There are two routes into the club:
If you have enough paddling experience and your own kit you can normally join straight away.
We ask all experienced paddlers to come down and do a short assessment so that we can assess your ability and ensure you get the best out of the club.
You would normally need to be at the equivalent of the BCU 2 star standard to enter by this route.
If you need to borrow club kit, there may be a short wait, particularly in the winter where boat availability at the pool is limited.
For those new to kayaking we offer a beginners course. This introduces you to basic techniques and gets you started as a club member. We have a limit on the number of people we can accommodate on our beginners course, so there will be a wait depending on the numbers on the waiting list and when you apply to join.
The waiting list for the beginners course is managed in date order of those who have completed the membership application form.
We will be in touch with you as soon as a space becomes available
York Canoe Club encourages people of all ages to participate in paddlesport, however we do not have a junior section, this limits our capacity to support junior paddlers.
Juniors must be capable of participating in an adult group or be fully supervised by the specified responsible adult - the supervising adult. This is to ensure the safety and welfare of all club members, and specifically the junior paddler.
Definitions
Applications for junior membership should be accompanied by an adult club membership (existing or proposed).
Applications on behalf of juniors under the age of 14 are unlikely to be successful. However, the committee may consider exceptions, for example, where the responsible adult is an active member of the club.
Assessment of suitability to join and participate in club activities will be made through discussion between the responsible adult and the committee.
Junior paddlers must be accompanied by their specified supervising adult on all club activities. The supervising adult must paddle or be bank based during Wednesday night club activities at the pool or on the Ouse. For club trips the supervising adult must accompany the junior on the river.
Junior progression
As the junior paddler gains experience and demonstrates maturity, competence and independence, the committee is able to review and amend the level of adult supervision required. Any variation to the above supervision must be agreed by the committee in advance of any activity.
For more information than we provide on this page please get in touch via the Contact Us page and we can advise you on the best route into the club. We can invite you down for a chat at our Wednesday club session. Please let us know if you are coming so we can make sure a member of the committee is available to talk to you.