Kids Kayak Day Camp

5-day Kids Kayak Training Camp

Enjoy five days of fun on the water learning what's cool to do with and in kayaks. Paddle a one-person recreational/touring kayak at our camp location on Lake Sammamish (Issaquah, just 25 minutes east of Seattle). Learn basic paddling and safety skills with our Head Youth Kayak Instructor, Barbara Sherrill. Play water games, race, tour, treasure hunt, build and paddle cardboard kayaks -- each day is fun and different. The last day we take an all-day kayak trip. Class sized limited to six students maximum.

We provide state-of-the-art kayaks, paddles, PFD's, dry suits, booties, related kayak gear and snacks for this camp. Recreational and touring kayaks are used primarily in the camp. There will be the option to try sit-on-top and other recreational boats from Issaquah Paddle Sports rental concession on one of the days. Requirements, you must be able to swim to take this camp. Some outdoor type clothing is required (i.e. synthetic or wool long underwear tops and bottoms to wear under the dry suit -- no cotton), an equipment list will be provided with sign up.

We will also be offering some morning and afternoon 1/2 day Kids Camps (5 half-days) at Mercer Island through the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department. For the dates and more information on these programs, please click here Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department

Location: Tibbitts Beach, Lake Sammamish State Park (see map below)
Instructors: Barb Gronseth, Christine Burris & Staff
Duration: 5 days - Morning, 9-12noon or Afternoon, 1-4pm sessions
Class Size: 6
Fee: $300 (Price includes use of our gear including a kayak, dry suit or wet suit, PFD, and paddle)

Call us at (206) 527-1825 or E-mail us at info@kayakacademy.com to make a reservation.

Course Syllabus

Day 1

Prepare to get wet and have a lot of fun! Each student is outfitted with their own life jacket, dry suit, and booties, and then we let them run into the water to experience the weird/funny sensation of swimming in a dry suit with warm dry clothes on under the suit (only their hands and heads get wet, and the suits and life jackets give them lots of buoyancy). Next each kid is fitted with their own kayak and paddle while we familiarize them with kayak nomenclature, design basics, and entry level safety skills -- first on the shore, then in shallow water near the beach. By afternoon they will practice launching and landing, then we take a short trip along the shoreline of L. Sammamish State Park (at the south end of the lake). Along the way, students discover the challenge and joy of learning to keep a kayak going straight while touring. Kids will get a feeling of accomplishment when they look back at where they started after paddling a mile under their own power in a one-person kayak. On the way back they will begin learning techniques to paddle forward faster and more efficiently.

Day 2

Confidence and excitement grows as kids learn to work as teams carrying their kayaks to the water and practice two-person kayak rescue skills. After that they will discover some finer points of the maneuvering strokes as they kayak through narrow passageways while exploring the wildlife and slow moving water of Issaquah Creek (which flows through the park into L. Sammamish). Playing water games that develop higher paddling skills through experiential learning completes the day.

Day 3

Learn first hand about kayak design and construction by making your own miniature cardboard kayak model. This also serves as practice for the next day when groups of kids build, paddle and race full sized cardboard kayaks that they make. On the water you will learn to use a deck compass and chart to navigate a course, and use these skills to find a hidden treasure chest.

Day 4

Race day! Build and race full sized cardboard kayaks. Participate in planning the tour for our final Day 5 trip. We will look over the maps and charts along with checking the marine weather forecast of wind and wave conditions to determine the best destination and route for our trip.

Day 5

Pack a snack, extra clothes and appropriate gear for a day trip. Depending on the weather forecast, we may carpool and meet at another location. This is an opportunity to use all the skills and experience we have acquired during the week for a successful kayak tour.

Map to Tibbitts Beach (click on blue tag to get driving directions)

View Tibbitts Beach in a larger map