2008 Schedule - See descriptions below. Rates & Terms here. Updated June 30, 2008.
Prices do not include kayak rentals. Sound Kayakers club members have reduced rates on many programs.

JANUARY 2008
1 - Fifth Annual New Year's Day Paddle & Picnic, 10 am - 2 pm, $30
6 - ACA Basic Rescues - Greenwich YWCA pool, 9-11:30 am, $100 includes $20 pool fee.
7-18 - Kayak Adventure in the Bahamas.
20 - ACA Kayak Rolling - Greenwich YWCA pool, 9-11:30 am, $100 includes $20 pool fee.
27 - ACA Basic Rescues - Greenwich YWCA pool, 9-11:30 am, $100 includes $20 pool fee.

FEBRUARY
2 - Groundhog Day Tour, Cove Island Park - Stamford, 8:30 -11 am, $30.
3 - ACA Kayak Rolling - Greenwich YWCA pool, 9-11:30 am, $100 includes $20 pool fee.
8-17 - Kayak Adventure in St. Maarten.
23 - Coastal Tour in the Snow! Westport, 10 am -1 pm, $45.
24 - Sound Kayakers' Pool Practice & Brunch, 9 am -1 pm.

MARCH
1 - Saugatuck River Tour, 1-4 pm, $45.
4 - Sound Kayakers' Monthly Potluck Supper, 7-10 pm. Sandy Noyes' slides of Greenland.
9-22 - Kayak Adventure in Belize & Florida.

APRIL
5 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak, 9 am - 1 pm, $90. Includes cold water orientation.
12 - Coastal Tour, 9 am -12 noon, Greenwich - Tod's Point (Harbor Seals), $40.
19 - Coastal Tour, 9 am -12 noon, Stamford - Cove Island Park, $40.
25 - Cross LI Sound Prep/Navigation Clinic, 1-5 pm.
26 - Coastal Tour, 9 am -12 noon, Westport - Compo Beach, $40.

MAY
3 - Coastal Tour, 9 am -12 noon, New Rochelle, $40.
9 - Cross LI Sound Offshore Prep Clinic, 1-5 pm, $60.
14 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 10 am - 2 pm, $90. Includes cold water orientation.
16-20 - Kayak Adventure on Martha's Vineyard
21 - Sound Kayakers' Monthly Meeting & Potluck in Darien - paddle & picnic supper, 5-10 pm.
24 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, $137. Includes cold water orientation.
29 - Joe Shaw Forward Stroke Clinic, 3-7 pm, $130 (limit 8).
31 - Norwalk Islands Trip from Rowayton, 9 am - 12 pm, $45 - 8 miles at three knot pace.

JUNE
1 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 8 am - 2 pm, $137.
3 - Forward Stroke Clinic with Ben Lawry, 3-7 pm, $150 (limit 8).
7 - Cross LI Sound from Stamford, 12 miles, 8:15 am - 2:30 pm, $50.
8 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 9 am -1 pm, $90.
14 - CT Water Trails Day - Sound Kayakers' Tour & Picnic from Calf Pasture Beach Norwalk, 10 am to 2 pm.
15 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, $90.
16-26 Kayak Adventure on Martha's Vineyard
27 - Ready to Roll Class, 4-6pm, $80 (limit 2, 1 space left).
28 - Birdwatching Tour, 7-10 am, $45 (2 spaces left).
29 - Sound Kayakers' Rescue Clinic, Paddle & Picnic- Norwalk, 9 am - 1 pm. All club members welcome.

JULY
1 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 8 am - 12 pm, $90 (limit 5, 2 spaces left).
3 - Sound Kayakers' Paddle to see Independence Day Fireworks off Westport, CT, 6-10 pm.
6 - Traditional Rolling with Cheri Perry & Turner Wilson, 1 - 5 pm, $150 (limit 8, 2 spaces left).
8 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 12-6 pm, $137 (limit 5, 1 space left).
9 - Beginners' Tour with brief instruction, 3-5 pm, $60 (4 spaces left - price goes down if group is filled).
10 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 2-6 pm, $90.
13-19 Long Island Sound Kayak Trip - Greenport, NY to Greenwich, CT.
20 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 8 am - 2pm, $137 (limit 5, 1 space left).
21-29 Kayak Adventure on Martha's Vineyard
30 - Beginners' & Birders' Tour - Farm Creek Rowayton, 9 am - 12 noon, $45.

