We offer group, private and custom courses. Check out this list for some of our favorite course offerings, or contact us for a custom course for yourself or your group. When you’re ready to sign up, call us at 708.628.HKWT (4598).

Fall in Love with Paddling!

If you’ve never been in a sea kayak, whitewater kayak, or canoe, this is the course for you! Try out various craft and learn what makes each one especially appropriate for various environments and adventures. Learn some of the fundamentals that will make you successful in any of them…or all of them! This foundations-level course will cover:

  • boat types, padlle types and essential gear
  • boat fit for comfort and performance
  • foundation skills for paddlesports
  • general safety
  • personalized next steps

This full-day course will help you discover the joys of being in a small, self-propelled boat in sheltered water and help you develop goals for future paddling experiences.

Prerequisites:

  • comfort being in the water

Cost: $125

Sea Kayak Essentials

Whether you’re new to sea kayaking or your skills are rusty, this course will ground you in the fundamental concepts for becoming a safe and competent sea paddler. We will work on:

  • efficient forward paddling
  • turning and maneuvering
  • rescues
  • safe decision-making

Plus other skills appropriate to the goals of the participants. This course is aligned with the British Canoeing two-star level.

Prerequisites:

  • comfort in the water

Cost: $125

Canoe Essentials

Whether you’re new to canoeing or your skills are rusty, this course will ground you in the fundamental concepts for becoming a safe and competent canoeist. We will work on:

  • efficient forward paddling
  • turning and maneuvering
  • rescues
  • safe decision-making

in single and tandem canoes. Plus other skills appropriate to the goals of the participants. This course is aligned with the British Canoeing two-star level.

Prerequisites:

  • comfort in the water

Cost: $125

British Canoeing Two-Star Assessment

Successful performance at this level indicates that the paddler can use fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water to control movement of both canoes and kayaks, and have an understanding of how the paddle, boat and water interact.

The assessment can be taken as a way of measuring your skills level, but we strongly encourage you to take our Sea Kayaking Essentials and Canoeing Essentials courses, or other trainings to prepare you for this assessment.

Assessment notes are available here, detailing the list of skills evaluated during the assessment.

If you wish to attain the certification, you must pay an additional $30 to Paddlesports North America, but we encourage you to join PNA and get a $10 discount on this award along with other benefits now and as you develop as a paddler.

Prerequisites:

  • comfort in the water

Cost: $125, plus $30 ($20 PNA member) fee for the certification if you pass.

Open Water Journeying

Do you know how to plan and execute a safe, enjoyable day paddle on the Great Lakes? Boat handling skills are essential, but you also need the ability to

  • assess and mitigate risks
  • know what to bring
  • evaluate route options
  • communicate with lock tenders and other ships using a VHF radio
  • negotiate boat traffic
  • launch and land in a variety of places
  • solve problems and make decisions as needed to keep a group safe and have fun on the water

This full-day course will help you develop all of these skills during a journey. We will send you materials in advance to help you participate in decisions about risk, route and leadership.

Prerequisites:

  • sea kayak suitable for paddling on Lake Michigan
  • experience with at least one journey of at least 8 miles
  • Working toward BCU 3 star award or ACA level 3, skills assessment

Cost: $125

Productive Play

This half-day course focuses on fun and engaging ways to advance your paddling skills. We cover core paddling concepts, boat-handling and rescues through exercises, activities and games you can then use on your own. Prepare to laugh and get wet; go away with enhanced boat awareness, balance and basic skills that will improve your paddling and rescues.

Prerequisites:

  • sea kayak suitable for paddling on Lake Michigan
  • ACA Level 2 or BCU 2* skills (contact us if you aren’t sure what these are)

Cost: $75

Rescue Clinic

This course focuses on how to keep from getting into trouble on the water, and how to solve problems that arise. We’ll spend time learning or refining rescues in controlled conditions before moving into deep water and putting them to use. We will cover:

  • risk assessment
  • on-water communication
  • assisted rescues
  • self-rescues
  • towing

Cost Full day: $125
Cost Half day: $75

Kayak Camping and Tripping Skills

This course is for paddlers who have enough skill to handle their boats in a variety of conditions and are interested in learning how to prepare for and execute a multi-da, self-supported trip. We will cover choosing, packing and loading your gear, managing a loaded boat on land and on water, meal planning and preparation, and leave-no-trace practices. The water portion will cover simple navigation, route selection, and how to handle common problems that can arise with our gear, our group and the weather.
Contact us for details and to register at kayak.bp@gmail.com

Prerequisites:

  • sea kayak suitable for paddling on Lake Michigan

Cost: $550, includes coaching, campsite fees, and all meals Friday morning through Sunday morning.

Power Forward!

In this course, we will take an in-depth look at the many factors that affect the power and efficiency of your forward stroke, and explore when and why you would benefit from using them. Through coaching, activities and an open-water journey, you will discover how to get more from your forward stroke. You will also get to try different paddles to see what lengths and blade sizes and materials work best for different circumstances. This six-hours course includes a 6 to 8-miles journey.

  • sea kayak suitable for paddling on Lake Michigan

Cost: $125

Sunset Paddles

Meet us for a gentle sunset paddle along the shoreline, followed by a wine and cheese social. Contact us for dates, times and locations.

Cost: $75 (includes good wine and cheese!)

Private Courses

Work one-on-one with Alec or Sharon to reach your personal goals. Contact us to discuss specifics.
Cost Full day: $250
Cost Half day: $150

Custom Courses

Put together your own group of 2 to 8 paddlers for a lesson or a journey. Contact us to discuss specifics.

Cost Full day: $300 for two people, $400 for three people, $500 for four people
Cost Half day: $200 for two people, $300 for three people, $400 for four people