Kachemak Bay Immersion Sea Kayaking Skills Symposium

May 28 – June 1, Halibut Cove, Alaska

• Camping • Sea Kayaking Skills • Stunning Scenery •

Enjoy five-Days of camping, learning & practicing Sea Kayaking skills in Kachemak Bay State Park, the scenic crown of jewels of the Alaska State Park system near Homer, Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula. This is a dynamic and varied venue that provides access to a wide variety of training conditions so you can develop a wide array of skills. What could be better? You get to learn and practice your skills in the environment you will need to use them.

This 5-day event is a comprehensive educational program, based on the syllabi and skills progressions of the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union. These programs are designed to provide you skills training, knowledge and experience for developing personal sea kayaking practices, risk management strategies, and trip planning techniques for paddling sea kayaks safely in Alaska.

Cold water and remote paddling venues characterize all paddling in Alaska; safety as an attitude is central to any sea kayak program offered by the Alaska Kayak School.

All about the 2010 Kachemak Bay Immersion Sea Skills Symposium

Item numbers go to link numbers in the document

Plus live email and registration form link in sec 10 registrations, etc.

1. List of Training Courses & Lectures

2. Schedule of Events

3. Why host a sea kayaking skills symposium in Halibut Cove?

4. Thumbnail sketch of the symposium

5. Sea Kayaking skills coaching of all levels, beginners to advanced

6. Symposium Course Descriptions

7. Sea Kayak Symposium Lecture Descriptions

8. Skills Progressions for symposium participation

9. Prices, Fees & Discounts

10. Registration, Reservations, Cancellation Policy & Refunds

11. What is your skill level? ; A key to what courses are right for you.

12. Standards of Performance – ACA and BCU syllabi

13. Coaches and Instructors

14. Expected conditions

15. What we provide

16. What you provide – transportation to symposium site & gear

17. Sea Kayaking Equipment List

18. Personal Clothing Lists – sea kayaking and camping

19. Camping Equipment List

20. Getting to Homer, getting around Homer, Halibut Cove Symposium site.

21. Food shopping in Homer and lodging.

1. List of Training Courses & Lectures

Introductory Sea Kayaking Skills – 5/28 & 5/29

Beginner Sea Kayaking Skills – Level 2 – 5/28 & 5/29

Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills - Level 3 – 5/29

Sea Kayak Navigation 1 – level 2 skills – 5/30

Sea Kayak Navigation 2 – Level 3 skills – 5/30

Beginner-Intermediate Tour – level 2 skills – 5/31

Intermediate Open Water Tour – level 3 skills – 5/31

Sea Skills Tuning and Practice Tour – level 2-3 skills – 6/1

Open Water Crossing – level 3 – 6/1

Lectures – Cold Water Kills (5/28), Packing a Sea Kayak (5/29), Sea Kayak Expedition Planning (5/30), Bear Safety and Conservation (5/31).

2. Schedule of Events

Thursday, 27 May

Travel to Halibut Cove to set up camp for students and staff that will be participating in the events on 28 May, Friday.

Friday, 28 May

Introductory Sea Kayaking Skills Training – Sea Skills I

Beginner-Intermediate Skills Training – Sea Skills II

Cold Water Fun, dressing for fun and safety – Evening lecture

Saturday, 29 May

Introductory Sea Kayaking Skills Training – Sea Skills I

Beginner-Intermediate Skills Training – Sea Skills II

Intermediate Skills Training – Level 3

Packing a Sea Kayak; day trips and more – Evening lecture

Sunday, 30 May

Sea Kayak Navigation & Trip Planning I, level 2 training

Sea Kayak Navigation and Trip Planning II, Level 3(4) training

Sea Kayak Expedition Planning – Evening lecture

Monday, 31 May

Beginner-Intermediate – Level 2 Tour

Open Water Tour - Level 3 Tour

Bear Safety and Conservation – Evening lecture

Tuesday, 1 June

Open Water Crossing – Level 3 paddlers

Sea Skills Tuning and Practice – Easy tour

3. Why host a sea kayaking skills symposium in Halibut Cove?– The Alaska Kayak School offers sea kayaking skill training courses in Halibut Cove every weekend in May to take advantage of the scenic camp site and a variety of sea conditions: protected coves, rock gardens, open water, and tidal streams.  The 2010 Immersion Skills Symposium will offer all of the advantages of May sessions over a long weekend with better weather, longer daylight hours, and more time for learning more with longer and more detailed skills progressions and tours.

