Kayaking Skills, Safety, & Rescues
–Offered on Thursdays, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, mid-June to mid-August, at Basin Pond in Monroe, Maine.
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Designed for beginning and intermediate paddlers who want to feel more confident, be safer, and have more fun. We will focus on three areas: (1) paddling & boat control skills; (2) safety awareness & skills; and (3) rescue skills. Participants will learn and practice boat control, forward stroke, turning, edging, bracing, and various methods of self and assisted rescue. Fun–and a few games–will also be part of the learning process. You’ll come away with increased ability and confidence as well as respect for the challenges of going out on the sea in small boats. Class size is limited to 6 people (and often will be smaller) so you can expect an individualized experience with attention to your particular goals and needs. Also available on a private and custom basis. $125 for a 6.5-hour session (includes kayak, gear, guide service, instruction, lunch, and snacks). This program requires 4 signups in order to run on a particular date.
Fast Track Coastal Kayaking Course: (available on request)
13 hours over 2 days. Class size is limited to 6 people. Designed for the paddler with anything from a few days to a few years of experience on the water who wishes to rapidly push his / her paddling technique and knowledge to a higher level, and thereby experience increased enjoyment and confidence. Three main components make up this program: (1) Rescue technique, (2) Paddling technique, and (3) Safety, Seamanship, and Navigation. Rescue sessions focus on developing and refining techniques such as the paddle-float rescue, t-rescue, Eskimo rescue, and Eskimo roll as well as lesser-known techniques such as re-entry and roll with a paddle float and modified t-rescue. Various tows will also be practiced. Paddling technique sessions include development and refinement of forward and reverse strokes, sweeps, braces, j-lean, etc. Safety, Seamanship, and Navigation sessions include discussion of chart & compass, GPS, VHF, tides, currents, wind, waves, and weather. The beginning and intermediate paddler will come away from this session with increased ability and confidence as well as respect for the challenges presented by going out on the sea in small boats. $125.00 per person per day (includes kayak, gear, guide service, instruction, lunch, and snacks). $20.00 discount if you have your own boat and gear.
Kayaking in Conditions Workshop (available on request)
6 hours. 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Location: Reid Beach State Park, south of Bath, Maine. Suited to paddlers who have begun to learn (but not necessarily mastered) bracing, rescue techniques, paddling in adverse conditions and are ready to push themselves a bit further. Boat readiness, paddling in wind, currents, and confused seas, and rock gardens as well as launching and coming ashore in moderate surf & rough water safety and rescues will be emphasized in this course. In the meantime, we will enjoy the spectacular and varied shoreline of the peninsula south of Bath, Maine, which includes several miles of sand beaches as well as rocky islands and tidal rivers. Class size will be limited to 5 in order to maximize personal instruction and safety. $125.00 per person (includes kayak, gear, guide service, instruction, lunch, and snacks). $20.00 discount if you have your own boat and gear.