Geneva Kayak Center



Courses

The Geneva Kayak Center offers a full range of kayaking courses... from beginners wondering if the sport is for them to novices learning effective strokes; from intermediate paddlers aspiring to develop seamanship and rough water handling skills to advanced paddlers seeking awards and coaching certifications. We offer a complete range of instruction, awards and certification in the sport of kayak through the ACA and BCU. We also offer supplemental courses such as beginner and advanced surf workshops, roll classes, pool sessions and clinics covering different aspects of the sport. Most importantly, we haven’t forgotten what kayaking is supposed to be about — FUN! Our courses reflect that.

Our coaches love to paddle and hope to open up the world of kayaking to you! Holding both American Canoe Association (ACA) and British Canoe Union (BCU) certifications, these coaches use innovative and fun methods of learning in our training offerings. Many of our coaches are regarded as the best in the area and are published in magazines such as Sea Kayaker. They care about your safety and learning progression and will help you have fun out on the water!


Geneva Kayak Center courses


General Kayaking Courses


GKC Level 1
Intro to Kayak

Our most popular class, designed for the novice who is interested in kayaking but has limited or no experience in a boat.
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GKC Level 2
Basic Kayak

This full day course, designed for beginner paddlers, is a comprehensive day of instruction focused on building a solid foundation of strokes, safety and knowledge. This course is based on the BCU 2 Star Training and ACA L2 Training.
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BCU 2 Star Assessment

Want to see how much you’ve learned and progressed with your paddling? The BCU 2 Star Assessment is a fun and relaxed day of paddling, in which you’ll receive feedback on how your skills and tips on how to improve!
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BCU Canoe Saftey

This full day class, held in sheltered water, will introduce you to a wide range of deep-water rescue techniques for solo and group paddlers in both canoes and kayaks.
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Pool Sessions

Pool sessions are a great way to learn or hone kayaking skills including rolls, rescues and bracing.
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Workshops

Workshops on a variety of topics are offered throughout the year at Geneva Kayak Center. These hands-on sessions are both on-water and off-water and cover topics from Kayak Navigation to Boat Repair.
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Sea Kayaking
Courses


BCU

British Canoe Union
The Geneva Kayak Center is the only BCU endorsed Coaching Center between the east and west coasts. We are running the new (2008) BCU awards system. learn more »


Symposium

In June 2007 the 1st annual Windy City Kayak Symposium was held in Chicago. The unique event was the maiden voyage of what will soon be known as a paddling tradition on the shores of Lake Michigan.
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Sea Kayak Surfing

Geneva Kayak Center’s kayak surfing workshops are designed to help you have fun and be safe while traveling through and playing in breaking waves, swells, following seas and rough conditions.
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Coaching/Instructor Certification

  • ACA Basic/Open Water Coastal Kayak
    • Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)
    • Instructor Certification Evaluation (ICE)
  • BCU Coach Level 1 Training
  • BCU Coach Level 2 Training
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Whitewater Kayak Courses


GKC Whitewater I
Intro & Rolling

Want to learn the fundamentals of paddling in a whitewater kayak? Whitewater I is a Geneva Kayak Center course designed to introduce paddlers to whitewater kayaks and basic paddling strokes/maneuvers in modern whitewater boats.
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GKC Whitewater II
Moving Water

Whitewater II moves the participant from flatwater onto moving water. We’ll focus on strokes and maneuvers in current.
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GKC Whitewater III
Whitewater Weekend

the Whitewater Weekend focuses on developing solid whitewater fundamentals in Class I-II Rapids.
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ACA Swiftwater Rescue

Whether you want to be more confident and have a higher level of safety while paddling whitewater or you are in a leadership postion looking for advanced rescue techiniques for canoes, kayaks & rafts, the Geneva Kayak Center offers both basic and advanced ACA Swiftwater rescue courses.
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Click Here to view upcoming couses offered by the Geneva Kayak Center.

Photo courtesy of Lori Donovan