Skills After School

Join us after school just a couple of hundred metres from the bus station for a fun-packed session on the water - wash off the school day and feel refreshed. It has long been known that exercise alongside study improves outcomes. This course will see your child gain skills in paddlesport in a nurturing and fun environment and the club has a clear development pathway for those who wish to become leaders and coaches in the future as well as those who just want to have an epic time after school and before dinner!

We will provide all the safety kit and boats - please bring your own wetsuit - it is the time of year where wetsuits are necessary (both water and effective air temperature are quite cold still). We recommend purchasing your own however the club does have a selection of second-hand wetsuits (gifted to us and cleaned which we are happy to lend out to those needing them - Please let us know before arrival if these are needed).

No Work Wednesdays

These will be enjoyable, social 2hr paddles for those that like to get their exercise on the water while taking in the great views from our Blueways. Run by our experienced, qualified and friendly coaches, these will be guided trips with coaching as needed, including advice on efficient paddling and paddling for fitness. Suitable for those who have completed a “Learn to Paddle” course or have already done a little bit of paddling. All paddling equipment (except clothes/wetsuits) provided.

Family Paddle Power

Fun and games for all the family! This is an ideal learning opportunity for those new to paddlesport.

Coached by our friendly, experienced and qualified coaches, in a safe and progressive way using a range of “games with aims” – you’ll be having so much fun, you won’t even know you are learning :)

Including Paddle-Power coaching and certificates (small fee for books if they don’t already have them).

No minimum amount of skills required – excellent opportunity to Learn and Progress.

Canoe Polo

Polo outdoors is a fun, exciting and energy-filled way to learn and practise polo skills. Lead by our experienced and fun coach Jon it is a popular way to learn and hone those skills needed for playing the fast-paced game of polo. **No previous polo experience is required, rolling not required, but some previous kayaking experience is - the ability to paddle in a straight line and capsize. **

 These courses are open to all, the public, EP members, CANI and other club members alike. Summertime on the lough is the perfect place to learn and perfect your polo skills. Our sessions utilise an inclusive coaching style and can accommodate various levels of skill - as long as you’re pushing yourself you’re learning. 

Leader Development Course

Our Junior Leader programme returns this summer with the same offer of £10 max per month with Junior Leaders able to book onto any course for this price

This is a development programme for young people (14+) and adults, who enjoy their paddling and want to build skills and experience, so they can help with club activities, log volunteering hours (UCAS points) and gain internationally recognised vocational canoeing qualifications.

Including skills, safety and rescue coaching towards the prerequisites for internationally recognised leadership and coaching qualifications and an introduction to leadership and coaching theory and practice. Coached and mentored by our well qualified and experienced coach educator.

Coaching qualification prerequisite courses; 2 star, 3 star, FSRT (safety and rescue), First Aid, Safeguarding, etc will be organized to suit the availability of the participants in preparation for Paddlesport Leader and Instructor courses in the Autumn.

We have a small cohort already working towards their first qualifications and we welcome more people to join in. Please contact email@ernepaddlers.org.uk

A small course fee may apply to those events not part of the weekly programme.

Love to Paddle Lake Trips

These are relaxed social lake trips/ journeys to use the skills gained in our coached sessions. They are generally 2hrs in lengh=th and allow for wider exploring of our lakes and rivers. A rest stop will be scheduled for a cuppa and a snack on an island. 

"Like our “No Work Wednesday Trips" trips, these will be enjoyable, social paddles for those that like to get their exercise on the water, while taking in the great views from our Blueways. Run by our experienced, qualified and friendly coaches, these will be guided trips with coaching as needed, including advice on efficient paddling and paddling for fitness. Suitable for those who have completed a “Learn to Paddle” course or have already done a little bit of paddling. All paddling equipment (except clothes/wetsuits) provided.

Foundation Safety and Rescue Training

FSRT is the course for developing skills in safety and rescue techniques useful for all paddlers

This is the first level of paddling safety course and is applicable to all paddlers who have been out on a few paddles or courses with us. It is highly recommended for anyone planning to paddle outside the club, anyone who wants to increase skills to become a member of staff for Erne Paddlers or to increase personal skill and confidence. It is a prerequisite for coaching and leadership qualifications. 

Lakeland Special Olympics Club and EP Inclusive sessions

These sessions are run by our highly qualified and experienced friendly staff to introduce and develop paddlesport skills in a warm and comfortable safe environment. Our Paddleability Tutors head up these sessions and have developed a robust ethos of coaching to the individual's needs - we can cater for those with extra physical and/or learning needs and have a proven track record through our work with Lakeland Special Olympics Club. Several of our members have begun paddling through the inclusive sessions and moved on to our programme above - many of these sessions are inclusive.

First Aid for the Outdoors

We have the ability to run Rescue and Emergency Care Level 2 and 3 courses (16hrs and 24hrs respectively) these are first aid courses specifically designed for the outdoor sports fan and will also certify those who need it for qualifications (British Canoeing, Canoeing Ireland, Scouts, British Mountaineering Council, Mountaineering Council of Ireland).

Courses will be run at a discount for Erne Paddlers members and can be fully funded for coaches regularly volunteering for us.