4. Thumbnail sketch of the symposium – Participants and symposium staff will camp and paddle together for 5 days of fun and sea kayaking education. A progression of course offerings offers something for every student of sea kayaking in Alaska, even advanced paddlers. Informal evening lectures on appropriate topics will round out the 5-day event.

5. Sea Kayaking Skills coaching for paddlers of all levels, beginners to advanced. Active on-the-water courses will emphasize strokes and maneuvers, rescues and recoveries, navigation and trip planning for beginner and intermediate paddlers. The programs are designed to provide a comprehensive array of skills for sea kayaking safely in Alaska. Evening lectures on cold water fun, packing a sea kayak, expedition planning, and bear safety and conservation round out the offerings on this fun-filled Memorial Weekend event. Advanced paddlers will also benefit from the comprehensive review and tuning of skills, a perfect preparation for a level 3 sea kayaking skills assessment.

6. Symposium Course Descriptions

Introductory Sea Kayaking Skills Training – Sea Skills I. (level 1-2 skills) Equipment, cold water awareness, preparing to paddle, sea kayak design and function, carrying and launching, wet exits with and without skirts, paddle design and function, torso rotation and forward paddling, effective use of a paddle, back paddling, spin 360º, turning and steering, sideways and simple rescues. This course will start you out on the right path for your journey into sea kayaking. Perfect course if you’ve never had sea kayak instruction outdoors in a cold-water environment before, or if you feel you need to practice capsizing safely. Also a great review if it’s been a while since you worked on your sea kayaking skills. This course is a pre-requisite for Beginner-Intermediate Skills Training – Sea Skills II.

When: Friday 28 May & Saturday 29 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: can swim, willing to capsize, and follow verbal instructions

Beginner-Intermediate Skills Training – Sea Skills II. (level 2 skills) You’ve had previous sea kayaking instruction, but want to expand your skills and confidence, and learn to engage your torso in all your strokes and maneuvers for greater effectiveness and power. Topics in this course will include improving your forward paddling and boat control, variation in turning and steering, edging and tilting to assist maneuvering, low and high recoveries, sculling, refining the draw stroke, side. An important element of this course is an increased awareness of body, boat and blade. An array of rescue skills will be practiced, focusing on effective quick recoveries, including an introduction to towing. This course is a pre-requisite for any of the level 3 training courses and tours.

When: Friday 28 May & Saturday 29 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Sea Skills 1 or introduction to sea kayaking course.

Intermediate Skills Training – Level 3 skills. You have relative mastery of the flat-water skills and are becoming competent in engaging your torso more frequently in your strokes and maneuvers. This course will challenge your kayaking limits and expand your abilities for propulsion, boat control, balance, and rescues in open and moving water conditions. Variations in rescues and towing will be explored and practiced. This course is a pre-requisite for the Nav II course, open water level 3 tour (5/31) and the open water crossing (6/1).

When: Saturday 29 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Sea Skills 2 of beginner-intermediate skills training

Sea Kayak Navigation & Trip Planning I, level 2 training. This is an introduction and review of sea kayak navigation and trip planning skills. Topics include: simple chart and compass skills, time and distance practice, rules of the road, introduction to tides and currents, and introduction to marine weather, making a simple trip plans, paddling on a bearing, shooting a bearing, transferring bearings from the chart to the ocean and vice versa, orienting a chart to what you see, group awareness and simple leadership strategies. You will make a trip plan for an afternoon trip on which you will practice all your new skills. This course is a pre-requisite for the level 2 open water tour (5/31).

