THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409140465
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: KITTY HAWK LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Taking the first step is always the toughest - especially when it's into a kayak.
``I don't like this. . . I don't like this,'' Amber Hoffman chanted, grinning as she placed both feet in a kayak and joined her schoolmates gliding through the murky marshlands behind Kitty Hawk Kayaks.
Maybe gliding is a bit generous. The first few minutes of the expedition by the nine Griggs Elementary School students looked more like an amusement park bumper-boat ride.
But the students were learning. . . that was the point of Monday's excursion, part of Currituck County Public Schools' Triad Enrichment program.
In the program, students expand their horizons by learning from guest speakers and by taking field trips, such as Monday's to the Outer Banks' biggest and only on-site kayak center.
``We hope that they'll appreciate these fragile areas and learn something about these ecosystems,'' said Marianne Dubresson, the kayak program director who provided Monday's two-hour school tour without charge.
``And also introduce them to a sport that is safe,'' she added. ``It's healthy and it's very clean. There is no impact to the environment.''
But there was an impact on the Currituck County elementary schoolchildren - the youngest soloists ever at the kayak center. Collisions were common, as were unexpected close-ups of shoreline trees and brush.
``. . . Backpaddle on your left side. OK, now forward on that side,'' the director called out to Justin Jones, who, like Amber and most of the other students, was 9 and in the fourth grade. ``Put that blade in the water. . . nice long strokes. . . that's it.''
Another group of Griggs students kayaked last year in Currituck Sound at the home of Gwen Thompson, a Griggs fourth-grade teacher and summer tour guide at Kitty Hawk Kayaks.
This year, the children were treated to the Kitty Hawk maritime forest, one of the oldest in the state. Both field trips were part of a statewide program adopted about five years ago in Currituck to enrich the students.
The Triad program teaches byallowing students to find an interest, research it and then gain hands-on experience.
Twenty minutes into Monday's tour along the tea-colored waters, little hands were getting tired of paddling. But the group listened intently as Thompson, Dubresson and guide Jeff Huson pointed to the flora and fauna of this pristine environment.
A bonus was a Great Blue Heron that made a brief appearance before flying off to devour privately the fish in its mouth.
The group sampled wax myrtle, which provides a natural insect repellent. They identified native trees and learned about the marsh rose and Spanish moss.
More than one boy tried desperately to avoid going anywhere near a mistletoe overhang. ``I ain't going under any mistletoe,'' one declared.
``Snake over on the right! Stay to your left. Stay to your left,'' Dubresson yelled rather calmly. All kayakers eagerly complied.
The only other time the group showed as much solidarity was when fifth-grader James Ladd took an unexpected bath.
``Man overboard!'' someone shouted, causing everyone to move closer to the overturned boat until Ladd was safely afloat again. While rare, the guides said, the drenching made Monday's crew pay closer attention to the maneuvers.
``I just think this is so nice, since we live so close to the water, to take advantage of it,'' said Martha McCall, Griggs' Triad coordinator, as the group started back after viewing a beautiful covered bridge.
``Hopefully they'll take back with them something that they learned, besides how to steer a boat,'' said Dubresson, a native of France and Old Dominion University graduate.
``Aaahhhh,'' sighed Dawn Beacham, taking advantage of a slight tailwind as she eased up on the paddles and began to coast.
Next to her was Brittany Palacioz, who declared that kayaking was much better than canoeing - even to the exhaustive end.
What did Amber, who'd shown so much initial trepidation, learn most from the experience? ``That I don't ever want to go kayaking again,'' she said as she paddled alongside her schoolmates, still grinning. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
ANNE SAITA/Staff
Griggs Elementary School students assemble for Monday's kayak
excursion, part of Currituck County Public Schools' Triad Enrichment
program. In the program, students expand their horizons by learning
from guest speakers and by taking field trips.
Amber Hoffman, 9, receives kayak instructions Monday at Kitty Hawk
Kayaks from Marianne Dubresson, the kayak program director who
provided Monday's two-hour school tour without charge.
by CNB