Course Description
This Paddle Canada sea kayak level-1 skills course is comprehensive 2.5-day coverage of skills and theory essential for paddling day trips in calm water. Perfect sea kayak instruction if you want to learn to kayak safely.
Typically we begin with basic sea kayak theory on the Friday evening following a group meal at the lodge. Saturday is devoted to on water sea kayak paddling, group and personal rescue skills. On Sunday, we’ll cover sea kayak day-trip basics (ie weather, navigation, judgment and planning) then depart on a day trip to enjoy some Lake Superior paddling and review newly learned skills.
As a course take-away we provide our in-house Paddle Canada Level-1 sea kayak skills manual for your reference after you leave the course.
The course is based from Naturally Superior Adventures/Rock Island Lodge and all meals and theory sessions are provided from the comfort of the lodge. Course accommodations are comfy tent sites on our beach. Alternatively, rooms are available (at an additional cost) at Rock Island Lodge.
Please don’t hesitate to email us with any questions.
Dates
Course #1
June 6–8, 2025 Starts: 6:00 pmEnds: 4:00 pm
Course #2
July 11–13, 2025 Starts: 6:00 pmEnds: 4:00 pm
Course #3
August 15–17, 2025 Starts: 6:00 pmEnds: 4:00 pm
Price
Course Includes
- Certified Paddle Canada Instructors
- All Meals and Snacks
- Fully Outfitted Coast Guard Approved Kayak (We have a variety of styles of kayaks and canoes that you may try out during your course.)
- Beach Camping Accommodations
- Course Materials
Extra Course Options
- Meal Adjustment (contact us if you wish to bring your own meals)
- Certification Fee
Certification Notes
Paddle Canada Level-1 certification. (Equivalent to ACA Coastal Kayak II)
Prerequisites
- There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Content
Safety Topics
- Retrieving a swamped kayak
- Bow rescue
- T-rescue
- Self-rescue
Theory Topics
- Boat design & outfitting
- Paddles
- Paddling clothing
- Safety equipment
- Weather
- Navigation
- Planning a day trip
- First aid
- Kayaking resources
Paddling Skills
- Lifts and carries
- Entering/exiting the kayak
- Wet exit
- Balance & edging
- Forward & reverse strokes
- Forward & reverse sweep
- Pivots
- Draw strokes
- Support strokes (high brace, low brace)