Hi, my name is Lewis Major with Polk County Conservation and today we're canoeing.

(music)

A canoe is a transportation device because it can transport things through water.

How many here first time, never even been in a canoe? That's why we bring you out here. We want to give you a chance to try and see how it feels to canoe.

You need to wear your life jackets. But you can't, you don't want to stand up or rock the canoe.

Don't tip over the canoe!

If you have your paddle on the left side you'll turn right, if you're going forward paddle you have it on your left, you'll go right if you're forward paddling.

It was pretty hard controlling the canoe because of the wind and the water flow and it's really hard to steer.

Canoeing is not about power or speed. It's about communication and timing. Both paddles should be in the water at the same time and that is efficient. If you're doing it different times, like if the paddles are doing this then that's not very efficient and you'll be fighting each other.

(music)

Canoe is not just a form of transportation, it's also a great way to get some exercise. It keeps you active and moving the entire time.

Yeah, it hurt my shoulders and my arms because you have to paddle and the wind was making the water really ripply so you had to push harder when it was ripply.

Canoeing is fun because it was, you get to really work out and you get to just glide along the water.

Canoeing is fun because you get to see nature right on the water.

Canoeing is awesome!