When: Sunday 30 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Sea Skills 2 of beginner-intermediate skills training

Sea Kayak Navigation and Trip Planning II, Level 3 training. You have a basic understanding of sea kayak navigation and want to review the basics (see Sea Kayak Nav I) and build a repertoire of trip planning and navigation skills for open water crossings with tidal streams and more exposed paddling. You will make a long trip plan and carry out the plan in the afternoon. Emphasis on reading charts and changing plans on the water, using ranges and transits, paddling in formation on a bearing and more. This course takes all the issues in Nav 1 on the road in open water, wind and waves, and paddling in tidal streams. This course is a pre-requisite for the Level 3 tour (5/31) and the Open Water Crossing (6/1).

When: Sunday 30 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Level 3 training and previous instruction and practice in applied sea kayak navigation.

Beginner-Intermediate Tour – level 2 skills. This is a tour in which you will tune and hone your level 2 skills and put them to work on an enjoyable day trip to view the scenic natural environment in Halibut Cove and Glacier Spit areas. At least 1 day of level 2 training is necessary for you to benefit from this tour, thus the ability to paddle at 2-2.5 knots is needed. This is a guided instructional outing in a wonderful natural setting., much more than just a guided trip.

When: Monday 31 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Level 2 sea kayak training, and instruction and practice in applied sea kayak navigation at the introductory level, such as Nav 1.

Open Water Tour - level 3 skills. This is a long open water tour designed to enhance and tune level 3 paddling skills, and demonstrate leadership styles and group dynamics. There will be 2-mile crossings, tidal streams of at least 2 knots, the potential for paddling in Force 3 wind and sea state 3 waves (to 1 meter) in a group setting. A variety of exposed marine environments will be visited and group members will develop a specific trip plan for the day. Rescue scenarios “will develop” along the way to give participants a chance to practice incident management skills, and rescues in a realistic setting (with back up from skilled coaches and instructors).

When: Monday 31 May, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Level 3 sea kayak training and practice in applied level 3 sea kayak navigation.

Open Water Crossing – Level 3 skills. This is a chance for all paddlers in the level 3 training program to paddle from Halibut Cove back to the Homer Spit on their way back to Homer at the end of the Symposium under the guidance of a qualified leader and to pack most, if not all, of your gear with you back to Homer in the sea kayak. This will be a long day, with the potential of paddling into wind and waves and a 3-mile crossing at the end of a long weekend of paddling. This could be a rewarding fun long-day’s journey or a slow slog into possible westerly winds. Strong and energetic paddlers only who are willing to put in a long day’s paddling at a 3 knot paddling speed.

When: Tuesday 1 June, 10 AM – 2 PM

Pre-requisites: Level 3 sea kayak training and practice, and applied level 3 sea kayak navigation.

Sea Skills Tuning and Practice – Easy Tour, level 2-3 skills. This is a chance for any of the symposium participants to participate in a relaxed easy tour in the Halibut Cove area while tuning and honing any of the skills practiced over the last few days. Emphasis of this tour is to enjoy and easy tour and to review or refine level 2-3 skills, including strokes and maneuvers, rescues and recoveries, navigation and trip planning.

When: Tuesday 1 June, 10 AM – 6 PM

Pre-requisites: Any symposium participant can participate.

7. Sea Kayak Symposium Lecture Descriptions

Cold Water Fun – Learn about the effects and dangers of cold-water immersion and how to dress for fun and safety while paddling cold water.

Packing a Kayak  – Learn how to pack a sea kayak to enhance your safety and performance on the water, applications to day trip and overnight trips will both be covered.

Sea Kayak Expedition Planning– Learn how to plan your own sea kayak adventure in Alaska with safety and risk management principles designed to ensure your safe and timely return.

Bear Conservation and Safety – Sea kayaking adventures in Alaska take place in bear-habitat, this lecture will help you learn how to maximize your personal safety and promote the safety and conservation of Alaskan bear populations.

8. Skills Progressions for your symposium participation – The following progressions of courses are the designed to optimize your learning, fun and safety. These progressions are based on the skills progressions of the American Canoe Association and British Canoe Union and provide a program along increasing levels of difficulty intended to give you a series of achievable goals in your paddling education.

