In general, we think paddling is a great activity for parents and kids. However, we do have some restrictions:
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Children must be at least 3 years old to go out in one of our boats.
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Children younger than 16 must be accompanied on the water by an adult.
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At the Lagoons launch, this restriction can be met if a parent is present on shore and the kids paddle only in the portion of the pond visible from the launch.
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At the Chicago launch there is not enough area visible to make this worthwhile, so kids must be accompanied.
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Those 16 or 17 years old can paddle on their own if they present a signed parental waiver (available at the Waivers link at left).
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Please include a phone number, because we will call to verify that it was signed by an adult.
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We have not set firm age limits for participation in our various guided trips, but we think some parental discretion is advised - you'll know better than us whether your child is ready to sit in a kayak for 3 hours, for instance. Call us to talk it over if you're uncertain.