Come play and learn in our back yard!

The goal of our Learning Journeys series is a kayak trip that blends teaching you about kayaking while sharing knowledge of ecology.

One of our favorite destinations is Anclote Key State Park Preserve off Tarpon Springs, where you’ll see the historic lighthouse and explore the island’s pristine beaches and mangrove habitat with a Florida Master Naturalist. Along the way we can work on a variety of kayak skills.

We will also do Learning Journeys to other destinations on the Suncoast in addition to Anclote Key. Contact us if you have a place you’d love to see by kayak.

$75/person for half-day, $100/person for full day.
Basic paddling kit included.

Take a half day or full day to learn and master a variety of sea kayak rescues.

We will work on self-rescues and techniques to rescue other kayakers. This is a critical skill to make you a safer paddler and help you gain independence in your kayaking goals.

Self-rescues will include building block elements that help those who aspire to roll their kayak progress from the basics.

For advancing paddlers, we build on basic rescues by tackling more complex situations in rough water conditions.

$100/person.

Approximately 4-hour experience.

We offer one-day American Canoe Association formal skills assessments for Levels 1 through 4.

Are you planning to attend an ACA instructor development workshop (IDW) with another instructor trainer (IT)? With successful completion of this course, we will record the assessment on your ACA profile, which is often a prerequisite for IDWs and trip leader trainings.

Even if you are not going for trip leader or instructor certification, formal assessment is a great way to demonstrate your skills. You can use these also to set performance goals to work toward. Last, some paddling clubs and organizations may require an assessment for you to participate in their events.

Note: participation does not guarantee a passing assessment.

$150/person for assessment.

Note: We are acquiring equipment to offer fully outfitted overnight trips soon. In the meantime, if you have your own kayak camping kit and are looking for a guided learning experience to master camping and other kayak expeditioning skills, then we are ready for you!

In our Coastal Kayak Camping Course, participants learn the basic skills required to plan and prepare overnight trips in coastal environments. You will learn about proper equipment and how it is used, how to select a camp location, food transportation and preparation, and to follow leave no trace principals throughout the trip.

This course can be delivered as a separate course just for camping and expedition skills, or we can set it up to run in conjunction with another course, such as camping during a trip leader training or blending it with one of our skills courses.

This course can be tailored also to group or individual kayaker ability to incorporate conditions from Level 1 up to Level 4.

Pricing is based on course duration and location. Contact us to get started on a quote.
Ask about group rates for paddling clubs or organizations.

Learn the art handed down from the Inuit of Greenland. Build confidence for taking on rough water, knowing you can self-rescue. Impress your friends!

Please be aware, many paddlers will not get their roll after the first lesson. Instead, many require a series of lessons with personal practice time in between.

These lessons are also great for experienced paddlers to add additional rolls, refine technique and build a “bombproof” roll. Rolling lessons are available in a variety of conditions from calm water to surf.

We use a simple progression to build muscle memory for a consistent and reliable roll. Video coaching analysis is also available.

Is your Level 3 trip leader or instructor certificate award pending due to a “contingency” assigned because you are missing your roll or re-enter and roll? We can help you get there and we will work with your IT (instructor-trainer) to get you checked off.

$100/person for approximately 3-4 hours.

Learn to navigate coastal waters by kayak using chart and compass. Prepare for upcoming personal or group expeditions. Plan for tides and weather while you build your float plan. Full day and multi-day options available. Shore-based and on-water practicals included.

This course can be tailored to the knowledge of participating paddlers from beginner to advanced, and can be conducted in a range of paddling conditions.

$150/person.

Full day experience.

Begin your kayaking journey with a full day of lessons aimed to give you the basics to get out on the water safely and have fun. Use this lesson to learn your new boat or paddle one of ours before you buy. This ACA Level 1 course is designed as a short program emphasizing safety, enjoyment and skill acquisition for entry level individuals. The course will be held in flat water, protected from wind, waves and outside boat traffic, with current less than 0.5 knots, and within swimming distance of shore.

$150/person for full day.

This experience is designed to teach beginner paddlers to safely and enjoyably kayak on lakes, calm protected ocean environments, and other flatwater settings. You’ll learn about equipment, strokes, maneuvers, safety considerations, and how to rescue yourself or other paddlers. In ACA’s five levels, this is a Level 2 training course.

$150/person for full day.

Can be combined with a skills assessment.

The purpose of the Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Trip Leader training is to prepare individuals who intend to lead other paddlers, either recreationally or professionally, in protected waterways. The emphasis of the training is on leadership. While this is not a teaching award or instructor certification, L2 trip leaders will also be prepared to provide basic tips to paddlers. A formal skills assessment is required following this training course for a kayaker to be recognized as a Level 2 Trip Leader. The one-day assessment may be schedule concurrently with this two-day course or at a later date.

$300/person for two days.
$150/person for additional assessment day.
Ask about group rates for paddling clubs or organizations.

The purpose of the Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader training is to prepare individuals who intend to lead other paddlers, either recreationally or professionally, in coastal environments. The emphasis of the training is on leadership and group management.

Training Overview: The training exposes an individual to the technical, trip planning, group management and leadership skills required to lead other paddlers in the Level 3 venue. While this is not a teaching award, L3 coastal kayak trip leader should also be able to provide basic tips to paddlers, as appropriate, to help them through the environment.

A formal skills assessment is required following this training course for a kayaker to be recognized as an L2 Trip Leader. The one-day assessment may be scheduled concurrently with this two-day course or at a later date to allow practice time.

$300/person for two days.

$150/person for additional assessment day.

Ask about group rates for paddling clubs or organizations.

Coastal kayak skills courses take paddlers from calm protected waters and move into coastal regions exposed to wind and waves. In ACA’s five levels, coastal kayaking is a Level 3 course. We can structure skills development here a few different ways:

One is our Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes and Rescues course, designed to introduce basic coastal kayaking skills and safety. Kayakers will improve on their basic strokes and be introduced to additional more advanced strokes. Participants will also learn and improve upon self-rescues and rescuing others.

Another is our Coastal Kayak Strokes and Maneuvers Refinement course, a companion and progression experience to our Coastal Kayaking Strokes and Rescues class. It can be scheduled to run concurrently or as a series. This experience builds upon strokes and rescues adding nuance to increase efficiency, fluidity and control.

These courses are easily tailored to participant goals, so can also be taken multiple times to continue working on a range of skills in various conditions such as wind, weather, current, tides and surf.

$150/person for full day.

Can be combined with a skills assessment.

This series of courses are offered for advancing paddlers to further develop established skills in bigger conditions and further from shore. A major focus is on adding nuance, finesse, or blending strokes to increase the paddler’s capability and confidence.

The venues we use will feature access to open water and at least one or more of the following: 10-15 knot winds, 2-4 foot waves or chop, and/or 2-4 knots of current. This will allow participants to take skills in paddling, leadership, and rescues and apply them in challenging conditions. Possible focused single-day courses at this level include:

• Open water skills

• Paddling in wind/waves

• Paddling in tidal currents

• Surf zone skills sessions

• Rough water rescues and towing

• Cleaning up contingencies assigned by an instructor trainer at your certification exam.

$150/person for full day.

Can be combined with a skills assessment.

Would you like to gain certification as an ACA kayak instructor? Kayak ANT works regularly with partner instructor-trainers who offer instructor development workshops (IDWs) and instructor certification exams (ICEs). You will see many of those workshops listed on our calendar. We can also help you prepare for your upcoming workshop or exam with focused instruction at any of our levels or skill areas.

Contact us directly for registration, pricing and other questions.