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Outdoor Studies Department

Sea Kayaking

Our sea kayaking program offers students the opportunity to learn from the most experienced kayak instructors in the most challenging waters in the world. The program integrates knowledge learned in the classroom into field classes.

The first course of the kayaking curriculum is our Sea Kayaking course. This course prepares novices by introducing the fundamentals of sea kayaking including equipment, rescues, paddling technique, wind/weather/waves, seamanship, and coastal minimum impact camping. This course has also been offered in conjunction with our spring break OP Baja trip and our January Block Oceanography course.

Students can enhance their kayaking and instructional skills by participating in and helping instruct our extra-curricular Outdoor Program, which offers pool sessions, weekend trips, spring break trips, and summer programs. Also the Alaska Sea Kayaking Symposium (www.alaskaseakayakingsymposium.org), founded by Assistant Professor Paul Twardock, is held at APU every May and is a great place to pick up instructional experience.

After the intro class and getting personal experience with the Outdoor Program trips students can participate in our Expedition Sea Kayaking class. This class helps organize and then participates in a two week expedition. In the past the class has gone to Kodiak Island, crossed Prince William Sound, and paddled from Whittier, Alaska along the North Gulf Coast to Seward. The class learns about advanced, open ocean kayaking skills, leadership, and judgement. Topics include navigation, cold water rescues, hazard evaluation, and leadership.

Once having completed the Expedition class a student may be eligible to have a Practicum with one of the many Sea Kayaking guide/outfitters in Alaska. Practicums have been at businesses such as Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking, Alaska Outdoor Adventures, and Alaska Kayakers.