AK 101: Adventure Kayak 101

(Previous training or experience required)
Dates: July 30 - August 4, August 13-18, 2007
Times: Meet the night before at 7pm; trip ends at 3pm on last day
Departs from: Tofino
Group size: Maximum 8
Price: $1,470 CAD + 6% GST

Course Goal:

The goal of this course is to prepare intermediate paddlers to plan kayak camping trips with friends in open coastal waters. It would be an exciting challenge for a keen beginner with previous training or experience, and will benefit even seasoned touring kayakers.

Course Objectives:

You will learn:

• a philosophy of safety that emphasizes seamanship, judgement, and personal responsibility.
• intermediate kayak manoeuvres including leaning, quick turning, and high bracing.
• moving water techniques, including ferry glides and eddy turns.
• surf zone skills including side-surfing, launching and landing.
• navigational skills specific to open coastal travel, including chart-reading, use of tide tables, interpreting marine weather forecasts, and route-finding while underway.
• how to use a compass, and to navigate in fog.
• 'Leave No Trace' camping techniques including site selection, camp set-up, waste disposal, and wildlife etiquette.
• about camp cookery by enjoying our easy gourmet camp meals.

Itinerary:

The first two days will be spent in Tofino developing skills and knowledge. We'll spend the first day learning intermediate strokes, and playing in a small tidal rapid near Tofino. The second day is spent surfing at Long Beach. Day three we leave on a 4-day camping trip on Clayoquot Sound's open coastal waters. (Meals and accommodation in Tofino not included in course cost.)

Register early to avoid disappointment!
Call us at 1-877-422-WILD

"There was not a moment that my expectations weren't exceeded. Every teaching opportunity was seized -- questions were met with guidance toward finding the answers ourselves. This is the best course available for obtaining a wide variety of intermediate-level hard and soft skills."
    —Jim, ON