Join East Coast Outfitters in a training program that will leave you with skills you will remember forever.

We require no previous experience - we will teach you everything you need to know. We only require that you are a self-identified leader and that you are willing to challenge yourself. This is a comprehensive course which spans fall into next spring.

It starts off with a Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayak Skills Course on the weekend of Sept 19-20. After that is complete will we will gather at ECO every weekend, until the weather tells us that paddling is done, for a 4 hour session on the water that will further progress your skills so that you can work towards completing your Sea Kayak level 2 skills in the spring of 2021.

Topics we will cover in the fall/spring include:

paddling skills
kayak and equipment design
self and assisted rescues
tidal theory
understanding wind, waves, & weather
sea kayak navigation
night navigation
journeying and seamanship
coastal ecology
wilderness first aid
Leave No Trace ethics
risk & crisis management
outdoor leadership

In late winter/early spring we will meet every Sunday beginning in March and continuing into April for classroom sessions that will cover: Wind, waves, currents, tides, weather and navigation. Classroom session to be held in Halifax at a place TBD

In May and June we will get back on he water where you will accompany our guides on guided sea kayak tour and lead clients on the water. The hands-on, practical experience with clients will enhance and solidify the training you received in the fall and winter.

By the end of the course you will have a solid foundation in practical guiding and risk/group management in order to organize, plan and lead sea kayak tours at ECO or any where in the world.

Also, If you have previous paddle training (Paddle Canada Skills/Instructor) but would like to focus on how to lead people on the water and learn from guides that have been guiding for over 20 years, this program will allow you learn through hands on practical experiences coupled with in depth theory covering navigation, ocean tides, weather prediction and wave dynamics. We can work with you to arrange an individual paddling plan where you can develop you guiding skills through fall weekend sessions, winter classroom session and spring guide sessions.

We will work with you on and individual basis to develop a personal paddle plan and create a timeline to complete the skills depending on your schedule and have you guiding tours by next spring. Join now and start shadowing tours with professional guides.

Becoming a sea kayak guide is a great way to spend your summer paddling, being part of a team, meet new and interesting people from all over the world, make a decent wage and improve your personal paddle skills. Whether you are a student or a teacher, retired or just love to paddle it’s never to late to start having the most challenging fun you’ll ever have.

Tentative Schedule:

Sept 19-20 Level 1 Paddle Canada Sea Kayak course

Sept 27 - On water training sessions focusing on Paddle strokes, rescues and group management

Oct 4 - On water training sessions focusing on trip planning and risk management.

October 11 - Optional sessions - organizing a day trip (Thanksgiving weekend)

October 17 - Planning for an overnight trip (optional overnight trip into Oct 18) Working on putting all the pieces together.

Winter Break

April/March Classrooms session - TBD as per participants schedules

May/June Sessions - dependent upon tour schedule

Participants who feel they are ready to take a Paddle Canada Level 2 course will have their potential assess as the course progress and will be made aware of courses they can take in the spring.

Please contact Adam at ECO 902-852-2567 to discuss this program in more depth and to inquire about cost and time commitments.

We will be hosting an open house on August 23th, 30th and Sept 12 from 10-12pm so that if you are interested in taking the program you can come and meet the instructors, go on a quick tour of the place and maybe a quick paddle. Contact us if you'd like to come down for any of those.