At Stone Harbor, we take water safety pretty seriously. All of our guides have (at least) a Wilderness First Aid certification and current CPR training. All our kayak tour guides have been trained and assessed by the American Canoe Association and are proficient in open water rescues. We could even be accused of nagging folks about wearing a properly fitting personal floatation device (PFD). Especially when it comes to 40 degree water, we don’t mess around.

We believe that the best way to have fun on the water involves growing in your skills so you can make better decisions and stay safe. This is why we’re offering a condensed beginner kayak class as a part of this year’s annual North Shore Water Festival, July 19-20.

We know that not everyone dreams of doing long expeditions on big, open water. But we also know that there are a lot of people who own a kayak and have never flipped over and therefore don’t know what they would do if they did. That’s not necessarily bad, but it likely keeps people from going out if conditions aren’t ideal. Again, that’s not necessarily bad, but if you love to paddle and want to confidently be able to do it more often, or go further, or go to new places, we want to help you get the skills to do that safely. We think your first time flipping your boat over should be planned so you can be prepared.

In this class we will briefly go over basic kayak strokes, including a draw and reverse stroke. You will learn and practice bracing. You will also have the opportunity to perform a basic self rescue in the form of a “wet exit” close to shore, and then swim to shore. If time allows we will also go over assisted rescues. Participants will also learn about risk assessment, forecasting tools, and other resources. Finally, there will be an overview of safety gear like paddle floats, bilge pumps, and tow ropes.

Since we’ll be in the water for this course, it will take place on an inland lake, not on Lake Superior (no wetsuit required!). The exact location will depend on the conditions of the day. Transportation will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own kayak, or we will provide one. The same goes for PFDs and paddles.

Details:

• Friday, July 19

• 2-5pm

• $90/person

• Preregistration required - call us at 218-387-3136

About the instructor:

Beth Poliquin is a Red Cross trained life guard and former ACA Coastal Kayak Level 2 instructor. If you’ve been around the store for the last eight years, you may have met her in the store or even been on a tour with her.

Email bethp@stoneharborws.com for more information.