Lake Superior North Shore Self-Reliant Training Trip

This 7-day training kayak trip along the North shore of Lake Superior from Wawa kayaking west is an empowering, memorable experience where paddlers hone their skills and learn the valuable asset of self-reliance on a kayaking trip.

We originally came up with the self-reliant theme way back in 2010 as a way to help Ontario’s sea kayakers take the next step in their expedition paddling skills. Lake Superior is the world’s largest inland sea which can produce unpredictable conditions in a very short time. We help participants plan their own personal gear and menu plans, pack for a long trip without re-supply and make the right risk management decisions to execute a successful trip.

Paddle Canada certification

This trip has be designed to take Paddle Canada Level 2 graduates that want to refresh their skills, test their skills out on Lake Superior or just to join likeminded paddlers on an awesome coastline. During the trip, James will be making decisions with the group, making sure everyone stays safe, and understand why certain decisions make sense as well and tuning up all of your paddling skills. This trip is also a good choice for someone working towards their level 3 skills as a prep course. James is one of the few Level 4 Instructor trainers in Canada and can teach any element of the Paddle Canada program as well as traditional paddling skills as a Greenland National Championship gold medal winner.

As part of the trip we are proud to also offer the Paddle Canada Wilderness Camping certification. To facilitate this, we will organize pre-trip training classes over Zoom to teach topics such as navigation, expedition food preparation, and route planning. Throughout the trip we will complete the rest of the syllabus topics.

What to expect on this kayaking adventure

• Learn trip planning, including navigation and weather interpretation.
• Learn menu planning, packing and food preparation for extended trips or expeditions.
• Learn the skills of expedition self-reliance.
• Learn how to plan and pack paddling and camping equipment.
• Improve paddling skills like strokes and advanced rescues.
• Share tips and stories with group members around the campfire and on the water.
• Apply navigation skills and map work.
• Gain a better understanding of weather conditions, risk management.
• Build leadership and teamwork skills, facilitated by the guides and of course, experience and of course the most beautiful sea kayaking in Ontario and world-class lingering sunsets!

Your trip guides and skill development facilitators

James Roberts has been teaching sea kayaking for 20 years and is the owner of OSKC. The chances are you have worked with James in the past or have emailed back and forth with him before or after your courses. James loves to see people improve their personal wilderness and paddling skills and has been guiding on this coastline since 2005. You will love the fun, inclusive and humorous manner that he relays information.

Greg Mason has been instructing kayaking for over 25 years and is a mainstay in the Ontario paddling community. Greg used to be the general manager of White Squall paddling centre and currently is the operations manager for the UNESCO Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Georgian Bay Biosphere. Greg has phenomenal boat handling skills thanks to years of sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking and SUP cross-training. These two together make for a jovial, relaxed and accepting environment to quickly develop your paddling and touring skills.

Dates don’t work!? Check out our other Lake Superior Self-Reliant training trip through Lake Superior Provincial Park this summer.

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