Downeast Sea Kayaking Symposium, Bar Harbor, Maine

	(207) 669-2338 info@carpediemkayaking.com

Full Day Courses

Rock and Ledges
A full-day of playing in the rocks! Pure joy. You’ll soon get the full measure of your boat handling skills. Not for those trying to keep their kayaks scratch-free.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3-Star or equivalent training and experience.

Getting Started/BCU 1 Star
Brand new? Never kayaked? Great! This is the course for you and the emphasis is on fun. Learn about kayaks, wet exits, getting in and out, and the basics of moving them on calm flat water.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: None.

Introduction to Open Water
Want to venture out onto the sea, but aren't interested in formal "ACA" or "BCU" courses? This is your chance. Move safely from inland waters to the sea with this informal, but comprehensive offering.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3 star or equivalent experience.

Navigation Fundamentals
Learn the basics of using a chart, compass and ranges in a morning classroom session, the take it on the water in the afternoon.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills.

Navigation Challenge
You've done the classroom work, read the books, got the training on the water, now let's see if you can meet the challenge. We'll set-up a whole series of easy to hard navigation tasks and puzzles for you to solve. A fun way to prove your skills.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills.

Tips and Tricks for Long-time Paddlers
Been paddling awhile, but have no or minimal professional instruction? This is the class for you. Come work with a leading coach to put some polish on your paddling, make your strokes more efficient and maybe pick up some rescues or techniques that are new to you. This is the perfect class to help you get the most out of your time on the water.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit and have paddled for "awhile".

Open Water Skills Tune-up
A one-day refresher for those who've already taken at least one open water training or assessment ("Old" BCU 4-star (Sea) or "New" BCU 3-star (Sea) or equivalent training). This is continuing education in bumpy water. Ideal for those prepping for assessment.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: at least one BCU 3-star (sea) training or assessment or equivalent experience).

Beyond the Basics/Skills Refinement on Flat Water
Refine and build on your basic skills on flat water. Learn better edge control and tighter turning strokes, work on recovery strokes and practice cool rescues. This class can help you get the most out of paddling on inland waters, and help lay a foundation for paddling on the sea.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: None. BCU 2-Star Training, or equivalent experience recommended.

Rockin', Rollin' & Rescues
A full day class focused on rescue techniques -- from rolling and other self rescues to assisted rescues and braces.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: None.

Exploring the Coastal Environment
A full day class focused on experiencing the geology & fauna of the amazing coast of Maine, but from a sea kayak. Paddle near ancient sea bottoms, large cliffs exposed by the last ice age and caves left by thousands of years of the sea scuplting those same cliffs. Discover a rich diversity of sea birds and perhaps spot sea mammals.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills, a comfortable and controlled wet-exit, and have learned an "assisted rescue"

Whitewater Kayaking
Besides a day of unbelievable fun, jumping in a whitewater kayak is an great cross training experience for sea kayakers. You'll learn to read moving water, develop more instintive bracing, improve your forward stroke and more.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit and have paddled for "awhile".

The Unassessment
Work with a coach to assess where you are with your kayaking skills, then collaborate on an action plan to move forward. This is informal, low stress and all about you.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: None.

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Half-day Courses

Introduction to Kayaking
The perfect introduction to kayaking in a morning or afternoon, with an emphasis on safety and basic boat handling skills.
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Required: None.

Greenland Rolling
Whether you're a beginner, or a greenland rolling enthusiast, this is an opportunity to hone your skills. Come learn why people get so excited about rolling with a greenland paddle (it's unbelievabley fun!). It's also one of the surest ways to improve your rolling with any paddle. You'll have plenty of time to practice
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit.

Rolling
We love to roll! Whether it be with "Euro" blades , Greenland paddles, or hands only. Rolling is the best of all self-rescue techniques, and on a hot summer's day there's nothing better than a little "rotary cooling." Whether you're a beginner, or an experienced kayaker with an urge to expand your repertoire, this class is for you. You'll have plenty of time to practice
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Required: A controlled (panic-free) wet exit.

Open Canoe Rolling
Learn a safe and dependable open canoe roll from one of the people who helped develop it. Whether you simply love to roll and want a new challenge, or you love to canoe this is an experience you don't want to miss.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Experience Required: None.

Safety & Rescues
Learn how to safely handle a capsize, get yourself back into your kayak, and help others who capsize. We can't recommend this course highly enough. And if we ran the kayaking world (alas, we don't!), it would be required training for anyone who ventures onto the water in kayaks. And best of all, it's fun!!
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Required: None

Rescues for Canoeists
Rescue techniques for tandem and solo canoeists. Such as boat over boat, deep water reentry, with sling, scoop, the curl, swimming boat to shore, towing, etc. An essential course for any canoeist and a valuable experience for any coach, trip leader, and paddler. Besides, what could be more fun than an afternoon jumping in and out of little boats?
Duration: 3 hours
Experience Required: None.

Boat Repair
Pushed the envelope a bit much in Rock & Ledges? Left some gel coat – or a bit more – behind? Put a hole in the boat when you got surfed (or surfed into?) Learn how to fix it by working on your own boat under the guidance of a master craftsman.
Duration: 1/2 day
Experience Required: None.

