River Kayaking Skills and Safety
2026-06-21 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit) | Boardman River, Shumsky Landing, Traverse City, MI, United States
This class will teach basic moving water skills that every river kayaker should know. Students will learn fundamental maneuvers that include:

Using river features to move efficiently and safety downriver
Recognizing and avoiding hazards
Moving into and out of the current
Using river current for play
Critical safety equipment and its use

Location: Boardman River, Traverse City, MI
Date: June 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm

ACA L1 Introduction to Kayak Instructor Certification Workshop (ICW)-PRIVATE EVENT
2026-06-23 09:00 - 2026-06-26 17:00
The ACA Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking certification qualifies you to teach introductory kayak skills in a variety of paddle craft (sea kayaks, sit on tops, recreational kayaks) without spray skirts in a protected and calm water environment. This certification program is a great opportunity for club paddlers, livery instructors, and camp waterfront staff to add kayaking to their camp programs. This certification is appropriate for instructors who limit their teaching to small, sheltered bodies of water.
This is a private program. If you are interested in a private program for your group, please contact John.
Course venue: Minooka, IL

ACA L1-2 Coastal Kayak Instructor Update
2026-06-27 08:30 - 16:00 | Chicago, IL
Get together with your fellow instructors to sharpen your skills and meet your four-year requirement to keep your ACA certification current.
Topics include:

On-water skills and maneuvers
Risk management and safety
Assessment techniques
Self and assisted rescue techniques
Teach back opportunities
On-land safety presentations
Administrative support

The program will involve a full day on the water preceded by a 1.5 hour virtual session to cover administrative topics.
Date: June 27, 2026
Venue: Chicago, IL

Review course policies

ACA Level 1 Introduction to Kayaking Skills
2026-06-28 07:00 - 17:00 | Manteno, IL, 851 N Main St, Manteno, IL, 60950, United States
The Introduction to Kayaking (Level 1) skills course is an introductory program that will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to be safe and confident on the water. A boat with sealed bow and stern bulkheads is recommended to participate in capsize and rescue technique activities. Spray skirts will not be used during this class. Topics covered include:

Personal and group equipment
On and off water safety and etiquette
Safe launching and landing
Strokes to maneuver your boat forward, backward, stopping, turning, and sideways
Bracing to avoid capsize
Controlled capsize and wet exit

Date: June 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Manteno, IL
Registration available through Potawatomi Paddlers Club
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Alaska’s Prince William Sound
2026-07-12 - 2026-07-18 | Whittier, AK, Whittier, AK, United States
Experience the beauty of Alaska’s Prince William Sound on this 6 day experience. Along with peaks rising 4,000 feet from the sound, you will experience glaciers calve in the distance, catch a glimpse of the area’s diverse wildlife, camp on remote beaches, and more.
Sample itinerary:
Our group will meet in Anchorage and shuttle as a group to Whittier on the morning of our first day. We will pick up our rental boats, check and sort gear, and load to boats and make our start for camp. We will use a water taxi to whisk us to a remote location so we can make the most of our time on the water. During the course of the six on-water days, we will paddle our way back to Whittier, visiting beautiful places and gorgeous camp sites along the way.
Destinations will vary based on conditions and may include Blackstone Bay, Port Nellie Juan, Culross Passage, Derickson Bay, and Kings Bay. Accommodations in the back country will include a variety of camp sites.
On our final day, we will return to Whittier. After returning our boats and packing gear, we will celebrate the trip’s end and relive the experience with a final group dinner.
Trip includes logistics planning, kayak, paddle, and PFD rental, water taxi, and all group meals while on expedition. Group members will be expected to assist with minor camp duties and sharing the load with group gear.
Group members are expected to provide their own airfare to and from Anchorage, pre/post expedition lodging, personal paddling and camping gear, clothing, meals when off the water, and personal snacks. If additional transportation via water taxi is needed for evacuation or extraction due to weather, medical emergency, etc., that cost will be extra and split among group participants. These expenses are not included in the trip cost below.
It is expected that participants interested in joining this trip will have participated in a minimum of three, full day journeys e.g. longer than 8 nautical miles, be appropriately skilled in group travel, self and assisted rescue techniques, and have personal paddling skills consistent with ACA Coastal Kayak Level 2.
Cost: $1,700 per participant (limited to 5 guests)
Dates: July 12-18, 2026
PROGRAM FULL! Join the waitlist

Trip Policies
Before reserving your spot in any trips, please read the following carefully:

All trips are held rain or shine. Severe weather or weather unsuitable for your skill level will result in it being rescheduled for a later date.
You will be required to read and sign a waiver form prior to participation in any trip.
All participants will wear a properly fitted personal flotation device whenever on the water.
Electronics on the water – AT YOUR OWN RISK – If you choose to bring a phone, camera, key fob, or anything electronic, get a dry box for them at any local sporting goods store, or leave them back on dry land!

Cancellations:

You can cancel up to 60 days before the event and receive a 75% refund.
If you cancel with 30-59 days before the event, you will receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations within 29 days of event, no refunds unless we can get someone to take your place in which case you would receive a 50% refund.
If a medical emergency should arise at the last minute, please call us. We will try to re-schedule you into another trip in the future, but we cannot provide a guarantee. Documentation may be requested.
Cancellations at our discretion due to weather will be rescheduled for a later date or a full refund will be given.

Your first kayak overnight
2026-08-08 - 2026-08-09 | Bowers Harbor-Traverse City, Neahtawanta Rd, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Our 2-day/1-night journey on Northern Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay is the perfect introduction to kayak camping. If you’ve been itching to learn the skills needed to spend a night living from your boat, join us!
Our self-supported journey will take us to Power Island, a unique 202-acre rustic paradise on West Grand Traverse Bay. Before leaving the mainland, we will meet as a group to discuss the trip, distribute, and pack group and personal gear for the afternoon trip. After loading boats, we will make our way to the island and a waterfront camp site. After setting up camp, we will prep our kitchen, enjoy a delicious meal (nothing freeze dried here!), and wrap the night around a roaring fire searching for stars.
On day 2, we will have breakfast, break camp and repack our boats for the return trip to the mainland.
A night under the stars
Trip includes logistics planning, campsite reservations and fees, and dinner and breakfast while camping. Group members will be expected to assist with minor camp duties and sharing the load with group gear.
Group members are expected to provide their own boat (minimum 14′ with sealed bulkheads in bow and stern), personal paddling and camping gear, clothing, and snacks.
It is expected that participants interested in joining this trip will have participated in a minimum of three day journeys longer than 5 nautical miles with a group and be familiar with and have practiced self and assisted rescue techniques.
Location: Traverse City, MI
Date: August 8-9, 2026

ACA L1/2 Coastal Kayak Instructor Update
2026-09-12 08:00 - 16:00 | Traverse City, Traverse City, MI, United States
Get together with your fellow instructors to sharpen your skills and meet your four-year requirement to keep your ACA certification current.
Topics include:

On-water skills and maneuvers
Risk management and safety
Assessment techniques
Self and assisted rescue techniques
Teach back opportunities
On-land safety presentations
Administrative support

The program will involve a full day on the water preceded by a 1.5 hour virtual session to cover administrative topics.
Date: September 12, 2026
Venue: Traverse City, MI

Review course policies
