised British Canoeing qualifications which may lead them to become the paddlers and coaches of the future.
During the summer we mostly paddle within the harbour at Lake Pier, or on the River Stour at Wimborne and during the winter we move to the indoor pool at Ferndown Leisure Centre.
Lake Pier - General Purpose
During the summer months, general purpose junior sessions are run from the clubhouse at Lake Pier, on a Tuesday evening 6.15pm to 8.45pm. These sessions use the full range of boats and SUPs, to make best use of the conditions on the night.
Riverside - Racing Kayaks
We have a core of enthusiastic juniors who paddle for fun to make new friends, learn new skills and improve their paddling fitness. We meet every Saturday Mid-Morning at Riverside Wimborne, to paddle on a sheltered section of the river Stour in light weight racing kayaks.
We encourage them to participate in events throughout the year, meeting up with juniors from other clubs, for sprint regattas and longer races for juniors.
Ferndown Leisure Centre
Winter sessions at Ferndown pool are held on a Wednesday evening from October to March. In the pool environment, the juniors can explore new skills and even learn to roll.
Who we are
The Juniors coaching team are comprised of experienced coaches and trip leaders as well as young adults that have come through the ranks. Some of the coaches are also mums and dads of our current junior members.
We adhere to strict water safety and safeguarding standards in line with British Canoeing guidance. All permanent coaches are DBS checked and the club has an independent safeguarding team to maintain our high standards.
How much does it cost
Membership is required to book sessions and for insurance purposes. Various family options are also available at different costs and there are reduced membership costs for BCP Access to Leisure & Learning members.
Summer sessions are blocks of ten consecutive weeks, starting in April. Normally there will be three blocks of ten during the summer months. There is a nominal charge for each block.
The price includes all equipment required to take part in the session, however some juniors prefer to buy their own wetsuits.
How can my child join?
Please email us or during the summer, come and have a chat on a Tuesday evening at Lake Pier to arrange a free taster session.
