So what do you get up to then?
Joining Reading University Canoe Club (RUCC) will give you an amazing opportunity to take part in one of the most exhilarating and fun outdoor pursuits out there! As well as spending time on our local River Thames, we also paddle on the many beautiful rivers throughout England and Wales over weekends throughout each term. We kayak-surf in the West Country and South Wales, we play-boat on the Thames wiers (including at Hurley where the UK's top boaters train for competitions), we compete in canoe-polo and marathon comptetitions, and we even head to Scotland at Easter and the French Alps every summer. Joining RUCC will show you the world as you've never seen it before!
That sounds pretty action-packed, so what do you do for complete beginners?
We begin the year by providing the chance for beginners to get familiar with paddling all sorts of different kayaks and develop their personal paddling skills. With a whole heavenly host of BCU coaches around and many more wannabe coaches who also have much to contribute, you can rest assured that you will be in safe hands, well looked after, and you'll be having the time of your life before you know it! It doesn't matter if you've not paddled before, many of us paddled for the first time when we arrived at Reading and we got addicted very quickly. We will show you all you need to know!
For those of you who have paddled before, there will be opportunities to join current club members on advanced trips and gain experience more rapidly. There will also be opportunities to train and be assessed for the BCU star awards, and to get on the coaching ladder - for example we run a BCU Aquatic First Aid course every year, and we also organise a White Water Safety and Rescue Course annually prior to the French Alps trip.
So when and where do you meet?
Aside from the three weekend trips we run every term, we also get together at a very funky little place on the Thames known as the Wokingham Waterside Centre (affectionately called the Wokey Centre) every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons at 2pm for skill development and lots of fun and games 
We also meet on Thursday evenings (7:30pm) at Leighton Park School on Pepper Lane for a warmer approach to paddling - in a toasty swimming pool. If you're new to the club, don't worry about finding these places as members of the committee will happily meet you in the Student Union car park for the first few weeks If you're joining a bit later in the term, please don't be shy - get in touch with anyone on the committee and we will still be able to meet you.
If you fancy making your own way there however, here is a map showing the route from the University Campus to the Wokey Centre:
Alternatively here is a Multimap link. For a more detailed map of where Leighton Park School is, please click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the page. Again, here is a Multimap link.
So, what do I need to bring?
The club provides boats, paddles, helmets, spray decks and bouyancy-aids. We also have a limited number of wetsuits and wetsuit booties to keep your toes warm, but otherwise you can paddle in any warm clothes and shoes you don't mind getting wet. Stick to synthetic materials as they are better than cotton, and sandals are the ideal footware (though flip-flops aren't so good). Bring a towel and dry warm clothes to change into after the session, warm changing rooms and hot showers are provided in the Centre. You might also like to bring a warm drink and some high energy food (like chocolate!) along too, though this is not essential.
So do you ever compete in any competitions?
Absolutely. There is a strong play-boating emphasis as the world-class Hurley Weir is located only half an hour down the road and there are a number of other weirs on the Thames that are also worth travelling to. We play lots of canoe polo over summer and have been known to attend the BUSA polo tornament in Doncaster, as well as organising friendly matches with nearby University groups. More recently, there has been a growing interest in marathon boating, with a team entering the famous Devizes to Westminster race this year and more plans for team entries in the next season. If there's anything else you fancy doing then all you have to do is ask, we are always open to suggestions and will support you as far as possible in whatever you're interested in.
All this paddling, what about a bit of party/chill time?
RUCC is a VERY social and welcoming club and we arrange socials on a regular basis to a multitude of venues. We've already had an excellent Fresher's Party, and there are pub crawls, nights out in the Union and many more house parties on their way, check the gossip forum for more info. Later in the year we have the legendary Halloween Pub Crawl (fancy dress optional but generally considered compulsory!) and in December the Christmas End of Term Meal. And if you fancy something a little more chilled out, there will be opportunities to head to the ice rink in Bracknell, the cinema, and of course tasty grub in our favourite all-you-can-eat-for-not-much-money-at-all-on-a-Sunday-evening Indian resturant, Blue Ginger.
So what trips do you have coming up and should I start saving?!
RUCC organises at least 3 trip per term, this autumn it's looking as fab as ever:
20th, 21st & 22nd October - Fresher's Trip to South Wales
10th, 11th & 12th November - North Wales
1st, 2nd and 3rd November - Autumn Dartmoor Trip
Trips usually leave on Friday afternoons and return on Sunday night. Price for weekend trips is £40 which includes all your transport, kit, accommodation, training and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Bargain! Though you might also need a few extra pounds for beers...
The list for Fresher's Trip has already been started, so hurry and get your £20 deposit to any member of the committee to guarantee yourself a space on the bus! Have a look at this thread for more details.
What about next term and beyond?
For a wee peak ahead... In the spring term we'll be back at the Dart, off on a Training Trip in North Wales and then to Scotland for a week during the Easter holidays! And even further ahead... Surf trips to Devon and South Wales in the summer term, swiftly followed by 2 weeks in the French Alps over the summer holidays! 
Okay, this sounds amazing, so how do I join?
If you missed us at Fresher's Fayre don't panic! You can still come along to any of our three weekly paddling sessions and have a go, though don't forget to bring appropriate clothing as mentioned above. Again, you can contact the committee beforehand if you're not sure what to bring or where to go. We're a friendly bunch of people, just ask to speak to any member of the committee and we'll tell you all you need to know when you arrive. Membership is £20 for the year (though you don't have to pay until you've had a go and decided you really like it), and you will also need to be a member of the Sports Federation for insurance purposes.
Right, that's sold it to me, see you in a bit!
Excellent! We're all looking forward to seeing you on the water some day soon...