Aquatic Adventures
Sea Kayaking
Our sea kayaking classes are arranged in a progression to help our students effectively learn sea kayaking. Kayaking Introduction is for first-time paddlers who want to learn the basics of handling a sea kayak on protected flat water and is a prerequisite for the Sea Kayak Seminar. The Kayak Roll Session will improve your bracing and rescue techniques, and will introduce you to the Eskimo roll. The Sea Kayak Seminars are designed to introduce paddlers to more challenging waters on Humboldt and Trinidad Bays. The Surf Zone Class will introduce paddlers with some ocean experience to surf zone paddling techniques.
Overnight Sea Kayak Tour
October 16 - 17
What better way to spend a weekend than paddling your way to a comfortable campsite and camping under the stars? We will build and combine on the skills learned in previous courses as we set out on an overnight paddling adventure. Topics covered during this outing will include planning and packing for an overnight trip, navigation, stroke refinement and open-water paddling. This outing is planned to run on a beautiful and remote section of coast or at one of Humboldt’s beautiful coastal lagoons depending on weather and surf conditions. Participants should be strong paddlers, familiar with basic self and assisted rescue procedures, comfortable with moderately long days on the water, and have some familiarity of backcountry camping. Participants may be required to demonstrate their ability to perform a paddle float rescue for this excursion.
Prerequisite: Sea Kayak Seminar or instructor approval
Mandatory Pre-Trip Meeting: Thursday, October 14, 6:00 pm Nelson Hall East 113
Program Fee: $99 HSU Students, $130 All Others
Program Fee Includes: Experienced guides, sea kayaks and gear, transportation, Saturday dinner, camping/permit fees, and vehicle support as needed.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 12
Sea Kayaking Series
The Sea Kayaking Series Discount Package includes: Sea Kayaking Introduction, Kayak Roll Session, Sea Kayak Seminar and Sea Kayaking Surf Zone.
Program Fee: $212 HSU Students, $276 All Others
Sea Kayaking Introduction
Option I: September 11
Option II: September 19
The North Coast has some of the most scenic and pristine coastline available for sea kayaking. Our instructors will guide you on this one-day excursion on one of our local lagoons using closed deck (sit-inside) sea kayaks. Topics will include boat anatomy, kayak fit, equipment essentials and weather considerations. Instruction will cover basic paddle strokes, boat handling, self and assisted rescues after a capsize, and water safety considerations with an emphasis on injury prevention and paddling efficiency. The culmination of the day will be a paddling tour on one of our local lagoons. This class is a great way to get ready for the Sea Kayaking Seminar.
Mandatory Pre-Trip Meeting: Thursdays, before each class, 6:00 pm, Nelson Hall East 120
Program Fee: $44 HSU Students, $59 All 0thers
Program Fee Includes: transportation, instruction, sea kayaks and gear
Registration Deadline: Tuesdays before each trip
Sea Kayak Surf Zone
October 9
The surf zone is one of the most exciting areas to paddle along the North Coast. Control of a kayak in the surf zone is a must for ocean touring. A breaking wave, an unexpected surge, or a standing wave formed by currents meeting resistance are all open water conditions that can be negotiated after learning skills developed in the surf zone. Learn how to enter and exit the surf zone safely while maintaining boat control. Instruction will cover launches, timing in the surf, bracing, side surfing, rescues and landing. We will discuss ocean and beach awareness, ocean safety and etiquette, tidal and swell considerations, clothing and gear. This course takes place at South Beach in Crescent City.
Prerequisite: Sea Kayak Seminar or instructor approval
Pre-Trip Meeting: Thursday, May 6, 6:00 pm, Nelson Hall East 119
Topics Include: transportation, instruction, sea kayaks and gear
Program Fee: $64 HSU Students, $79 All Others
Program Fee Includes: transportation, instruction, sea kayaks and gear
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 5
Kayak Roll Session
Option I: September 19
Option II: September 26
This class is designed to help you improve on the basic boating skills that are taught in the introduction class. This will be accomplished with a combination of individual instruction and practice time at the Arcata Community Pool. We will initially concentrate on learning improved bracing and rescue techniques. From there we will progress to “Eskimo roll” instruction.
Program Fee: $29 HSU Students, $39 All 0thers
Program fee includes: instruction and instructional materials
Day and Time: Sunday, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Arcata Community Pool
Registration Deadline: Thursdays before each class
Sea Kayak Seminar
October 2 - 3
For paddlers with some previous experience, this is the perfect course for developing or fine tuning your sea kayaking skills. The pre-trip session will include instruction on clothing for the marine environment, safety precautions, and open ocean conditions. This seminar will include two days exploring Humboldt and/or Trinidad Bays, depending on weather, tide and swell conditions. The field days will include many aspects of sea kayaking including equipment, safety precautions, navigation, tidal considerations, trip planning, launches, and landings with an emphasis on open water rescues and boat handling techniques. This course will enable you to handle a sea kayak confidently and efficiently.
Prerequisite: Kayaking Intro / Sea Kayak Tour and Kayak Roll Session, or instructor approval
Pre-trip Meeting: Thursday, September 30, 6:00 pm, Nelson Hall East 119
Topics Include: transportation, instruction, sea kayaks and gear
Program Fee: $99 HSU Students, $130 All Others
Program fee includes: transportation, instruction, instruction materials, and gear
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, September 28
News & Events
