Typically, we offer all the clinics below in a 3 Hr clinic format or a full day.
The 3 hour format is called 101 (Navigation 101, Weather 101….) and the full day course is 102! It’s important when you book and look up times and dates on the calendar.

If you have your own group ready to book, just contact us and we will accommodate the dates you request. Or just have a look at our COURSE CALENDAR and pick a date.

If you are interested in a subject not listed below, let us know in advance and we will design a course or refer you to a specialist.

NAVIGATION: Quick intro here…

Navigation is often overlooked. We will cover the basics, chart origin, designs, vocabulary, and then slowly get into the details. You will learn about the colors on a chart, the symbols, writings, compass roses, scales…. We will also get comfortable with Tides and Currents tables, get familiar with their definitions and the interest they present to us as kayakers. We will then get efficient at calculating high and low tide times, maximum currents time and speed…..

I like to think of charts as a 3 dimensional tool:
- A piece a paper with information written on it
- A link between the information (distances, head lands, landing spots, camping areas…) and the real experience of paddling the area the chart represents. Chart information is translated or interpreted to get an impression of the paddling environment.
- A way to imagine your future trip when you add your weather predictions, tides and currents calculation, etc. to the info you have already collected. You should then be ready to foresee the possible conditions you will encounter and the options you will have.

In our 3 Hr Navigation clinic (NAV 101) we will work on the basics, how to “read” a chart and use it for navigation (Piloting or Dead-Reckoning) and learn the Tides and Currents Basics.
In the day long clinic (NAV 102) we will train you to use the chart as a tool for your decision making process, helping you plan ahead and become more aware of your environment.

WEATHER: Quick intro here….

Forget about what you know of weather on land. Learn the basics and vocabulary used by the Marine Weather Forecaster. Understand what info is relevant to us as small crafts navigating the ocean. Familiarize yourself with the locations used for Data Recording and terms such as wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, combined seas…..and more.
Listen to your Weather Marine Forecast (for Victoria area: 250-363-6492)

There are 3 steps to understanding and using a weather forecast as a tool:
- Recording the weather forecast
- Interpreting the weather forecast
- Making provisions based on your interpretations

Being confident in your ability to forecast the weather will allow you to paddle many more days and open the door to multi-day trips.

In our Weather 101 we will work on recording the weather, locating the buoys, lighthouses and land stations used to collect the data. We will learn the vocabulary, the different sections of the forecast and what information we will collect from each of them.
In Weather 102 we will go farther and talk about how to use your Marine forecast to make decisions on multi-day trips. Working through scenarios in groups, using charts and the recorded marine weather forecast will give you a chance to make decisions and then discuss and reflect on them.

Visit our COURSE CALENDAR or contact us at nick@activeseakayaking.ca

MORE PROGRAMS TO COME, CALL US AND REQUEST DATES FOR NIGHT NAVIGATION, COOKING AND KAYAKING, 8 HOURS OF KAYAKING DVD’S…..