Twelve years ago, Mr Kelley along with previous PE teacher Mr. Lane, started a Kayaking unit for students which continues to this day.
Mr. Kelley, in his 42 year of teaching at Belmond-Klemme, continues the traditional unit with 5th and 6th grade students every year. He started with four kayaks and has since added 12 more to his inventory of 16, so more students have the ability to participate at one time.
The goal of the kayaking unit is to teach the students about the proper use of the life jacket and how to safely enter the kayak, how to paddle while in the water and to then exit the kayak. Even though this unit could have been phased out over time, Mr. Kelley is an avid kayaker and enjoys kayaking.
While narrating his 'why', Mr. Kelly goes on to say, " I started it as a way to teach water safety because it is important to me that the kids can learn and be safe later when they may be out kayaking. It also was an activity that many of the kids enjoy and some of them never get the opportunity to go kayaking. I wanted something that was hands on for the students. Many of my former students do come back and borrow kayaks and go out and enjoy it. "
Take a look at the joy of the 5th & 6th grade students as they take to the water!
