On April 12th fifteen student from Lincoln, Webster, Broadway and Brookside schools and their fifteen adult mentors from the Beacons Mentorship Program met at Franklin Middle School in North Minneapolis to learn how to sea kayak. Members of the Twin Cities Sea Kayaking Association, dressed in shorts and sandals, helped the students carry in the twelve to eighteen foot-long kayaks thrrough the late spring snowstorm that hit the cities that evening.

Compared to the wintry weather outside, it was very warm inside the pool. Bill Newman, a mentor and local kayak instructor, gave a brief lecture on beginning sea kayaking skills. Though the students had never kayaked before, they were eager to get on the water. "It was a bit scary, but I learned quickly", said Bounnam from Lincoln. "Our kayak trip this summer is going to be fun", she said excitedly. "My boat was tite!" exclaimed Leroy.

The small junior high school pool was packed with bright, multicolored kayaks. There were so many boats it looked like the bumper cars at Valley Fair. As crowded as it was, the students had a joyous time. They kayaked up and down the length of the pool backwards and forwards, occasionally tipping over. Getting wet didn't seem to dampen their spirits however. Some students even seemed to try to tip on purpose.

On June 18, 19, and 20 the students and their mentors will be going a three-day trip to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior to try out their new skills. They will camp, kayak out to the islands to explore sea caves, beaches and lighthouses, and generally have a great time. "This is going to be fun", said Surlaina, "I can't wait to go!"