Paddling Education

Introducing SEEK: A Coastal Science & Kayaking Program for Middle Schoolers Portland Paddle is partnering with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution this summer to offer an exciting new program: SEEK, a week-long kayak and coastal science program for local 7th and 8th graders. SEEK stands for Science, Exploration, and Education from a Kayak.  Students will…

Paddling comes in many flavors, and at Portland Paddle we love them all. But making the jump from one type of paddling to another isn’t always straightforward, and the move between sea kayaking and whitewater kayaking can be especially tricky. In this post we’re sharing some tips on making the switch. First, though, here’s a…

Tips for Launching Your Island-Hopping Expedition If spending too much time away from the water is getting you down, we’ve got the perfect pick-me-up: planning a trip on the Maine Island Trail next summer! The trail extends 375 miles from the New Hampshire border to Canada and includes scores of campsites, so there are lots…

Five Takeaways from a MITA Expedition Portland Paddle Guide Paige Simenz originally fell in love with sea kayaking while guiding in Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands, and began working with us almost immediately after moving to Maine. She spent three weeks last summer thru-paddling nearly the entire coast of Maine from Machiasport to Portland. Below, she…

The Arctic Origins of the Qajaq The decked kayak (qajaq, qayraq, iqyaq, qayaq, etc) and double-bladed paddle are inventions of arctic and subarctic peoples, particularly the Inuit, Yup’ik and Aleut of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. These kayaks, first created at least 4,000 years ago, consisted of wood or whalebone frames over which animal hides…

Winter is fast approaching, and for many paddlers this means the end of the paddling season. Want to store your boats and paddle craft safely during the colder months? Check out our hot (actually cold!) tips below.  (And for all of you year-round kayakers, be sure to take a look at our post on cold weather…

Sea kayaks. Recreational kayaks. SUPS. Canoes. Rowboats. With so many kinds of paddle craft out there, it can be hard to know where to start, or which one can best help you achieve your paddling dreams. Read on to learn the difference between each type of vessel, and how and why to choose the one…

An Interview with P2 Community Member Cathy Nugent This winter we’re sharing a series of conversations with Portland Paddle guides, each one focused on a specific topic related to paddling the Maine coast. Today we’re talking with Cathy Nugent on falling in love with paddleboarding and getting started in SUP racing. Comments have been edited…

See the Historic Sites of WWII-Era Casco Bay By Sea Kayak Our recent post titled €œSix Historic Forts You Can Visit By Foot or Kayak€ covered some of our favorite forts to visit while kayaking on Casco Bay, including Fort Gorges and Fort Scammel. In this post we’re shifting our focus from these forts built…

The Joys of Tide Pooling and Beach Combing with Melanie Collins This winter we’re posting a series of interviews with Portland Paddle guides, each one focused on a specific topic related to paddling the Maine coast. Today we’re sharing a conversation with Melanie Collins about the intertidal zone! Melanie is a registered Maine guide, ACA…