We had an all girl group canoeing tonite. We are targeting as many as possible to help achieve a Lottery 2014 Sports grant criteria to promote Active Lifestyles for Girls and over 14 girls in particular. Apparently Sports Scotland research reveals that over 80% of over 14 yr old girls don’t do any sport or active activity. An older document highlights best practice here and more recent research Fit For Girls, here.

We had a mix of S2-S6 girls, the S6 singing songs. It was definitely a different ethos from a mixed group. Miss L was helping tonite, as usual. We borrowed the open canoes from Falkirk Leisure Trust Outdoor Team. One of the benefits of open Canoes is it promotes co-op learning and lots of communication, if you don’t work as a team you hit the banks, bushes or even maybe capsize ! Normally the first ten minutes are critical to get the knack of going straight, then turning. Great to get this so quickly so they see they can do it, are surprised, and be successful learners. Skills then progress through a journey.

The girls were keen to jump in but they realised how cold the water is still at this time of year.

Lovely sunny weather, zero wind. Union Canal near Linlithgow.

Having a refreshment, after the journey.

Miss L helping the group work out how to cross the raft of canoes and get back in without falling in !

The return journey, still large thunderstorms but we had checked the Met Office Rainfall radar on our mobiles at Falkirk. The storm clouds (cumulus nimbus) were hovering over the Stirling area.