"Wonderful Outside World", a camp for 10-14 year olds, by Mary McKay, The Guardian

WOW is the word: Wonderful Outside World day camp program offers young people the chance to explore P.E.I.'s coastal and marine environment by way of sea kayak, hiking, biking, nature activities and games

A paper-rock-scissors hand game is the deciding factor for who will be the first to roll their kayak in the waters off North Rustico Beach. As luck would have it, Wonderful Outside World (WOW) program instructor Liesel Carlsson, is headed for the first big dip, while her young charges float nearby watching every move she makes.

This lesson in kayak safety is just one of the many components of an unusual day camp for children ages 10-14. The WOW program, offered by Outside Expeditions from their North Rustico Harbour site, is a two-day adventure for children to explore and learn about Prince Edward Island's coastal and marine eco-systems by means of sea kayak, nature activities and games, biking and hiking.

The program began four years ago with the intention of given children a unique opportunity to learn about the fun sport of sea kayaking with plenty of recreational extras to sweeten the Monday/Tuesday camps. "Basically we're targeting the 10-14 year olds. We think it's neat, I remember being that age, being from Charlottetown and not having any idea about my ocean environment. . . ," says Bryon Howard, who now gets more than his fair share of marine outings as owner/operator of Outside Expeditions kayaking rental and tour company.

"WOW focuses on the wonders of the outside world. Kayaking is the primary thing, but we done a fair amount of biking or walking on beaches, whatever is available. We're flexible."

One of today's young adventurers, 13-year-old Maryanna Fraser of Dartmouth, N.S., is enjoying her second day out in the kayak. "We kayaked over near the rocks there, looked around and we found like crabs and different sorts of rocks," Maryanna says, gesturing to a large sandstone formation not far from North Rustico Beach where most of their kayaking lessons were centred.

"Then we kayaked back over to the beach and we did like games and stuff with the kayaks," adds the Nova Scotia teenager. "I learned how to do the roll but I can't do it yet. But I really want to learn. And Liesel taught us a couple of rescues to do and some paddling techniques."

"We did wet exits, how to exit your boat if you capsize, what part of the (kayak) skirt you need to grab onto how you get yourself out, and we practised rescues," says Carlsson, a 20-year-old statuesque Swedish/Canadian who is an accomplished rower and kayaker. "Maryanna was actually really keen wanted to roll over, so we did some basics how you roll over first."

While the first camp day concentrated more on basic kayaking skills, a portion of the second was spent putting these to good exploration use. "The first day was spent mostly kayaking and it was a lot of work, I think I tuckered them right out," Carlsson says, laughing.

"The second day, everyone seemed to be very comfortable in the boat so we just did a lot of exploring and playing really. We went from the harbour, paddled through channel and over to the red cliffs on the national park shoreline and did some exploring there."

Also included in the two-day adventure was a biking trek along the Homestead Trail in Cavendish National Park, which is often used as a jump-off point for a discussion on P.E.I.'s natural history. "But this group was much more interested in the kayaking than the nature part. But we actually biked over to the beach, explored the sand dunes, talked about things like the erosion of the dunes and how they are formed." The actual WOW program schedule subject to change to suit the childrens' interest, she adds.

"It's easily changed because they usually are small groups. It's flexible and fun like that because I'm OK doing anything, I like to have fun with them too."

Of course, by afternoon of the second day, they are back in the water, kayaking like they were born to paddle. "They were initially hesitant, like 'Oh, it's time to get in now, eh?' But kids catch on quick. They pick it up very quickly and get a good handle on the boat. By the end of it, most of them were pretty happen cruising along and weren't not afraid they were going to dunked," Carlsson says. And before the day is done, Maryanna works up enough nerve to make that dunk - not once but twice. And she plans for a repeat kayak roll performance on her next WOW time round.

"I'd like to come back here to do it again," she says. "I really like it, you learn a lot. It's fun too."

For more information about upcoming WOW programs, contact Outside Expeditions at www.getoutside.com or call 963-3366 or (800) 207-3899.