Course Descriptions

1. Sea Kayak Guide Training.
Practice flat and open water sea kayak boat handling skills and life saving and rescue techniques. These drill and practice sessions are appropriate for sea kayak guides that will lead groups in sea conditions from flatwater up to moderate (force 4 winds, 3 knots of current, and 3 ft. surf). Course consists of: BCU 2 and 3 star training and assessment, Canoe Safety test, and BCU 4 Star Sea Kayak training. Pre-requisites: Permission of instructors. This is a very fun, very physical, and very wet 4 days of training and assessments.
Date: 2 sessions: a) 31 April-4 May & b) 14-18 May
Fees: Call
Where: Alaska Kayak School
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

2. BCU 2 Star Kayak Skills Training & Assessment,
Develop the basic kayaking skills and an understanding of your actions and the reactions of your kayak. Safety, balance, torso power and lower body boat control. Knowledge of necessary equipment, boat control, assisted rescues, clean wet exits, and confident paddling are the trademarks of this skill set. You'll be ready for paddling sheltered waters in good conditions. Pre-requisites: None. All equipment provided.
Dates: Training - 1 and 15 May, Assessment - tba
Where: Homer area - protected water
Fee: $85 (training), $35 (assessment)
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

3. BCU 3 Star, Intermediate Kayak Skills Training
Develop technical control of your kayak, efficient rescue skills, and start paddling in some wind and waves. Precise strokes and maneuvers, excellent balance and bracing, efficient rescues and towing, and detailed knowledge of the sport. Paddle comfortably in low-end moderate sea and wind conditions.
Dates: 3 and 17 May
Where: Kachemak Bay
Fee: $85
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

4. BCU 4 Star, Advanced Sea Kayak Skills Training
Develop the skills needed to be a useful member of a group in moderate-advanced conditions (force 4 winds, 3 foot of surf, and 3 knots of tidal current). Become knowledgeable regarding necessary equipment, clothing an hypothermia, trip planning, open water paddling skills, paddling in current and surf, simple navigation, deep water rescues, towing, safety awareness, group dynamics, and more.
Dates: 4 and 17 May
Where: Kachemak Bay
Fee: $85
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

5. BCU Canoeing Safety Test
This one-day long training and assessment is a comprehensive course in the theory and practice of life-saving and rescue techniques intended to give you the tools to help yourself and others in a paddling emergency. Safety equipment, signalling, hypothermia and clothing, rescue priorities, assisted and solo rescues in canoes and kayaks, throw bags, tow ropes, towing, water-based life saving, and more. Pre-requisites: basic kayaking skills, & willingness to get and stay wet. This course is a pre-requisite to BCU coach training.
Dates: 2 and 16 May
Where: Johnson Lake State Park / Homer reservoir / Kachemak Bay
Fee: $95
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

6. Introduction to Sea Kayaking
This one-day course will introduce you to the sport of sea kayaking. Emphasis on fun, safety, balance, basic skills and a confident wet-exit. Safe carrying and lifting, preparing to paddle, clothing and hypothermia, launching and landing, kayak control (forward, stop, back, sideways, spin the kayak, turn the kayak, steer the kayak, prevent a capsize), assisted rescues, group dynamics, simple navigation, kayak and paddle design and function and more.
Date: 7, 11 May
Where: Homer reservoir (7 May), & Johnson Lake State Park, Soldotna (11 May).
Fee: $75
Registration: Call (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]

7. Paddling Workshops
Sea, whitewater, surf Kayaking, Open Canoeing and Rescue skills. You and your friends or family looking for a day or half-day of coaching to develop your paddling skills? Pick the craft and topics of your choice: sea kayak, whitewater kayak, open canoe solo or tandem (flatwater, moving water and whitewater), surf kayaking, river safety and rescue, sea kayak safety and rescue, BCU kayak skills training and assessment, and more.

