Adventure Forever: Canoeing Practice by Brittany

Before we go to the Okefenokee, we all decided that we needed practice in canoes so that we didn’t find ourselves clueless in the swamp (or swimming with alligators). We were originally going to go canoeing at a local park, but then we realized that there were time restriction. So, Mrs. Susan and my mom found an alternative lake that allowed canoeing. The only bad thing was that is was an hour’s drive away. So, we sang the way there, practicing for Campfire Meadow Magic.
Once we were there, we unloaded the canoes, strapped up in life jackets, grabbed our paddles, and were ready for instructions from Mrs. Susan. The first thing she did was go over how we were supposed to paddle. Then she went over the different parts of the canoe. (This is where I got to use my sailing knowledge!) After that, she told us where to sit, how to move around in a canoe, and then paired us up. I was with Lizzy, Emma with Selina, Coumbah with Rosie, Katie with my mom, and Mrs. Susan alone in her little kayak.
Once we were partnered and ready, we took our assigned canoes and ventured off into the water. We paddled around, practiced following one another, and even wove through the sections in the bridge. My favorite part, however, was where we got cold and wet. After canoeing around the lake for a while, we brought the canoes back to shallow water and went for a dip in the water. We all just rested for a few minutes and floated around before learning how to overturn a capsized canoe. What we did was grab our canoes and purposefully fill them with water. Mrs. Susan then instructed us on how to turn the canoe upside down and lift is up to release the water on the inside. The tricky part, however, was turning it rightside up again without letting water back in. After trial and error, we all finally got it.
The canoe trip was a success, and we all learned something new. At the end of that long afternoon, we were all tired and wet, but there was no doubt that we all wanted to do it again.