Paddling in the Sioux Falls Area for People Without a Kayak

I recently became a volunteer with the Outdoor Campus, a South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks facility located in Sioux Falls, to work especially with paddling classes. My first assignment was to assist with a family paddling event that took place at Family Lake, west on 12^th Street near the intersection of 12^th Street and the Tea/Ellis Road.  The Outdoor Campus has about 16 single kayaks and a couple of tandem kayaks plus several canoes, and these craft were available for families to take out on the lake for nearly two hours of paddling.  Paddles and lifejackets were also provided by the Outdoor Campus.  This activity is free of any charge!

Some instruction was offered to those who were new to paddling, and I served as a safety coach out on the water to provide limited instruction, encouragement, and to be of assistance if needed.

This sort of activity is offered both for young people and for families on a regular basis.  One of the Outdoor Campus naturalists is in overall charge of these activities.  Although we were on Family Lake for this session, the paddling opportunities are more typically held at the large pond beyond the Outdoor Campus building at 4500 S. Oxbow Ave. in Sioux Falls.  There are sometimes river trips on the Big Sioux River as well.

I was quite impressed with this opportunity made available by the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks through the Outdoor Campus.  People have asked me how they might take their child kayaking or how they might try out the sport, even though they have no kayak.  I did not know about this service, but I want to pass along the information to those who would like to get out on the water but have no boat available.

So, if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you might give the Outdoor Campus people a call at 605-362-2777 or contact them through their web site at the following URL: http://gfp.sd.gov/outdoor-learning/outdoor-campus/east/contacts.aspx