Price from:
335 USD
Join a Two-Day Workshop Focused on a Specific Set of Sea Kayaking Skills
About Weekend Workshops
Our Weekend Workshop Series is the best way to learn new skills, or refine existing ones, by focusing on a specific skill set for an intensive two days! These courses will offer a fun and supportive way to dive deep into a specific sea kayaking topic - and to connect with a community of fellow paddlers along the way. Take just one, or take them all over the course of the season, either way you will be in for deep learning and a transformative experience in your kayaking journey!
About THIS Workshop
**Introductory Skills Weekend Workshop**
Intro Weekend is designed for anyone who is new to sea kayaking or with limited experience. We’ll cover everything we typically cover in our two-part Intro to Sea Kayak courses, but the weekend workshop will allow us to go a bit deeper into the fundamentals. And students will have the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge they’re learning during a day paddle to an island destination. If you think you’d enjoy becoming a sea kayaker, this workshop is a great way to get started. You’ll learn the essential skills, get to know Casco Bay from a paddler’s perspective and get connected with a group of fellow kayakers.
About Our Other Weekend Workshops
**Navigation Skills Weekend Workshop**
Navigation Weekend focuses on the core skills necessary to navigate on coastal waters, especially when paddling in challenging conditions like those common in Maine, such as strong winds, swift currents, and fog. Students will learn various approaches to navigating with a chart and compass and gain firsthand experience using these skills while paddling on Casco Bay. They will learn and practice taking bearings, dead reckoning, triangulation, crossing boat channels, paddling in low visibility and using aids to navigation. After gaining familiarity with the key navigation tools, resources, and skills during the first day of the course, students will plan a trip for the second day that will give them opportunities to practice what they have learned. All are invited to an optional dinner on the first evening of the course.
**Roughwater Skills Weekend Workshop**
Roughtwater Weekend will put you between a rock and a hard place, literally! Over this two day session students will have opportunities to gain experience with rock gardening, surfing, reading roughwater environments, risk assessment, and roughwater rescue techniques. We will paddle in Casco Bay and in the waters surrounding Richmond Island, seeking out opportunities to gain comfort in roughwater and experience with surfing and rock gardening. Expect to get wet! We will wear helmets at all times when paddling in roughwater, and they will be provided for those who don’t own one.
**Expedition Skills Weekend Workshop**
Expedition Weekend focuses on the process of planning and executing longer- distance sea kayak tours. Students will spend the first morning planning a route to an island in Casco Bay that the group will camp on that night. Along the way, students will gain experience with key expedition skills, including effectively packing a kayak, meal planning, emergency equipment and communications, gear repair, efficient long-distance paddling technique and more. The group will spend the night camping at an island campsite, with all meals included in the cost of the trip. Tents are also available at no cost for students who need one, and sleeping bags and pads are available for a small fee. This weekend is the perfect way to dip your toes in the water of multi-day touring!
**Women at Sea Weekend Workshop**
Learn, refine and develop your sea kayaking skills in a supportive, fun atmosphere. This special weekend is for novice to intermediate female identifying kayakers who want to feel confident, safe and independent in their sea kayak adventures. Gain the skills you need to expand your adventures on the water.
We will cover basic strokes, power and efficiency, rescue techniques and safety protocols, ocean dynamics, navigation and trip planning. You’ll be invited to accept new challenges and you’ll be supported as you grow and learn.
Booking Notes
#We are looking forward to seeing you!
##Important Information
**CHECK-IN DETAILS** Please arrive ten minutes before your lesson is scheduled to start. You will see our signs at the end of Cutter Street by the East End Beach.
**WHAT TO BRING**
- Water Bottle
- Footwear that can get wet
- Sun Protection
- Appropriate clothing for paddling and swimming (not cotton)
- Lunch and snacks
- Wetsuit (or borrow one from us if you don't own one)
**PARKING:** This workshop takes place at our main site at the East End Beach in Portland. There is free all-day parking in the lot halfway down the hill on Cutter Street about 50 yards from Portland Paddle. When that lot is full you can find free parking on streets in the residential neighborhoods nearby. The parking spaces right beside Portland Paddle are limited to 5 minutes or two hours and some are reserved for vehicles with boat trailers.
**BATHROOM FACILITIES:** There are public bathrooms and changing rooms that are open during limited hours. We have our own private portable toilet for customers. Most of the islands we visit do not have bathroom facilities, so it’s best to use the facilities before heading onto the water. If you need to go during your trip the best option is to find a relatively private spot along a shoreline.
**WETSUITS:** We offer free wetsuit rentals for these lessons since everyone will be getting wet. The waters of Casco Bay are cool even during the middle of the summer, so most students prefer to wear one. If you have your own wetsuit, please bring it with you.
Cancellation Policy
##Cancelling Weekend Workshops
We will offer a **full refund** on any amount paid if you cancel a booking of a weekend workshop at least 14 days in advance. If you cancel within 14 days you will receive a refund of the 50% deposit required upon booking. However, if you cancel less than 2 hours of the scheduled start time for your experience you will not receive any refund and we will not apply the amount you paid to rebooking on another date. If you need to reduce the number of people in your group within two weeks of your booking your total amount due will only be reduced by 50% of the cost of each person that is being removed from the booking. We cannot make exceptions to our cancellation policies due to sickness, travel disruptions or other unexpected events.
##Cancelling Due to Weather
We will offer the option of a full refund if we decide to cancel your booking due to weather conditions. We usually do not cancel tours due to overcast skies, cool temperatures or scattered showers (the seas are often especially calm and pleasant during these conditions), but we do cancel when winds are too strong, when rain is steady or when sustained thunderstorms appear likely. We will call you as soon as possible if we cancel your trip and we will give you a choice between rescheduling or receiving a full refund.
Please keep in mind that the weather along the Maine coast is unpredictable and quick-to-change. Forecasts made several days in advance are very frequently inaccurate, and it is very common for a single summer day to include several hours of ideal conditions and several hours of very poor conditions.