5-day Progressions

A.  Novices & Beginners – Sea Skills I (5/28), Sea Skills II (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 1 (5/30), Level 2 Tour (5/31), Easy Tour and skills practice (6/1).

B. Beginner-Intermediates (& above) – Sea Skills II (5/28), Level 3 Training (5/29), Navigation &Trip Planning 2 (5/30), Level 3 Tour (5/31), Open Crossing or Relaxed Tour and skills practice (6/1).

4-day Progressions

A. Novices & Beginners– Sea Skills I (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 1 (5/30), Level 2 Tour (5/31), Relaxed Tour and skills practice (6/1).

B.  Beginner-Intermediates (& above)– Sea Skills II (5/29), Navigation &Trip Planning 2 (5/30), Level 3 (or level 2) Tour (5/31), Open Crossing or Easy Tour with practice (6/1).

3-Day Progressions

A. Novices – Sea Skills 1 (5/28), Sea Skills II (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 1 (5/30); OR Sea Skills 1 (5/29), Navigation and Trip Planning (5/30), Level 2 Tour (5/31)

B. Beginners (not novices) - Sea Skills I (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 1 (5/30), Level 2 Tour (5/31) Sea Skills 1 (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 1 (5/30), Level 2 Tour (5/31).

C. Beginner-Intermediates Level 3 training (5/29), Navigation & Trip Planning 2 (5/30), Level 3 Tour (5/31).

Other options? Please call (907) 235-2090 for more information and with any other ideas you have about what skills progressions might work for you.

9. Prices, Fees & Discounts

Receive a 2.5% discount by paying cash/check.

Receive an additional 2.5% discount by paying by 1 May 2010

10. Registration, Reservations, Cancellation Policy & Refunds:

Advance registration is necessary for this event, the supply of sea kayaks, dry suits and the rest of the gear needed is limited. In addition, the event will take place on a remote beach; once we have taken the gear to the site, we’ll be there all weekend, and our ability to accommodate last minute registrations is limited (but not necessarily impossible).

a. More information and registration: (907) 235-2090, alaskakayakschool@gmail.com

b. Register online:

c. Reservations & early registration discounts – A 50% deposit is necessary to hold your reservation, final payment is due 15 days before the event, on 7 May 2010. A 2.5% discount is available if you pay cash or check, and an additional 2.5% discount is available if you register and pay in full by 1 May 2010.

d. Upon completing your registration, you will receive and informational packet including details of the camp site, terms and conditions document, liability waiver and personal responsibility statement, confidential medical form, skills syllabi appropriate to your skill level, bear safety and a list simple recommendations to enhance your symposium experience.

e. Refund Policy

Cancellation <7 days before the event, 5% refund (21 May 2010)

Cancellation 8-14 days before the event, 25% refund (14-20 May 2010)

Cancellation 14-21 days before the event, 50% refund (7-14 May 2010)

Cancellation 22-30 days before the event, 25% refund (29 April-6 May 2010)

Cancellation More than 30 days before the event, $50 processing fee

11. What is your skill level? A key to what courses are right for you.

• Novice – are not comfortable capsizing with a skirt, or have never had formal sea kayak instruction in cold water; you may have paddled many times but not developed your skills in a formal setting.

• Beginner – you are comfortable capsizing with a skirt into cold water with a skirt on, have taken formal instruction in sea kayaking skills in cold water, and have control of a sea kayak in calm conditions without a rudder.

• Beginner-Intermediate – comfortable capsizing in open water with a skirt, have taken formal sea kayak instruction, and can control a sea kayak in light winds and small waves without a rudder, can do a simple assisted rescues in calm conditions, and have basic sea kayak navigation skills for paddling along shorelines without tidal streams.

12. Standards of performance – The standards of instruction for the Alaska Kayak School include the American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Level system, and the British Canoe Union Star Awards system. If you have never taken kayak instruction from the Alaska Kayak School, realize that even our “beginner” classes coach you in skills that seem not to be in the mainstream of the sea kayaking community in Alaska, but are part of the modern sea kayaking curriculum in wide use throughout the World. The Kayak School’s adherence to the skills progressions of the ACA and the BCU is our commitment to excellence, safety and risk management for maximizing fun and enjoyment on the water. For more information, check www.americancanoe.org and www.bcuna.com .

