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Menu
  • Home
  • Courses
    • FULL COURSE LIST
      • Foundation Skills
      • Core Skills
      • Pool Classes – Kayak Rolling and Bracing
      • Advanced Skills
      • Kayak Safety and Rescue
      • Leadership: Guides & Trip Leaders
      • British Canoeing – Kayaking Certifications
      • Private Sea Kayak Coaching
    • FIND BY DATE
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Coaches
  • Resources
    • Directions
    • PDF Liability Waiver
    • Weather & Navigation
    • Paddling Links
    • Explore Anacortes
  • BBB News
  • Email BBB

Leadership Training for Sea Kayak Guides

(1-5 days) $400 Per Day Per Coach - Ratio 1:6 and 2:8 (can adjust if needed)

Leadership training for sea kayak guides. We offer customizable staff training sessions for groups of guides who have been hired to work in the San Juan Islands and beyond. Body Boat Blade has been running training programs for several kayak tour companies for over 18 years. We work closely with the owners and managers as we plan our kayak training, keeping in mind that each organization operates a slightly different program and has specialized needs. We are sensitive to the different company cultures and so we avoid any sort of dogmatic approach to Best Practices. What we teach is strictly on-water kayak skills and risk management, we know that you will have your own way to teach them the soft-skills which make each company unique.

The goal of these kayak training courses is to provide novice and veteran kayak guides a meaningful learning experience that focuses on the specific skills that will help them to safely conduct kayak trips and tours. We provide a base level of personal kayaking skills and boat maneuvering, group management, trip planning, on and off-water risk assessments, calling for help and liaising with the coast guard, and safety and rescue skills. We will provide a personalized, objective assessment for each participant on which kayak skills they should focus on as they prepare to lead your customers on the water.

The feedback that we receive from the kayak guides every year after completing the training is consistent. They tell us that one of the best results from the course is to alert them to their own personal shortcomings that they were previously unaware of. This raises their alertness and their ability to make accurate risk assessments on any given day. It also tends to inspire them to work on skills more in their free time, making them better leaders and more likely to return to the company for successive seasons.

We know that each kayak tour outfitter teaches many of the same concepts that we will be covering. The advantage of running a formalized training session is that these concepts will be introduced from an objective third-party. These kayak courses will reinforce what the employer has already shown their staff.

Let us help you to design a kayak class that works for your seasonal staff.

 

Training By Day

Class Length: 1-5 DAYS
Location: Your Facility

Our coaching team will come to your facility to provide your desired number of days of kayak guide training. Each day we will cover the kayaking skills necessary for your guides to safely conduct your tours. The ideal is a minimum of 2-3 days of intensive skills training. This maximizes the amount of learning that can be done and ensures there is enough time for kayak guides to contextualize the necessary skills and ask clarifying questions of their coaches.

Overnight Guide Training 3-Day

Class Length: 3-Days
Location: Anacortes, Fidalgo Island, WA 98221

This kayak training method has been preferred by the guides themselves. It has proven to develop a deeper understanding of skills and a more reliable comprehension of the ocean environment. These leadership courses definitely increase team cohesion. Being immersed in the environment, having time to reflect on each day while hanging out on a beach in the islands, and staying engaged in that training environment for a full 3 days allows kayak guides space and time to absorb information, engage in peer reflection, and contextualize skills in the appropriate environment. This is the best way to maximize learning.

On top of providing kayak skills training, we can also cover overnight guiding skills including meal preparation, campsite selection, fire starting, “rules and regulations” for respecting wildlife and the land, multi-day planning, navigation, and long term guest care. You tell us what you want covered and we will make it happen.

Jump to Course Info

How To Register

The first step to register for a class with Body Boat Blade is to select an available date from the Class Schedule and complete your online reservation. A few of our courses are not on the schedule. For these courses please contact us to discuss your needs and objectives for a personalized course of study.

Next, as part of the onboarding process for all courses, each participant fills out a questionnaire about past kayak experience and general health. We find this extra step helps ensure you get the greatest benefit from your time with us and that you have found the right class to grow your kayaking skills.

BBB coaches review each application. We will get in touch with you to confirm that your application has been successfully reviewed or to clarify any questions that may arise. Once you receive your confirmation, your next step will be found in ​Getting Ready​

Not sure if a class is right for you? For all of our guests, we want to be sure you have the best experience possible and meet all of your goals. We can help you find a class that matches your skill level and paddling goals, answer all of your questions, talk about class/trip prerequisites and requirements, and get you signed up. ​Just get in touch!

What To Expect

You can expect a low student to instructor ratio that is appropriate to your class, a lot of one-on-one time with instructors, and coaching that matches your learning style.

Full Day courses will last approximately 6-8hrs, depending on the needs of the group and prevailing conditions.

If you do not have your own gear then we have rental packages available. Call us for details.

Schedule Info
Check our schedule >

View all the available classes during any time period.

COURSES:

  • Foundation Skills
  • Core Skills
  • Pool Classes – Kayak Rolling and Bracing
  • Advanced
  • Safety & Rescue
  • Leadership Training
  • British Canoeing – Kayaking Certifications
  • Private Sea Kayak Coaching
  • Foundation Skills
  • Core Skills
  • Pool Classes – Kayak Rolling and Bracing
  • Advanced
  • Safety & Rescue
  • Leadership Training
  • British Canoeing – Kayaking Certifications
  • Private Sea Kayak Coaching

More Info

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  • Schedule
  • Getting Ready
  • Directions
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  • PDF Liability Waiver
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  • 360.376.5388
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  • 2009 Skyline Way Anacortes, WA 98221
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