Quick Details
We are now offering our Ocean Skills Workshops as a 4-part series of online courses that meet via Zoom. Each session meets once for two hours, with a brief Q & A following each session. Students will receive access to a course website with exercises and resources that we will discuss during our class, as well as recordings of each session.
This session will provide an overview of the fundamental knowledge and skills you need to paddle on the Maine coast and other ocean environments. We’ll discuss the primary risks and hazards, the essential gear and equipment, and the opportunities for adventure and exploration that open up to paddlers who develop the necessary skills and knowledge. The session will also introduce some essential elements of navigation that we’ll build on in the following session.
This session will prepare you to navigate through fog, cross busy boating channels and use navigation tools like compasses and parallel rules. Gaining familiarity with some basic principles and skills of navigation will make you much more prepared to sea kayak safely and confidently.
This session will give you a deeper understanding of how to read the tides, currents and waves of the Maine coast and how to use them to your advantage when paddling. We’ll review the dynamics behind the natural cycles and the tools that are available to paddlers to predict them.
This session is designed to prepare you to use the skills learned in the first three sessions to plan a safe, fun and adventurous paddling trip on coastal waters. We’ll talk about what to consider when choosing a destination; the gear you’ll need; safety precautions to take before and during your trip; managing group dynamics on the water; and many other topics. We’ll also plan a hypothetical trip together.