Canoe Instruction

I’ve canoed since high school and a canoe is tied to how Karen and I met (long story). Canoeing is as New England a you can get.  Maine was a canoe building mecca and is still the headquarters of famous Old Town Canoe.  Being able to effortlessly maneuver a canoe is as much art as skill.  Canoes are at home on a placid pond for moose watching or rivers crashing around rocks.  Canoeing is just plain fun and way less frustrating if you’re taught correctly.  Check out the course descriptions below and let us know how we can help you learn to paddle a canoe, solo and tandem.

QuickStart Your Canoe: QuickStart is a brief, three-hour introduction to paddling a canoe. Students are presented with basic information on boat control, paddling apparel, potential hazards and simple rescues. An entry level of paddling skills is presented and practiced, allowing students to safely and effectively maneuver on flat-water. While designed as stand-alone courses, the interested paddler can progress to more advanced levels of instruction, progressing to the Introduction or Essential levels of courses. These subsequent courses offer greater paddling skill development through additional guided, on-water practice time.

Perquisite:  None Next Step:  Intro to Canoe, Essentials of Canoe, Moving Water Canoe

Introduction to Canoeing: (Level 1) Intro to Canoe is a six-hour course focusing on the basic canoe skills for the solo and/or tandem canoeist. Students are presented with basic information on boat control, paddling apparel, potential hazards and simple rescues. An entry level of paddling skills is presented and practiced, allowing students to safely and effectively maneuver on flat-water. If a paddler decides to move above the Introductory level, the successive courses are divided into two categories: Touring Canoe & River Canoe.

Perquisite:  None Next Step:  Essentials of Canoe, Moving Water Canoe

Essentials of Canoeing: (Level 2) – Essentials to Canoeing adds to the knowledge and skills of Level 1 and includes strokes for going backwards, side slips, tight turns, braces, and heeling. There is more emphasis on stroke and paddle mechanics than in the previous courses. Besides corrective forward strokes, traveling backwards under control, there are more in depth rescues, how to travel safely, winds and waves management. The participant is assuming a significant commitment to the sport. Taught on flat water to gentle moving rivers, with mild currents. Venue is such as that flat water rescues and skills could be used.

Perquisite:  None Next Step:  Moving Water Canoe

Moving Water Canoeing: (Level 3) – Moving Water Canoe is for the participant who has taken the Level 2 – Essentials to Canoeing Course, and wants to apply those skills to moving water (up to and including Class I). Participants may paddle a recreational canoe or WW canoe in the sitting or kneeling position. The focus is on learning about river features and hazards, how to handle capsizes on the river, more advanced rescues, how to do eddy turns and ferries, how to scout, keys to good judgment, clothing and much more.

Perquisite:  Essentials to Canoe Next Step:  Skills specific courses like whitewater or touring

Custom Clinics: Sometimes you just want something specific to your needs and the skills you want to learn.  We’re happy to accomodate you!  Just give us a call and we’ll discuss and design the right program for you.

$75/hour Minimum 2 hours and a Maximum of 3 students