Thanks to the efforts of our volunteer trip leaders, school directors and other helpers, we were able to continue boating program offerings in line with Columbus Outdoor Pursuits mission of providing safe, low-cost outdoor education and recreation.

• Boating class availability was stable
• Eskimo roll class was added
• Sea kayaks were purchased
• Sea kayak intro class offered and well attended
• Sea kayak rentals began to be popular
• Boating revenue was stable
• Leader training availability increased
• Equipment investment continued

Local functions were well attended. Winter pool sessions were held at the Greenhouse Aquatic Center. Despite some access and acoustic issues, this pool was a good site for practice and schools. Pool session fees stayed at $5 for members and $7 for non-members. The Alum Creek Beach sessions continued to be popular. It remains to be seen whether my concept of rotating the session day weekly was popular. The Wednesday Night Paddle sessions were increasingly popular. Several WNP had two dozen attendees. The large numbers of paddlers attending WNP may change the way we operate these trips. We had some late-season incursions with Columbus waterway rangers when paddlers were out after dark. It is hopeful that recommendations I made to Columbus waterway legislation for allowing paddling until 11 p.m. will be codified. Failing codification, we will need to apply for permits to allow early and late season WNP functions to continue after dark. We may explore offering "Sunrise Sunday" or similar paddles to spread out WNP participant load and timeframe pressures and make local paddling available to members who can't make evening sessions.

Mark Steinmetz still maintains the boating library and has been adding video and text titles. Bill Minot ran this years COP whitewater filmfest in March which was well attended.

This year's classes were well attended. Canoe I attendance was up, which is attributable to Jon Blake's capable instruction and better advance notice. Kayak I class rosters were full. Larry Krall and Dan Downes led these classes. Sharon Hsu's Kayak II attendance was slightly lower than usual. Her Kayak III was cancelled as a formal class and turned into a class III trip due to low enrollment.

Mark Steinmetz and Jeff Gentry each ran an Eskimo roll class at the Greenhouse pool. They put together a nice instructional format and had full rosters. Eileen Troutman's Canoe II was well attended. We put together an introductory sea kayak class and 10 students.

A variety of trips was offered. Guy Sheaffer ran Red, White and Boom fundraiser with a net of $720. John Markiel's WNP had higher attendance than in 2000. Jon Blake ran the Mad often. Jeff Haven hosted a couple bike/paddle trips on the Shenandoah. Several leaders ran trips on the Upper New. Eric Gehres and Mark Steinmetz linked up to run the Cheat Dry Fork, Little Sandy and Big Sandy. Dave Seslar continued to lead intermediate whitewater development trips as well as the Pennsylvania icebreaker. We had trips on Mill Creek, the Kokosing River, the Olentangy, Rocky Fork/Paint Creek and the Big Darby. Lower New and Lower Youghiogheny trips were held with both hard boats and inflatables.

At least one Upper New trip was cancelled due to low interest. A couple raft trips ran with fewer than expected numbers. Our trips are affected greatly by people who decide to cancel or go on a trip at the last minute. Floods in West Virginia this summer led to canceling FWWWE due to high water.

Thanks to Ann Gerckens and Kim Sacksteder, we had a half dozen folks attend COP leader training and American Red Cross standard first aid and adult CPR classes. We also sent nine COP boaters to the weekend swiftwater rescue training offered by ODNR. Barbie Demmy and Chris Stover along with Ann Gerckens, offered raft leader training and ran rafting trips as well

The 2000 revenue produced a whopping $8,387 net. Given the ups and downs in expenditures, this gave the boating program a $4,867 positive balance over the last 25 years. 2001 figures aren't available yet but it looks like a break-even year. This includes a large expenditure for sea kayaks and related accessories and a $1,000 loss for the cancelled FWWWE. Some of the 2001 expenditure for sea kayaks will be rolled over into 2002 for accounting purposes.

2002 purchases will include tandem canoes to replace our aging Blue Hole whitewater fleet and some needed kayak accessories. We may purchase two sea kayaks to increase the availability of solo boats for classes and rentals.

The Yough Stop roof will need to be replaced in the near future. Paul McPherson will be investigating this. Kevin Gagnon built several new canoe racks at Tom Pace's. Kevin also organized the construction of a kayak storage facility at Tony Sasson's. The facility is very nice. We owe Tony, Kevin and the helpers thanks for this! Jon Blake mentioned the possibility of building a small shed attached to his garage for storing newly purchased plastic canoes. Paul McPherson donated a camcorder. The inflatables will need some work before the 2002 season begins. Barbie Demmy is in charge of this.

Several boating instructors helped a Boy Scout troop prepare for a sea kayak trip last May with wet exit and general instruction. Jeff Haven led two kayak intro sessions for school age children at an aquatics camp at the Dublin recreation center pool this summer. Each fall, an outdoor roundup is held at Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park . Jim Shaffer has organized a kayak demonstration in the past but last fall's event was cancelled due to high water. Eileen Troutman volunteered to teach canoeing to Ohio Turkey Federation members at their women's outdoor retreat.

Given the depth and breadth of boating experience in Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, we have the capacity to provide education and training to various groups. A challenge exists in that it is sometimes difficult to find enough helpers with schools and other functions. The occasional requests for volunteer help from outside agencies often go unmet because of a lack of volunteers. My recent stint on the Columbus Waterways Advisory Council has led to increased requests for assistance.

Rental rates continue to be $10 for whitewater kayaks, duckies, raft seats and aluminum canoes. New rates will be set for plastic tandem canoes when they are purchased. Sea kayak rental rates are $25 per day, $45 per weekend and $15 for WNP. Kayak rentals are available by contacting Sharon Hsu and Dave Seslar. All other rentals contact John Lane. Right of rental refusal is retained if paddling skills are questionable or a safety risk is perceived.

2002 goals for the boating program include:

• Maintain positive budget
• Increase number of winter pool sessions (through March)
• Identify and train potential leaders
• Invest in equipment and leader training
• Increase or at least maintain trip diversity
• Explore WNP alternatives/strategies
• Increase sea kayak school/trip offerings
• Add additional pool school offerings (1 KI and 1 roll school)
• Continued involvement of boating council in decision-making

Respectfully submitted,

John Lane
Boating Activity Leader
614-486-4548
lane.30 (AT) osu.edu