Good post with the cold water boot camp. As a guide for a YMCA camp we did  a thing called "swim and swamp", basically an accessment for camper swimming ablities and a primer for the group if a swamping did occur. Practiced a canoe over canoe rescue and a wet paddle(paddling the boat ashore full (or partially full of water)...I clearly remember that it was quite diffecult to dump the canoe in the first place, but then again I have dumped at ice out paddling a new boat many many years ago ;D.  But anyways...Had a cold day, windy, early in the spring and had to due the swim and swamp :oTold the kids to bring there"dry clothes" to change after-stressed that! But kids being kids-heck some adults cant listen either :) they did not listen. Inside of 5 minutes I had a camper thatr had tossed their cookies and was out cold-he is OK-thanks to a sleeping bag and my body heat. Hypothermia/cold water drowning is real-watch the U-tube video...Wear your PFD's! ;) A few years ago I purchased a great PFD at the end of the year for a decent price and I hardly know I'm wearing it! Carry a rescue rope(throw rope). Lash my gear in the boat. Have run some senario's with the boy...and I only paddle the water that I am OK with...and we surf and quarter and "tach".