Basic Sea Kayaking Course II - Olympia - 2023

Sea Kayaking Course

Basic Sea Kayaking Course

Basic Sea Kayaking Course - Olympia 2023 Second Course

The course provides a basic introduction to Sea Kayaking and graduation from the course permits members to sign up for Mountaineer Sea Kayak trips with any Branch. No prior knowledge or experience is required. All instruction will be in single sea kayaks. If you do not own a kayak, rentals will be available. The course will be limited to 10 people. Please note the dates carefully and confirm that your schedule will permit you to attend all the sessions. There will likely be no opportunity to make up missed sessions. Missing a session may prevent you from continuing with the class due to safety considerations and will prevent you from graduation.

Sea kayaking, and the course, involve a level of strength, flexibility and endurance possessed by most physically active individuals. Examples of this would mean the ability to lift 25 lbs over your head, walk briskly for one hour, lift yourself to the side of the pool without using a ladder, and have the flexibility to sit upright with legs on the floor straight in front of you. Successful completion and enjoyment of the course is reliant on this minimal level of fitness. 

Kayaks must be at least 14 feet long and have deck lines, footrests and flotation at both ends. Required gear needed is a spray skirt, paddle, coast guard class 3 -approved life jacket (PFD), paddle float and pump.

Students who do not own or have access to a kayak and required equipment will be required to rent on three occasions: Open water session, wet paddle and one additional Club sponsored trip. Kayaks will be provided for the pool session. You may also have other expenses for appropriate clothing and equipment.

Badges you will earn:

Course Requirements
Course Activity Date Availability Leader
Classroom Session 1
Olympia Friends Meeting House
Tue, May 21, 2024
Registration closes May 19
2 participants
6 instructors
Pool Session
Shelton Pool
Sat, May 25, 2024
Registration closes May 23
2 participants
6 instructors
Classroom Session 2
Online Classroom
Wed, May 29, 2024
Registration closes May 27
2 participants
7 instructors
Open Water Session
Kenneydell Park & Black Lake
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
Registration closes May 30
2 participants
5 instructors
Wet Paddle
Boston Harbor Vicinity
Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Registration closes May 31
2 participants
6 instructors
Roster
Required Equipment
  • Sea kayak with deck lines, footrests and floatation at both ends. Kayak must be at least 14' long. (Rentals will be available for those who don't have their own boat. Rentals will come with the following 5 pieces of equipment as well.)
  • Coast Guard class 3 life jacket (personal floatation device or PFD) 
  • Spray skirt 
  • Paddle
  • Pump
  • Paddle float

  • 3mm Farmer John type wet suit or a dry suit is required for the final on-the-water session and the required experience paddle.