Join the St. Louis River Alliance, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Duluth Recreational Sports Outdoor Program (UMD RSOP) and Day Tripper of Duluth, for an evening of hands-on instruction designed to help you become a safer, more confident paddler.
Rather than a traditional paddling class, this event lets you customize your experience. During registration, you’ll rank your preferred workshops and be assigned sessions based on your experience level, interests, and workshop availability. Small class sizes ensure plenty of personalized instruction.
Workshops are offered in three formats:
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Dry Land – Learn essential paddling knowledge without getting on the water.
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On Water – Practice paddling techniques while staying in your kayak (expect wet feet and occasional splashing).
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In Water – Build confidence through hands-on rescue and recovery skills (expect full immersion).
Each workshop includes a location, activity level, and “how wet you’ll get” rating to help you choose the sessions that best match your comfort level and goals.
Scroll down to the Workshop Descriptions for details about each session, including what you’ll learn, who it’s best suited for, and any prerequisites.
Whether you’re preparing for your first kayak purchase, hoping to paddle the St. Louis River or Lake Superior with more confidence, or simply looking to develop new skills in a supportive environment, there’s a workshop for you.
All required paddling equipment—including kayaks, paddles, personal flotation devices (PFDs), and safety gear—will be provided. Participants who own a sea kayak are encouraged to indicate this during registration, as bringing your own boat will help reduce rental needs.
Participants must be 12 years or older. Youth ages 12–17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Registration
Space is limited to approximately 60 participants, and advance registration is required. During registration, you’ll be asked to rank your first, second, and third workshop choices. We will do our best to place participants in their preferred sessions while balancing workshop capacities and experience levels.
Rain date: To be announced.
If online registration is not accessible to you, please contact the St. Louis River Alliance at outreach@stlouisriver.org for assistance.
Follow Link to register https://www.stlouisriver.org/events/easy-paddling-a-beginner-kayak-workshop?fbclid=IwY2xjawTPIQtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFyME9vVjFFZGxLSU9mZ2RNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnWppvUOYeqmqSRIna8tdOXOouDBM-16tk5uwSMbK7TuRzBAbkdXMRN88rLY_aem_vY70HUiGZDIrNCzoAtwp9Q
