KAYAKING & STAND-UP PADDLING

A totally different camp experience for grades 1-12

It's Fun, Safe, Easy and Good For Them!

Have a blast with Downunder’s Kayaking and Stand-up Paddle Board Summer Camps!  Downunder also offers after-school SUP and kayaking camps to get an early jump on summer!  

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"Why Are Paddle Sports So Good for Kids?"

Find out in this Channel 12 Education Segment where anchor woman Amelie Wilson interviews owner Kim Beaumont.



• it's fun, safe and healthy - it gets them outdoors and exercising without realizing it!  They're having so much fun, they don't realize the work they're putting in.  Parents love that they come home tired and satisfied.  All the kids wear lifejackets and are with experienced guides.  "They don't even need to know how to swim, they are so well looked after" Kim

• they LOVE it - making new friends, being challenged, exploring, learning new things, and they especially love the counsellors

• it's good for them - increases self esteem, balance, coordination, confidence, personal and social skills, increases their awareness of and respect for the environment

• engages both sides of their brain - any time your arms cross the midline of your body it engages both sides of the brain.  Given that we tend to use one side of our brain more, this is good for all of us, but particularly good for children with difficulty in reading and writing.  We teach kids to rotate when they're paddling - using their core muscles vs the small arm muscles, and this requires crossing the midline.

Why Downunder Kids Camps

Downunder has been leading kids programs since 2005.  Staff are first aid and CPR certified, and trained by the owner, Kim Beaumont, in all aspects of water safety and skills, as well as how to make the paddling/camp experience diverse and exceptional.  We work closely with Harborwatch to incorporate a marine environmental element, and raise marine stewards. 

All programs include daily snack and their own Downunder water bottle - that we'll refill daily.  We have a high staff to child ratio - safety is our number one priority, and all our staff are fully trained by watersports professionals.

WEEKLY KAYAKING/SUP CAMP

In Rowayton:  June 25th through August 31st

In Westport:  June 25th through September 7th

Kiwi           $295            6 - 8 yrs:               Rowayton      10-12pm

                                                                 Westport       1-3pm

Koala         $385           9-12 yrs:               Rowayton     1-4pm

                                                                Westport       9:30-12:30pm

Wallaby     $385          13-15 yrs:               Westport      1:30-4:30pm

WEEKLY SUP CAMP

Wombat     $295          10-12 yrs:               Westport     9-11am

(staff ratio 1 - 3, max 6 in class)

       Kangaroo   $325          13-15 yrs:               Westport     11:30-1:30pm    

       (staff ratio 1 - 3, max 6 in class)

Dingo         $420          15 yrs+:                 Westport     2-5pm

(staff ratio 1 - 4, max 8 in class) 

AFTER SCHOOL CAMP - 4-6pm daily

In Rowayton:  June 4th - 29th, no September program 

In Westport:   June 4th - 29th and September 3rd - 28th

• Kayaking & Intro to SUP:  ages 8-11 - $295
• SUP: ages 12+ - $325

SUMMER CAMPS FOR ALL AGES

At Downunder we raise responsible paddlers and marine stewards

All ages learn paddling skills through creative activities, presented in a way that’s appealing to the age group and skill level.  

So what do they learn?

• How to get on and off without capsizing - from a dock and beach
• Quickly stop
• Paddle straight, sideways, backwards, in a circle, and 360° in place
• Use the appropriate strokes for different conditions - wind, waves, currents
• Use a paddle as a rudder
• Capsizes and rescues - get back on your SUP/in your kayak , learn and practice towing
• “Rules of the Road”
• Safety
• Reading the weather and tides
• Trip Planning
• Features of kayaks and SUPs and associated equipment
• Environmental Footprint

We engage participants by weaving in and out of pilings, under bridges, around buoys and boats; by playing water games that increase balance, coordination, and confidence; through teamwork; and by practicing capsizes and rescues. 

Paddling begins on the protected waterways of the Five Mile River and the Saugatuck River – both flatwater destinations rich in wildlife, marine treasures, creeks, and crannies – under bridges, up to a dam, a fish ladder, and even a tidal waterfall (upriver in Rowayton at low tide, the water cascades a foot or so over rocks as it makes its way out to Long Island Sound – a beautiful sight for everyone).

Once they’ve got the skills down, we go a bit farther and visit creeks, coves, and islands for treasure hunts, comb beaches for shells, make our own maritime environments, go fishing, snorkeling, swimming, and enjoy the wildlife.

Not only is it good for you, we make it good for the environment.  The programs have a strong educational element that incorporates weather, tides, water quality, temperature, marine life, beach clean-ups, and flora and fauna identification.  We test the local water and visit Earthplace and Harborwatch to have samples analyzed, and have geo-caching treasure hunts.

DISCOUNTS

• 10% sibling discount

• 10% discount additional weeks

Scholarships available based on financial need

Camp Download Forms:

Parent Info

Emergency Form

Waiver

General FAQ



PRIVATE PROGRAMS

Book your own private camp with 3 or more friends – you pick the day(s) and time, and we'll arrange the guide(s), Available June through September.  Price based on number of days and length of sessions.

Camp runs rain or shine – if we can’t get out on the water, our guides have a back-up plan of activities to engage participants, including geo-caching, water testing, marine experiments, and field trips to local places of interest (our favorite ice-cream parlor, the other Downunder location, an oyster hatchery, or a marine lab).

Cancellation: 

2 weeks.  Up to 1 week prior to camp, you are eligible for a credit toward another program or equivalent in kayak rentals.  Cancellations within 1 week do not receive a refund.  In the case of illness/injury, a credit will be provided toward another week or kayak rentals.