To introduce youth aged 12 – 18 to the sport of whitewater kayaking in a safe and fun environment. This festival is held on the Cowichan River (Cowichan River Provincial Park), between Duncan and Lake Cowichan in BC.
Friday April 11th – Sunday April 13th 2025
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
Any youth aged 12 – 18 regardless of experience. We will be providing equipment and instruction for total beginners right up to advanced whitewater paddlers.
Volunteers & NCCP certified instructors make this festival possible.
SCHEDULE
Note that the times in Blue bold are fixed, other times will vary as the day progresses.
Timings are subject to change.
Friday
4 PM – 6 PM Check in and set up at campsite – “Old” Stoltz Pool Group Campsite.
6:45 – 8:45 PM On water session #1 – Introductory safety in the pool – Cowichan Aquatic Centre, Duncan BC
Please arrive early to get equipment into the pool. Consider pre-washing kayaks before your travel.
9:15 PM Return to campsite
Saturday
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Group hot breakfast at campsite
9:30 AM Dressed and ready to paddle – group meet up at campsite
Participants should have a packed lunch ready. Groups will be created based on skill level, have instructors & volunteers assigned, and select river sections for morning and afternoon paddling.
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM On water session #2 – various river runs
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Riverside Lunch – times flexible based on river sections
2:00 PM – 4:30 PM On water session #3 – various river runs
6:00 PM Dinner at group campsite
Evening social program around campfire
Sunday
7:30 – 8:30 am Group hot breakfast at campsite
9:00 AM Dressed and ready to paddle – meet your instructor and group at pre-arranged location with all equipment and ready to go.
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM On water session #4
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch – timing flexible
1:15 PM– 3:00 PM On water session #5 – everyone at Skutz Falls Bridge
3:00 PM – Awards, acknowledgements, thank-yous and farewells in parking area near Skutz Falls Bridge.
3:30 PM Return to campsite: clean-up, checkout and departures.
REGISTRATION
Cost of the festival is $100 per youth for CKBC members, $110 for non-members. Youth who are part of ROAMS, Brentwood, & Shawnigan Lake programs have their fees paid by the school.
VIWPS will cover fees for NCCP certified instructors and volunteers in appreciation of their efforts. All must be at least SafeSport level 1 rated and no exceptions can be made. See this guide on how to complete the screening. For general information see VIWP’s SafeSport Page.
If you plan to camp with your child but not paddle yourself, please register so that the organizers will be aware of your attendance.
Fees includes: instruction, camping fees, pool fees, breakfast and dinner Saturday, breakfast Sunday, transportation to/from on water sessions.
Registration is capped at 80 participants and is on a first-come first-served basis.
Please register online at: VIWPS CRYK Registration – https://www.rampregistrations.com/public/participantregpage?v3=2ce0f345&pgname=CRYKF2025
OTHER DETAILS ….
Campsite
For previous festival attendees, please note that some changes will be in place for 2025, notably the festival camping location is the old group campsite at Stoltz Pool. Note that most of the online information for the group campsite is the old site, and not the new site which the festival camped at in 2024.
Note that there is no reliable cell phone coverage in most of the Cowichan River area.
Past festivals have seen a wide variety of weather conditions, bring clothing for the forecast.
River Runs
Descriptions of the river runs can be found here on paddlingmaps.com.
Paddling occurs on the Duck Pond to Little Beach, Little Beach to Spring Pool, Stoltz Pool to Sandy Pool, Sandy Pool to Vimy (Heritage Rd) and Marie Canyon sections.
Directions
OpenStreet Map or Google Map or BC Park Map (links to the Cowichan area)
Cowichan Aquatic Centre is just off Highway One in Duncan; click here for directions.
Each youth will need
Bag lunch for each day
Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, pillow, ect)
Warm outdoor clothing for evening camping
Swim suit and towel for the pool
Whitewater kayak equipped with float bags, spraydeck, pfd, helmet, paddle
If you do not have kayak equipment, contact Dan NOW to arrange for gear.
Adequate clothing for kayaking:
- Wetsuits are recommended
- Lots of layers of non-cotton clothing
- Waterproof outer layer (rain coat or paddle jacket)
- Warm footwear that will stay on feet in moving water (wetsuit boots, runners with wool socks, etc)
QUESTIONS?
Event Organizer: Dan Norman, dan.norman@brentwood.bc.ca, 778 678 0892