Sea Kayak: Courses & Workshops

VCKC offers to our members reasonably priced instruction at various levels.

Please note: You must be a current VCKC member in order to participate in any courses or workshops. If you are not a member, you can join online by clicking the Join Us button in the blue header at the top of this page.  

Please check out the club newsletter to find out about upcoming courses and workshops.

Paddle Canada Courses

Sea Kayak Basic Kayak Skills
Introduction to Kayaking introduces the novice to paddling a kayak in calm, sheltered water. Rescue techniques at this level incorporate the use of a paddling partner and it is essential for all Intro to Kayaking certified paddlers to travel on the water with others who have been trained in the techniques of assisted rescues.
Prerequisites: None.

Sea Kayaking Level 1
Level 1 provides the skill and knowledge for day long sea kayaking trips in sheltered waters (non-wilderness areas). Successful completion of Level 1 indicates competence to paddle a sea kayak within a sheltered bay in the company of one or more paddlers with Level 1 or greater skill and knowledge.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Kayaking skills or equivalent.

For information on Paddle Canada course content, please go to Paddle Canada's website and review Sea Kayak courses. 

Requirements for Training/Assessment/Participation in VCKC Courses, Workshops and Clinics:

Kayaks: Sea kayaks will be used. Kayaks will have sufficient reserve buoyancy to remain afloat and be re-entered by the paddler after a capsize and exit. If you do not own a boat, you are responsible for arranging for a kayak to use for the course, either your own kayak or a loaner from a friend or the club.  Although the Guidelines for borrowing a club kayaks state that you must have already completed the Sea Kayak Basic Skills course this is only true if you are borrowing the kayak for anything other than the Sea Kayak Basic Skills course. Club kayaks are available for Sea Kayak Basic Skills course and usually all 6 kayaks are used for these courses. Please go to the Club Kayaks page to learn the guidelines for borrowing club kayaks after you have completed this course. 

Equipment: Kayak, paddle, sprayskirt, personal floatation device (PFD), sound signal (whistle), bailing device and throw rope.  If you have booked a club kayak through VCKC, a paddle and all safety gear (PFD's, etc) will be provided.

Clothing: Clothing suitable for immersion (you must have a farmer john/jane wetsuit, with a paddling jacket or dry top or windbreaker).  Otherwise, you may get too cold and may not be able to complete the course.

Workshops - what would you like to see happen?

We offer workshops/clinics on such topics as rescues, stroke technique, braces, rolling, currents, tides, navigation, chart reading and marine weather.  These clinics are scheduled based on interest from members.  If there is a workshop/clinic you would like to see happen, please contact the program director by email to: kayak@vkck.ca

How to Register - for courses and workshops.  Courses are open to VCKC members only. When courses are scheduled, the dates are published on the main VCKC club calendar and on the Kayak Events page calendar of this website.  Also an email goes out to all members who have indicated an interest in kayaking on their profile page. To register simply click on the calendar item to review the course description, then use the Register link to register and pay online.   
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Suggested Clothing Options - for courses and workshops

- Farmer John/Jane wet suit or dry suit
- Paddling jacket or dry top or rain jacket (to wear over wet suit)
- Polypropylene underwear - wicks moisture away from skin (to wear under dry suit)
- Light weight and medium weight fleece tops (for layering if temperature changes)
- Neoprene booties
- Teva style sandals with wool socks
- Aqua socks with wool socks
- Fleece or wool toque
- Rain hat and rain pants
- Neoprene gloves or old ski gloves
- Nose plug
- Swimming goggles
- Shorts and T-Shirt over bathing suit (for swimming pool)

NOTE:  You will be practising rescue techniques in the water for Paddle Canada courses.  This means you will get wet!  Therefore, a wetsuit or dry suit is required.  If you don't have a wetsuit please  borrow or rent one.  Otherwise, you may get too cold and may not be able to complete the course.

Wetsuits are available to rent from Sports Rent:  250-385-7368 http://www.sportsrentbc.com/