This fun and challenging program teaches you the skills and theory necessary to start assisting on overnight kayaking tours and to start leading day-long (or shorter) kayaking tours. This course is also of interest to recreational paddlers looking to develop their intermediate-level paddling skills and knowledge. You’ll learn to use your foundational strokes and rescue skills to manage groups safely on the water. You’ll apply navigation skills to assist in guiding groups on multi-day, overnight trips into wilderness settings. Moderate surf conditions may get between your group and your overnight camping location, so you’ll learn strategies to safely bring your group ashore. This practical course takes place in the field, so you’ll take part in a multi-day kayak tour, where you will learn to set up campsites and prepare meals. Successful candidates will be awarded Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC (SKGABC) Assistant Overnight Guide status. For more information on guide certification and requirements, please visit the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC website www.skgabc.com. In addition, successful candidates will be awarded Paddle Canada Level-2 Skills certification. For more information on Paddle Canada, please visit their website www.paddlingcanada.com.
2012 Dates: Apr 23 – May 1
Location: Clayoquot Sound (Tofino, British Columbia, Canada)
Course Cost: $1300 Kayak and Paddling Gear Rental: $270
Ages: 19 and up
Prerequisites: Participants must be 19 years of age and should have previous sea kayaking and overnight camping experience. This course is designed to add to existing kayaking skills and develop these skills further. It is designed to teach you to guide from a kayak; it is not designed to be an introduction to basic kayaking skills. Participants are encouraged to enter the course with basic sea kayaking strokes and rescue techniques. Specifically, it is recommended that you are familiar with the following skills before entering this course:
If you have not previously received instruction in the above or are unsure of your skills, we recommend that you take an introductory kayaking course, such as ‘Introduction to Kayaking Skills’ from a qualified kayaking centre, such as Ocean River Sports, before entering this course. Doing this will not only facilitate your success in the course, it will also increase your enjoyment during the course. Because of time limitations, the instructors will not be able to fully teach the above skills during this course, although a review will be provided. If you have questions about your level of experience, please give us a call.
Overnight camping experience is also recommended before taking this course. This does not necessarily mean you have used a sea kayak for an extended overnight camping trip; rather, you can gain appropriate overnight camping experience through backpacking, cycling, or other situations where a small, packable tent is used and your food needs to be carried in and meals are prepared at the campsite.
It is not necessary to have a strong background in navigation, weather interpretation, nor leadership, as these topics are covered in detail during the course.