Programs Walk-up kayaking. This is our original and most popular program. The only requirement is that you know how to swim. It runs at all of our locations on weekends and holidays from May 17th to October 19th, and on many weekday evenings. You can take one of our kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle inside the protected embayment in front of the boathouse. We give you a life jacket, a kayak, a paddle, and some tips on paddling. You will need to stay inside our protected embayment where we can keep an eye on you, but otherwise you are on your own to enjoy the river and the sunshine. Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off. Three Hour Trips. We run guided trips every weekend and holiday morning from June 14th 2008 to September 14th 2008 from our Pier 96 Clinton Cove (56th St.) location. The trips leave our protected enclosed area, and go out into the Hudson River and the lower harbor. The exact destination depends on the tides and the weather, but we usually go at least 4 or 5 miles. To go on the trip you must go out several times on our walk-up program, or have previous kayaking experience. We require this to build-up your strength and allow you to get familiar with the boats. The trips are three hours of constant paddling and require you to be physically fit. To go on the trip you must be at the boathouse before 8:00 AM and put your name on our sign-up sheet. We usually have more people than we have boats for the trips, so we run a lottery to decide who goes; in the peak of the summer you will have about a 50% chance of going. You must be at the boathouse before 8:00AM and sign up on the day of the trip. Unfortunately we cannot accept advance reservations of any type. If you come with a group of more than two people be aware that some of you will probably be selected, and some will not. When signing up for the lottery you can register for either a double (2-person) kayak, or a single (1-person) kayak, but not both. If you are a couple you should probably sign-up for a double (2-person) kayak to ensure that you both go. The odds are about the same for a double or single. If one of you is much stronger or more experienced than the other a double is probably a better choice. If you have your own kayak, you can generally join our trip. Please come down and talk to us in person about your skills, and your equipment and we will try to accommodate you on one of our trips. We do limit the number of people and have some restrictions on the types of boats that are suitable, for safety reasons. Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt, and light jacket if it's cool. You should eat a big breakfast before hand, and bring sunscreen and something to drink. In order to be fair, and get the trip out on time we are very strict on the 8:00 AM deadline; to be safe plan to be at the Boathouse by 7:45 AM. Introductory Kayak Classes. Every Wednesday evening we offer a short informational session on a wide variety of kayak-related topics. Most of these take place on the water, and cover some basic kayak related skill. Check the Calendar page for a list of sessions. Feel free to bring your own kayak, or you can use one of ours. The classes are run from our Pier 96 Clinton Cove (56th St.) locations. Almost all of the classes include an on-water component. Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off. Since Winter Pool Program. The Downtown Boathouse is offering introductory kayaking classes (i.e. paddling and maneuvering a kayak) in conjunction with the Aquatics Department at the Riverbank State Park swimming pool during the winter of 2007/2008. These introductory classes are an ideal way for people who are new to the sport to learn the basics of the kayaking during the off season. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE: All persons are welcome. No prior kayaking experience is required, but one must know how to swim. All children (i.e. persons under 18) must be accompanied by a legal guardian who must stay for the duration. REGISTRATION: All participants must register with Riverbank State Park before participating in the class. Go to the Park office and get an identification card (cost $9), which is needed for any class in the park. Then pay the class registration fee (cost $3). The registration process takes time, so please come an hour early the first time to allow enough time to complete the process and get changed in time for the start of the class. CLASS DATES/TIMES: Each class section runs on either a Saturday or a Sunday, for four weeks - with gaps for holidays. The first two sections started on Nov 3 & 4. Classes continue through till March of 2008. Each class starts promptly at 4PM, and runs for one and a half hours. For 2008 the 4 week sections start: January 5th and 6th, 2008 February 2nd and 3rd, 2008 March 1st and 2nd, 2008 Our pool program for 2008 will end on Sunday,March 23 In order to allow as many people as possible to take a class, please do not sign up for more than one section (i.e. month/day combination) at a time. Each class can take a maximum of 20 students. EQUIPMENT USED: The boats are whitewater kayaks. There are boats for almost all sizes. Lifejackets are supplied, and must be worn at all times. DIRECTIONS TO PARK: Riverbank State park runs from 138th to 145th street on Riverside Drive. The address is: Riverbank Sate Park 679 Riverside Drive New York, NY 10031 see the directions page for directions to the Park Park Office: 212-6949-3600 Pool Office: 212-694-3665 http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=75 WHAT TO BRING: Bring swimsuit, towel, padlock, park registration card, and your receipt for the class. T-shirts, cutoff jeans, and leotards, are not allowed.

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