Charles River Canoe & Kayak offers a natural progression of kayaking classes designed to expand, enhance, and develop your skills, from the basic strokes and rescues to serious ocean adventures. Our expert instructors and guides have been paddling for years, and will help you take your paddling skills to the next level.

If you've never taken formal instruction, start with one of our Introductory Classes. The basic skills learned there are the foundation for all our other classes and trips. Even if you've been paddling for years, the class will open your eyes!

For your children, we offer Kids' Paddling Camps and Classes. They'll start on a quiet lake or river and work up to true ocean exploration. We know that kids learn best when they're having fun, so we teach through games and other activities ensure that they love it!

Introductory Classes :: Safety & Rescues :: Rolling :: Ocean Paddling
Private Instruction :: ACA & BCU Courses :: Performance Paddling

	Never Taken a Lesson? Even if you've been paddling for years, if you've never taken a kayaking lesson our Introduction to Kayaking will open your eyes! Learn the most efficient strokes to maneuver your boat in all directions, paddle braces to enhance your stability, and self- and assisted rescues to recover from a capsize.

Introduction to Kayaking (six hours of instruction)

The foundation for your paddling skills. Covers basic strokes and maneuvering, self- and assisted rescues, paddle braces, and more. Held on the Charles River in Newton.

Introductory Sea Kayaking Trips (full-day trip)

Learn the basics while enjoying the beauty of the Massachusetts coast. Covers basic strokes and maneuvering, self- and assisted rescues, paddle-braces, plus topics specific to kayaking on the ocean. Focuses on skills but includes time for coastal touring.

Introductory Private Lesson (1.5-2 hours of instruction)

Learn the basic paddling strokes and rescues in a one-on-one session with an expert instructor. This class moves at your pace, spending more time when you need it, and covers the topics you want to learn about.

Intermediate Kayaking Skills (three hours of instruction)

Gain the stability to prevent a capsize and practice

Bracing = Capsize Prevention With a strong brace, you may never need to roll your kayak. A brace is a capsize-prevention technique used to increase stability, especially in windy and wavy conditions. Our Intermediate Kayaking Skills clinic will explain everything you need to know to develop solid bracing skills.

what to do in the event of capsize in this three-hour clinic covering bracing, rescues, and re-entries. The next step for those with some paddling experience who want additional training or practice in capsize prevention and assisted- and self-rescue techniques.

Rolling (three hours of instruction)

The Eskimo roll is the ultimate rescue: quick and unassisted. Students progress through a series of exercises designed to make rolling as easy as possible. Also great for paddlers looking to improve the reliability of their roll.

Ocean Skills (full-day trips)

Experience real ocean conditions (wind, waves, and current) under the guidance of an expert paddler. This full-day trip covers boat handling, capsize prevention, and rescues in currents and adverse conditions.

Advanced Ocean Skills (full-day trip)

Experience some of the strongest currents in New England

Learning with a Guide Our Ocean Skills Trips allow you to experience realistic ocean conditions under the guidance of an expert. Practicing in such conditions prepares you for your own trips on the ocean.

during this full-day trip to Woods Hole, where you'll practice and play while improving your boat lean, bracing, and rescues in challenging conditions.

Ocean Skills: Surf Zone (full-day trip)

The surf zone is often feared by kayakers, but with appropriate skills and practice one can feel at home there. This clinic provides an opportunity to learn and practice launching and landing in waves and surf alongside an expert guide. The capsize-prevention skills you'll learn are invaluable!

Ocean Skills: Advanced Surf (full-day trip)

While the goal of Ocean Skills: Surf Zone is controlled launchings and landings, Ocean Skills: Advanced Surf is for experienced paddlers who want to ride waves in whitewater/surf kayaks for fun.

Introduction to Navigation (two-hour classroom session)

Navigation and trip-planning skills are required for anyone who plans to paddle on the ocean. This hands-on clinic covers the use of a nautical chart, compass, and tide and current tables. Only $19 with enrollment in another 2008 class or trip, including Ocean Skills: Navigation!

Ocean Skills: Navigation (full-day trip)

Practice your navigational skills on the water. We cover nautical charts and compass use, tides and currents, trip planning, and various techniques of navigation, with plenty of hands-on exercises to give you real-world experience.

Kayak Trips (full-day trips)

Gain experience on the water while seeing some of the most spectacular sections of the Massachusetts coast, from Cape Ann to Cape Cod and more. Our guides are instructors, too, and they will help improve your skills during the trip.

Private Instruction (instruction customized to your taste)

Cover any skills you want, at your pace. We offer one-on-one or group private lessons, always with an expert instructor.

ACA Certification is a nationally recognized standard for kayak instructors. The Instructor Development Workshop covers material tested during the Instructor Certification Exam.

The British Canoe Union (BCU) is recognized throughout the world and offers one of the most developed training and assessment programs for all paddlers through their Star awards.