Flatwater Packraft Course Outing:  paddle on a lake

Field trip: Introduction to Flatwater Packrafting

Flatwater Packraft Course Outing: paddle on a lake - Lake Washington: Matthews Beach

The first field trip will cover safety skills, swimming skills and paddling skills.

  • Easy
  • 1 (10 capacity)
  • FULL (4 capacity)
  • Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
  • Sun, Aug 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
  • Cancellation & Refund Policy
  • iCal Google

Students will need to bring all required equipment, including a dry suit. This session will include:

  • Inflation and preparation of the packraft
  • Basic swimming skills 
  • Paddling skills
  • Safety skills, including assisted and unassisted rescues

Module 1:  rigging, adjust thigh straps, adjust backrest, tie bow line, tie stern grab line

Module 2:  dry suit burping, practice floating, swimming backstroke, swimming crawl stroke, swimming on back with paddle, swimming with paddle doggie style

Module 3:  various paddling strokes:  box technique, draw stroke, sculling, back-paddling, etc.  Set up 5 buoy slalom course, do relay races around the concrete dock. Paddle along the shore for a short distance

Module 4:  rescues - waist deep self entry, partner assist, deep water entry, group rescue, paddling with extra paddle,  boat carry on the bow, boat bump, tow a swimmer koala style on the bow, tow a swimmer on a line

lake day 2.jpeg

Meet at 9 am at Matthews Beach park on Lake Washington.

Route/Place

Lake Washington


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

Standard flatwater Packrafting equipment per course overview

Trip Reports