Welcome to Keeners!

Welcome back to the Keener program!

We've got a brand new blog for a new year, so please be sure to check back in for daily and weekly updates! Every keener is required to write at least one blog post a week- and with 20 keeners in our first session, there should be plenty of blog posts to read and entertain you for the summer.

Here I am repairing one the Keener's skirts
last summer. Your child will learn how
to sew! 

My name is Anna Bruno, and I am the Keener Co-ordinator for the 2012 summer. This is my second year in the role of "Keener Mom" as it is affectionately called around here. I am responsible for the Keeners when they are off the water. I am typically seen holding a binder and a clip board, running around, making sure the keeners have enough food to eat, and that they keep there living space nice and tidy, and organize non paddling activities for them- like trips to see transformers, going mountain biking, trying the slack line, or playing a game of Banangrams.

A little bit about me: I am originally from the Philadelphia area, and have lived and worked in Canada, Vermont, Maine, Uganda, and West Virginia. I am an ACA Level 4 kayak coach, and a Registered Yoga Instructor.  I used to teach kayaking for www.kayakthenile.com , a small company located in Bujagali Falls, Uganda on the Nile river. This past year, I worked for New River Academy, where I taught English, Government, and Public speaking. With NRA, I was lucky enough to spend 4 months teaching and kayaking in Chile. After galavanting around the world with enthusiastic teenage kayakers, I am happy to be back home on the Ottawa river, which is truly one of the most spectacular places in the entire world.

It is great to have some familiar faces back in the keener program, and even better to see lots of new faces for the first session as well.

Returning Keener Miles Cree and I at Lachine last year. 

This year, I plan to keep the keeners active, happy and healthy- doing yoga at least 3 times a week, morning runs once or twice a week- as well as encouraging them to grow as people, on or off the water, in or out of their kayaks.

I am very excited to work with an extremely talented group of coaches this summer, including Ben Marr, Rush Sturges, Tino Specht, Joel Kowalski, Tyler Curtis, Ryan Whetung, Nick Troutman, Rafa Ortiz, Clay Wright, Stephen Wright, and many other guest coaches.

It is level "AWESOME" as we like to call it here on the Ottawa River. There is a wealth of features to play on- corner wave, baby face, Garberator, Pushbutton- perfect for keeners of all levels and experience to make the most of their time here.

Coaches for the week are Joel Kowalski, Tyler Curtis, Tino Specht and Ryan Whetung. Some of the goals for the first week back are to let everyone get to know each other and get comfortable with the river and the features. Swift Water Rescue training kicked off today- and first aid will follow this weekend!

Be sure to check back for more updates soon!