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1000 Islands, Gananoque
1/2
1000 Islands, Gananoque

1000 Islands, Gananoque

$875.00 CAD

The 1000 Islands is where navigation gets real. Hundreds of islands, channels, and crossings on the St. Lawrence River — current, shipping traffic, and enough complexity to keep your chart and compass busy all day. This is a basecamp course with a different challenge every time you leave shore.

If you want your Level 2 in an environment that rewards good navigation and punishes lazy route planning, this is the course. Same curriculum, same coaching quality as our other Level 2 locations — a uniquely different environment to develop in.

CK1Coastal Kayaking Level 1
PC L2Paddle Canada Level 2
1:4Instructor Ratio
0Gear to Own

What You'll Learn

Full days of hands-on training with evening sessions on theory. Four skill domains across four days of coastal touring on the St. Lawrence.

Navigation & Seamanship
The 1000 Islands are a navigation playground — channels, crossings, current, and shipping lanes that demand constant chart work and real-time decision-making.
  • Chart reading and route planning through island channels
  • Compass navigation and bearings
  • Reading current, wind, and shipping traffic
  • Crossing strategies and group management
Knots, Tarps & Expedition Behaviour
Camp and group management skills for extended kayaking trips — practiced from a real basecamp over four nights.
  • Key knots for rigging and rescue
  • Tarp setups for coastal camping
  • Expedition behaviour and group dynamics
  • Loading, launching, and landing in varied conditions
Risk Management & Weather
Current, shipping traffic, and weather that can change the plan mid-paddle. Learn to assess risk and adapt on the fly.
  • Marine weather forecasting and interpretation
  • Risk assessment frameworks for trip leaders
  • Decision-making under uncertainty
  • Emergency planning and contingencies
Boat Handling & Rescues
Advanced strokes, towing, and rescue techniques practiced in current and around island shorelines.
  • Level 2 stroke refinement and power transfer
  • Towing setup and techniques
  • Assisted and self-rescue in conditions
  • Introduction to rolling

Sample Instructional Progression

Locations and focus may shift based on weather and river conditions — flexibility is part of the learning.

Day 1
Safety debriefs, skill reviews, and Level 2 rescue exercises.
Day 2
Navigation, seamanship, and weather forecasting.
Day 3
Coastal touring, Level 2 strokes, and introduction to towing.
Day 4
Rescue and towing scenarios, rolling, and course wrap-up.

Built for Lifelong Learning

Every Kayak Ontario course includes access to your personal online learning dashboard — a hybrid system offering clear preparation before the course, structured learning on the water, and continued support afterward. Track your progress, complete short modules on preparation, gear, safety, and theory, and return any time to review lessons.

  • Online learning dashboard access included with your course
  • Full-colour Kayak Ontario Course Manual available as an add-on — take it to the shoreline, mark it up with notes, and keep as a lasting reference

What's Included

  • Course instruction and assessment across four full days of on-water training plus evening theory sessions
  • Expert coaching at 1:4 instructor ratio
  • Online learning dashboard access
  • Paddle Canada Level 2 or ORCKA Coastal Kayak 1 assessment and certification (you choose which award to challenge)

Available to Add

  • Kayak + drysuit rental — Valley sea kayak and Nookie drysuit, available to book with your course. Own your boat? Bring it.
  • Course manual — full-colour workbook with step-by-step breakdowns and diagrams
  • Safety gear — pump, whistle, and 15-metre floating rope available for purchase
  • Camping gear — some rental tents and sleeping bags available if needed

Good to Know

  • The course operates from a basecamp at a conservation area. On-site camping is available and evening theory sessions run at camp. Local accommodation options including Airbnbs are also available nearby — arrange directly with the provider.
  • Participants are responsible for meals — we'll visit local pubs and food trucks when available, plus camping meal prep is part of the experience
  • Participants are responsible for parking permits at launch sites
  • The course runs rain or shine, though we reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms or conditions that pose a genuine safety risk

Equipment Needed

Don't own a full kit? No problem. Rentals are available for the essentials.

  • Sea kayak — with two bulkheadsRentals available
  • Dry suit — for cold-water immersion trainingRentals available
  • Safety gear — pump, whistle, 15-metre floating ropeAvailable for purchase
  • Camping gear — tent, sleeping bag, essentials for 4 nightsSome rentals available

Prerequisite: Paddle Canada or ORCKA Level 1 sea kayak certification (or equivalent experience). You should be comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water. Not sure? Get in touch — we'll point you in the right direction.

After your Level 2 → Continue building with the Skill Building Series clinics, explore a Coastal Explorer touring day, or start working toward Level 3. Your coaches already know your abilities — the progression is seamless.

Questions

Do I need my own kayak or gear?
No. Valley sea kayak and Nookie drysuit rentals are available to book with your course. Safety gear is available for purchase. You don't need to own anything to take this course.
What certification do I get?
This course can be used to challenge either a Paddle Canada Level 2 or an ORCKA Coastal Kayak 1 certification — you decide which award you'd like to pursue. If you meet the assessment criteria during the course, you'll receive your certification. If you have outstanding conditions to clear, we'll work with you on a plan to complete them.
How is this different from the other Level 2 locations?
Same curriculum, same coaching quality — different environment. The 1000 Islands are a navigation-heavy location with current, shipping traffic, and hundreds of island channels to work through. Tobermory offers sheltered water ideal for building confidence. Lake Superior is exposed big water. The 1000 Islands sit somewhere in between — manageable conditions but constant navigational complexity. All three lead to the same certification.
Where do participants stay?
The course runs from a basecamp at a conservation area. On-site camping is available and evening theory sessions happen at camp. If you'd prefer other accommodation, there are Airbnbs and rentals nearby — arrange directly with the provider. Get in touch if you need suggestions.
What about meals?
Participants are responsible for their own food. We'll visit local pubs and food trucks when the schedule allows, and camping meal prep is part of the experience. Bring enough food for four days and plan for a mix of camp cooking and eating out.
What if the weather is bad?
The course runs rain or shine — paddling in varied conditions is part of the learning. We only reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms or conditions that pose a genuine safety risk. Flexibility in the schedule is built into the course plan.
I did my Level 1 a while ago. Am I ready?
If you're comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water, you meet the prerequisites. If it's been a while, our Skill Building Series clinics are a great way to rebuild confidence before committing to the full Level 2. Not sure? Email us and we'll help you assess.
Can I take my Level 2 somewhere else instead?
If you mean at one of our other locations — yes, we run this course in multiple environments with different challenges. If you mean at another school — sure, you can, but then you won't get to navigate through a thousand islands 🏝️🫠👈 your loss.
What's the online learning dashboard?
Our online learning system with structured modules covering preparation, gear, safety, navigation theory, and more. Access is included with your course — it extends your learning before, during, and long after the on-water days.

We acknowledge that our courses in the 1000 Islands region take place on the traditional territory of the Wendake-Nionwentsïo, Haudenosaunee, and Mississauga peoples. We are grateful for the knowledge shared with us by the Indigenous peoples of these lands and waters.

This acknowledgement, accompanied by action, includes contributions to Indigenous-led organizations that make a lasting impact.

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