13. Coaches and Instructors – All coaches and instructors are professional sea kayaking skills educators and members in good standing of the American Canoe Association, the British Canoe Union or both. All primary instructors are highly skilled and are qualified to teach and lead in open water conditions. Each of us had taught hundreds of students over much of the last decade and we bring our best efforts to this event. Qualified assistants will often accompany each primary instructor and be useful seconds to assist you over the course of the symposium.

A. Tom Pogson, American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Level 3 Instructor and Instructor trainer trainee, British Canoe Union level 4 sea kayak coach, foundation safety and rescue assessor. 15 years teaching paddling in Alaska, Florida, California, Wales, U.K., Oregon, & Washington. Symposium organizer & director; owner, Alaska Kayak School since 1998.

B. Matt Nelson, BCU level 3-sea kayak coach, and BCU 5 star leader, 5 years teaching sea paddling in Washington, Oregon, & California. Sea Kayak circumnavigation of Kenai Peninsula in 2008.

C. Ryan Collins, BCU 4 star sea, BCU Level 2coach/3 coach trainee, 5 star sea kayak leader trainee, and ACA Coastal Kayak Instructor, Owner Paddlers Realm, since 2007. 8 years teaching paddling in Alaska & Washington.

14. Expected conditions – Water temperatures in the 40ºs; daytime air temperatures 40º-60ºs, nighttime temperatures 30º-40ºs. Rains are not common at this time of year, but cannot be ruled out. Winds 10-20 knots from the East are not uncommon, but West winds are certainly common once the sunny days with a day breeze develop in early summer. Halibut Cove provides access to a variety of sea conditions including: calm and protected waters, rock gardens, tidal streams in Halibut Cove Lagoon and China Poot Bay, semi-protected water in outer Halibut Cove and open water in Kachemak Bay. This is a dynamic and varied venue that provides access to a wide variety of training conditions you need to paddle safely in Alaska. What could be better? You get to learn and practice your skills in the environments in which you will use them.

15. What we provide – We can provide all the paddling gear you need in order to take advantage of the symposium: Kokatat Gore-tex dry suit, sea kayak, paddle, skirt, PFD, helmet, helmet liner, gloves, etc. See equipment list below. For a $35 dollar fee we can provide a set of dry bags, and we have a limited number of 2-person tents available for the event for $50/tent. Limited lodging space in a cozy yurt is available for 3-4 people, first come, first served, contact us for pricing and availability.

16. What you provide – Each participant must provide their own personal clothing, camping supplies, personal medications, first aid and toiletries, food and drinking water – see equipment list below. Additionally we encourage you to bring a small waterproof notebook, hand-held compass, pencil, and larger journal/notebook for taking notes on land. A small set of personal dry bags to take personal items, such as a change of clothes, warm jacket and hat, food and personal first aid kit with you each day on the water is also needed. Because we are camping in bear habitat, you should plan on storing your food in an approved bear proof container, or have a viable means to hang your food out of reach of our furry friends – no exceptions.

Transportation to the Symposium Site. Although we can facilitate the water taxi transportation, it is your responsibility to pay for your own transportation, approximately $85 rt w/ sales tax and state park fees, if you arte part of the symposium. For more information, contact Mako’s Water Taxi, (907) 235-9055. Mako’s Water Taxi is located on the Homer Spit across the parking lot from the Harbormaster’s bathrooms.

