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The Fox Islands, Killarney
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The Fox Islands, Killarney

The Fox Islands, Killarney

$1,095.00 CAD

Killarney is one of the most striking paddling environments in Ontario: quartzite cliffs, clear Georgian Bay water, and the kind of coastal exposure that teaches you things a lake session never could. The Fox Islands deliver real conditions, open crossings, variable winds, and the seamanship decisions that define a Level 2 paddler.

This is a Level 2 skills course delivered as a backcountry wilderness expedition. You'll camp out of your kayak, plan your own routes, and work as a group through whatever Georgian Bay throws at you. By the end, you'll be ready to organize and lead your own overnight trips with confidence.

PC L2 Paddle Canada Level 2 CK1 Coastal Kayaking Level 1 1:4 Instructor Ratio 0 Gear to Own
Our Training Partners: ORCKA, Coaching Association of Canada, CanBoat NautiSavoir, SafeSport Training, and Paddle Canada. Contact us at info@kayak-ontario.com

One course, two awards. This is a Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2, and that's the standard the course is built around. Because we deliver both the national and provincial streams, meeting it earns you an ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1 as well. Two cards, one course, one price.

Want a purely trip-focused course? This is a skills certification that happens to run as an expedition, so the assessment is on your paddling, navigation, and rescue ability. If what you're after is the tripping and guiding stream, where the focus is planning and leading multi-day journeys, that's a different path. See our ORCKA Kayak Tripping and Guiding courses.

What You'll Learn

Full days of hands-on training with evening sessions on theory. Four skill domains across the course, assessed in real coastal conditions.

Navigation & Seamanship
Navigate coastal waters, handle tides and currents, and build the judgment that separates touring paddlers from people in kayaks.
  • →  Chart reading and route planning
  • →  Compass navigation and bearings
  • →  Environmental reading: wind, current, swell
  • →  Crossing strategies and group management
Knots, Tarps & Expedition Behaviour
The camp and group management skills needed for extended kayaking trips, the stuff that separates a day paddle from an expedition.
  • →  Key knots for rigging and rescue
  • →  Tarp setups for coastal camping
  • →  Expedition behaviour and group dynamics
  • →  Loading, launching, and landing in conditions
Risk Management & Weather
Assess risk, predict weather patterns, and make decisions that keep the group moving safely when conditions shift.
  • →  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 techniques, and on-water rescues, refined under real coastal conditions rather than flat calm.
  • →  Level 2 stroke refinement and power transfer
  • →  Towing setup and techniques
  • →  Assisted and self-rescue in conditions
  • →  Introduction to rolling

Sample Instructional Progression

Curriculum focus and locations may shift based on weather and conditions. That flexibility is part of the learning.

Day 1, Chikanishing Safety debrief, skill reviews, and Level 2 rescue exercises. Paddle to the field base.
Day 2, Fox Islands Navigation, seamanship, and weather forecasting in action.
Day 3, Coastal Touring Coastal touring, Level 2 strokes, and introduction to towing.
Day 4, Final Assessment Rescue and towing scenarios, rolling, and course wrap-up.
Day 5, Paddle Out Head home, and fish and chips at Herbert's.

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 the full expedition plus evening theory sessions
  • ✔   Expert coaching at 1:4 instructor ratio
  • ✔   Crown land field base within Killarney Provincial Park, no camping permit required
  • ✔   Online learning dashboard access
  • ✔   Assessment and certification for both Paddle Canada Level 2 and ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1

Available to Add

  • —   Kayak + drysuit rental: 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 Crown land field base within Killarney Provincial Park, so no camping permits are required. Participants are responsible for their own parking permits at launch sites.
  • —   Participants are responsible for meals. We'll visit one of the most legendary fish and chip spots in Ontario, plus camping meal prep is part of the experience.
  • —   The course runs rain or shine, though we reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms.

Equipment Needed

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

  • ✔   Sea kayak: with two bulkheads
    Rentals available
  • ✔   Dry suit: for cold-water immersion training
    Rentals available
  • ✔   Safety gear: pump, whistle, 15 metre floating rope
    Available for purchase
  • ✔   Camping gear: tent, sleeping bag, essentials for 4 nights
    Some 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 and 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, so the progression is seamless.

Questions

Do I need my own kayak or gear?
No. Kayak and 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?
Both a Paddle Canada Level 2 and an ORCKA Coastal Kayaking Level 1. The course is built and assessed to the Level 2 standard, and the Coastal Kayaking Level 1 syllabus sits inside what we cover, so meeting the standard earns you both cards. If you have outstanding items to clear, we'll work with you on a plan to complete them.
Is this the same as the Kayak Tripping course?
No. This is a Level 2 skills certification that runs as an expedition, so you're assessed on paddling, navigation, and rescue ability. The ORCKA Kayak Tripping and Guiding stream is a separate path focused on planning and leading multi-day journeys. If that's what you're after, see our Kayak Tripping and Guiding courses. Plenty of paddlers do both.
Where does the course operate from?
A Crown land field base within Killarney Provincial Park. No camping permits are required, just a parking permit at the launch site. Evening theory sessions happen at the field base, so camping on-site is part of the instructional experience.
What if the weather is bad?
The course runs rain or shine, and paddling in varied conditions is part of the learning. We only reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms or conditions that pose a genuine safety risk.
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're ready. If it's been a while, our Skill Building Series half-day clinics are a great way to sharpen fundamentals 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 fish and chips at Herbert's 🐟🫠👈 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, and it extends your learning before, during, and long after the on-water days.

We acknowledge that our courses in Killarney take place on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabewaki and the Mississauga peoples. This land is covered by the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850, while Wiikwemkoong remains unceded.

Communities throughout the Georgian Bay region, including Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, continue to hold deep connections to these lands and waters. We are grateful for their enduring care and support. This acknowledgement, accompanied by action, includes contributions to Indigenous-led organizations that make a lasting impact.

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