This August some of our Learning from Lake Sturgeon team as well as members of the Learning from Lake Sturgeon Youth Advisory Group participated in Swiftwater Rescue Training in Thunder Bay! We are grateful to our our outdoor training and certification partner Boreal River Rescue for working with us.
What is Swiftwater Rescue?
Unlike lifeguards in a pool or a lake/still river, fast-moving water has different risks and requires different skills. Swiftwater rescue training covers skills needed for swimming in moving water, rescuing yourself or someone else, and read fast-moving water. One of the primary goals of working in or around water is to understand the river environment sufficiently to be able to work with the water, not against it.
Why are they taking the course?
Members of the Learning from Lake Sturgeon team as well as members of the Learning from Lake Sturgeon Youth Advisory Group help lead on-the-land and on-the-water activities for fieldwork and youth programming. It is important they have training to properly and safely do activities near or in swiftwater — and it helps build the skills of these leaders to make sure they feel safe, confident, and trained for the environment they work in!
Aerial photograph of a bank on the Moose River, an area where water conditions can range from slow to swift!
Photo credit: Roger Lamonthe
Is it fun?
Yes! Even though the course is safety-focused, there are many fun parts of the course: people take turns rescuing each other and safety dummies, throwing ropes, as well as swimming all day!
Check out the photos below!
