Ocean Walker Academy – Kayaking and SUP Sessions
General Information and Venue Rules

THESE SESSIONS ARE FOR KAYAKING OR STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING ONLY.
YOU CAN'T GO SWIMMING DURING THIS SESSION.
LIFEJACKET / BUOYANCY AIDS ARE MANDATORY (NOW INCLUDED WITH THE HIRE OF ANY OF OUR KAYAKS OR SUP BOARDS)
IF YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR OWN KAYAK / SUP, PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN LIFEJACKET, ALTERNATIVELY YOU CAN HIRE ONE FROM US UPON ARRIVAL AT RECEPTION. LIMITED AVAILABILITY.

Kayaking and SUP sessions will be overseen by OWA Lifeguards.
The lifeguards are there to manage your safety and ensure rules are being abided only.

THE RULES (very important - by booking you are agreeing to follow all the rules below).
OVERVIEW

It is very important that participants understand, this is a body of open water and so comes with many risk elements.
Paddlers must be wearing a buoyancy aid, and equipment suited to their ability - for example a wetsuit or clothing that gives protection from the sun and the water temp.

ABILITY AND AGE LIMITS
Children must be 6 years and above to kayak independently – and this is based on them being a confident swimmer, and parent/guardian deeming them competent in the water.
Children under 6 (but no yournger than 3 years old) can be accompanied by adults on our Family Kayak (takes 2 adults and 2 small children with a little seat that goes between the parents legs) or your own similar vessel if you are bringing your own. They may also accompany an adult on a SUP board - sitting down (if you are new to SUP we recommend you try this first before you bring your child as everyone falls in on their first go!)
They must be a strong swimmer and have their own wetsuit and lifejacket.
Children 14 years and under must be accompanied by a participating adult on the water at all times, either on the same kayak/SUP or right next to them on their own kayak/SUP.
Youths between the age of 14 to 18 years to be accompanied at the venue by an adult, this can be a participating adult or you can come as a 'spectator' who will be required to pay £3 entry in cash on the door and not be permitted on the water.
All participants must be competent swimmers and confident in the water.
DO NOT AT ANY TIME LEAVE YOUR CHILD UNACCOMPANIED IN OR AROUND THE WATER.

TIME SLOTS
Your start time is detailed on your booking, with a maximum of 50 minutes in the water. The number of participants will be limited to provide adequate outdoor space and management of car parking.

TIME SPENT ON SITE
Please do not arrive earlier than 15mins prior to your start time. This will allow you time to park, sign in, change and access the water. Following your session you are welcome to purchase refreshments (our cafe is open Thurs and weekends with freshly baked cakes and barista coffees) and have an additional 20mins to spend on site enjoying the lakeside or raised garden area walk should you wish to.

ENTERING AND EXITING THE WATER
You will only be able to enter the water at your exact start time.
Only enter and exit the water from the designated launch point.
You can complete your session and exit the water anytime within your 50 minute slot.
If you exit the water before your slot is up, please notify a member of the OWA team.
Please exit the water before your 50 minute slot is over.
Our OWA team will call you in when the 50 minute time slot is over.
Your 50 minute time slot is fixed, we cannot allow additional time if you are late due to traffic/other reasons.
Please sign out on your way out at reception

FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Please note that at this time changing rooms and showers are not available for use.
Toilets are available for use.
Free onsite car parking for those who have booked - please note that your cars and any valuables are left at your own risk.
Please arrive as ready as possible for your session.
Please ensure you have suitable equipment to dry you off following your session.
The main entry/exit to the lake is a gradual ramp into the water.
The lake varies in depth from 1m to 2m.

EQUIPMENT YOU REQUIRE
Suitable clothing for the activity - be prepared to get wet!
Warm dry change of clothing for afterward
Towel
Buoyancy Aid

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Wetsuit
Rash Vest / Swim Top
Wet shoes

FOOD & DRINK
Refreshments inc freshly baked cakes and barista coffee is available for purchase from our café.
You are not permitted to bring your own picnics/throw away food items to Ocean Walker Academy.
For the health and enjoyment of everyone, do not litter in or around our lake. Please ensure that any food items you consume that creates litter goes in the bins provided (at the café area) or goes home with you.
You are not permitted to bring and/or consume alcohol or drugs at Ocean Walker Academy.

SPECTATORS AND ADDITIONAL USERS
Non-participating adults 'spectator' to pay £3 entry fee at the door.
Max of 3 non-participating adults per participant.
The 'spectator' is not permitted to be in the water during their time on site.
They must follow the same rules as detailed here.
'Additional User' is someone who has paid to share either a SUP or Kayak - this works for launching your own 2 person kayak or SUP launch/hire where you can get 2 people on one board.

DOGS DURING KAYAKING AND SUP SESSIONS
Sorry no dogs during this session.

ISLANDS, TREES AND GENERAL AREAS
You are not permitted to climb onto the islands (except in an emergency).
Visitors are not permitted to pick plants.
Visitors must not throw grass, sticks, stones or any other item into the lake at any time – anyone caught throwing will be immediately removed from the site.
Visitors may not climb, hang from or carve any tree, rock or item at the venue.
Visitors are not permitted to lift or remove any display items from their position.

NO SMOKING
We are a no smoking/vaping venue, this includes the car park.

EVERYONE is required to abide by our venue rules this is for your safety and your enjoyment. If we feel that someone is not following our guidance during their visit, they will be asked to leave the venue. If this is a non-participant, the participant will be required to finish their session so that they can leave site.

BOOKINGS/RESCHEDULING/CANCELLATIONS
All bookings to be made online.
You can book up to 2hrs in advance of a swim slot.
You can reschedule up to 24hrs before your swim slot.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot make last minute changes to your booking over the phone, if something comes up on the day or you are late for example.
If you arrive late but within your slot, you can use the remainder of the time of your booked slot, sorry we cannot extend your session to another time slot.
You can manage your bookings from the confirmation email you receive upon booking.
Missed slots are non-transferable.
You cannot transfer your booked slots into the following year.
We cannot transfer bookings for kayaking and SUP sessions/slots to alternative courses.
Refunds for cancelled bookings are not automatic. They will be administered once a month, via the original payment method with the payment processing fee deducted.

Please book your slots with the intention to use them.
One person cannot book all available swim slots within the same 50 minutes (for friends for example) each adult must book their own slot.

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