Basic Sea Kayaking Course

Due to COVID 19, we are running this course with limited capacity, small number of participants. If this course is full, please sign up anyway so your name will be in this course waiting list. If we have enough people in the waiting list, we will run the course again later in the year and you will be  the first to be notified.

If you have your own equipment and some sea kayaking experience consider applying for Seattle Sea Kayaking Equivalency.

If you’ve ever wondered what it must feel like to glide over the water in a small but seaworthy craft; if seeing marine life from a new perspective, or landing/camping on remote beaches “floats your boat”, then this comprehensive and highly-acclaimed Basic Sea Kayaking Course could be your ticket.  Offered annually by the Seattle Branch, this training is designed to prepare you for moderate fresh or salt water outings.  All of this training is conducted in single-seat kayaks with approved safety features.  For everyone’s safety, we require that you be able to swim 25 yards, and be able to re-enter a kayak from the water.  Did we mention that kayaking is best practiced as a team sport, and you’ll meet an amazingly supportive and sociable group of paddlers?

You will be introduced to the following:

1. Equipment including kayaks, paddles, clothing, and minimum gear for safe trips
2. Cold water environments, hypothermia and survival
3. Rescues and the importance of team work
4. Sea conditions including weather, waves, tides and currents
5. Basic navigation, trip planning and seamanship
6. Paddling skills and countering the effects of wind and waves on boat behavior
7. Safety, conservation practices and followership
8. Just how much FUN sea kayaking can be!

The course consists of a short online class via Zoom, three days of on the water instruction, the last of which satisfies the requirement for one of the two student paddle trips.  There are reading and video viewing assignments to be completed prior to zoom class room and water instruction days.  Google classroom will be used to deliver the assignments and important messages.

Dates, locations and times for these are:

• Zoom class room - Thursday, May 13, 2021 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
• Water Instruction Day 1 & Day 2,  Saturday & Sunday, May 22 & 23, 2021, approximately at 8 hours each day at Lake Washington Concrete Beach in Magnuson Park.  
• Water Instruction Day three:  Salt Water Paddle--Choose one on Saturday June 5, 2021 or Sunday June 13, 2021 at Port Gamble
• 2nd Student Paddle - Several student paddles, will be offered to assist the students in completing their course requirements.  Registration for these paddles will open in June.

Attendance during the Zoom session, completion of required pre-course homework, attendance of both on the Water Instruction day, one Salt Water Paddle instruction and the successful demonstration of wet exits, self rescues, assisted rescues, basic strokes and the participation in one qualifying student paddles (subsequent to the Salt Water Paddle instruction) are required to graduate.