Summarize:

That way you won’t have to carry a heavy canoe to the launching point. Put lighter items in the front and back of the canoe. Pack heavy items at the center of the canoe. Make sure everything is securely in place so it doesn’t shift during your trip. Tightly pack things under the seats in the canoe to help keep them from shifting when you're on the water. The bowman sits in the front of the canoe, and the sternman sits in the back. Make whoever wants to be on look-out duty the bowman. The sternman will be responsible for steering the canoe.  The bowman should alert the sternman of any obstacles in the water so the sternman can steer the canoe around them. The sternman is responsible for letting the bowman know when to switch sides with their paddle. It's important you wear a life jacket any time you’re canoeing. Make sure your life jacket fits properly. It should feel snug when you put it on. Never put a child in an adult-sized life jacket. If you're canoeing with children, make sure they have child-sized life jackets that fit them snugly. If you’re launching off a dock, tie both ends of the canoe to the dock using rope. If you’re launching off a shore line, have your partner hold the canoe steady while you get in. Bend your knees and grab onto the side of the canoe closest to you. Set one of your legs into the center of the canoe and grab onto the far side of the boat with your hand. Carefully bring your other leg into the canoe. If you’re the bowman, sit on the bench at the front of the boat. If you’re launching from a dock, untie the canoe from the dock once the bowman and sternman are both in. Carefully push off from the dock with your hand or paddle. If you’re launching from shore, the sternman will need to push off as they're getting in so the canoe goes into the water. To launch from shore, start with the front of the canoe in the water and the back of the canoe up on land. Once the bowman is seated, the sternman should place one leg in the canoe. Then, the sternman should push off with their other leg as they bring it into the boat.
Pack the canoe close to the water. Designate a bowman and a sternman. Put on a life jacket. Secure the canoe before you get in. Get into the canoe carefully. Push off to the launch the canoe.