RAFI Kool Adventure Camp team undergoes kayak training

CEBU, Philippines - As part of the team’s development program, all 18 staff of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) paddled the coasts of Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City last November 27-29.

The kayak expedition was an application of the Kayak Level 1 and 2 Personal Skills Award Course conducted by the KAC senior staff who are Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF) Certified KAC Kayak Level 1 Coaches and four KAC staff who have completed the SCF Kayak 1 and 2 early this year.

KAC staff who passed the recent course were Audrey Criscille Abatol, Richard de los Reyes, Daphne Dia, Marie Sol Gonzalvo, Jerome Munoz, Jose Raian Pescante, Marivic Pineda, Katrina Rosal, and Althea May Santillan.

The Level 1 Kayaking Skill Award Course is designed for beginners and covers general safety and basic paddling techniques to safely maneuver a kayak on flat water, while Level 2 Kayaking Skill Award Course aims to develop confidence in the seamanship and skills of the kayaker, enough for the kayaker to embark on expeditions and be more competent in their paddling, water confidence, and preventive skills such as prevention of capsizing.

Coaches were Sheerene Abrea, Peter Jay Alera, Anthony Terence Ocampo, KAC Camp Director Edvan Loh, and Leomil Urpiana. The four demonstrators were Gabriel Lamparas, Kenneth Obando Lim, Paolo Maderazo, and Landolf Villanueva.

RAFI KAC offers a kayak program that aims to develop and enhance leadership skills. The program is open to both corporate professionals and youth groups.

A kayak program will last for three to four days, wherein participants will be navigating and paddling to the sites covered by the route, like the islands of Olango, Pandanon, Caohagan, Banakon, and other islands between Cebu and Bohol.

The program will test the endurance, patience, teamwork, and communication and planning skills of the participants, as well as how they respond to changes in the environment.

The 52 tandem kayaks donated by Outward Bound Singapore will be utilized in the kayak program, which is preferably conducted during the second or third quarter of the year to avoid bad weather conditions such as typhoons and monsoons.

To ensure the safety of the participants, the KAC facilitators conduct Risk Assessment and Management System (RAMS) before every expedition. They follow operating procedures and standards from medical to rescue and program design, which are internationally benchmarked.

KAC is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area, where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to take an active role in affecting change. RAFI’s other focus areas are Integrated Development, Micro-finance & Entrepreneurship, Culture and Heritage, and Education.

RAFI-KAC has been offering adventure education programs for leadership and team development  for youth and professionals for the last decade. It is currently building the Philippines’ first fully dedicated adventure education center, which is set to open in 2013. For more information on KAC and its services, contact 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea Santillan, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph  (FREEMAN)