Learn how to make paddling more accessible in your community.
Help others discover the fun of paddling.
Learn skills and progressions you can share with others to get them started on the water.
Practice safety and rescue skills to build your confidence as a facilitator on the water.
This one-day hands-on session will give you the opportunity to gain comfort and confidence in facilitating new paddling experiences for others in your community. Participants will move between classroom and on-water sessions throughout the day.
This focus will be on…
Increasing individuals’ comfort on flat water in a variety of watercraft (kayak, SUP, and canoe)
Equipping current and aspiring program leaders to facilitate beginner paddling experiences on flat water.
Managing risk and successfully dealing with water-based incidents, emergencies, and rescues
Exploring resources and certification pathways in paddlesports education
Thanks to our hosting partner, Skowhegan Outdoors, this workshop will take place on the Kennebec River and at the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp in Skowhegan, ME, and will include
Interactive classroom sessions
Guided on-water sessions
Open Q&A with instructors and peers
Opportunities to assess and discuss your own community’s challenges with experienced professionals
The session will run from 8 AM to 5 PM with a one-hour break for lunch.
These workshops are open to anyone interested in learning more about developing greater access to human-powered outdoor recreation in their communities. This includes program directors, program leaders, educators, community outdoor advocates, and volunteers.
Check Out What Others Have Said About Learning in OSI’s Workshops.
“I really enjoyed the combination of classroom time and time spent in the field. It made it much easier to understand and process the information being taught.”
“All instructors were extremely knowledgeable and were easily able to articulate all information during each session.”
“Great use of scenarios to get ideas and concepts going, then turning groups loose to evaluate their own ideas.”
“I loved playing games with other adults!”
This course is being taught by OSI Staff
Mike Smith, Executive Director, OSI
Mike Smith has had a career teaching, playing, and learning in the outdoors for over 20 years. He has worked as a whitewater kayak instructor in the US and abroad, a raft guide, sea kayak guide, wilderness canoe trip leader, ski coach, backcountry ski instructor, and even spent a bit of time wrenching at a bike shop for a couple years (though he’ll be the first to suggest you have someone else tune your bike).
Mike is an ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor Trainer, Swiftwater Rescue Instructor, registered Maine Guide, BICP Mountain Bike Instructor, and a Wilderness First Responder. His passion, however, is in helping people discover new possibilities in themselves and their communities through the outdoors.
It’s this focus that has defined his career and lead to the co-founding of the Outdoor Sport Institute in 2016. Mike has spent over 15 years working with schools, non-profits, businesses, land managers, and local governments to find creative and sustainable solutions to enhancing human-powered outdoor recreation. A dedicated teacher, Mike brings the lens of leadership development to all OSI’s efforts. He understands the value of investing in relationships, and the tenacity required to truly build local capacity.
*Course Tuition - $125 for one-day
Register and pay securely online. We stand by the education we provide. If you’re not satisfied with your experience, we’ll refund your money. It’s as simple as that.
Our hosting partner for this training is Skowhegan Outdoors.
All sessions will be held on the Kennebec River near the Skowhegan Outdoors Basecamp in Skowhegan, ME.
The Outdoor Sport Institute & Our Community
Our mission is to empower resilient, active outdoor communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. Through OSI you can access resources, support, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.