AUGUST
1 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 8 am - 12 pm, $90 (limit 5, 3 spaces left).
2 - Ready to Roll #2, 12- 3pm, $80 (limit 4, 3 spaces available).
3 - Coastal Kayak - Essentials of Kayak Touring (level 2), 9:30 am - 3:30 pm, $137.
5 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 10 am - 4 pm, $137.
6 - Beginners' Tour with brief instruction, 1-4 pm, $60
7 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 12-4 pm, $90.
9 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 12-6 pm, $137.
10 - Sunday Tour for beginners & birders, 7-11 am, $60.
12 - Tuesday Tour for beginners & birders, 8 am -12 pm, $60.
14 - ACA Basic Coastal Kayak Strokes & Rescues (level 3), 8 am -2 pm, $137.
16 - Sound Kayakers' Full Moon Paddle & Picnic, 6 - 10 pm.
17 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 10 am -2 pm, $90
19 - Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race Course Paddle - 14 miles, 10 am - 3 pm, $60. Join our Sound Kayakers club team!
21-31 Kayak Adventure on Martha's Vineyard

SEPTEMBER
13 - Sound Kayakers at Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race, 7 am - 1 pm.
23 - ACA Quickstart Your Kayak (level 1), 12-4 pm, $90.
27 - Thimble Islands Tour, 9 am - 2 pm, $60.
28 - Sound Kayakers Coastal Clean-up & Picnic, Cockenoe Island, Westport, 9 am - 2 pm, free to all willing to help.

OCTOBER
11 - Intro to Cold Water Kayaking, 9am - 1pm, $90.
13 - Sound Kayakers' Fall Foliage Paddle & Picnic, 9 am -2 pm.
16 - Thimble Islands Tour, 10 am - 2 pm, $60.
18 - ACA Introduction to Kayak (level 1), 9 am -3 pm, $137.
19-31 Kayak Adventure on Martha's Vineyard

NOVEMBER
1 - Coastal Tour, 9 am -12 pm, $45.
2 - Sunrise Paddle - Calf Pasture, 6:45-9 am, $30 (7:25 sunrise). Daylight Savings Time ends 2 am Nov 2.
8 - Captain Islands Tour - Tod's Point - Greenwich, 8-11 am, $45.
15 - Guilford Harbor Tour/Falkner Island, 9 am - 1pm, $60.
16 - Tour & Picnic, 12-3 pm, $45 (sunset 4:33 pm).
23 - Sound Kayakers' Cold Water Paddle & Picnic, 9 am - 1 pm. Free to members.

DECEMBER
16 - Sound Kayakers' Holiday Party 7-10 pm.

JANUARY 2009
1 - Sixth Annual New Year's Day Paddle.

To schedule:
E-mail class date with your name, address & phone number, or call in Norwalk: (203) 852-7294. If renting a kayak, please send your height & weight.
Ask to get on our e-mail trip notification list.

SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION
Beginners: Our learn to kayak program starts with either a 4 hour ACA Quickstart Your Kayak, or 6 hour ACA Introduction to Kayak class. We usually have 3-4 students per class. Follow this by joining a Coastal Tour for practice. After that, you should be ready to handle paddling within a hundred yards of shore on days with winds no more than 10 knots.

Intermediate & Advanced Paddlers: Continue to Level II instruction with Essentials of Kayak Touring (August 3 or 30), or Level III Basic Coastal Kayak Strokes & Rescues. These classes will help you gain the skills needed to paddle up to a half mile from shore on days with winds up to 15 knots.

A lesson once a year is a good idea. Use the time to review and refine stroke technique, to build endurance & speed through forward stroke coaching, and to fine-tune re-entry & recovery and practice it off-shore. Our Forward Stroke Clinics are highly recommended. The video-taping analysis lets you see and correct errors in technique. Are you interested in planning longer trips? Our Cross-Sound Prep will give you on-water navigation skills, essential planning information, and tips on best outfitting. If you haven't mastered the "Eskimo" roll, our Traditional Rolling class with Cheri Perry & Turner Wilson will give you a whole new way of learning. Our small group Ready to Roll classes, in a saltwater environment you trust, are the most effective way to learn bomb-proof re-entry skills.

ACA Quickstart Your Kayak - Level 1
This 4 hour American Canoe Association course includes both on-water & on-land instruction, and is ideal for sit-on-top kayakers. In addition to the ACA course material, we have each paddler exit and re-enter their kayak in shallow water, as we feel that is the most important safety & rescue skill you should master before setting out on your own. 

If you're planning to learn in a sit-inside kayak, the six hour Introduction to Kayak class is recommended. All our classes are limited to five students, so you get plenty of attention. Our instructor, in the orange kayak, teaches a typical class in the photo at right.

ACA Introduction to Kayak - Level 1
This 6 hour American Canoe Association course is designed to give a sit-inside kayaker all the basic information needed to begin sea kayaking, with both on-water and hands-on, land-based instruction.

