Hoosier Canoe & Kayak Club

Alert: Due to the Coronavirus situation, Indianapolis Parks has closed Thatcher Pool. The HCKC will not be able to hold these pool sessions until Thatcher reopens. The club will send an e-mail to all members when we are able to resume these sessions.

HCKC Pool Sessions

Pool sessions are focused on skill refinement and individual practice for all paddlers - whitewater kayakers, whitewater and open canoeists, recreational kayakers, and sea kayakers - seeking to practice bracing, rolling, open water reentries, etc. The pool is popular with freestyle WW boaters who want to learn flat water moves such as cartwheels, squirts and stalls as well as with sea kayakers wanting to refine their roll, bracing, or open water rescues. It is also a great place to meet other paddlers, find out about upcoming trips, and try out different boats and paddles. Participants often go out for refreshments afterwards to swap paddling stories.

There are no formal classes at these pool sessions, but novice paddlers may ask more experienced paddlers to help teach rolling and basic paddling technique. Please contact Dave Ellis before coming if you are new to paddling, you want coaching, or you want to borrow a boat for a session.

Guests are welcome at these sessions, but you should become an HCKC member if you use this HCKC resource regularly. Pool sessions are canceled by the Recreation Center in the event of lightning storms orif the centeris closed due to holiday or bad weather. Notice will be sent to the HCKC members mailing list and posted on the HCKC Facebook Page when we are notified that a session will be canceled.

For more information about the pool sessions or to check on availability of boats/people who can train you, email Dave Ellis before coming to the pool. Pool information updates are usually mailed to the HCKC Members mailing list and posted to our Facebook page.

Be sure to review the HCKC Pool Policy below. If you bring your own boat, it must be clean of leaves, dirt, and debris inside and out before entering the pool. Pool attendees are asked to pay $10 per session per family. New pool attendees will be asked to demonstrate their ability to swim and to perform a wet exit from a kayak when they first arrive.

If you have a sea kayak or longer recreational kayak, it is possible to bring these into the pool to practice rolling or rescues.

Pool sessions are held at:

Thatcher Recreation Center
4649 W. Vermont St.
Indianapolis, IN 46222

Wednesday Pool Sessions: 7:00 to 9:00 pm After April 1, 2020
Saturday Pool Sessions: 10 am - Noon After Thanksgiving until Last Weekend in March

HCKC Pool Policies

Participation is restricted to HCKC members and their one-time guests.
Participants must sign in each session and pay $10.00 per family per session to cover pool rental.
Please make certain your boat is clean and free of debris inside and out before bringing it into the pool.
First time participants must check-in with the pool coordinator before entering the pool. First time participants must demonstrate the ability to self-rescue (wet exit at a minimum) to the pool coordinator when they check in.
Participants must be able to swim.
Participants must maintain control of their boats and equipment at all times.
Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
There will be no swimming or diving.
Participants are expected to be courteous and safety conscious at all times.
Indy Park Rules require that no one or their equipment is allowed on the pool deck before the designated start time and that all boats and gear must be removed from the pool deck promptly at the designated end time.

Hoosier Canoe & Kayak Club

Background image provided by Karl Zemlin www.zemlinphoto.com