The Australian Dragon Boat Federation is the newest national sporting organisation to partner with Sporting Schools.
Dracademy introduces the sport of dragon boating to high school students through the secondary school Sporting Schools program.
We were so pumped to host the very first Dracademy session on the Mid North Coast right here in Kempsey! The Kempsey Adventist School have been the first to take up the opportunity locally, with three more sessions planned in the weeks ahead. Our very own Belinda Fowler, an accredited Dracademy Coach facilitated the session with a group of 31 year 8 students and 2 school staff. All the kids had a great time learning about our wonderful sport, it was really exciting to get two boats full of enthusiastic youngsters out on the water!
Dracademy helps students form a positive sense of community, as well as learn the grit and perseverance it takes to be a Dragon Boat paddler. Boy did these kids show some true grit! Just look at their faces! Belinda was able to teach basic instructions and commands prior to on water activities and addressed understanding of water safety and its practices. The goals of the Dracademy program as a whole are well rounded:
Understand water safety and its importance.
Choose and fit your lifejacket and appropriate clothing for conditions.
Demonstrate basic knowledge and use of a dragon boat paddle.
Get into and out of a dragon boat from the shore/landing.
Dragon boat with a correct posture and setup.
Maintain balance within the dragon boat.
Work as part of a team.
Strengthen relationships.
Improve water confidence.
Learn the positions within a dragon boat.
A huge thanks and shout out to our sweeps Bernie Hints and Rick Fry, club member Robyn Brown and Club President Bryan Beard who all assisted ensuring the first session was a huge success. And of course, thank you so much to Kempsey Adventist school staff and students! We hope to see you back in the boat again sometime soon!
If your keen to get your school involved, make sure you mention Dracademy to your teachers! Alternatively, contact us, and we can provide your school with the information they need to apply. It’s the best fun you can have on the water!
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