17. Sea Kayaking Equipment List,

a. Sea Kayak* with deck lines, 2-3 waterproof compartments, and surf toggles

b. Dry suit* with functional waterproof neck seal, wrist seals, and either attached waterproof socks or ankle seals.

c. Non-absorbent layers to wear in the dry suit and in camp; fleece, capilene, etc.

d. Helmet*

e. Helmet liner*

f. Neoprene booties*

g. Neoprene gloves*

h. Spray skirt*

i. Sea Kayak Paddle*

j. Bilge Pump*

k. Dry bags**

l. Warm jacket, hat and gloves

m. Rain Gear

n. Extra clothing in a dry bag

o. Water bottles - 2

p. Personal first aid kit – including sunscreen, band aids, Tylenol/ibuprofen/aspirin, etc. as needed.

q. Sunglasses, extra eyeglasses, contacts

r. Optional sea kayaking equipment: Marine VHF radio, towline, knife, boat compass, duct tape, repair kit, cell phone in water proof box or dry bag, water treatment.

• - Alaska Kayak School provides with equipment rental

** - Can be provided for a fee

18. Personal Clothing for paddling in a dry suit – NO COTTON

Needed – 2-3 pairs of non-absorbent (no cotton) top and bottom layers:

• thin wicking layer next to skin
• thicker insulating layer over wicking layer, such as fleece
• 3-4 warm pairs of socks

Recommended Personal Clothing for Camping

• Rubber Boots
• Warm clothing
• River sandals/crocs/running shoes
• Rain jacket and pants
• Nylon shorts
• Nylon pants
• Warm hat & jacket
• Rain hat-hood on your jacket
• Bug jacket (naw probably too early for that, but then again, maybe not?)

19. Camping Equipment List

a. Tent **

b. warm Sleeping Bag & sleeping pad

c. Rain (cooking) Tarp + cord **

d. Stove, lighter, matches

e. Fuel

f. Pots and pans

g. Food

h. Drinking water supply*** and drinking water treatment

i. Bear proof food container

j. Plate, bowl, utensils

k. dish washing supplies (organic detergents)

l. Camp chairs

m. Knife

n. Toilet kit – tp, hand sanitizer, trowel, etc., there are outhouses14-Jan-1014-Jan-1014-Jan-10

o. Multi-tool

p. Headlamp with extra batteries

q. Drinking water treatment and extra water storage bags, jugs, etc.

r. Pepper spray – bear repellent

s. extra Parachute cord – 50-100’

** Tents available for $50/tent, tarps available for $30/each, limited supply.

***Drinking water can be procured at the Harbormaster’s Office on the Homer Spit adjacent the harbor. Typically there is a small stream that flows into the forest from the cliff surrounding the campsite, but most convenient in many ways is to bring a meaningful supply of drinking water with you.

20. Getting to and getting around Homer, transportation to the Symposium site, food shopping in Homer, etc. – Homer is approximately 250 miles from Anchorage on the Seward and Sterling Highways, driving time is approximately 5 hours without too much rubbernecking.  The Homer Stage Line provides daily bus service from Anchorage, http://thestageline.net/, (907) 235-2252. Daily flights from Anchorage by ERA Aviation (http://www.flyera.com/, (800) 866-8394  / (907) 266-8394) and Grant Aviation (http://www.flygrant.com/, Call 888-Fly-Grant (888-359-4726), are pretty booked those weekends, but advance reservations make it possible to fly in and out of Homer.

Getting around Homer – a vibrant taxi industry thrives in Homer and provides good ground transportation for the car-less travelers. Reasonable fares from “town” out to the Homer Spit make a taxi service a good way to deliver yourself from Homer central to Mako’s Water taxi or any other water taxi service you’d choose to get to the Symposium site camping area in Halibut Cove.

21. Food Shopping in Homer – Several grocery stores serve the tastes and needs of a thriving outdoor town and industry, centrally located are the Safeway (90 Sterling Highway, Homer, AK (907) 226-1000 near Wells Fargo Bank and the Post Office) and the eclectic but user-friendly Sav-U-More (3611 Greatland Street, Homer, AK 99603. Tel: 907-235-8661).

For Lodging, budget minded travelers should check out the Driftwood Inn, www.thedriftwoodinn.com, 135 West Bunnell Avenue, Homer, AK 99603, (907) 235-8019.

For additional details or more information about Homer, check with the Homer Chamber of Commerce, www.homeralaska.org, (907) 235-7740.

More information? Call (907) 235-2090, alaskakayakschool@gmail.com