Syrian refugees learn to canoe for the first time

Dozens of Syrian teenagers paddled their way into the heart of a quintessential Canadian pastime Wednesday.

More than 35 recentSyrian refugees climbed into canoes at Holiday Beach for the first time. The group was taking part in safety training offered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority.

Typically, most Canadian teenagers have been in a canoe when they sign up for the "outside and activeprogram," explained Phil Robson, ERCA's environmental educator.

"In this room, I asked if anybody had been canoeing before. No hands went up," he said before taking the teens out on the water. "So, this is a new experience for everybody. I'm really excited."

Reactions to first canoe trip

Osama Alshelak, 15, was slightly worried before getting in the boat.

"At first I was scared," he said. "At the end...I was relaxed."

ERCA has introduced 80 new Canadians to canoeing this summer and officials hopeto teach water safety to 300 by summer's end. Robson described the different reactions students had on the water.

"Well, there was a little bit of fear, a little bit of trepidation, a lot of excitement, so we kind of had a whole range of emotions when we were on the water like that," he said.

Rayan Kawas, 17, heard stories from a group that went ahead of her.

"The boys told me it's so hot and it's so hard," she said. "But it's so beautiful, it's a new experience."

Robson teaches boating safety well before anyone gets in the canoe.

"It is very important to know how to have fun in the water safely," he said. "That's why we go over what you need to have in your canoe, in your craft and how to use your canoe safely."