Douchkoff has been paddling for years and has a number of certifications, including several from the American Canoe Association and the Florida Master Naturalist Associations. Plus, he’s certified as an adaptive paddling instructor. He and his staff work regularly with Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision in Tampa to teach teenagers to paddle along with providing lessons in independence. He has also trained guides through Florida and around the country so that they can help get people with vision impairments out on the water.
“The first thing I ask them is ‘tell me about your vision,’ ” he says. That way, he says, he can tailor instructions to the individual, which he also does for a vision impaired adult who signs up for one of his trips. Many people, he says, have some vision or had full vision at some point. They have a better understanding of spatial relationships with the world around them, whereas people who have been totally blind from birth don’t have that.
Teaching a blind person to tell if the kayak is moving forward might be a matter of focusing on the sun on their face or the sound of the instructor’s voice in the kayak in front of them.
“This keeps them from paddling in a circle,” Douchkoff says.
For those with some vision, they may be able to follow the treeline, regular splashing sounds from the instructor’s oar or a beeping signal from the lead kayak. From his monthly sessions with teenagers through Lighthouse, Douchkoff has learned the importance of understanding individuals' needs.
That philosophy carries over to anyone with a vision challenge on a Wayne Adventures paddling trip.
His love of paddling is steadfast — he’s kayaked in all 50 states and throughout Canada — as is his belief that everyone can learn to explore Florida’s watery byways independently. But he’s got another goal for getting people in kayaks.
“If we understand the natural world, we are more likely to protect it,” he says.
Wayne Adventures Trips
The cost of the guided kayaking trips are $45 to $65 and include equipment rental. The website has details and trips can be booked through there though schedules are not always publicized. Douchkoff is available to answer questions via email (wdouchkoff@aol.com) or phone (941-545-7338).
He has extensive contacts with kayaking guides around the state and can connect vision impaired visitors with them.
Here is a sample of Wayne Adventures trips:
Myakka River Paddle
The Myakka River flows through one of the state’s oldest parks and runs 72 miles through Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties before joining with the Gulf of Mexico at Charlotte Harbor. Paddlers on this excursion paddle along this slow-moving blackwater river through freshwater marshes and floodplain forests. Guides provide information about the history of the area and also the ways to paddle in peace with alligators. The Myakka River Paddle is $65.
Robinson Preserve Paddle
The three-hour Robinson Preserve trip explores tidal estuary and mangroves. The 682-acre county preserve in Manatee sits on the southern side of Tampa Bay. This is a prime kayaking spot and kayak storage rental is available for regular paddlers. Kayakers go through mangrove tunnels and glide over seagrass beds all the while getting a narrated nature tour. The Robinson Preserve paddle is $65.
Upper Gamble Creek & Manatee River Paddle
This one-way trip meanders through oak hammocks and salt marshes as the Upper Gamble Creek joins the Upper Manatee River and then the Manatee River. The kayaking trail gets paddlers close to wild Florida, going from the narrow creek to the wider river, and hearing lots of wildlife along the way. The launch spot is easily accessed from Interstate 75 either coming south from Tampa or north from Sarasota. The Upper Gamble Creek & Manatee River paddle is $65.