Essentials of Kayak Touring - Level 2
is the ideal follow-up to Level 1 ACA instruction. To make sure you can join club trips at a novice level, we maintain a moderate pace, coach you to paddle in a straight line without a rudder, explain nautical "rules of the road," and practice 180 degree turns. We'll use nautical charts to assess hazards such as bridges, rocks and traffic, and we'll show you how to share the water with powered vessels. Finally, we teach low braces to recover from a near-capsize, and make sure your re-entry methods get you back in your kayak fast in deep water. An ACA Level 2 Assessment can be scheduled if you wish to have your skills evaluated. Sound Kayakers club members with Level 2 skills paddle free on all our summer coastal trips.

Basic Coastal Kayak Strokes & Rescues - Level 3
Once you're comfortable on calm water close to shore, learn to handle your kayak in a variety of sea conditions up to a half mile from shore. We'll teach how to use a chart and compass to navigate along the coast, and how to paddle effectively in a group, rafting up when needed. We'll work on forward stroke to increase your power and efficiency so you can handle tidal currents, getting to shelter fast if the weather changes, and getting back to shore if the wind picks up. To handle power boat chop, going downwind and paddling in a crosswind, we'll teach j-leans, ruddering, and how to modify sweeps & draws to incorporate bracing. In our rescues segment you'll learn how to assist other paddlers who've capsized. We'll teach you why and how to tow, and you'll learn or fine-tune a solo back-up re-entry method.

Kayaking to Build Endurance & Speed - Forward Stroke Coaching Clinics, Cross-Sound Prep
Being able to participate in our 12-16 mile Cross-Sound trips, the 14 mile Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race in September, or other longer distance events require you to have endurance and speed. For 2008, we'll have two guest coaches: Ben Lawry and Joe Shaw, with video analysis of each paddler, which we'll review at the end of the clinic. Last year's students were impressed with the organization of the class, and the level of instruction. Improvements in speed and efficiency were dramatic. You may also make an appointment for a private Forward Stroke coaching session.

To do a cross Sound trip, you should be paddling weekly, for 2-4 hours at a time, covering 6-12 miles. Sign on for our Cross LI Sound Prep class. The Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race information is at www.soundkeeper.org  Our Sound Kayaker's 2007 team did the race in 2.7 to 4 hours.

Mark practices hip-snap with Michele as he learns to eskimo roll.

Ready to Roll Instruction
If you are a sit-inside kayaker, having a reflexive response to a roll-over is an important skill set. Our ready to roll lessons give a step-by-step approach. We start by making sure your kayak is properly sized and padded, and your gear is optimal for progression. We'll assess what skills you already know, and move at a pace that is comfortable for you. You'll learn how to wet exit calmly, how to re-enter an almost empty kayak with a "fancy flip" and "cowboy" or "Taco" climb-in, and how to prevent capsize by bracing. We'll coach you to develop a balance brace and "hip-snap." If you paddle with others, we'll teach you assisted rescues that use a roll-up, including eskimo bow and side rescue. We'll teach stretches and exercises that build flexibility and strength where you need it to succeed. Integrated into each class are mini-lessons on paddle selection, set-up and recovery positions, and visualization exercises. We stand next to you in waist deep water while you practice rolls so that you always feel safe. Participants should be aware that eskimo rolling takes hours of practice and cannot be mastered in one, or even four classes. The goal is for you to have the ability to perform two rescue methods reliably. At the end of each lesson we give suggestions for further practice.

On July 6 we host Cheri Perry & Turner Wilson, teaching Traditional Rolling for the fourth year with Kayak Adventure. Every year our students have a high success rate - 80-100% learn to roll within the three hour class. Follow the link for lots of photos and student comments.

GUIDED TOURS

Beginners' Tours - 1.5 to 2 hours, summer only
After you've had a lesson with us, we make sure you're comfortable paddling by offering practice tours in protected waters. We review car-topping, launching, landing and stroke technique, as needed, in a short length tour that helps you build endurance.

Coastal Tours - 1.5 to 2 hours in winter, 3-4 hours in summer
Paddling close to shore gives you a close-up view of the natural and man-made beauty of Fairfield's "gold coast." We take you to secluded coves and inlets reminiscent of Acadia in Maine, and Newport's Ocean Drive. The pace is exploratory; birding is exceptional. We stop for a half-hour break on summer tours. Recommended for paddlers at any level who have had at least one lesson with Kayak Adventure.Contact us to discuss your experience level. On guided tours, you learn how to negotiate motorboat traffic, how to land and launch on rocky island beaches, how to exit your kayak for a stretch while on the water.

Other Tours & Trips
On request, we do sunrise, sunset and full moon paddles. We do cook-outs and overnights on the Norwalk Islands. We do small group trips for birthdays or other special events.

Tour in Sheffield Harbor. Ed and Nick approach Little Tavern Island, August 2007.