Trip planning, safe lifting and carrying, equipment design and function, hypothermia and clothing, launching and landing, balance, strokes and maneuvers, safety and rescue, group dynamics, trip planning, and more. Take advantage of these "flexible" courses to increase your awareness and skills on the water - just pick your craft! These are great sessions for developing and honing skills or to schedule BCU assessments. All equipment provided.
Date: 5, 6, 12, & 19 May
Where: Homer
Fee: $85 full day / $50 half-day
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]

8. Sea Duck Tour
Kasistsna Bay "Harlequin, Scoters and Eiders, Oh My!" Thu., Fri. 10-3. Be up close and personal with black scoters, harlequin ducks, goldeneye, bufflehead, sea otters and more on this guided sea kayak tour of protected Kasistsna Bay. We'll slowly explore this idyllic shallow bay on the falling tide to maximize viewing of sea ducks, marine mammals, and other marine life. The bay is so clear that viewing marine life on the bottom is a real treat. Enjoy impromptu lectures on marine natural history, kayaking skills and safety tips. Start and end your adventure with a short water taxi-wildlife tour across Kachemak Bay. Wear layered clothing, synthetics best. Your guide, professional kayak coach/instructor and recovering wildlife biologist Tom Pogson, will also provide hot chocolate. Email [email protected] for more info.
Date: 8 & 9 May
Where: meet at Mako's Water taxi office at Homer Spit
Fee: $85
Registration: Contact Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, Homer Chamber of Commerce, 235-7740, or view www. homeralaska.org/shorebird.htm.

9. Introduction to Tandem Open Canoeing
Canoe Day, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge - Get acquainted with the art of paddling open canoes. Safety, balance, communication between partners, paddle on your side of the boat, basic strokes and maneuvers: forward, back, stop, spin the canoe, turn the canoe, what to do in case of a capsize, hypothermia and clothing, and more.
Date: 10 May
Where: Kenai National Wildlife Refuge HQ lake
When: 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Fee: Free
Registration: Call or email Walter at Wilderness Way, 235-2090 or email [email protected]

10. BCU 2 Star Kayak Skills Training
Whittier. Develop the skills that will provide you with to an understanding of the relationship between your actions and the reactions of your kayak. General boat control, assisted rescues, clean wet exits, and confident paddling in sheltered conditions are the trademarks of this skill set. Limit of 10 paddlers. Pre-requisites: None
Dates: 20 May
Where: Whittier, Passage Canal.
Fee: $125
Registration: Contact Alaska Sea Kayakers (877) 472-2534 or email [email protected]

11. BCU Canoeing Safety Test
Whittier. This one-day training and assessment is a "very wet" and comprehensive course in the theory and practice of life-saving and rescue techniques intended to allow you help yourself and others in a paddling emergency. Safety equipment, signaling, hypothermia and clothing, rescue priorities, assisted and solo rescues in canoes and kayaks, throw bags, tow ropes, towing, water-based life saving, and more. Pre-requisites: basic kayaking skills, & willingness to get and stay wet. This course is a pre-requisite to BCU coach training. 8 Student minimum. All equipment provided, including drysuits.
Dates: 21 May
Where: Whittier, Passage Canal
Fee: $125
Registration: Contact Alaska Sea Kayakers (877) 472-2534 or email [email protected]

12. Kachemak Kayak Fest
This fun-filled 10-day event will feature many chances to: participate in free and inexpensive kayak skills courses; observe paddling, rescue, and safety demonstrations; attend lectures and workshops on sea kayaking, participate in a sea kayak race, take in a film festival, and much more. Here is a list of our festival offerings: Sea kayak-demo & test drive, paddling and rescue demonstration, sea kayak design and function, hypothermia and clothing (dry suit swim), sea kayak rescue workshop, marine hazards for the sea kayaker, and more. See us at our demo kayak site at the English Bay barge basin on the Homer Spit.
Dates: 23 May - 1 June
Where: Homer Spit and Kachemak Bay
Registration: Contact us at (907) 235-2090 or email [email protected]
For more information visit: www.kachemakkayakfest.com

Alaska Kayak School - Festival Courses:
Sea Kayak Design and Function - 24 May (Sat.), 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, FREE
Introduction to Kayaking - 25 May (Sun.), 1:00-5:00 PM, $40
Hypothermia and Clothing (dry suit swim) - 26 May Mon.), 1:00-3:15 PM, $10
Kayak Rescue Workshop - 26 May (Mon.), 3:30-5:30 PM, $10
Introduction to Sea Kayaking - 27 May (Tue.), 9:00 AM -5:00 PM $65
Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue - 28 May (Wed.), 9:00 AM-5:00 PM $65
Paddling Sea Kayaks in Tidal Current - 29 May (Thu.), 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, $85
Open Water Sea Kayaking Skills - 30 May (Fri.), 9:00 AM-5:00 PM $85
Rough Water Rescues - practiced in calm water - 31 May (Sat.), 1:00-3:30 PM, $35
Rough Water Workshop - 1 June (Sun.), 12:00-5:00 PM, $50

See our page of course descriptions taking place during this event