Sea Kayak Tour
Looking for a chance to simply enjoy the beauty and nature of the Mount Desert Island waters? Or would you like a low-key way to apply some of your new skills? Take some time to relax and go paddling with us. This is what sea kayaking is about anyway.
Duration: 1/2 day
Experience Required: None.

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5th Annual Downeast Sea Kayaking Symposium - Course Descriptions

The courses listed here are a work in progress. We will continue to look for the best learning opportunities for paddlers of all levels. Check back often for updates.

Schedule of Events

If you’re not sure about which classes to take or want to talk about choosing classes to get the most out of the symposium, call Mark or Mel at (207) 669-2338. We look forward to hearing from you.

Choose from a wide selection of Full Day Courses including BCU Courses or from our Half Day offerings.

BCU offerings - We'll be offering a full range of "new" BCU star trainings and assessments.

New This Year!

Multi-discipline paddlesports. Though we're sea kayakers at heart, we believe that the broader our experience in paddlesports, the stronger sea kayakers we'll ultimately become. So this year, we're broadening our offerings in other paddlesport disciplines. Try something new this year, just for fun.

Whitewater Kayaking

Canoeing Instruction

These classes are a wonderful way to experience a different paddlesport' gain a broader appreciation for how paddles, paddlers, and water interact; gain the canoeing experience the BCU is looking for in their new coaches.

Intro to Canoe
Open Canoe Rolling
Rescues for Canoeists

New Greenland Course

Paddle Strokes for Greenland Paddlers

Challenge your skills. Are you the master navigator?

Navigation Challenge

Go home with an action plan.

The Unassessment

New BCU Coaching Programs

We're looking into both Level 1 and Level 2 coaching programs, but it's your needs and wishes that will drive this. If you are a BCU coach aspirant and would like us to offer these trainings and assessments, please contact us.

Tidal Currents
With the state’s second largest set of reversing rapids in our backyard, we have the perfect training ground for learning to handle sea kayaks in tidal currents. This is the course for you if you’re training to go tackle the big tide races in Europe, preparing for BCU 5-Star someday, or simply want to push your envelope and have some fun.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: "Old" BCU 3-Star or equivalent training and experience.

Paddling with Power and Finesse
Join Carpe Diem's, Mark Schoon, for a day of exploring how to improve your kayaking by bringing both of these elements into balance. You’ll get the most out of this class if you’ve already developed your basic skills and are looking to “push you envelope”.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: Solid flatwater boat handling skills (confident edging, turning maneuvers, bracing, etc) recommended.

Incident Management
Learn how deal with real issues that crop up on expeditions in dynamic conditions from someone who’s been there.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: BCU 3 star (sea) or equivalent experience.

Paddle Strokes for Greenland Paddlers
Discover the kayaking secret that's more than a thousand years old--paddling your kayak with a greenland paddle. First and foremost, this paddle is a terrific tool for paddling that kayak, not just for rolling it. Take a day and discover the basics of boat control using a funny little stick. Learn on the move as you take the day exploring on the beautiful mountain lake, Great Long Pond.
Duration: Full Day
Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills and a controlled (panic free) wet exit.

Open Water Skills for Greenland Paddlers
Many of us fell in love with greenland paddling because of rolling. Rolling was easier and the variety of rolls available to master became an irresistable challenge. What often gets overlooked is how amazing this tool is to paddle with in all types of conditions. Come out and learn the joy of paddling on the open sea with your greenland paddle.
Duration: Full Day
Experience Required: Basic boat handling skills and a controlled (panic free) wet exit.

Intro to Canoe
A course to expose beginners to the very basic paddling and safety skills necessary to have when paddling a canoe on calm and protected water. By doing this over a full day you get a more comprehensive learning experience than a typical intro course.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: None.

British Canoe Union

The British Canoe Union is an internationally recognized governing body for paddlesports, whose courses are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. The BCU certifies paddlers at specific skill levels. This "star" system is recognized internationally. First, take a training session, then go and practice. When you're ready, take an assessment. For more information about the BCU, go to www.bcuna.com

2-Star
A terrific introduction to paddlesports (kayaking and canoeing) for beginners, this class is basic strokes and rescues on flat water. Be prepared to have fun in a wide variety of boats. You might find yourself jumping in and out of recreational kayaks, canoes, whitewater boats, and yes sea kayaks. Discover the joy and benefit of experiencing a broadbased exposure to paddlesport.
Experience Required: see 2-star syllabus
Duration: Full day
Additional Cost: BCU fee if passed

3-Star Sea Kayak Training
Take your flatwater skills into bumpy water. You'll practice rescues and maneuvering in current and chop, work on navigation and learn to launch and land through surf. Ready to put the "sea" in your sea kayaking? This is the training you need.
Duration: Two days
Experience Required: A consistent two star kayak standard of performance. See 3-star syllabus

3-Star Sea Kayak Assessment
Pass this assessment and other paddlers will know you to be a competent member of a group at sea in moderate conditions.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: 3-Star Sea Kayak training recommended
Additional Cost: BCU fee if passed

Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning
This is the new prerequiste for the 4-Star Sea Kayak Leader award. An excellent course to give you a great foundation for leading groups on the sea. Taught by one of the countries recognized authorities on Sea Kayak Navigation, John Carmody.
Duration: Full day
Experience Required: none
Additional Cost: BCU fee if passed

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