Paddle Chat is back. These paddle chats came about during lockdown 1. They were initially ‘masterclasses’ for the participants that signed up for the BC guide modules WithDave deliver online. Once the modules were finished the participants asked if the evenings could continue and they developed into the Paddlechat sessions run by peers for peers with us facilitating them. There is often a ‘beer’ or two involved and during the lockdown period we all enjoyed an opportunity to catch up. The paddle chats were mostly recorded and they are both available and watch now. You can find them here.
Each Paddle chat starts at 19.30, they are free and if you want we can provide you with a certificate of attendance so you can request BC for CPD points. The chats are very informal and you will have the opportunity to ask questions of the presenter. The chats are hosted by one of the WithDave team. Links will be put on this page the day of each paddle chat.
5th December 2023 19.30
TBC
To Follow
12th December 2023 19.30
Lewis Stockwell
“How’s the water this morning?” – Canoe journeys as a way to better connect us to learning through the senses and about environment.
Lewis is an experienced principal lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire where he runs the MSc Outdoor Environmental Education programmes. He’s a recently qualified paddlesport touring leader and current PhD student at Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh.
His PhD is in canoeing… well aesthetic philosophy and canoe journeying to be a little more precise. His thesis and his down-to-earth talk will get you thinking about how attending to different types of sensory and aesthetic engagement with the environment can deeply influence the way paddlers, leaders and/or educators frame and practice canoe journeys.
Central to the thesis and this talk is the task of surfacing of hidden narratives and voices that we use when paddling and attending to the environment. The phrase “I paddle with dead people” is a bit unfair, yet the talk will get us to think about the various influences – including writers and philosophers who are no longer alive – have a significant affect on what we notice, what we aim for, and how we practice canoe journeying.
Lewis will share snippets of the creative canoe journeying narratives developed as part of the thesis and create space for all in attendance to explore their own framings for canoe journeying. This talk may help you think about how canoe journeys can be a rich site for learning through the senses for paddlers, leaders and coaches alike.
19th December 2023 19.30
Ray Goodwin
Growing Old Reluctantly
To Follow
2nd January 2024 19.30
TBC
To Follow
9th January 2024 19.30
Joe Rogan
Toxic Tourism – Is guiding in danger of damaging the very thing it promotes?
Since Covid Lockdown, more people are seeking out opportunities to escape their 9 to 5 lives and adventure into the wild, facilitated by Guides and Leaders.
Are we doing everything we can to educate and guide those in the sport to be ecologically aware? Can we do more as guides to limit the damage to environments, protect species habitats and manage the impact of our presence in the places we visit? This talk aims to explore what is possible and reasonable to protect the environment we all love.
Joe Rogan is a coach and guide based in Northern Ireland. His passion lies in guiding clients in Ireland and Scotland promoting sustainable practices in expedition kayaking.
16th January 2024 19.30
Simon Waller
Is what you believe affecting your paddling?
Simon is an experienced leadership provider, guide and coach educator. Currently studying a Dprof in Elite Performance, his academic interests lie in how Stress Mindset affects performances in recreational paddlesport.
Simon is at his happiest on expedition, giving him time to explore the world and new ideas. This talk is an insight into how your beliefs and preconceptions surrounding stress may influence your performance before you even leave your bed!
Could changing your beliefs ultimately enhance your performance and make you a better paddler? Come along and find out!
23rd January 2024 19.30
Richard Moses
To Follow
30th January 2024 19.30
TBC
To Follow